Pointing telescope to SCP

[adavis (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by raymo

Just set your tripod up with the leg that has the N [North] on it pointing
approximately South, and the latitude adjustment set to your location [as you did],as Ryan said, use the polar alignment routine
in the hand controller.
raymo

Sorry that didnt help.
Ive just re-read through the synscan hand controller manual and it says nothing about a guided polar alingment mode.
The HEQ5 manual has PAGES on how to get a good polar alignment and adjustment.

Every tutorial and video explanation that I have watched seemed to be dead easy, but I look through the polar scope and can see the reticle and the illuminated helper engravings, and have turned the brightness down so that I can see stars, just that I dont seem to be able to get close to seeing anything that I can align on.

I'll try again next clear night, maybe it was just the 12.5 degrees that I was off true north.

thanks!

[raymo]

Sorry I didn't make it clear enough. Use the HEQ5 polar alignment routine,
which is done via the hand controller; forget the polar scope, they are a pain in the rear end [and the neck] especially for newbies. The polar scope is not used at all for the HEQ5 alignment routine.
raymo

[adavis (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by raymo

Sorry I didn't make it clear enough. Use the HEQ5 polar alignment routine,
which is done via the hand controller; forget the polar scope, they are a pain in the rear end [and the neck] especially for newbies. The polar scope is not used at all for the HEQ5 alignment routine.
raymo

Cool.
OK for us newbies, how do you do that?
It isnt documented in any of the manuals.

[raymo]

I am in my eighties, and my memory is not what it was. I sold my mount some time ago, so I don't remember the PA routine in detail.[ I didn't use it anyway]. If the preliminary details are entered into the hand controller correctly, the rest is just a matter of following the PA routine instructions. Don't forget to enter the date in the American fashion, month, day, year.
If you still have trouble I'm sure some younger member currently using
the routine will give you more detailed help.
raymo

[Startrek (Martin)]

Go to the Skywatcher Australia website and download the Synscan instruction manual
There’s a section in Polar Alignment without using a Polar Scope
I have used it for 3 years and works well
I think it’s section 11.3 Advanced functions page 36
You will need something like an Orion 20mm illuminated reticle eye piece to centre your alignment stars
NB You only have to perform a 2 star alignment to start the Polar alignment routine (no need to do a 3 star alignment )
I usually pick 2 alignment stars 20 to 30 degrees from the south celestial pole on the same side of the meridian and about 30 to 40 degrees apart in altitude
Tonight I would pick Achernar and Altair as my 2 star alignment stars and then use Achernar as my polar alignment routine star
Hope the above gives you some direction
Cheers

[Startrek (Martin)]

Correction
Achernar and Alnair as your 2 star alignment stars and Achernar as you polar alignment star

[stephen2615 (Stephen)]

Goto mount such as HEQ5, et al.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1SHhBI2Dek

[Startrek (Martin)]

A 2 star alignment is adequate, a 3 star alignment is not required for acceptable Goto accuracy. I’ve been doing 2 star alignments for 3 years now and achieve good pointing accuracy

[adavis (Andrew)]

OK, thanks all, I see those instructions now, I will give it a go whenever the skies clear again.

cheers