Ricker

Do you need to be worried about how level your tripod is for polar alignment. Seems to me the altitude adjustment tips the mount anyway...

Glad you have it sorted. It does sound like the same approach. Rich

For what it is worth this is what I do. 1. Polar align using polar scope. 2. Refine the polar alignment with Sharp Cap Pro. 3. Go to the object of interestin and platesolve, it will not be in the FOV (it will be a few degrees off). The using the tools available, APT/Sharpcap and I am sure other refine the positioning automatically. For example in Sharpcap there is the option to platesolve, sync and goto. This will then add a point into the pointing model, then move the scope to the requested coordinates. 4. Done. As you observe more objects the pointing will get better but why expend time upfront aligning when platesolve and APT/Sharpcap and others will get you to the objects of interest.

I would get a box that when your scope is stood up on it places the dovetail at the height on the mount. Attach the scope to the mount in this position. Then use the mount to rotate the scope up to the home position