This tutorial best suited for the eqneq6atlas mounts. Then, you are asked to rotate the ra axis of your telescope mount to determine the rotation of the mechanical axis. If only there were a quick way to align your scope. Quick and easy polar alignment included with the heq5 is an illuminated polar finderscope to assist astronomers with quick and easy polar alignment. Polar cat is a board game based on tic tac toe classic game using polar coordinates. By aligning the axis of your telescope mount with the motion of the sky, you can accurately track objects in space.
The best program for polar alignment mounts cloudy nights. Polemaster a highprecision, easy to use electronic polar scope as any seasoned astroimager would agree, achieving good polar alignment is not an easy task. In the southern hemisphere the procedure is the same but you have to use the asterism in octans. This technical note sets out the procedures required to accurately polar align a synta eq3eq5heq5 or synta eq6. Allstar polar alignment celestron telescopes, telescope.
Neq6 pro synscan computerised goto extra heavy duty equatorial telescope mounting system with v. The imaging camera in polemaster has a resolution of 30 arc second, so the best polar alignment that can be achieved by polemaster is also in the order of 30 arc seconds. The qhy polemaster allows you to obtain a high precision polar alignment in about two minutes. Astromate x64 is a project for automating repeating astrophotography tasks, such as equatorial mount polar alignment and target centering, by integrating existing tools and especially plate solving to the ascom telescope control interface. Eqmod polar alignment check using 3star coordinate. Apr 02, 2018 download parot polar aligner for free. A computer with windows os tested with winxp x64, win7 x64. Set up and align the goto system in whatever way the mount requires. I received my eq6 r three days ago, along with a brand new 155wh lithium 12v battery to power it. By rotating your mounts right ascension axis by 15 degrees or more, the software can confirm this value. Youre in luck, because there is a way to get rough polar alignment that takes about 30 seconds. Its certainly worth working your way up in the hobby slowly, mastering one thing at a time. The following is a list of all the polar alignment software that i am aware of. Eqmod polar alignment checking using 3star coordinate transformation.
This technical note sets out the procedures required to accurately polar align a synta eq3 eq5 heq5 or synta eq6. Aligning an apogee fork mount using an iphone running sky safari 5. Polar alignment free polar alignment software download. The solar track mode is a new fuction to track the sun and does not need an alignment. If you find the polar reticule appears too bright, on later mounts check your sw handcontroller settings it is possible to dim the illumination by down loading and running. The mount must be setup with polar aligned for an equatorial mount, or. Heq5 pro polar alignment with synscan beginner area east. Temporarily disable the polar re alignment function for the feature still under improvement. After alignment, eqmod initate tracking, so you can adjust your mount and bring polaris to hes bubble with no rush. The polemaster uses a sensitive camera to take a picture of sky around polaris. Use the altitude and azimuth adjusters to placec polaris into the small circle in the polar scope reticule. The eq6 r boasts a number of features to aid astrophotographers.
Found that all the websites explaining the process are either written for the northern hemisphere or incorrectly converted to the southern hemisphere. It seems to work the same way as alignmaster by poiting towards a star, then align to the star and then the mount will slew a little and then align with the alt first then dec. Star adventurer southern hemisphere quick polar alignment duration. The lack of this third modification would bite me as i would need three attempts to polar align the mount.
It should be noted that polaris, although being accepted as the north star, is not quite at the the ncp. With its help im able align my eq6 mount with subarcminute accuracy in five minutes of time. The equipment used in this example a skywatcher heq5 german equatorial mount. The skywatcher usa eq6 r pro was smartly designed for astrophotographers with features like a built in st4 autoguider port and shutter release port, making this an astrophotography powerhouse. Polar align on equatorial mount in southern hemisphere. The eq6r boasts a number of features to aid astrophotographers. This method, if done precisely, can get you to a very good. For instructions on polar alignment using drift align in the southern hemisphere, visit how to polar align easily in phd2 drift align. Using the integrated rs232 port, you can control the telescope from your computer and take advantage of todays most advanced astronomy software. For amateur astronomers seeking superior equatorial control and the ease of a precision computerized goto system. I would also like to know how accurate is the polar alignment feature on the synscan handsets for the eq6 or heq5.
Me rambling about how i do polar alignment on my eq6 mount. Polemaster polar scope buy qhy polemaster electronic polar. The finderscope features a circular grid reticle for the northern hemisphere, consistent with todays popular polar alignment apps. Skywatcher includes an illuminated polar finderscope to aid the polar alignment process. Click on align polar scope button and polarscope tool will align your ra axis exactly to the position of the polaris in the sky according to the time and coordinates of your observation site. Qhy polemaster polar alignment camera cloud break optics. You may spend hours under precious dark sky trying to get that perfect polar alignment, but in the end you may not know whether good alignment has in fact been achieved. With a weight capacity of 44 lbs, the eq6r can handily support an optical tube, imaging accessories and camera. That is, polar alignment scope, compass and level, alignmaster, camera software assisted drift aligning, plate solving pam, etc, alignmaster. Polar alignment information southern hemisphere having trouble working out how to polar align your telescope in the southern hemisphere. Skywatcher eq6 equatorial goto telescope mount s30100. This item is in stock and typically ships in 1 day or less. Feb 08, 2012 me rambling about how i do polar alignment on my eq6 mount. The process of this is beyond the scope of this tutorial and the reason for it is simple eqmods website already has an excellent pdf stepbystep tutorial on using eqmod for polar alignment and it is viewable here click link.
