Setting Circle Problem

[ultramol]

Can anyone tell me if this is right. It says in the example that it is set on RA 8h 20m. It looks to me like zero or have I missed something ?

[robhatherton]

Looks like zero to me too!

[bambuko]

It doesn't matter really

chances of RA setting circle being useful for anything are between zero and none

It would take substantially larger circle to be precise enough to be useful for anything

[ultramol]

Owning the manual for a Skywatcher is worse than NOT having one !!!

[Alien 13]

I do use my setting circles but only as a clock face to align polaris to "polarfinder".

[rwilkey]

The problem with setting circles is that they are not very accurate on amateur scopes and you cannot read them in the dark.  Better to star hop in my opinion.

[ultramol]

I have seen digital setting circles advertised. What is the current thinking about these ?

[Tonys]

I do use my setting circles but only as a clock face to align polaris to "polarfinder".

Same for me. In other respects the eq5 setting circles are more ornament than use.

[Scooot]

I have seen digital setting circles advertised. What is the current thinking about these ?

If you can attach two encoders to your mount you can use this.

http://www.astrodevices.com/products/Nexus/Nexus.html

[frugal]

I waa trying figure put how to use the setting circles on our scope. I was trawling you-tube and came across a couple of videos that showed you how they are used and then explain3d why they are useless. I seem to recall that in order to be accurate enough to find anything the circle needed to be something like 8" in diameter.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

[chiltonstar]

I don't know about the Skywatcher mount setting circles, but the ones on my VIxen mount certainly are usable. I check the error using a nearby star, and then wind the two axes to the correct value; the object is then usually in the central 50% of my 9x50 RACI (5 degree fov). The Vixen s/circles are much less than 8" diameter.

Chris

[Tonys]

I don't know about the Skywatcher mount setting circles, but the ones on my VIxen mount certainly are usable. I check the error using a nearby star, and then wind the two axes to the correct value; the object is then usually in the central 50% of my 9x50 RACI (5 degree fov). The Vixen s/circles are much less than 8" diameter.

Chris

The trouble with the circles on my eq5 is that they have too much free play and the vernier scale is poorly aligned. I guess it goes to show that the eq5 is not of the same quality as the Vixen original.

[ultramol]

If you can attach two encoders to your mount you can use this.

http://www.astrodevices.com/products/Nexus/Nexus.html

Thanks Richard, Looks like something to look into in the future