|
I use Alignmaster to setup my LX200 on it's tripod and superwedge.
Use the compass to point the wedge mount North. I know Adelaide is several degrees off this (8.5degE so aim it a bit west? This one always confuses me hehehe), but this will get you pretty close first time. My compass does not read accurately enough to get closer to true north anyway. Once I've done it once I put the feet back in the same place and line up on a point on the fence with the wedge screws centered to get within 2 degrees or so every night I take it out. A couple turns on the wedge screw takes this out.
Use the bubble level in the wedge. I sometimes forget to do this. If you're close it doesn't matter too much. Just center between the crosshair lines in PHD when you turn the adjustment screws on the wedge. If you're too un-level though Alignmaster slews too far off in both axis to keep the job easy.
With my LX200 Classic I set it to POLAR and quit any alignment. Once Alignmaster has done it's thing from 1st star to 2nd star, run it again from 2nd star to 1st star, then select the STAR from the LX200 manual and hold ENTER. The scope then knows the whole sky. To slew to a dim object then hold ENTER on a star closer to your target to refine the accuracy.
Slewing to Sig Oct is not possible for me anyway if I have the f6.3 reducer attached anyway. That would break the camera against the fork! d'oh.
Mark
|