Polar aligning a GOTO GEM/EQ

[Miaplacidus (Brian)]

OK, I'm just wondering...

When I am aligning my little ETX (in alt/az mode) I point it roughly north, then I do a two star alignment. Now when I'm doing the first star alignment, once the scope has stopped slewing, I actually move the tripod around until that first star is pretty well lined up in my finder. Then I do the second star, which seems to fall pretty well in the right spot, and off I go for the night without a problem.

So... What I'm wondering is if you do something pretty similar with, say, a Meade LXD75, is it possible for you do the same thing, i.e. move the tripod around to meet the first star? Is polar alignment pretty good then for the rest of the night's viewing? (I'm not talking about imaging here.)

Thanks for sharing,

Brian.

[h0ughy (David)]

no

I found that after you let it slew to the star position you then guide the scope to the star, if you have taken the effort and care to level and "aim north" the nyou should not ruin that.

I always slew to the star, and then you are set for the night.

But thats only me........

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

I always slew to the alignment stars, I need to do 3 of them. Sometimes the alignment used to be a bit out, but then I bought an eyepiece with an alignment reticule, which makes the whole process really easy. It usually takes about 5 minutes or so to do all threee, then I am set for the night. Usually the first one may be out by a handspan, the next one is in the finder and the third us often spot on. I wouldn't want to move the tripod anyway, I can barely lift the assembled scope.