EQ mounts and polar allignment... Bit mind bending.

[pipnina]

On Tuesday I got a Skywatcher 130 (The 900mm focal length version, not the 650mm). Aside from collimation woes, my biggest issue is working out how an EQ mount works. It boggles the mind somewhat.

AFAIK I point the scope with everything straight at polaris... And then I can just move the Azimuth to follow objects around the sky? Also, the azimuth doesn't seem to have much movement in it... Less than 180degrees (And the slow motion knob is something that screws itself in and locks up after a certain point, whereas declination is continuous.

reference: http://i.imgur.com/o8nimAM.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/0wcFSfu.jpg  <--- My azimuth as far as it goes both ways, it is somewhat limiting...

I've read a few articles on the topic of polar alignment and the instructions in my scopes' manual. No avail.

If I want to look at something other than Polaris's part of the sky, how should i do it?

~ A very confused pipnina

[Cornelius Varley]

Hello and welcome to SGL. Equatorial mounts can be a bit daunting at first, but after using them for a few nights you will wonder what the fuss was all about. Until then, take a look at this video. It explains how to set up the mount and how to slew the telescope around to see the southern parts of the sky.

and this link

http://astronomyboy.com/eq/

[pipnina]

Hello and welcome to SGL. Equatorial mounts can be a bit daunting at first, but after using them for a few nights you will wonder what the fuss was all about. Until then, take a look at this video. It explains how to set up the mount and how to slew the telescope around to see the southern parts of the sky.

-snip-

and this link

http://astronomyboy.com/eq/

Thank you so much!

I've been so confused about how this works for days. It never really twigged in my head until i saw the animations on that site.

Gonna mess with the mount right now and see if I can replicate it.

[Geordie mc]

Hi. Don't get too hung up on perfect polar alignment. For visual use a rough alignment is fine. Only when you want to image with long exposures on a mount that tracks with motors will good alignment become an issue. Enjoy your new scope.

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi and welcome.

[jnb]

Your description seems to confuse azimuth and declination. This might help ...

If the declination won't travel all the way around then check that the declination clamp is not still on. Right ascension isn't too obvious from that photo but it's the control behind the mount from this angle.

[pipnina]

Your description seems to confuse azimuth and declination. This might help ...

If the declination won't travel all the way around then check that the declination clamp is not still on. Right ascension isn't too obvious from that photo but it's the control behind the mount from this angle.

Heheh. Turns out the clamp was still on slightly. Undoing it about 1/4 of a turn fixed it. :s

I tried looking at jupiter using it tonight, Got up to a fuzzy 180x magnification (Probably too much) and sorta made out a couple of bands and caught all four moons. Was pretty good.

Only issues I have now is the declination adjustment screws itself in/out when i turn the knob on the end and often only adjusting the scope one way (Downwards, i think. It's all upside down and back to front and aah) Not sure if it's just the cheap mount (I got the whole thing for £135 so I wasn't expecting the worlds best anything). Tightening the clamp didn't help a lot.

Hi and welcome.

Thanks

[theghettostylus]

I have the same scope and mount as you! Its pretty simple to use once you get it, the Dec control is limited to a certain amount of movement. I found out the hard way, had to take it apart as the bolt and what not came off. Mine is set up so the Dec slow mo is pointing towards the top of the scope and the RA was on the left side but I took it off to add a RA motor drive. I would say forget the Barlow with the 10mm I gave up using it... It works OK with the super wide 25mm but anything else it just kills image quality.

Just ranting tbh as I'm sure you are all sorted with the mount and scope now. I've found it to be a very good starter scope.

I hope you're getting some good views with it.

If you use it on grass be mindful that even putting a foot near the tripod will cause wobble.. Made the scope lift up and Jupiter was gone out of the view.

[JR1987]

For observing with a manual tracking controls I have no idea why polar alignment comes into conversation. plonk the scope down, make sure its level just so it doesn't topple over.. and spend more time at the eyepiece rather than faffing about aligning unnecessarily. 

