[g__day (Matthew)]

I have a choice of four primary methods to polar align my mount - and they are all dis-agreeing. Would love to hear folks suggestions. My options are:


1. Vixen Skysensor2000-PC - put it into polar unaligned mode - align on three stars, move to any other star, switch it back to polar aligned mode and goto the same star - and then use the mount bolts to re-centre the star.


2. PEMPro - drift alignment routine


3. PHD2 - drift alignment routine (normal drift alignment - not the 180 degree rotate around the SCP) as I have no visibility to SCP in my location.


4. The SkyX Tpoint 200+ star model and Accurate Polar alignment routine. I have now done this method twice - and on subsequent runs with a fresh calibration model the instructions are the exact opposite of the preceding time.


5. Oops - forgot Sharpcap Pro's polar alignment routine - have that too, but like PHD2's pole method I can't use that (sorry Rob) because my astro lab simply doesn't give visibility to the SCP at all - not even close when the scope is on its side.


So all a tad annoying. Especially as the Software Bisque boy's stress drift alignment only really optimises your mount for one point in the sky and emphatically states their method is the gold standard. Just wish attempting it gave consistent results!


So I am now likely a few arc minutes off the refracted South celestial pole and would like to get this nailed to under an arc minute.


What would folk suggest who have set up a permanent scope in an astro lab?


Best regards,


Matthew