How To: Basics of Drift Alignment / Polar Alignment

iceman (Mike) · #1 15-06-2007, 07:19 AM

Hi all

Geoff Smith (ghsmith45) has written a great, easy to read article describing the Basics of Drift Alignment / Polar Alignment. Take the time to read it and understand it, and you shouldn't be scared about drift aligning again!

You can read the article on the IceInSpace Projects and Articles page, or directly by clicking the link below:

Basics of Drift Alignment / Polar Alignment

Thanks to Geoff for writing the article. If you'd like to submit an article or review to IceInSpace, please Contact Me.

iceman (Mike) · #2 15-06-2007, 08:05 AM

Article uploaded

Dennis G · #3 19-06-2007, 03:51 PM

Geoff's article is well presented and compass errors are accounted for by his method of adjustment. Those using a fixed compass on equipment containing electronics and unknown metals such as plated steel and even low quality stainless steel or eyepieces which are not made from brass tubing should beware of the compass reading.It will not be accurate.
Dennis G

Outbackmanyep · #4 17-08-2009, 04:55 PM

For a Schmidt-Cass view through the eyepiece South is UP and West is to the RIGHT, not as shown in the article diagram!
When i view through my 10" Newtonian North is always Counter-clockwise or to the left of West......
I think the diagram should be turned upside down!

This is a great article!

CoombellKid · #5 17-08-2009, 05:13 PM

The orange text in the images is not very easy to read, if you can read
them at all.

Cheers,CS

mithrandir (Andrew) · #6 17-08-2009, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outbackmanyep

For a Schmidt-Cass view through the eyepiece South is UP and West is to the RIGHT, not as shown in the article diagram!
When i view through my 10" Newtonian North is always Counter-clockwise or to the left of West......
I think the diagram should be turned upside down!

Is that with or without a diagonal?

Peter Ward · #7 17-08-2009, 10:30 PM

My only...teeeny ctitique... would be the term magnetic "declination"

If you thou still use "thou" in everyday speech..be happy.

The term magnetic *variation* however has been around for at least few tens of decades.

(There is an old navigator's maxim "variation East, compass least, variation west, compass best"....but I also have *very* old compass that belonged to my great great grand father that is inscribed.."East or west, home is best" )

Despite my pedantry...A well written piece!

Jen · #8 20-08-2009, 01:55 AM

im gonna try this on the weekend

toc (Tim) · #9 26-01-2010, 12:55 AM

Please forgive me - Im trying, and failing to figure out drift alignment

The diagrams shown after step 3 makes no sense to me at all...

Moon (James) · #10 26-01-2010, 01:14 AM

if you took a time lapse exposure with a camera on a tripod of the setting sun/stars etc they would follow the orange line. If your mount is not set up properly it will follow the blue line. you want to adjust your mount to follow the orange line (i.e. the same direction / angle the stars move) does this help?
James

toc (Tim) · #11 26-01-2010, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon

if you took a time lapse exposure with a camera on a tripod of the setting sun/stars etc they would follow the orange line. If your mount is not set up properly it will follow the blue line. you want to adjust your mount to follow the orange line (i.e. the same direction / angle the stars move) does this help?
James

Think I get it - Actually I think I have cracked drift alignment tonight!

Moon (James) · #12 26-01-2010, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Think I get it - Actually I think I have cracked drift alignment tonight!

Whoo hoo!

It's nice out tonight, isn't it? I think I cracked the collimation on my scope tonight. Yippee!

Octane (Humayun) · #13 26-01-2010, 04:18 AM

After all these years, I actually really enjoy drift aligning.

This past weekend up at Frank Bonneville's place, I managed to get Gemini's A and E numbers both to 0. Man, was I proud.

H

floyd_2 (Dean) · #14 31-01-2010, 09:37 AM

I just noticed a video demonstration of drift alignment on youtube for anyone who needs a more visual method of learning the process. You can find it here.

Dean

duncan · #15 31-01-2010, 05:00 PM

Geez Dean i didn't realize there is so much astro stuff on "YouTube".

If i'm not careful i'll run outta credit,LOL

Cheers and Thanks,
Duncan

floyd_2 (Dean) · #16 06-02-2010, 09:15 PM

There's a pretty good drift alignment simulator here as well:

http://www.petesastrophotography.com/

Just click on the Drift Simulator link on that site.

Outbackmanyep · #17 16-02-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithrandir

Is that with or without a diagonal?

Hi Mithrandir,
This is WITH a diagonal, i can't imagine anyone using an SCT visually without one!

swannies1983 (Dan) · #18 21-06-2011, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floyd_2

There's a pretty good drift alignment simulator here as well:

http://www.petesastrophotography.com/

Just click on the Drift Simulator link on that site.

BUMP

Can anybody get Pete's website to load? Some pages load for a brief second and then change to a blank white page. Tried two computers and two web browsers (IE and Firefox) but still produces the same result.

drylander (Peter) · #19 21-06-2011, 11:42 PM

Nope just a blank page for me as well
Pete

swannies1983 (Dan) · #20 22-06-2011, 09:41 AM

Bummer as I used his simulator. Does anyone know who Peter is, or a contact email address? Are there any other simular simulators out there?