Hi Lisa,
I see that you're using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope (SCT) for visual observation. I had an 8-inch Celestron SCT in the 1990s, and I absolutely loved it.
With an SCT featuring a 2032mm focal length, achieving accurate polar alignment is crucial for successfully locating objects in the sky. Due to the narrow field of view, minor alignment errors can significantly impact GoTo accuracy, making it challenging to center targets efficiently. If the polar alignment is not precise, GoTo functionality may struggle to place objects within the field of view, requiring manual adjustments.
If you're using an iPhone, you can adjust the compass settings to display True North instead of Magnetic North, which may help refine alignment:
📌(
https://youtu.be/4hhIIdGfPv0?si=xXtKHp_99CYIeQfc).
For my own setup, I use Polar Scope Align Pro (iPhone app) to achieve an initial alignment before attaching my telescope. Afterward, I perform precise polar alignment using my ASIair system and a dedicated camera. While ASIair may not be applicable in your case, ensuring your mount is closely aligned with the southern celestial pole will significantly improve tracking and object locating performance.
Do you have an astronomy club near you?
Clear Skies,
Christiaan