Solar tracking with Synscan Alt/Az

[Damienandwendy]

I have read through the 'manwell' and searched a bit online but can't find a way to set up a Synscan alt/az mount for solar tracking. As best as I can figure, my only option is to set up for "Auto Tracking", ie align scope to North and level, then engage auto tracking.

Brightest star or 2 star alignment requires actual stars which is near impossible during the day.

Any ideas ?

cheers

[frolinmod]

On my AZ-EQ6 mount I just set the handset to the solar tracking rate in setup and it tracks at the solar rate. No?

[rustigsmed]

yep, i think its setup, set sidereal rate, then go Solar.

[Damienandwendy]

As far as I can tell, the mount won't start tracking until some sort of alignment has occurred ...... regardless of what you set the tracking rate to.

Surely on the Az-Eq6 you can't just plonk it on the ground, select tracking at the solar rate and off you go - some sort of alignment needs to occur ?

Anyone ?

[rustigsmed]

try the tips on this thread...

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/79869-solar-tracking-127-mak-synscan/

[Damienandwendy]

Thanks Russell that confirmed it - for a pure Alt/Az mount the scope needs to be leveled and pointed north then start auto-tracking. The level and north pointing is the alignment part :)

I think it's more annoying that I googled synscan solar tracking over the weekend and didn't hit that site :shrug:

cheers

[Damienandwendy]

Setup the scope then ..... levelled and pointing north. Entered position data and time/date. Quit out of alignment. Went into setup and selected solar tracking and was about to turn on auto tracking but couldn't find the menu option !! It should have been the next one down the list in the seup menu but it wasn't there.

The manual is for Az 3.05 I think. The handset has been loaded with 3.35 so I have no idea what the Az software level is.

This is getting a little frustrating :)

[frolinmod]

Please read the SynScan manual where it describes modes of operation. You don't need to enable tracking because that mode does so automatically. You just need to set the rate (if you don't want the default rate).

[Damienandwendy]

Hi frolinmod,

If I slew to the Sun and set tracking to solar rate, the Sun drifts straight out of the FOV within 3 minutes @ x40 magnification.

Can you please describe how you got this to work ?

cheers

[Damienandwendy]

After a quick chat with Steffen ( thank you! ) I think I was getting myself all confused over software levels and different manuals I was reading ( all were current manuals listed on the Skywatcher website :( )

So as best I can figure, to align an alt/az mount for solar viewing:
1. Setup home position for "Easy Tracking Mode"
a. Level mount
b. Level telscope and point to true north (not magnetic).
2. Slew to sun with appropriate filter on and start solar tracking rate.

I tried that this afternoon and it works.

Thank you to all for helpful comments.

Cheers

[Steffen]

Something is screwy there, this isn't the wrong tracking rate, it's no tracking at all or tracking in the wrong direction. Even at the standard sidereal rate the mount should track the Sun way better than this. The difference between sidereal and solar rate is quite small (less than 0.3%).

Just for kicks, have you tried pointing the scope due south for Easy Tracking mode? I know the manual says north, but it's worth a try?

Cheers
Steffen.

[Damienandwendy]

Hi Steffen,

Got it to work as I outlined in the post just above yours. If I had of read the v3.35 manual first, I think this would have all been sorted last weekend instead of tearing my hair out over something so simple.

Before that I was doing a variety of things that just didn't work.

Can't wait to get into AP !

Cheers