The equatorial wedge is essential for long exposure astrophotography. The wedge allows you to tilt the telescope so that its polar axis (R.A. axis) is parallel to the earth’s axis.

The angle of tilt will depend on your latitude when the telescope is level. The angle between the horizon level and the polar axis will equal your latitude when the telescope’s axis is parallel with that of the Earth’s. Once properly mounted and adjusted on the wedge, the telescope is equatorially mounted and it can now track objects as they move across the sky.