Trying to understand Celestron All-Star polar alignment

[DannyHarvey]

Hi

I have a CG-5 mount but the manual doesn't seem to cover the all-star polar alignment technique but it seems my handset supports it.

Does anyone have any experience of using this method?

Is it as good as using a drift alignment method?

Dan

[Dave In CT]

I use the All-Star alignment. (AKA the 2-4 alignment, meaning 2 alignment stars and 4 calibration stars)  It's quite good and works very well with my AVX mount.   I've seen people use the All-Star then finish off with a draft alignment to get alignment as perfect as possible, though I find for most cases, the All-Star is very good.  

As for technique, this is what I do.

• Align with 2 stars, then add four calibration stars.
• Do a Polar Alignment in the hand setting and follow it's direction to adjust the alt and azmuth manual adjustments to get it aligned.
• Then I turn the mount off and redo the All-Star.  

Once complete, I haven't had any issues with AP guiding.

[DannyHarvey]

I think you can do the last bit without turning off -as far as I can see with what  the manual says, by just overwriting the alignment and callib stars. But then its probably just as easy to re-boot!

Dan

[DannyHarvey]

Do you spirit level/align with North up the base before starting?

[hobsey]

Do you spirit level/align with North up the base before starting?

Yes this is a must to get proper alignment.

[cosmological]

I do the all star alignment with mine but have never felt the need to switch it off and start again, it tracks perfectly at the first attempt.