While most mounts leave you high and dry to purchase accessories on your own. Parot is a program for ultra fast and precise polar alignment of equatorial mounts. A comprehensive tutorial on setting up the polar scope finder for the popular. The built in st4 autoguider port turns this mount into an astrophotography powerhouse, allowing you to utilize most of todays best autoguiders.
They are bit different than the larger mounts but the principle is the same. Qhy polemaster electronic polar scope high point scientific. But it also possible to perform with smaller heq5 mounts. Laser collimation, sharpcap polar alignment, plate solve, crab nebula and thors helmet nebula duration. Eqalign is a project that assists to align a german equatorial mount gem exactly to the earth polar axis. The method used is that of julius scheiner 185819 german mathematic, physic, astronomer and pioneer in astrophotography.
This means that the axis of the mount will then be aligned parallel to the earths axis. Lets say youre all set to capture photos of the 2017 solar eclipse with your. Skywatcher eq6 polar scope and polar alignment posted in mounts. If you have your laser aligned well with your telescopes axis, and sight it through the telescope at medium power, you can achieve a very good polar alignment using this method. Polar align with polar finder scopes electronic polar. Allstar allows users to choose any bright star, while the software calculates and assists with polar alignment. The better your mounts polar alignment, the longer your unguided images can be before you start to see star trails in your images as a result of the earths rotation. For astronomers in the southern hemisphere, the constellation octans is built into the reticle as well. Polar alignmentaligning the skywatcher heq5orion sirius. Software bisque polar alignment scope for paramount me or mx mounts scopemeiimx. The eqmod project eqascom polarscope alignment tool note. Accurate polar alignment has never been so simple, just put the x.
The mount seemed to work ok, but on several occasions while executing a goto command the mount would stall while making a very loud noise. What weve found, however, is a short supply of instructions for astronomers in the southern hemisphere what do you do if you want to polar. Update and correct the solar tracking speed in the solar track mode. Mar 21, 2019 the qhy polemaster electronic polar scope was designed to make your polar alignment routine easier, and more precise.
Drift alignment in detail the explanation of how to polar align using the drift method is as follows. Hi there, i am trying the polar alignment on eq6, a lot of instructions. Tutorial on how to perform polar alignment with the hour angle method. The qhy polemaster allows you to obtain a high precision polar alignment up to 30 arcseconds in about two minutes.
Polar connection is a simple fourinarow game played on a polar circular grid instead of the traditional rectangle. Even without a clear view of polaris, the eq pro can be polar aligned using our. Using polemaster and following a few simple, easytofollow, steps you can achieve perfect polar alignment in 23 minutes. Polar alignment information southern hemisphere rogers. Introduction in solar track mode, the hand control also needs to be connected to a skywatcher telescope mount. Any shift, rotation, scaling on a given set of catalog points can be computed using the matrix transformation process. To use the current version of parot, you will need. Needing to track in only one axis for long exposures. Im not new to astronomy by any means, having got my first telescope for my eleventh birthday over fifty years ago. Ozscopes the australian telescope experts when it comes to the polar alightment of equatorial mounts, there already exists a wealth of knowledge and information on the internet. No matter which camera tracker or telescope mount youre using, when it comes to astrophotography, accurate polar alignment is critical. Obviously there could be others that i am not aware of.
Jul 21, 2015 ive been googling all evening and lost for a possible solution for tweeking the polar alignment for an observatory based heq5 mount. Polar alignmentaligning the skywatcher heq5orion sirius mount. Allstar polar alignment technology german equatorial mounts gem have long since been recognized as the mount of choice for astrophotography. Parot is software for ultrafast and precise polar alignment of equatorial mounts. Allstar is our exclusive, innovative polar alignment procedureavailable on select celestron computerized telescopesthat allows users to choose any bright star not just one near the ncp while the software calculates and assists with polar alignment. See our entire collection of polar scope telescope at high point scientific today.
