what is a drift alignment ?

[Neo_uk]

Hi,

can anybody explain "drift alignment" and how it is achieved ?

many thanks Chris

[Astroman]

Here's a link to my procedure.

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

It's basically a method of using the stars motion to show errors in your alignment and correcting them very accurately.

[blinky]

If you have a webcam (or any cam!) then download WCS ( http://wcs.ruthner.at/index-en.php ) it will show you the exact drift and give you a diagram on screen to show exactly how to modify your alt/az to get it bang on.

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

Its not real, somebody made it up to scare the kids.

Joking aside, here's a link to another way of looking at it if AM's version doesn't do it for you.

http://members.aol.com/ccdastro/drift-align.htm

Check out some more info if you're still stuck, but once you grasp the idea you'll wonder why it was so difficult. I found that it takes more than one source, but once you get it, you get it.

Kaptain Klevtsov

[Neo_uk]

Thanks for the replies folks !!!!!

i really dont know what i would do without all the advice given by all the wonderful people on this wonderful forum !!!!!!.

BIG IT UP FOR SGL MEMBERS !!!!

many thanks chris

[Astroman]

The thing I notice most about drift aligning is, it takes waaay more to describe it than to do it. 8)

[Vega]

...and first time round the procedure always takes waaay longer than planned

Matt