The only reason id be pro-allignment is for practice if you thought you eventually wanted to start imaging.. when polar alignment becomes crucial

[pipnina]

I have the same scope and mount as you! Its pretty simple to use once you get it, the Dec control is limited to a certain amount of movement. I found out the hard way, had to take it apart as the bolt and what not came off. Mine is set up so the Dec slow mo is pointing towards the top of the scope and the RA was on the left side but I took it off to add a RA motor drive. I would say forget the Barlow with the 10mm I gave up using it... It works OK with the super wide 25mm but anything else it just kills image quality.

Just ranting tbh as I'm sure you are all sorted with the mount and scope now. I've found it to be a very good starter scope.

I hope you're getting some good views with it.

If you use it on grass be mindful that even putting a foot near the tripod will cause wobble.. Made the scope lift up and Jupiter was gone out of the view.

I have a choice where I am:

1: My front garden (This takes two options really) If i place it on the grass it's on a slope and it makes polar alignment (even roughly) a pain.

2: Outisde my front door, Obscures the northern sky (damn house) not too big of a loss as that's where ALL the LP is anyway.

3: Travel 40 mins down the coastline to get reduced LP and enjoy a nice, empty car park.

========

Also, The scope is nice for the price, you're right there!

My only problem is that I'm going to wear the red-dot finder's battery out before long. (I always forget to turn it off!)

[pipnina]

For observing with a manual tracking controls I have no idea why polar alignment comes into conversation. plonk the scope down, make sure its level just so it doesn't topple over.. and spend more time at the eyepiece rather than faffing about aligning unnecessarily. 

The only reason id be pro-allignment is for practice if you thought you eventually wanted to start imaging.. when polar alignment becomes crucial

I polar align somewhat roughly so I can just turn one slow motion to keep objects in view and avoid confusing myself when looking at a different part of the sky.

Also, I do intend on astro-imaging some day. But when I'm more experianced and have more money

[theghettostylus]

I only polar aligned 2 days ago as I got my webcam and motor out other wise I wouldn't bother. I'm very new to imaging and astronomy. I just use a cheap webcam, my phone to record and a cheap single axis motor drive. Cost £38 all in all. You can do it very cheap to start off with.

[DeanSL]

As a totally green newbie, I could not make much sense of the manual for the scope I borrowed, so just took it out and pointed it the first time I used it. But the next day (yesterday) watched the video Cornelius Varley linked to, as well as a couple by this guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TNrPLHB21k  it made so much more sense, I've now balanced everything, set the altitude and am only waiting for the weather! Balancing the scope has made a big difference already, the guy I'm borrowing it from has only used it a couple of time, probably because the set up instructions supplied were not that clear for a newbie.

[pipnina]

I only polar aligned 2 days ago as I got my webcam and motor out other wise I wouldn't bother. I'm very new to imaging and astronomy. I just use a cheap webcam, my phone to record and a cheap single axis motor drive. Cost £38 all in all. You can do it very cheap to start off with.

As a totally green newbie, I could not make much sense of the manual for the scope I borrowed, so just took it out and pointed it the first time I used it. But the next day (yesterday) watched the video Cornelius Varley linked to, as well as a couple by this guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TNrPLHB21k  it made so much more sense, I've now balanced everything, set the altitude and am only waiting for the weather! Balancing the scope has made a big difference already, the guy I'm borrowing it from has only used it a couple of time, probably because the set up instructions supplied were not that clear for a newbie.

Astronomy is the worst hobby to get into in england. Mainly because you only ever get good views of cloud.

[theghettostylus]

Oh the excitement when you do look out side and the sky is as clear as clear can be! I had a lovely clear night last night.

Anyway once you have polar aligned a couple of times its super easy. But if you can keep your scope set up its easier the next time round.