HEQ6 question - I think I'm just dim

[niko]

After a great time at Snake Valley and tons of help I've had a few attempts to polar align my HEQ6 with some mixed results.

I have a northern hemi polar scope filter so have been using a compass and spirit level only to get it happening.

My question is - once I set up the tripod pointing north and place the mount and scope on it do I need to place the scope in a "home" position before beginning the 1 star alignment - ie. pointing south ane level??

I have aligned to Achernar but when I try to "goto" another object the scope doesn't seem to know where it's at.

thanks guys

niko

PS - happy new year to all

[DJVege]

Seeing as you're in Australia (i.e. southern hemisphere) shouldn't you polar align to the south? :)

Someone else with more experience with the EQ6 will advise you further, as I don't have this mount.

[niko]

yes....south, I mean south...dang nabbit!

cheers

[sejanus]

you should really do a 2-3 star alignment

but yes point it south to begin with

also check the date/time on the controller and make sure you are running latest version, early v3 stuff had bugs with the daylight savings offset

[Hagar]

Hi Niko,
You should start with it set up level and pointing South - Magnetic Declination (Home position) then initialise the mount (power on), set the date, time, location etc then try at least a two star alignment. This is best done with an illuminated reticle for accuracy and you should find pointing is pretty accurate. Accurate tracking will require an accurate drift alignment also.
Good Luck