Laser pointer for polar alignment

[Kokatha man]

Hi Ken (and others) - you mentioned using your laser pointer to assist in polar alignment: have an inkling of its' input here but would appreciate a description of your particular method if you would be so kind.

Regards, Darryl.

[erick]

Some reading Darryl:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=18010

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=24879

Hope this helps. :)

[Kokatha man]

Thanks Erick (and of course Ken!) for this - but re "setting up the scope as close as possible perpendicular to the mount" has me a bit puzzled: does this mean setting the Declination at minus 90? Regards, Darryl.

ps I'll PM you now Erick.

[erick]

I'm just the humble messenger - Questions have to go to Ken :)

[ballaratdragons]

Darryl, How I found 'perpendicular' is by getting the SCP exact only once. Then I marked a fine line on the Dec and RA axis so I can return them there each time.

Yes, you still need to do a drift alignment on that 1st occasion to make sure you have the SCP, but from then on, by using the marks, it is easy to set up perpendicular.

There is no 'easy' SCP alignment, but this way is far quicker. By following the tips in the links Eric supplied to my method, and an initial marking of perpendicular on your mount head, you'll find it very quick and accurate.

Just to test it, follow the suggested method, then do a drift alignment. You should find that it is spot on :thumbsup:

[rogerg]

Sorry if I'm repeating info here (haven't read those linked threads), but I bought my laser pointer exactly for this purpose. I simply hold it against a section of my mount which is parrallel to the polar axis. Then knowing the pointer is going direclty in the line of the polar axis I move the alt & az such that when looking through the telescope the laser is hitting sigma oct (sorry to the aliens on sigma oct that I have blinded many times).

The catch is if your telescope mount doesn't have a flat section of metal parrallel to the polar axis that you can rest the laser against, then you need to make up something yourself or I don't know what.

Roger.

[ballaratdragons]

:thumbsup:
Good stuff Roger.

There is a Lumicon Laser holder made for the laser pointers for those with no flat perpendicular surface on their mount.
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-268

Here is a pic of mine in place:

[Kokatha man]

Thanks for your response too Roger, but tell me; how do you know that your laser is aligned with regard to Dec as well as parallel to the polar axis? I can only presume that your mount has 2 "intersecting" flat surfaces along the polar axis and that you place the laser in the "corner" described by such? Or maybe I've been at the pc on this forum for too long today and need a break?!?!?.......

Regards, Darryl.

Regards, Darryl.

[Kokatha man]

Drongo me......that would be on the scope mount part.....!

Darryl.

[ballaratdragons]

Have you got the twitches yet, Darryl? :lol:

Sounds like you are suffereing PC-itis :P

[rogerg]

I use a part of the mount that is litterally the polar axis, where the DEC does not matter. Hard to explain in words :) The part of the mount that is only moved by alt and az when tuning polar alignment, and does not move for DEC. RA movement doesn't matter.

If your mount has a hole for a polar alignment scope, that might be suitable, as an example.