Rod-AR127
11-08-2022, 05:22 PM
With my AR-127L achro about as good as it's ever going to be with a new focuser and relatively clean optics it's time to get my polar alignment under control.
My Exos2 EQ5 mount had been languishing in the shed for some years and the polar scope had what looked like crazing over at least one part of it's optics.
Being a sewing machine mechanic by trade I'm used to and enjoy working with small and delicate parts so l stripped the entire polar scope out of the mount, cleaned everything and reassembled. Not tested on the night sky yet but it's now clear to see through. I still don't understand how the heck the mount dials affect the polar scope, l think the little picture of the four stars printed on the lens is supposed to rotate, but it doesn't. Plus all instructions I've read don't fully correspond to what's on my mount. Edit
Was reminded by Martin's SCP stick in the dirt drawing, tomorrows task.
So all that is an ongoing learning curve.
I bought a pier extension for the mount as well, no more laying on the concrete. Just need to tweak or replace finder scope still.
Not content to just look at planet's l have gone and bought an Evostar ED72, :D
I have an older but good quality Olympus EM-5 digital camera and the T-ring adaptor is on it's way to a local camera shop for me to try before l buy. The guy at the shop new exactly what my camera is and had already ordered the T-ring before l called. Fate. :shrug:
So all this leaves me with one last hurdle.
And for that l have enlisted my brother to build an RA motor drive for the EQ5 from the CN DIY article a few years back.
My intention is to do EAA on my laptop with a proper EAA camera in the future for the ED72 and the normal camera on my 127 for planets.
This should keep me busy for a while.
Don't tell Mrs AR127L! ;)
My Exos2 EQ5 mount had been languishing in the shed for some years and the polar scope had what looked like crazing over at least one part of it's optics.
Being a sewing machine mechanic by trade I'm used to and enjoy working with small and delicate parts so l stripped the entire polar scope out of the mount, cleaned everything and reassembled. Not tested on the night sky yet but it's now clear to see through. I still don't understand how the heck the mount dials affect the polar scope, l think the little picture of the four stars printed on the lens is supposed to rotate, but it doesn't. Plus all instructions I've read don't fully correspond to what's on my mount. Edit
Was reminded by Martin's SCP stick in the dirt drawing, tomorrows task.
So all that is an ongoing learning curve.
I bought a pier extension for the mount as well, no more laying on the concrete. Just need to tweak or replace finder scope still.
Not content to just look at planet's l have gone and bought an Evostar ED72, :D
I have an older but good quality Olympus EM-5 digital camera and the T-ring adaptor is on it's way to a local camera shop for me to try before l buy. The guy at the shop new exactly what my camera is and had already ordered the T-ring before l called. Fate. :shrug:
So all this leaves me with one last hurdle.
And for that l have enlisted my brother to build an RA motor drive for the EQ5 from the CN DIY article a few years back.
My intention is to do EAA on my laptop with a proper EAA camera in the future for the ED72 and the normal camera on my 127 for planets.
This should keep me busy for a while.
Don't tell Mrs AR127L! ;)