Reticle eyepiece for drift alignment ?

[Vega]

Hi

Ok, I've finally given in... my polar scope is a pain to use, and my lazy method of polar alignment just doesn't cut it for astro-photography over 30 secs.

Drift aligment is the only answer :roll:. Can anyone recommend a reticle eyepeice for the job ? I'm using a refractor with 1000mm focal length. Would 12mm be ok or is 9mm a better option ?

Cheers

Matt

[Kai]

I would of thought the 9mm

Have a look at the Rigel products on Ian Kings site as the seem very good value for money .

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

If you can get a laptop near the 'scope you can use the webcam. Much easier and just as accurate.

Captain Chaos

[Kai]

How do you do that then CC ???

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

http://stargazerslounge.co.uk/index.php?topic=10821.0

Should get you started.

Captain Chaos

[Vega]

Nice one CC, will try that. I have the 'free temporary registration code' version of K3CCD Tools.

I only hope I can keep a star in view better than when I image saturn. Thinking about it, I was using a 3x barlow last time

Matt

[Kai]

Cheers CC

[Astroman]

It only takes me about 5 minutes to drift align. I use a 12mm illuminated reticle from Meade that's horrible optically. All you need is something to show which way the star drifts, north or south. It just takes a bit of practice.

Here's my tutorial:

http://www.stargazing.net/Astroman/Alignme.html

[Vega]

I did it! :cheers: I took CC's advice... why fork out £70+ on an illuminated reticle EP when you already have a trusty toucam pro II. Aligning the on-screen crosshairs with the two axis is actually easier with a webcam cus you simply rotate the webcam in the eyepeice holder until the star follows it correctly in both axis.

I must admit, my first drift alignment session took a country mile longer than 5 minutes! I levelled/polar aligned my mount as best I could using my normal methods. Then hooked up the toucam to my laptop and took a deep breath... Choosing and getting a 60deg star at the meridian in the webcam view was surprisingly easy (I have always used the webcam in a barlow previously). I had to make 3-4 azm adjustments to move the star to the right and then re-drifts before the star didn't move up for more than 2 minutes. Once I was happy (a good 40 minutes gone) I swung over to the East and used a star near Arcturus. I found the up/down adjustment harder as my motor drive is very slow to react in this axis (for when I'm re-centering the star on to the crosshairs). It would have been quicker for me to adjust with the slow motion controls instead of the motor controller.

Anyways, it resulted in me snapping many pics of M35 and some longer exposures on M51! I did a couple 3 minute exposures just to see... very very slight star trail's. The best thing was finding/seeing M51 for only the 2nd time since I've had this scope (very very faint but clearly there. I was extactic).

Matt

ps Venus was awsome last night!!! :shock: :shock:

[Astroman]

Way to go, Matt! With a little practice, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time.