Quote:
Your polar alignment is way out if those exposures are only 30 sec
Q : Did you use the Synscan polar alignment routine is attached for you ? Plus all the other information ?
I still use the Synscan after 4 years, don’t need a view of the SCP and I’m polar aligned under an arc minute in about 15 minutes
All the best
Martin
|
I printed out your steps which whilst detailed, I still struggled initially with the descriptions. However I think i worked it out with placing the RA and DEC horizontally etc and adjusting the screw/clock etc.
I then followed the 2 star alignment as you outlined (Maybe suggestions of stars to use would be good if you plan to update document). I chose Canopus (because it's bright and I can see it), and the Acrux from the list. Whilst it was off by quite a way, I could realign it using arrows and get it on. This proved successful.
Or so I thought.
I reached the end of your document, although the polar alignment step didn't seem to work as intended. Unless I misunderstood the description, but again chose Canopus and it slewed to it, but not near. I corrected it with the arrows. Hit enter. It did it's thing.
Did the 2 star alignment again with those two stars. It was still off, BUT was in the region. Corrected it again. Took about 45 minutes. Figured I must be doing something right.
I then default to Orion because every one knows where that is as a place I'd like to image tonight.
Keyed in M42. It slews....
And slews... COOL POINTING THE WRONG WAY.
It didn't even spin around to face north. Ended up pointing South West.
I released the clutches and spun it around. Fine tuned it. Mounted camera. Even at 10 second exposures I was getting oval stars. I also notice when it tries to slew itself, it sounds like a slipping gear.
I can't even be sure if it is ACTUALLY tracking. If I cycle through my photos (I took 60 at 5 second exposures just to feel like i did something), Orion slowly edges across the image. I would think if it was tracking in general, it'd be fairly locked in. The way my brain works is, regardless of where it 'thinks' it's pointing, it should still track at the rate of the earth yes? (I get the speeds will be different as you extend out from the SCP, but it should still track at 'A' rate).
So what to do? What to do?
I am tempted to email the Astronomical Society of SA and see if there's someone in Adelaide with this mount and who would be happy to come and set it up, show me physically how it's done. I don't even mind paying for the service. Unless there's someone from SA on here that want's to come assist for a bottle of scotch.
I shall keep persisting.
Damien