Telescope Tripod Mount Support Pads

thingiverse

Persons using portable astronomical telescope mounts must make several key adjustments to ensure polar alignment. This involves leveling the tripod mount and pointing it directly at Polaris, located in the northern sky. In the past, I used to set up my GOTO telescope mount every night in my front yard, usually in the dark. However, since the mount was never in exactly the same position each evening, time-consuming leveling and alignment adjustments were always necessary. These adjustments took around 10-15 minutes of valuable viewing time. To avoid this issue, I considered marking a spot on my driveway or sidewalk but unfortunately, these locations do not provide a clear view of Polaris. To solve this problem, I started using tripod support pads. After setting up my tripod as described above, I carefully marked the location of each leg and then pressed one of these pads into the ground at each position. Each pad is flush with the ground, making them nearly invisible and allowing for easy mowing. Now, when setting up my telescope, I simply locate the three pads and place my tripod legs on each. This has greatly reduced the time required for setup, as the scope will always be level and aligned without needing lengthy adjustments. As a result, I have more time to enjoy the stars and less time spent on tedious adjustments.