Quote:
Originally Posted by kustard
With the two star auto align on my CPC 925 I find that the accuracy is not that great. I've tried a few combinations of stars with varying successes. I'm assuming your CPC is the CPC 800 GPS and has the SkyAlign feature which lets you align on 3 bright objects. I have found this method of alignment to be the best and most accurate.
The thing to remember with the SkyAlign feature is that when you point to the third object that this object is not on the same line as the first two objects. I found that if you can make the biggest triangle in the sky with the three objects then you get the best alignment and accuracy.
Remember to only use the manual alignment with the first object, if you release the clutches with the subsequent objects it will affect the alignment process (i.e. use the controller to slew to the other two objects).
As Michael pointed out, moving the mirror from one extreme to the other a couple of times will help with the mirror shift problem. I've done it with mine but have noticed it's still quite jerky (though my old C8 was nice and still) so I've gone and put a Crayford focuser on the scope which improves focussing no end (though not really required, I just happened to have the money to get it).
Other than that, nice report and good to hear you had a good experience with the eyepieces.
NB: I can recommend grabbing a Telrad or RedDot (zero magnification) finder to help with the initial alignment of the scope. Once you're aligned you can turn it off but I find them (I've used both) really useful if the scope is at an awkward angle.
|
Wow thanks for the pointers. I did try a 3 point skyalign on the first time I took the scope out and found that the identified three objects were way out - including Regulus which I can't even get due to Northward trees. I'll have to try it again as I think it really requires like you say a triangle of stars. Having said that the misalignment with the two star auto was not great. I mean Saturn was about halfway between the centre and field stop on GOTO.
The included finderscope is abysmal. I'm definitely going to get something like you point out. Telrad probably.
I'm not sure about the Feathertouch focussers yet. Quite a bit of money and I was considering the knob modification but I see the benefit of perhaps using the Crayford type instead.