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Aligning an eq go to scope can be confusing at first. The thing to remember is that there are 2 processes, "polar aligning" and "go to aligning". Polar alignment can be achieved by compass and inclinometer and the n refined by drift alignment or similar procedure. Go to alignment is achieved with a 2 or 3 star alignment. Polar alignment is used to get the mount aligned to the pole while the go to align,ent builds. Model of the night sky to enable go tos to work. My procedure is as follows.
1) setup the mount using a compas to align the mount to the South Pole, rembering to offset the compass for magnetic declination as magnetic south and true south are different. Then set the altitude. This stage I am not looking for deadly accuracy, just as good as I can get without obsessing.
2) run a 2 star alignment on the hand set. So at this stage I am spewing using the buttons on the handset, NOT the bolts on the mount. At the end it will give me a readout how close my polar alignment is, usually less than 2 degrees but do not panic if it is more.
3) now go to the polar align,ent routine on the handset. This is a little more complicated but the instructions on the screen are clear enough. It will ask you to slew to a star. You then use the slew button on the handset to center the star ( a reticle eyepiece is helpful here!). After you hit enter the scope will move off the star and you recentre it with the altitude bolts. Then it will move again and you re enter with the azimuth bolts. Once done your polar alignment is much closer. Then do another 2 star alignment and check the accuracy of the polar alignment. If necessary, redo the polar alignment routine.
Remember accurate polar alignment is more essential for imaging, if visual use, this procedure above is fine.
If imaging, drift alignment will help refine you polar alignment. If using PHD for guiding the polar alignment routine in that program will help refine it. Important to remember to do a 2 or 3 star alignment after any polar adjustment.
Malcolm
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