Skymaster pro, altas eqg, atlas pro, neq6, exos2gt, and the eq6 azeq6. The polemaster is an innovative product pioneered by qhyccd to relieve the pain of polar alignment. Easy polar alignment for astrophotography step by step. The new ioptron ipolar electronic polarscope is a quick, easy way to accurately polar align your mount, even when you cannot see the pole star. Provides an alignment layer driver to sit above indi telescope drivers. For the celestron eq6 mounts, the polar alignment scope needs to be owner installed and collimated before it can be used. In fact, you dont really need software polar alignment features in your scope. Using goto for polar alignment without software feature. Nov 28, 2015 im not new to astronomy by any means, having got my first telescope for my eleventh birthday over fifty years ago. Align your mount by moving the mount until the position of polaris from this program, is in the same position on the reticle of your polar finder. You can easily achieve alignment accuracy better than 1 arcmin in 5 minutes of time. Skywatcher eq6 pro synscan computerised goto equatorial. The setup process can also be used with the eq6 mount and orion equivalents. Adjust equatorial mount pointing direction set the counterweight shaft at the lowest point.
Neq6 synscan polar align feature discussions mounts. Fine tuning my the polar alignment accuracy of my telescope mount using the qhy polemaster. Make sure that the mount is initially adjusted with the bubble level horizontal in order to calibrate your local meridian line. Polar alignment information southern hemisphere roger. If i hadnt tried drift aligning, id never have known. How to polar align your telescope mount eq polar alignment. Polar alignment sharpcap lunar, planetary, solar and deep. Now select celestron mounts can utilize a new innovative polar alignment procedure called allstar. With its sensitive camera, youll be able to see even the faintest stars. The polemaster is a great solution to this problem. Just recently, though, i acquired my very first goto mount, an heq5 pro synscan and i here i am a complete beginner.
It should be noted that polaris, although being accepted as. This simply means that you should be pointing your telescope at a celestial pole so you can cancel out the motion of the sky by turning the axis by handmotor drive at the same rate as the earths. Skywatcher eq6 equatorial goto telescope mount s30100 the skywatcher eq6 is a medium load equatorial mount with advanced features that enhance all of your astronomy adventures. Heq5 pro polar alignment with synscan beginner area. The second way to get an accurate polar alignment is to purchase and install the optional polar alignment scope. Polar align on equatorial mount in southern hemisphere ozscopes.
The list includes polealignmax, align master, eq align, wcs, pempro, polar finder, star targ 2. Polar alignment freeware for free downloads at winsite. Polar alignment is the process of aligning the mount so that it points at the ncp the north celestial pole or the scp south celestial pole. Im wondering if its just my mount that has inaccurate software, or are they all like it. You can race down the road with a few minutes to spare, but accurately following the sun without polar aligning your mount in broad daylight is next to impossible.
As with eqmod, this software is initialised and controlled from sequence generator pro. In this procedure, adjusting the ra isnt important, just leave it, drift in the ra is just a case of your motor being slowfast, not an. This is strongly recommended if wishing to perform a good polar alignment. Polar alignment is an essential first step towards a night of visual observation or astrophotography. Polar alignment is an essential part of your telescope set up process. Invaluable as a guide to this topic which can be very confusing. It even had functionality to assist with drift alignment of the mount something that i need to look into in the future. I use the alignment tool in eqmod, which rotates the mount to the ha for polaris, but there are two factors which allow for a near enough rather than a spot on adjustment. Skywatcher eq6 polar scope and polar alignment mounts. How to polar align an equatorial mount in the southern hemisphere. A comprehensive tutorial on setting up the polar scope finder for the popular heq5 mount and polar alignment. My questions are to do with polar alignment which i understand.
A precise telescope mount polar alignment using alignmaster software. A wide field of view of 11x8 degree makes it very easy to locate the pole star 4. I intend to include more detailed comparisons, but in the short term, i hope that the following is useful. Accurate polar alignment is a specific requirement of any kind of astrophotography as only by achieving this alignment can accurate tracking of celestial bodies be made and this is a prerequisite of photographing sky objects. Mar 25, 2018 this video was made for an exhibition but here it is for my first youtube video. You can test your polar alignment accuracy without a sharpcap pro license to learn how the feature works, but you will need to buy a sharpcap pro license to use the polar alignment adjustment stage that guides you in to correct alignment. Polar alignment relies on one theory as a fulcrum that the polar axis of your telescope should be parallel to the earths axis of rotation. Polar alignment of your equatorial mount the blog formerly.
My orion atlas eq6 came with a standard polar alignment scope that was factory collimated. Altas eqg, atlas pro, neq6, exos2gt, and the eq6 azeq6. Hi there, i am trying the polar alignment on eq6, a lot of instructions over here and over the web mention about the polaris circle but i do not see it in the mounts polar scope, am i missing anything. The drift align method can be used in either hemisphere by using a free software called phd2 guiding. In this procedure, adjusting the ra isnt important, just leave it, drift in the ra is just a case of your motor being slowfast, not an alignment problem. All you need is a stardard webcam, your scope and a pc. In this tutorial i want to show how to perform polar alignment using eqmods polar alignment tool. Skywatcher eq6r pro skywatcher skywatcher global website. The drift align method can be used in either hemisphere by using free software called phd2 guiding. This is another free piece of software and it runs rings around thesky x with regard to ease of use.
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