[ChrisV (Chris)]

A few questions about polar aligning.

How good does my polar alignment have to for good guiding? I know its probably an open ended question and depends on my mount/scope/camera. If this helps, I'm using an ASI071 with a 472mm FL refractor (2.1 arcsec/pix) and a 1000mm FL newt (1.0 arcsec/pix). All on a CGEM. At present my guiding accuracy range from 0.7"rms on a good night to 1.2-1.5"rms on a not so good night (this occurs more frequently).

I'm finding it hard to get it to within 2min. Is that good enough?
Also, I find polar aligning it a bit clunky.
- The ALT isn't too bad. But its hard to get good resolution as it shudders a bit with small moves. So the smallest I can reliably move is ~0.5'.
- The AZ is worse. It really clunks along as its moving one rough anodized (or just painted I'm not sure) surface over another. So when I move the AZ it also greatly affects the ALT. Maybe I should take off the surface and polish it? Any other things people do?