Trouble Aligning Scope

[ashcb1 (Ashley)]

I am a newbie and have been having trouble for quite awhile trying to get correct alignment with my setup.
My equipment
Vixen VC200L
GP Equatorial mount
Goto system Vixen Star Book-S
Access Point(AP) connected to hand controller
Apple Ipad using SkySafari

All works well except for alignment. I setup my mount "N" facing fork pointing "S" at 170deg for my location Maryborough QLD. Both Date and Lats are correct for location. I know that I need pair alignment(two stars). Over the past week I have tried pair alignment with Procyon, Sirius. Sirius,Canopus. Acrux,Canopus. Pollux,Canopus. I have tried two pair alignments as well. Then when I try to goto Seven sisters its way off, the cluster is in the north say 45deg up but the scope positions itself on the horizon. If I then ask to go back to one of the alignment stars it sometimes is correct and other times way off.

From my location I can't see the SCP. I can only think that my choice of starts for my alignment is not correct? I someone can help and thank you for reading.

[alan meehan (Alan)]

HI ashcb1
Are you you using a compass to find south if so go approx ten degress off magnetic south not to many people can see scp.can you do a 3 star allignment that might work .
alan

[multiweb (Marc)]

If you're way out when doing a goto it is likely to be a lat/lng or date/time problem. Also check your mount is relatively level and off by 5 or 10deg from the south.

[niko]

maybe check the date too - sometimes it's dd/mm/yy and with some gear it's mm/dd/yy as per the American system - it's caught me out before

niko

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I wonder if the daylight savings option is to blame?

I use a compass and level every time I set up.
After doing my initial alignment I do a few runs of PAE or Synch To Align (depending on my mount) to refine it.