Polar Alignment - Anyone tried these techniques?

[GingerNut]

I found this stuff in the Maxim DL Manual and wondered if anyone has tried them?

1. PolarAlignMax

This is a new method from Larry Weber and Steve Brady, the inventors of the Half-Flux Diameter focus measurement technique and the free FocusMax utility. It uses several images taken across a region of the sky. The rotation of the fields is measured using the PinPoint astrometric engine. From there, calculations are performed to determine the location of the telescope’s axis compared to the proper pole location. Their easy-to-use PolarAlignMax utility works with the PinPoint astrometric engine. The PolarAlignMax utility can be obtained from FocusMax

2. Polar Imaging

Paul Boltwood has pioneered a very simple and effective technique for polar alignment. Using a planetarium program, create a chart of the area around the pole (north or south). Make sure that the proper pole location is labeled on the chart.

Next, do a rough polar alignment, and then take a 60-second CCD image of the pole. Halfway through the exposure, rotate the telescope about the RA axis as far as it will go. Move it just fast enough to complete the arc in 30 seconds. You will create an image with the stars clearly visible, plus a set of near-circular arcs centered on the position of the telescope’s pole. You can now easily see the difference in position between the telescope’s polar axis and the correct pole location. In fact, you can measure this distance in X and Y using the Information window, and get a very accurate number. Now adjust the mount by that distance (tip: set a rapid binned exposure mode and watch the stars move as you adjust). After one or two iterations you have an extremely accurate polar alignment.

I can't find any more info about '2', so if anyone has a link that would be great?

Yours Roy

[MartinB]

I have polaralignmax but haven't used it yet. Apparently it is very accurate and also quick to do once you get the hang of it

[GingerNut]

I have polaralignmax but haven't used it yet. Apparently it is very accurate and also quick to do once you get the hang of it

Hi Martin,

I intend to try it tonight

Yours Roy

[Astroman]

Apparently it is very accurate and also quick to do once you get the hang of it

So is drift aligning and it doesn't require software at all. Takes me all of 5 minutes.