Finding Objects with EQ5 Pro Goto

[Shailesh]

Hi All

I have a EQ5 Pro Goto mount, after polar alingment (Not perfectly) i was trying to aling throuh Synscan like 2 or 3 star alingment but the scope is no where near the Star.

Wht to do.....

[ArmyAirForce]

Firstly, is the finderscope aligned with the main scope, so they are both pointing exactly the same direction? If they are slightly out, having a star centred in the finderscope means it may well be out of the field of view of the main scope.

[ArmyAirForce]

You can align the finderscope on a bright target at night, but for the first time, you might be best doing it in daytime. Point the telescope at a distant object on the horizon, then using the small adjusting screws on the finderscope to adjust its position so that the cross hairs are pointing at the same object as the main scope. This way, you know that any star in the centre of the finderscope will be pretty much centred in the eyepiece of the scope.

If you get the polar aligning fairly good, your first alignment star should be within the view of the finderscope. You can then move the scope with the handset until it is centred in the finderscope, and it should then be visible in the main eyepiece. It can then be centred within the eyepiece, before selecting the next alignment star. This and the third star should be much closer to the centre of the finder after the first star is entered into the system.

Also remember that when entering the date into the handset, use the American Month/Day/Year format.

[brantuk]

Magnification has a bearing on accuracy of finder alignment. Do the initial alignment in daylight on a distant object like the tip of a church spire or pylon dead center of a low power eyepiece (eg 25mm). Then look in the finder and adjust the cross hairs so they are on the same object.

Then pop a high power eyepiece in (eg 10mm) and take a look. Unless you're incredibly lucky the object will seem to have moved to the side or up/down. Bring the object back to dead center of the eyepiece at the new magnification - now look in the finder. The cross hairs will have moved - adjust again so they are on the object.

Now the tube and finder are aligned together with enough accuracy to do star alignment at night. Point the tripod magnetic north and make sure the weights point directly down at the ground and the mount is set vertical. Move the RA so the scope too is set vertical and pointing north. Look in the finder and you should see the pole star in the fov.

Adjust the altitude and azimuth bolts only so the polar scope, finder, and eyepiece all see the pole star dead center. These are all manual adjustments not using the motors. Now you have good enough accuracy for star alignment and observing and you can switch on and start - for imaging it needs to be more accurate but this much will get you observing. Hth

[JG777]

Now the tube and finder are aligned together with enough accuracy to do star alignment at night. Point the tripod magnetic north and make sure the weights point directly down at the ground and the mount is set vertical. Move the RA so the scope too is set vertical and pointing north. Look in the finder and you should see the pole star in the fov.

Sorry to chop your quote up but can I ask if magnetic north is correct? I thought you pointed the mount to true north? Well at least that's what I have been doing !

[brantuk]

Yes true north would be the best option if you can. Roughly magnetic north is close enough to start with - and then adjusting the head using the alt/az bolts to point at polaris will bring it round to true north. This will be fine for observing but for imaging you'd want to tune the polar scope for greater accuracy by getting the pole star tracking the circumference of the larger circle and using the smaller circle on the circumference for the time offset. Polar Finder is a popular free download for that bit.

[JG777]

Yes, I normally use a handheld Garmin where the electronic compass points to true north. Very handy device as it gives co-ordinates for the GOTO as well. I suppose for visual it must be pretty close even with mag north as the declination is very minor, unless you live in other parts of the world where sometimes it can be between 10 and 20 degrees adrift!

[brantuk]

Absolutely John