triumph900tbird
14-08-2011, 05:54 PM
I am aware of the need to polar align a scope mount and I am reasonably aware of how to do it using the new firmware upgrade to the Celestron GoTo handpiece. Well to be honest the opportunities to practise have been few and far between this year, however.
I've been thinking. My telescopes CG-5 goto mount asks that the mount be set to the index marks prior to beginning the alignment process. After inputting all the necessary location and time data it will pick an alignment star. The mount will then move to the location where the star should be. The operator then moves the scope to the right RA and Dec using the handpiece to align the scope.
So, when it first starts the scope is working from the position that it is set to polar alignment. Correct?
If the above is true then when the scope goes to the first alignment star then you could use the Dec. and RA screws to align the scope to the star not the hand piece. It stands to reason that if you then turn the scope off and put it back on the index marks it should be on or very close to the SCP. Basic geometry really.
Starting the scope again and inputting the new time, pick a new alignment star and the scope will then move to the 1st alignment star and it should be really close.
The second one should be even closer. At the end of all this you should be near polar aligned. Well close enough for visual work.
Or am I missing something?
Brian
I've been thinking. My telescopes CG-5 goto mount asks that the mount be set to the index marks prior to beginning the alignment process. After inputting all the necessary location and time data it will pick an alignment star. The mount will then move to the location where the star should be. The operator then moves the scope to the right RA and Dec using the handpiece to align the scope.
So, when it first starts the scope is working from the position that it is set to polar alignment. Correct?
If the above is true then when the scope goes to the first alignment star then you could use the Dec. and RA screws to align the scope to the star not the hand piece. It stands to reason that if you then turn the scope off and put it back on the index marks it should be on or very close to the SCP. Basic geometry really.
Starting the scope again and inputting the new time, pick a new alignment star and the scope will then move to the 1st alignment star and it should be really close.
The second one should be even closer. At the end of all this you should be near polar aligned. Well close enough for visual work.
Or am I missing something?
Brian