Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Deimos
You and I must have different versions of the LXD75 Polar Alignment Scope. I just took mine outside and verified against landmarks that the view is indeed both left-right reversed and up-down reversed.
The Octantis star closest to the egde of the view (which I'm assuming to be Chi Octantis, see attached pic)
[/U]
|
G'day Deimos. The shape/pattern of Octantis I have in my LXD75 PAS looks exactly like the picture you attached in your post, which is also identical to Norton's and Wil Tirion atlases, and the same as shown on page 52 of the Meade LXD75-series manual. The Star closest to the perimeter in my PAS is Upsilon Octantis - which is entirely consistent with the location of the South Celestial Pole and true orientation of Octans. If indeed Chi Octans is closest to the perimeter through the view in your PAS - then something is truely amiss with your PAS!
The only way I could see your PAS view being flipped/reversed/inverted would be if the manufacturers made some wrong patterns at one stage and you ended up with a dud one, or during assembly the recticle was inserted back to front (?). If the latter was true, do the 40' and 60' numbers to align Polaris look reversed as well? Your situation really sounds odd.
In any case, I reiterate the same as others have posted, after you have a few goes at successful polar alignment, it becomes much easier thereon. I agree with Davo3950, after good alignment, objects are placed within my 26mm Plossl >95% of the time, it's real magic.
Some 15 years ago, I got a "Kenko Beta-plasma-Ex" mount, essentially a SuperPolaris GEM clone - it was $1,450 back then. Now, for the same money, and not even taking into account inflation/CPI, you get a much better mount with full-on computerised Goto, I reckon that's amazing! The LXD has some drawbacks, granted its not in the same league as Losmandy, Sphinx etc., the tripod is a bit crude, much of the metal is obviously el-cheapo recycled pot aluminium, the gears in mine have significant loosness and backlash so I am really looking forward to doing the strip/polish/regrease Hypertune thing anyday now (the Hypertune DVD is fantastic). Overall I think it's great value for money given I am only mounting a Genesis, and I did not want to spend $3,000 for that next level of mount. Cheers, Fox.
