Polar alignment

[matt]

OK...

Had a chance last night to set up with RA and Dec motors powered up.

Did a rough polar align and was quite happy with tracking.

Had to make occasional adjustments to keep venus in EP at higher mags.

Quick question: What's the process for fine adjustment of polar alignment???

How do I adjust it across the course of a night's viewing to be more accurately aligned?

As ever, all help very much appreciated

[rochler]

I presume you mean that you want to 'fine tune' your alignment - in which case you'd need to use the drift method?

I've attached a doc that explains how you can adjust your polar alignment as you go....

Cheers Fred....

[matt]

Thanks Fred

And yes ... you "presume" correctly ...

I was refering to "fine adjustment" ... as refered to as "fine adjustment" in the attached document!!!

Nice to hear from you, by the way. Think it's the first time we've "liaised"????

Cheers mate

[rochler]

Howdy hoo! Glad the doc. was some help. Must admit that I've never even tried a drift alignment yet. Haven't progressed beyond the basic 'looking at stuff' yet hehe... I've only got a cheapie starter scope (6" newt & GEM). Basically a chinese starter model.

Until I get a decent EQ mount, with motor drive(s) so I can do some astrophotography, I really don't need to get much alignment accuracy. Even just pointing the polar axis due south is good enough for basic viewing - if you don't mind giving it a nudge every now & again.

In your case, of course, you probably want accuracy since you're tracking with motors otherwise why bother having them. I imagine that once you've done the drift alignment a few times it'll become second nature & quite quick. You'll probably get a 'feel' for how much to adjust, given the apparent speed it deviates. Then the skies will be your celestial oyster so to speak!

Good luck with your scope, see if you can piggyback an SLR on it and take some nice widefield shots, or if you've got a webcam try some planetary? You will have a hoot I reckon....

Cheers 4 now, Fred...

Fred, were you at ASSA on Wed night.??

[rochler]

Yup, i wuz there! Signed up for membership & stuff. Even won a Milky Way bar hehe.... I was the dopey guy in the black leather jacket....

I was there, but on the left hand side of the room about 4 rows from the front right behind Michael O'Leary, who runs the planetarium. All things being equal I will be at Westminster on Sat night.

[rochler]

I dunno if I can make it to Westminster - wife isn't working so she'll expect some quality time. Where is it anyhow?

Went crazy & bought myself a ToUcam today. With the slow mod. & adapter + barlow. May as well start to practice some skills with the scope. Hope we get some good weather for it...

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

You'll love the Toucam Fred!!!!!

Good purchase. I still have to work out how to use the Long exposure yet, but I'll get there.

Have fun.

[rochler]

Yep, I reckon it should be fun learning how to use it. I'm not expecting much success, since I only have a cheap & wobbly GEM and I need to learn how to setup & use the software(s). But I'd rather start now so that when I get a good platform I can at least hit the ground running so to speak... Not sure, but I think the slow exposure is set from the software? What are u using to drive it?

I pick mine up tomorrow hehe...

Woke up at 3.30am last night & couldn't get back to sleep - as happens occasionally these days. But a good excuse to take the scope out. Had a nice view of Saturn, which was just passing by the Beehive so I took my first look at that too. Also got a good glimpse of 47 Tuc before the dawn came on.

[asimov (John)]

Hiya Rochler.

You'd be surprised what one can do with a cheap & wobbly mount. The toucam is pretty easy to pick up on, you'll be right!