Polar aligning

[PeterEde (Peter)]

So just having purchased my first "real" telescope I have to learn to polar align.
I understand the difficulty of not having a polar star as the Northen stargazers do ?

My process so far
Zero mount
Set tripod pointed South using GPS (can get pretty close)
Adjust azimuth to mag deviation of 7deg to 173 (or pretty close)

Using inclinometer app on phone. Set Lat 34.5 deg for Adelaide

Did I fluke it or does this work (close enough) for viewing?

If set up correctly I should only need to adjust one axis?

thanks for your thoughts

[Amaranthus (Barry)]

Once you get the ALT right, you should not need to adjust that again until you change site. The AZ requires work each time you setup after pulldown.

The way to get things moderately accurate (for viewing) is to use either an automated software (or firmware) tool like Alignmaster or the Synscan Handset routine. The way to get things seriously accurate (for astrophotography) is to use a drift align tool like that in PHD2, Metaguide, AstroTortillla or EQAlign.

[glend (Glen)]

What sort of mount is this?

[PeterEde (Peter)]

EQ3 Glend and no goto. I'm running naked atm.

[glend (Glen)]

Do you have an astronomy app to use as a guide? Something like Sky Safari will help a lot.

[raymo]

Hi Peter, the process you described will be sufficient for casual visual work, requiring only a touch on the dec button or manual slow motion
control from time to time. You can make things easier for yourself by
marking the positions of the tripod legs on the ground, so you don't have to start from scratch each time.
raymo

[PeterEde (Peter)]

Originally Posted by glend

Do you have an astronomy app to use as a guide? Something like Sky Safari will help a lot.

I have Stellarium (still learning how to use, Google sky maps? Seems pretty good and Night sky tools on my phone.
I'll check out Sky Safari. Thanks

Originally Posted by raymo

Hi Peter, the process you described will be sufficient for casual visual work, requiring only a touch on the dec button or manual slow motion
control from time to time. You can make things easier for yourself by
marking the positions of the tripod legs on the ground, so you don't have to start from scratch each time.
raymo

I have marked back 2 leg positions. So far I think I've done ok with only minor adjustments being necessary the last few nights. I've managed to walk away from the moon and returned 30 minutes later and only adjust RA to catch up.

Lots to learn and it's bloody cold

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Originally Posted by PeterEde

....Lots to learn and it's bloody cold

Welcome to astronomy ... heheheh.

I marked three spots out on my driveway for tripod legs and had a levelling bar underneath two of the feet so I could repeat the positioning.
I did a solar noon sighting with a plumb bob to get an accurate Nth/Sth line first for the nthern most foot then squared that for the two sthrn feet. Also did it when I put the pier in for the Observatory.

Who needs all this modern gadgetry ..??

( I confess I used my tablet with an Inclinometer app to confirm the dec right although I did make up a large scale degree circle and a plumb bob again to first do it. )

[NQAstro (Chris)]

HI Peter and welcome to IIS, I just posted a very informative thread HERE its three youtube videos that have some great information regarding Astrophotography and especially mounts. Cheers

[PeterEde (Peter)]

Thanks Chris
Will check'm out