Polar Alignment

[mswhin63]

Hi,

It looks like it ill be a few months before I can reliably lift my DOB so I just got a HEQ5 Pro and works well but I have limited visibility in my backyard so I am not am to polar align. This is due to high fence and closed in homes :(

Has anyone been able to place a pin point light (eg: mounted on a wall) to accurately display a polar alignment position? or should I put this in the too hard basket?

[jenchris]

do a rough polar alignment with a compass - then do a drift alignment - then punch in 90 south and it will point to polar south. Focus on wall - get someone to make a mark where you direct them. - as long as you always have your mount in the same position, that mark will be valid

[bojan]

You can use red line laser on the wall.. just make it permamnently fixed on the mount.

I have three concrete slabs (10cm dia) in the ground, with holes in the middle (where the tripod leg points go). Provided the mount is not dismantled, this is OK for wide field photography (300mm lens)

[mswhin63]

Couple of ideas thanks will try again when the weather clears :thumbsup"

[bmitchell82]

hey mate i use align master. Swear by it for fast reliable alignment with many stars you can use. Give it a trial if you haun't already.

[mswhin63]

Thanks Brendan, looks good, got to work on a ASCOM connection. As soon as that is done I will get onto it :thumbsup: cheers

[bmitchell82]

no problems mate, once your ready to go give me a hoot and ill let you in on some of the little quirks :)

[Tandum]

Malcolm, if you have a guide scope and camera setup, or even a webcam in the main scope with eqmod, you can polar align with phd.
There's several on line guides. You'll need to see a star to the east or west at around 30 degrees and then straight up.

[mswhin63]

Thanks Robin, I have just made a Direct EQASCOM lead to replace the controller as I am quite intrigue with the functionality of EQASCOM. As I have already got the RS232TTL converter from another project it will cost nothing to set it up.

I don't have a guide scope as yet, I need to take time to get gear together. I would like to fit a 8" Newt on the EQ5 but my shoulder is still quite sore from surgery so it will be a few month maybe before I can lift things around.
This is a great thread brilliant to get polar alignment option for such a closed in backyard. Thanks to all