Camera to Polar scope - has it been done ?

[astronobob]

Hi all,

Im just thunkin again :question:

Is it possible to place some sort of cheap camera on a skywatcher EQ mount Polar scope ? Create a small star trail or two, 180* degs rotated RA axis - just to confirm polar scope alignment with RA Axis and Phd and Drift alignment -/- and ultimately to the main imaging scope so all is nicely 'Trued-up'

Has anyone tried this, succeeded or other ?

Thunks for any feedback !!

[michaellxv]

Just last night I was shown a youtube demo of the QHY PoleMaster. Just depends on your definition of cheap.

[SteveInNZ]

Have a look in the Astroshed tutorials. I'm pretty sure it was a bit of plumbing hardware to attach a standard webcam on the the end of the polarscope. It could pick up Polaris and a few other stars. I'm not sure if it would be sensitive enough for the stars around our pole though.

Steve.

[Andy01]

As long as we're talking about methods of Polar alignment, here is Octans using the "new fashioned" method - ie: attaching one's Lodestar guidecam to the EQ6 polarscope.

Kudos to iis'ers McKechG, AL Sam & ASozio for developing the concept and introducing it to myself and others.

Works pretty well as you can see by the phd graph pictured here. You'll need an adapter made up to connect the guide cam, and a small lens from Jaycar.
Ross H kindly made my adapter with a 3D printer.

Probably a good idea to look up Octans on Stellarium or a similar planetarium program and print it out and keep it with you for handy reference so you know what it looks like when you're trying to find it!

[vlazg]

That looks interesting Andy, is there anywhere we can get more detail on how to construct it?

[Stefan Buda]

You can find, and download for free, my designs from Thingiverse:
http://www.thingiverse.com/beamtech/designs

On one of the design pages you can also find a link to a video tutorial for making a hammer and chisel version.

[RickS]

Very cool, Andy!



Just don't bother with TSX since it can't get the Greek letters right :shrug:

[astronobob]

Nice going thanx everyone - certainly an eye-opening subject for this duck, so behind the times !


Cheers Michael :thumbsup: my definition of 'cheap' Lol (CHEAP) :D But after googling that new term 'QHY PoleMaster' brought up quite a few relative pages - in particular threads inside Cloudy Nights forums <- Mods, hope I can mention this ? and believe it is mainly designed for NrthN Hemisphere tho in the process of modifying for SthrN Hemisphere if not already done ?
As Mentioned Micheal, an eyeopening reply :thumbsup:
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Thanx Steve, I will check it out :thumbsup: Ill probably have a thunk on adapting the QHY5 as I cant see the SthCelPole directly (Damn Tree Limb, Lol) and need to do a star trail, so longish exposures needed, 10secs'ish, - havent looked at what the (above mentioned) Polemaster is actually capable of yet but Ill thunk about using what I have ! either the starshooter or qhy5 ?
:thumbsup:
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Cheers Andy, I do have a print of SCP in a wide & narrow field - used them initially when started out AP about 15yr ago, still havem' Lol
On the other note, Re: Polar align; Im mainly wanting to True Up my main imaging scope to the Pole - thunking this will help with star alignment and GoTo being more accurate !
Problem with buying 2ndhand mounts that were purchased by beginners is that they do there very 1st pole align, tighten the clutches and this actually puts an ever so small dent in the axis shafts - each time after that they find the same dent and tighten more, and eventually you have a large dent - hence, when one wants to precisely true up the scope in that ' aligned Parked Posi' you cant, because you'll find the edge of the dent and slide into it - throwing it all out enough to cause the problem Im having. - - If that makes sense :question:
Actually, this has got me thunking again, Lol , maybe I dont need to get a Polar scope image, , mm,,, maybe after a drift allignment and Im happy with the Celest pole alignment, i can just image with main scope in the 'park posi' and could 'shimmy' the scopes saddle and/or rail so it correctly points at he SCP ??? :rolleyes: :D
Only need to do this once, unless I upgrade the mount - dreaming, Lol
BTW, Thats a great modification Andy, thanx for sharing !! Nice work !!





Here is a link to how the QHY Pole Master camera is fitted, may have some benefits to help doing another version modification

http://www.ioptron.com/v/Manuals/3338_PoleMaster_Instruction.pdf

[ReaPerMan]

Sharpcap now has Polar Align, all you need is a compatible camera and it works from your guide scope.
http://www.sharpcap.co.uk/sharpcap/polar-alignment

:thumbsup:

[OICURMT]

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=1234335&postcount=12

[bojan]

see here:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=143297

[astronobob]

Cheers Paul

:thumbsup:

Thanx Bojan, interesting read there & found the SW EQ mounts Pole Scopes are roughly 100mm F/Length - handy to know :thumbsup:
Also found a couple of useful capers on the tube :thumbsup:

Ill try continue this situation when time permits, , See if can connect a guide camera one way or other, , :thumbsup:

Cheers all !