Absolute Beginner’s Astrophotography

[RyanJones]

Hi Tom,

A nice start good on you

Are you using the Bahtinov mask ? I'm currently making a new one as I've stepped up an inch to a C5 on my now modified Nexstar mount.

If you would like me to send you the work flow on how to polar align these mounts, PM me. I'd be more than happy to help you as it wasn't the easiest thing to do following the instructions.

[Mandalore (Tom)]

Hello IIS
I have a Celestron 5se goto telescope. I want to start using it for astrophotography and long exposures.
Normally the telescope is an Alt-azimuth mount. But there is a build in wedge in the telescope so it can be used as an equatorial alignment.
I have had a look online and have a rough idea of how to align the telescope. Please correct me if I am wrong.:




Step 1 – Using a compass, face the tripod south.
Step 2 - level the tripod.
Step 3 – put the telescope on the tripod facing South
Step 4 – wedge the telescope to an angle of 40 degrees
Step 5 – on the keypad use equatorial south align
This will track objects as the move throughout the sky..


This is my reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C512paK4kl4&t=147s

[RyanJones]

Hi Tom,

Ive offered it a few times in this thread so hear it is.
This is the workflow to set up your scope equatorialy

Equatorial mount set up

Set wedge to your location angle with leg for hinge pointing south
Set optical tube to index
Point tube such that optics are pointing up away from hinge
Begin alignment

Select Eq-align south
Select Eq-auto align
Set optics tube to index
Set direction towards meridian
Pick star furthest away from meridian ( align )
Pick star on opposite side of meridian ( align )
Eq-align complete
Begin polar align

Goto star near Equatorial south
Back to main screen
Press align
Select polar align
Scope slews to last star
Align star
Begin polar alignment
Scope slews to inaccuracy point
Adjust wedge and legs to centre star
Complete

Go to 1st alignment star you chose
Exit to main menu
Press align
Select alignment stars
Screen will say Replace? And the name of one of your stars
Pick the one you are pointing near
Realign it.
Go to other alignment star and repeat process.

Take photos !!!!

Please note : your mount is not smooth enough for you to take " long " exposures. The above guide will set you up for good tracking and very little field rotation but the longest exposures you will be able to take will be less that 30sec before you get star trailing. Just take lots of subs

I know because I have the same mount