puttin the "ponders" polar align approach into practice

[Robert_T]

Hi All,

Well, I got myself some bits and pieces and some high hopes... I've decided to try the "ponders" (thanks Paul ) patented approach, with a bit of dowel up the guts of the RA (see pic 1) and a compass to set this at 11.5deg east of magnetic south.

I also picked up a very neat little plastic protractor with extension and level. I set this up for 27.5deg and put it on the dowel (see pic 2) and just adjusted up and down till I found level. No bloody wonder my tracking has been so bad. I found that when I set for 27.5deg, the dial on the mount only reads 23deg... so I've been running way out.


I've marked where the legs are and I'm ready for action for some piggy back DSLR shots (pic 3)tonight I hope. Even invested in an extendable tree pruner which has won me back about 10deg of horizon to south and north.

Here's to hoping!

[gbeal]

Good luck, let us know how the session goes.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Good onya Rob Looks great

Is that the compass sitting on the scope rings in the third photo? Hope all the metal in the mount doesn't affect it too much. Part of the purpose of the dowel is to get the compass as far from the mount as possible to avoid metallic influences. Maybe you could create a little basket to attach to the end of the dowel and sit the compass in it if its current position creates problems.

[Robert_T]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

Good onya Rob Looks great

Is that the compass sitting on the scope rings in the third photo? Hope all the metal in the mount doesn't affect it too much. Part of the purpose of the dowel is to get the compass as far from the mount as possible to avoid metallic influences. Maybe you could create a little basket to attach to the end of the dowel and sit the compass in it if its current position creates problems.

Success, it worked an absolute treat!!! What looks like a compass in that pick is a brass counterweight.. I kept the compass well away from the mount

I can't remember the last time I actually had tracking keep a star in the FOV for more that a minute or so. This chugged away great guns.

Even better PhD Guiding worked a treat - I got hold of a just created Meade driver suitable for the LXD75 and ASCOM 5 and it works... this is brilliant beyond belief Just setup PHD and Images Plus and you can sit back and enjoy the sky, go make a cup of tea and so on. This is just so far removed from my last experiences of astro photography some 20 years ago, bent over a cross-hair eyepiece for hours on end.

I am just stoked to the MAX... I almost forgot to take any pics. In the end I got 6 exposures of 100s each in the area of CRUX and Eta Carina using my Sigma zoom at 70mm. I can see Stars Just have to work out now how to process and stack, but how hard can that be

[netwolf]

One other trick that my mate Peter came across the other day and advised me was to use a Solar clock. That is place a stick a plunger would do down on the ground where you setup and look at the shadow at Solar noon for your area. The direction of the shadow is True south. Have not tried this yet but sounds like a good old trick to use to find TS.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Brilliant Rob.

[JohnH]

Originally Posted by Robert_T

I also picked up a very neat little plastic protractor with extension and level.

That looks like a handy gadget for setting up in daytime when at a new location, can I ask where you found it and what is cost?

Oh yes and congrats btw it is SOO nice when it all works! Do share your images.

[Robert_T]

[quote=JohnH;329480]That looks like a handy gadget for setting up in daytime when at a new location, can I ask where you found it and what is cost?
quote]

Hi John, yes it's brilliant. I picked it up in the tool section of Bunnings warehouse for $18.

cheers,

Rob

[TrevorW]

how many degress is true south I though it was 2 degrees short of magnetic south ie: 178 not 168.5 or thereabouts which is it

thanks

[h0ughy (David)]

so for those who still have their polar finderscope still part of the mount how do you apply this thought to an eq6, or a G11, without removing them?

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

how many degress is true south I though it was 2 degrees short of magnetic south ie: 178 not 168.5 or thereabouts which is it

thanks

http://www.ga.gov.au/oracle/geomag/agrfform.jsp look here for magnetic declination gives

Australian Geomagnetic Reference Field Computation


Requested: Latitude -32o 06' 00", Longitude 116o 00' 00", Elevation 0 km, Date 2008/05/29
Calculated: Latitude -32.1000o, Longitude +116.0000o, Elevation 0.00 km, Epoch 2008.4071

Magnetic Field Components

D = -1.466 deg

so you are correct, actually you will have to go to 181.5 degrees, for us on the east coast it is more like the 168. See the attached map

[AlexN]

What a brilliant idea... definitely book marking this one for future reference!

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

so for those who still have their polar finderscope still part of the mount how do you apply this thought to an eq6, or a G11, without removing them?

Unfortunately I dont think you can Dave. It relies on being able to use the polarscope sleeve and with the G11 you would have to remove the clutch knob to do that.

[Robert_T]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

so for those who still have their polar finderscope still part of the mount how do you apply this thought to an eq6, or a G11, without removing them?

Hi Houghy, I had a polar scope in my LXD75, but for all the use it was to me I unscrewed it and tossed it into a box. I assume you could do the same with the EQ6.

As for the G11, sounds like from what Paul says it's a no-go, but then I'm jealous of anyone that has a G11 so I have little sympathy