Minded the grandkids during the week and you guessed it , the tripod was bumped by a scooter , oh well this happens ( haven’t polar aligned in 2 years with this mount )
As I have an SW EQ6-R pro mount carrying an 8” f5 Carbon Newt and have no view to the South in Sydney , I usually polar align using the Synscan handcontroller - Synscan Polar Alignment Routine ( been doing this for 7 years ) which has worked well.
This time I decided to use the PHD2 Drift Align Tool ( only used it once before about 3 years ago )
I have to admit it’s a bit time consuming but damn accurate if atmospheric conditions are kind. Took about 20mins minutes to adjust Azimuth and 15 minutes to adjust Altitude. PHD2 reported a total polar alignment error of 0.30 arc min.
I reckon next time I could reduce the amount of time as it takes practice.
Anyway , mount is polar aligned again and ready for some clear nights.
Anyone else using PHD2 to polar align if they have no view of the celestial pole or does everyone use NINA these days. Pole master and Sharpcap need a view of the pole.
Attached is my procedure notes on PHD2 Drift Align Tool ( for those who haven’t used it )
I invested in a used PoleMaster because I have issues even doing a basic 3 star alignment due the Blue mountains in the path of the stars. Lithgow is a basin at the western foot of the Blue Mountains.
I can see the Southern Cross most of the year.
I haven't yet tried out the PoleMaster, I had to buy an adapter to fit my mount and machined one up out of an old (new alloy castings I acquired a small box of) water pump pulley boss for my Astro Trac.
The other night was clear after a small but heavy drenching. Right as I was thinking of taking the Atsro Trac out the mother of all storms came over, I'm glad I hesitated....
As you mentioned you can see the Southern Cross, the south celestial pole ( SCP ) is a fair distance from the Southern Cross , about 35 to 40 degrees in azimuth or about the length of your forearm held up horizontally, where the fist is the Southern Cross and the SCP is the tip of your elbow.
If your using a Pole Master to polar align then hopefully you have clear line of sight from your scopes central axis to the SCP.
Snapshot of Stellarium attached showing locations of Southern Cross and SCP
Thanks Martin!
It's in the one direction I don't have large trees or mountains blocking me but there is a bright street light out the front across the road but I put my mount in the one dark spot left. I'm thinking of putting up a couple of poles and maybe shade cloth to block the light from my line of sight.
