Polar Alignment for LX200R - Shortcut Version

[cwjames]

Hi All,

I have put together a shortcut version of Polar Aligning the Mead LX200R which saves time when doing this in the field.

If this is something that may interest you, have a read at the url below.

http://www.cwjames.info/astro/howto/polaralignment_short_cut.htm

Please let me know if you have any questions or if I have made any errors.

I am still fine tunning it at this stage, English Gramar is NOT one of my strong points, so this usualy takes me a little time.

Thanks
Chris

[AndrewJ]

Gday Chris

Only one comment
The Autostar determines how far it is from home ( hence its RA hardstops ), by "assuming" it is in polar home when it starts. Its not common, but you can get into problems with hitting hardstops if you start from elsewhere.

Another nice little cheat to avoid this is to do everything as you have up to completing drift aligning.

Then i suggest you really do a proper polar one star ( almost )
Set the scope to the correct HA location for polar home, but set the OTA to DEC = 0 ( so yr imaging train etc clears the base )
Start a polar one star and let it slew to Sig Octans.
Just hit enter when it asks ( as you have already drift aligned )
On the slew to the second star, release the DEC clutch as it slews to it and keep yr imaging train clear of anything. Then just manually align in DEC best as possible and tighten the clutches, fine centre and accept.
Done, and all the internal vars are also sweet.

Andrew

[cwjames]

H Andrew,

Thanks for your feedback.

Yes your comments about hitting the RA stops are quite valid by the way I have described the process in the document.

In the field I have not to date had this problem, I always set the RA clutch to the midle of the RA travel when I start up, but not sure how to describe this in the document. ( I have hit the stops manualy slewing the scope, but not when Autostar is doing the slew with a goto)

I will re -read your comments so I understand this more so I can update the document as required.

Thanks again for your feedback, I realy appriecate it.

Chris

[[1ponders]]

Thanks for the writeup Chris. I though about something similar the other night but releasing the clutches during the standard easy align for alignment on sigma octans. Your idea is much simpler.

btw I couldn't get your animated links to work from either the new writeup or the original.
__________________

[cwjames]

Hi Paul,

I will make some updates to that document in the next few days, based on some feedback I have received.

Those animated links should work, try the url below. Are you using Windows explorer ?

http://www.cwjames.info/astro/howto/drift_alignment1.php

http://www.cwjames.info/astro/howto/drift_alignment2.php

Could try sending them to you in a email if you are still having trouble.

Thanks for your feedback

Chris

[[1ponders]]

Those ones work fine, thanks Chris.

[cwjames]

Hi Andrew,

I have modified the document to include your comments.

Thanks Again for your feedback.

Chris