MAJOR polar alignment issues - HEQ5 Pro

[HunterGeo (David)]

No, my mount was built in 2001 so predates the adjustable-brightness mounts.

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Originally Posted by Logieberra

P.s. Richard, what is that guidescope on your Vixen? Camera lens?

Yes, a 500mm f8 mirror lens with a QHY5 and Geoptik adapter. I haven't had a chance to properly test yet with a full guiding session (i had previously been using the LP 80mm f6 shown on the table in the background), but might start a new thread when i've had a chance to review properly.

[DJT (David)]

This will slay you..If you are using the circular device thing to help set up , the one on the side of the mount , that allegedly indicates the latitude you have the mount at... It may be the issue.

I spent three months completely failing to get any sort of alignment sorted out. I went through a drift align procedure , eventually, and got it tracking just fine. (note, no software was used at this point). I then checked what the latitude was "per the disk on the side of the mount" only to find it was 6 degrees off..some lazy slacker didnt pay enough attention when sticking it on, one late friday afternoon in some factory somewhere.

I noted the "correct" position and have had no issues since. even though I now have a permanent setup I do still check using drift align as I cant see any of the stars in octans. Alignmaster and all of that stuff is great, but feel the force Luke and try drift aligning one night. one night your laptop may have no power.. Cant believe how far off that sticker was...

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Dave,
I've come into the thread late...
I have both an HEQ5pro and a NEQ6pro here in Maribyrnong.
If you feel it would help you, you're welcome to visit and see what I do.
99% of the time for the portable HEQ5pro I just use the solar noon shadow to get aligned. (I do solar imaging and spectroscopy)
Let me know.

[alistairsam]

hi David

as others mentioned, solar noon gives a very good reference for az if imaging from a backyard.
drift alignment even with an illuminated reticle will get you very close and I've gone through most methods including alignmaster but have finally settled on the ccd PA method, which is essentially drift alignment but is a lot more clearer in identifying drift. there's no ambiguity, you just have to get the v to a straight line.

I had a heq5 pro as well, and what I found useful was to adjust your setting cirles in ra and dec using the spirit level as in the SW manual, then setting your park position based on the circle. that in my experience helps immensely with the first goto.
but you do need to be closely aligned in az and elevation.

the angle meter is invaluable for elevation. only variable thats then remaining is azimuth and the stars and stellarium are good to get you started.
do let us know how you go.
cheers
Alistair

[Logieberra (Logan)]

And that factory installed bubble level? For get about pleasing it. As you know, no need for a perfectly level mount to align to the pole - though it helps

[Logieberra (Logan)]

Richard, that is sweet. Thx for the scope details.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by DJT

This will slay you..If you are using the circular device thing to help set up , the one on the side of the mount , that allegedly indicates the latitude you have the mount at... It may be the issue.

I spent three months completely failing to get any sort of alignment sorted out. I went through a drift align procedure , eventually, and got it tracking just fine. (note, no software was used at this point). I then checked what the latitude was "per the disk on the side of the mount" only to find it was 6 degrees off..some lazy slacker didnt pay enough attention when sticking it on, one late friday afternoon in some factory somewhere.

I noted the "correct" position and have had no issues since. even though I now have a permanent setup I do still check using drift align as I cant see any of the stars in octans. Alignmaster and all of that stuff is great, but feel the force Luke and try drift aligning one night. one night your laptop may have no power.. Cant believe how far off that sticker was...

6° out? THAT all - mine is 9° out!!!! My lat is 26° 43'44", yet when properly polar aligned, the decal indicator says 35°. I use a combination of a digital and mechanical (engineer's) inclinometer to get a spot on alt.

We won't go into how utterly useless my setting circles are... and looking through the polar scope may as well be looking into a torch (and it is a RECENT NEQ6) - NO idea how you are supposed to see Octans with it.

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

Old fashioned drift alignment is simple, foolproof, needs no software or fancy equipment and is as accurate as any-- perhaps more so.
Geoff

[HunterGeo (David)]

Sorry for the slow response to the last few posts - have been flat-out at work in the lead-up to Easter.

I was able to use AlignMaster to get a very accurate polar alignment within about ten minutes (once I got EQMOD and all that other b.s. that goes with it sorted out) so I am very happy with that solution.

I plan on adding in a webcam of some sort and upgrading to PEMPro at some stage to increase precision further (once I get some more cash in the bank and I decide to buy an autoguider) - but that's a few months off yet.

I agree with LewisM - my setting circles are next to useless. Closest I've had elevation to being correct was at about 20degrees on the circle itself (Melbourne is, what, 38deg?)... so mine is at least 18 degrees out!

Geoff- thanks for the thought, but as I detailed in my original post, I had issues doing the drift alignment.

Thanks Ken for your offer (and for offering the same several times in the past - you're too generous!) but for now things are sorted. I was particularly interested in your suggestion (seconded by Alistair) regarding the solar noon shadow. This could be useful for setting up the mount when I want to image the Sun in the afternoon. Sadly, my backyard isn't exactly secure so I can't leave the telescope set up and bugger off for a few hours...


Thanks to all for the suggestions and help. Happy Easter.