Draft:Polar wedge

A Polar wedge is an accessory of astronomical instruments. It can be used to turn an azimuthal mount into an equatorial mount.

Functionality
The polar wedge tilts the main axis of the mount to align it in parallel with the equator's axis. Due to the inclination of the main axis, the telescope then only needs to be adjusted in the right ascension axis to compensate for the earth's rotation and to keep an observed object in the field of view. The rotation of the observed image which occurs with azimuthal mounts is avoided, making astrophotographic images with long exposure times possible.

Structure
The polar wedge consists of a base plate and a second plate whose inclination can be adjusted. The optimal inclination angle for observing celestial objects corresponds to the latitude of the observation location. The inclination is adjusted by turning a threaded rod and fixed by means of clamping screws. For precise adjustment of the celestial pole, the base plate can be aligned horizontally using a second adjustment option. The polar wedge is placed on a tripod or a column. The azimuthal mount with the telescope is placed on the wedge.

Usage
The polar wedge is used in amateur astronomy to take longer-exposure images of the sky with a relatively simple azimuthal mount. The counterweight required for an equatorial mount is not necessary. The disadvantage of this design is that the entire telescope structure can become more unstable and susceptible to vibrations.