NEQ6 star trails

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Golden rule of drift alignment...

• watch a star near zenith for azimuth adjustments
• watch a star near the horizon for altitude adjustments

and then iterate a couple of times (they interact) until you nail it.

When it comes to which way to turn...it doesn't matter...try turning one way, and if it makes it worse, turn it the other way

I use the DARV method as implemented in APT (Astrophotography Tool), quick and easy to get it done. With the DARV method, you "watch" a star as above but with the camera shutter open, basically track East for a short period of time and then reverse and track West for a similar time. If your polar alignment is good, the trail of the star will follow it's own path back. If your polar alignment is off, you'll get a V-shape. Adjust the relevant axis until the V-shape shrinks and becomes just a line. Then slew to the other part of the sky - horizon if you just did zenith, zenith if you just did horizon - and repeat. Just remember only to touch the adjustments according to the rules...

[thegableguy (Chris)]

Originally Posted by bugeater

How are you trying to align? I found the process built into the handset to be quite easy, though perhaps not the most accurate method. Start simple and work from there. Guessing is unlikely to work

I've been taking several 30-second exposures and seeing which direction the stars are moving, but then scratching my head in mystification as to which direction things need to move. Took hours before I got close and still it was only good for 30-40 seconds. I'd really like to get 2-3 mins.

Guess I'll keep practicing..!

[thegableguy (Chris)]

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

Golden rule of drift alignment...

• watch a star near zenith for azimuth adjustments
• watch a star near the horizon for altitude adjustments

and then iterate a couple of times (they interact) until you nail it.

When it comes to which way to turn...it doesn't matter...try turning one way, and if it makes it worse, turn it the other way

That's the shortest version I've ever seen! Thank you!!

I tried the DARV version but neglected to leave it still for the first few seconds so I had arrows but didn't know which direction they were going...! Will try again when I can. Thanks again.

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Hope it helps!

Well...holding it still for a couple of seconds helps but ultimately it doesn't matter...it's either a V-shape or it's not the adjustments you make should either make the V-shape wider or narrower.

[thegableguy (Chris)]

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

Hope it helps!

Well...holding it still for a couple of seconds helps but ultimately it doesn't matter...it's either a V-shape or it's not the adjustments you make should either make the V-shape wider or narrower.

Quick question - do they have to be anywhere specific on the horizon and the zenith (meridian, equator etc) or will any low star & high star work?

[raymo]

They need to be on or near to the meridian, and low in the east or west.
raymo

[thegableguy (Chris)]

Originally Posted by raymo

They need to be on or near to the meridian, and low in the east or west.
raymo

Hmmm. Thought so. That's gonna make it tricky. Hmmm.

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Or as low as you can get, east or west (it doesn't matter which) in practice. The further you get away from the horizon the less pronounced the effect of inaccurate altitude adjustment becomes.

It doesn't have to be any particular bright star either. Your camera just needs to pick up stars.

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

Should end up with a result similar to this

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

Duplicate sorry