Polar alignment
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- Posts: 98
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- Real Name: jessica palmer
- Location: Saint Paul
Polar alignment
I've been looking at polar finder scopes. Are they necessary or is there an easier way than very roughly aligning with Polaris? I want to start playing with setting circles.
- Dave Venne
- Posts: 1932
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 4:33 pm
- Real Name: Dave Venne
Re: Polar alignment
You can look through the hole the polar scope would go. Center Polaris in that view and the setting circles will be able to get you reasonably close to objects.
If you're not taking long-exposure images you can probably do just fine without a polar scope.
If you're not taking long-exposure images you can probably do just fine without a polar scope.
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- Posts: 98
- Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2020 1:23 am
- Real Name: jessica palmer
- Location: Saint Paul
Re: Polar alignment
Thanks! I don't plan on doing long exposure imaging...then again 3 years ago I didn't think I'd be doing any imaging at all.
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- Posts: 176
- Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2018 9:19 pm
- Real Name: Conrad Sanders
Re: Polar alignment
I actually don't use a polar scope for polar alignment.
I use Sharpcap Pro or Nina using my OTA or guidescope.
I use Sharpcap Pro or Nina using my OTA or guidescope.
Conrad Sanders
Celestron Evolution 8
Celestron CGX Mount
Celestron CPC 1100
Hyperstar
Lunt LS60MT Solar Scope
Celestron Evolution 8
Celestron CGX Mount
Celestron CPC 1100
Hyperstar
Lunt LS60MT Solar Scope
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- Posts: 98
- Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2020 1:23 am
- Real Name: jessica palmer
- Location: Saint Paul
Re: Polar alignment
I forgot about Sharpcap. I'll give that a try next time. Thanks!!
- clayton
- Posts: 1383
- Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:51 pm
- Real Name: Clayton Lindsey
- Location: Woodbury, MN
Re: Polar alignment
NiNA has one now too. I have read it’s easier if you have a automated scope.
This was interesting https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/7889 ... alignment/
TLDR : Precision of methods are “good enough” but not perfect. There are precision errors and repeatability errors between trails of even the same tool. All get you to a good enough polar alignment for guiding to the limits of smaller rigs.
This was interesting https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/7889 ... alignment/
TLDR : Precision of methods are “good enough” but not perfect. There are precision errors and repeatability errors between trails of even the same tool. All get you to a good enough polar alignment for guiding to the limits of smaller rigs.
Clayton Lindsey