GOTO alignment for Solar astro

[valleyman]

Being thinking about switching to solar and was wondering how you guys go about setting your mounts to track the Sun.

I will be using a Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ Goto Mount. Is it just as simple as using a 1 star align with the sun as the star or is it a bit more complicated than that.

Pat

 

[xtreemchaos]

just put the tracking setting to solar, and line sol up with eyepeice or camera and there you go, polar alinement dosnt have to be bang on just near ,goto isnt needed . charl.

[valleyman]

Thanks for the reply Charl.

Pat

[xtreemchaos]

your welcome Pat, allways happy to help. charl.  ps what filter will you be using ? i use a lunt solar wedge for WL and a Quark for Ha, badder do good solar film which i also use from time to time..

[Helen]

There's  good news Pat - skywatcher have added a daytime align feature for their mounts (you'll need to upgrade the handset software).  With that you can align on the Sun ?    It has been a long time coming (Celestron have always had a solar system align option and that was a big reason for me buying an evolution for solar).  But the little Skywatcher AZ mounts will now be great for solar ?

Have fun!

Helen

[Davey-T]

I usually do a one star alignment on Duhbe and click OK then GoTo the Sun and centre it, good enough for solar.

Dave

[xtreemchaos]

sorry Pat i was thinking you was using a EQ, read skywatcher and my brain did the rest. i havnt used your mount yet, so havnt a clue if my way would work. charl.

[valleyman]

was wondering how I would polar align. Charl :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I will properly go for a Lunt scope

[valleyman]

That good news Helen, makes life so much easier

 

Pat

[Helen]

http://www.skywatcher.com/download/software/

Helen

[ronin]

Usually for a solar align and track the scope/mount will have a defined initial position. Usually North and Level, set this as accurately as you can then I guess it is perform the align using the sun, and a little matter of a solar filter over the scope and the finder - people forget that one.