Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro Goto & tracking

[Aceman1972]

Hi there everyone

Just want to say thank you for being part of this community.
I have recently purchased a skywatcher HEQ5 pro mount and am having trouble getting exact goto & tracking function to work properly.
I have a 120mm refractor as scope.
I have correctly set up date,time,location & latitude in mount but when I start to do 2 star align it is not functioning as well as I expected
I have mount pointing towards south with about 12 degrees to east & lat 34"29 degrees.
I have correctly balanced mount & scope every time I set up.
I have a few questions also as my son & I are interested in taking Astro pics

Do I need to have correct polar alignment for accurate tracking & photos?
How to polar align this mount?

I would appreciate any information
Thanking you in advance
Aceman

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Aceman,
The Skywatcher manual for the HEQ5 is pretty good.
The section on using the built-in polar alignment scope will get you started.

[Aceman1972]

Thanks Merlin66
Will read through it

Cheers

[DarkKnight (Kev)]

Hi Aceman,

Firstly, welcome to this great forum. There are heaps of knowledgeable folk here who are willing to assist us newbies.

I'm about where you are at with my new HEQ5 Pro mount.

I found the SkyWatcher manual a bit confusing as it also covers the EQ6 and much prefer the Orion EQ-G manual, same mount, different label.

http://www.telescope.com/assets/prod...9280_07-10.pdf

And yes, you do need to have accurate polar alignment for tracking and there are several ways to achieve this. Using the polar scope in your mount, or if you have a lap-top, drift aligning or using a software program like SharpCap, the method I'm about to try when the clouds go away.

If you are going to use your Polar Scope the first thing needed is to align it. This is the most fiddly, frustrating, time consuming task I think I have ever done. The next trick is to find Octans in the reticle, which may be easier for you, being South of the Big Smoke with less light pollution.

I get the impression from various forums that I frequent that few people use the polar scope for alignment hence my decision to try SharpCap. I'll let you know how I go with it.

What camera are you intending to use. I had some frustrations in mounting my DSLR.

Keep asking questions and hopefully some much more knowledgeable members than me will chime in with solutions.

Good luck in your endeavours.

[raymo]

The absolutely easiest way to polar align is to google DARV and follow
Robert Vice's instructions. After a few familiarisation runs you will be able
to get accurate PA quickly, and no grovelling to use the polar scope.
The first time I tried a polar scope many many years ago I said bugger this, and have never used one again. I used traditional drift align until I was introduced to DARV 2 or 3 yrs ago. With DARV you can vary the accuracy according to your needs on the night; for visual much less accuracy is needed.
You do need to attach a DSLR to your scope to use DARV. You just need a
T-ring for your brand of camera.
raymo

[Aceman1972]

Raymond & Dark knight

Thanks for your information
I have a DSLR but am buying a cheap CMOS camera to try
I have been an avid astronomer or have tried for at least 20 years but only have got scope out & tried since son had got interested

The universe has always amazed me
Just wished there was a society in Illawarra area so I can get info face to face
but this forum is really cool

Thank you again

[Aceman1972]

Raymo
Sorry this phone autocorrects

[MattT]

This works too.
http://www.astrotarp.com/drift_method-2.html

[Aceman1972]

Thanks MattT
Will give it a try
Cheers