polar alignment scope

Okay, I have a meade lx10 8 inch scope with a wedge mount. I would like to be able to use a polar alignment scope. I have only found one that will work with a wedge and it was pricey. wouldnt' it be a simple thing to create a mount for any polar alignment scope? I just need to create a mound that is exactly perpendicular to the base (where the scope mounts) of the wedge, right? I could mount the alignment scope set my alignment then mount the lx10. seems simple enough.

Bob

It is not quite as simple to get a perpendicular mount, as you suggested, but, depending on your machining skills, etc, it could be done.

The harder part is getting the proper reticle in your polar finder scope, and getting an adjustment mechanism to move the finder scope around as needed.

THis would all be easier if the north star were really north. In fact it is nearly a degree off. Therefore, it rotates around the sky, just as all the other stars do. Therefore, you need to know exactly where it is in relation to true north when you are "centering" it in the finder scope. The reticle and the aforementioned adjustment device does that calculating for you. That stuff is harder to fake.

So, it is not simply a question of putting a finder scope on the side of wedge. (But that would generally get you pretty close.)

Alex