polar alignment

[mikinio]

in my garden i have a flat area at the bottom where i can see polaris but the street light makes it hard work and i cant see the ecliptic because of the tree,and there is a flat area at the top where i can see the ecliptic but not polaris because of my house,is there anyway of doing polar alignment without looking at polaris?

[bcfcciderhead]

Not really, you really do need to get Polaris in the polar scope.

Maybe a rough point to north via a compass might be ok for visual but for photo you have to see polaris.

[mikinio]

didnt think there would be,looks like just visual for me then unless the street lamp has an accident:D

[Ptarmigan]

is there anyway of doing polar alignment without looking at polaris?

I think so, yes, it is called drift alignment.

Have a look HERE on this forum but substituting your eye instead of the web cam described there!

And/or Google "Drift align"

I said at the top "I think so" because I have not yet done it ! I am in the same dilemma as you, I can see polaris from one part of my garden but not so much of the rest of the sky and from my best site for the sky I cant see polaris !

So I was googling and reading what to do about it and found this drift alignment stuff a short while ago,, then saw your post !

[mikinio]

cheers for that will give it a go if the clouds stay away tonight:icon_salut:

[Ptarmigan]

,,, if the clouds stay away tonight:icon_salut:

!!! heheee I bet that was a temptation to the cloud gods !!

Did they stay away, did you have any luck ?

[mikinio]

it was clear for an hour or so but i didnt get round to drift alignment

[jimmyjamjoejoe]

I was looking at how to set up equatorial mounts lastnight, since i'm a newbie. This site details a few different ways of polar alignment, hope it helps

[mikinio]

I was looking at how to set up equatorial mounts lastnight, since i'm a newbie. This site details a few different ways of polar alignment, hope it helps

nice one jimmy can see that being very helpful:icon_salut: