Newbie question: polarscope

[isabe]

Hi 

Im new to astrophotography and just recently got a polar scope. I’m a bit confused because when I look through it there are no markings visible (in broad daylight), and I’ve seen other people’s scopes and the NCP and polaris orbit drawing is clearly visible when they look through. 

Its making it difficult to calibrate it and have been relying on shining a red torch down the lens in order to see it.

It is a skywatcher eq3-2 / eq5 polarscope.

Maybe this is normal? Im a total beginner, any help would be appreciated. 

[Neil H]

I think this is normal on that mount they are lite on the high spec mount and can get a polar scope that is lite for a bit more if you can send that one back or there is this its a add on 

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwi9xvyysozsAhWMz-0KHdQ6CskYABAKGgJkZw&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESQOD2UhI9eV7vca8dl55aLIR8VVKuin-I5JakyZSKaEkM8rvamZQ5eJYfsh6IuHFLIYQm6vgH58dtlhIKuGeLDWA&sig=AOD64_3fmxvJUK3fd_QENu14lsdiGsx4Bw&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiHy_OysozsAhVrThUIHejTDHAQwg96BAgNEBs&adurl=

Edited September 28, 2020 by Neil H

[isabe]

Oh right thanks for the reply, so youre saying that usually there is no way you can see the marks without it being illuminated? 

[M40]

Have you thought about shining a torch down it? You should be able to see any markings clearly then. Enjoy

[Neil H]

6 minutes ago, isabe said:

Oh right thanks for the reply, so youre saying that usually there is no way you can see the marks without it being illuminated? 

On my eq3/2 i had to shine a lite down it my HEQ5pro has a lite built in the unit i linked you to a unit that will lite it up so you can see the marks 

Edited September 28, 2020 by Neil H

[Art Gecko]

I used to strap a head torch with a red light to mine and angle it so the markings showed up but Polaris still showed through! 

[isabe]

Ooh ok thank you, will get one of those then - thought I had a dodgy polarscope!

[isabe]

1 minute ago, Art Gecko said:

I used to strap a head torch with a red light to mine and angle it so the markings showed up but Polaris still showed through! 

Haha that will probably be me, my arm is getting tired of holding my headtorch!

[isabe]

8 minutes ago, M40 said:

Have you thought about shining a torch down it? You should be able to see any markings clearly then. Enjoy

Yes just a bit annoying! glad that my polarscope is alright, thought that maybe it was a bit broken because I couldn’t see the markings in the day

[Neil H]

With that add on you can change how bright the light is 

[Art Gecko]

7 minutes ago, isabe said:

Yes just a bit annoying! glad that my polarscope is alright, thought that maybe it was a bit broken because I couldn’t see the markings in the day

You should be able to see the markings in daylight... you need to!! Otherwise how have you calibrated/centred it to the mount?? Where did you get it? 

[isabe]

7 minutes ago, Art Gecko said:

You should be able to see the markings in daylight... you need to!! Otherwise how have you calibrated/centred it to the mount?? Where did you get it? 

That’s the problem I’m having, so hard to calibrate... It’s a skywatcher eq3-2 polarscope, I’m really confused lol

[Neil H]

Have you got the polar scope mounted the right way round can you post a photo

[Art Gecko]

Does a polar scope have focus adjusters? I can’t remember!! Been so long since I had to calibrate one!! 

[isabe]

8 minutes ago, Neil H said:

Have you got the polar scope mounted the right way round can you post a photo

I think I have it mounted the right way around 😂😂

[isabe]

3 minutes ago, Art Gecko said:

Does a polar scope have focus adjusters? I can’t remember!! Been so long since I had to calibrate one!! 

Yes it has a ridged thing in the front that turns, I have tried everything it just doesn’t seem to want to focus on the cross hairs!

[Neil H]

The focus ring is the end part turn it not the whole scope to focus it 

Edited September 28, 2020 by Neil H

[Art Gecko]

I think I vaguely remember focussing mine Before screwing it into the mount... but I may be wrong I don’t know for sure if that makes a difference

[isabe]

4 minutes ago, Art Gecko said:

I think I vaguely remember focussing mine Before screwing it into the mount... but I may be wrong I don’t know for sure if that makes a difference

 

14 minutes ago, Neil H said:

The focus ring is the end part turn it not the whole scope to focus it 

Thanks for all your help, I will play about with it a bit more - probably something obvious I’m doing wrong! 

[Neil H]

You will need to calibrate the polar scope day time i will link a video that will help also you do rotate the axis to open the scope ?  Watch video it will show you all you need to know . Download synscanit app i know you dont have go to but it will show you how you polar scope should look at the time you are doing  polar alginment 

 

[Neil H]

 

Edited September 28, 2020 by Neil H

[isabe]

2 minutes ago, Neil H said:

 

 

4 minutes ago, Neil H said:

You will need to calibrate the polar scope day time i will link a video that will help also you do rotate the axis to open the scope ?  Watch video it will show you all you need to know . Download synscanit app i know you dont have go to but it will show you how you polar scope should look at the time you are doing  polar alginment 

 

Thank you I’ll check those out!

[Franklin]

Unscrew the polarscope eyepiece and the reticule should come into focus. I have the same one and I need to make about 3 or 4 full turns anticlockwise to get focus on the reticule. From your photo the eyepiece seems to be fully in.

[isabe]

2 hours ago, Franklin said:

Unscrew the polarscope eyepiece and the reticule should come into focus. I have the same one and I need to make about 3 or 4 full turns anticlockwise to get focus on the reticule. From your photo the eyepiece seems to be fully in.

Thank for the reply, It’s fully in in the pic but i’ve played around with it a bunch with no luck!

[M40]

12 hours ago, Franklin said:

Unscrew the polarscope eyepiece and the reticule should come into focus. 

I think Franklin is pointing you in the right direction here. Some of the new stuff I got, I had to be a bit of a man to move it as brand new the varnish/paint/manufacturing process made things very tight. The knurled knob on the end focuses the reticule, this must turn separately from the body to focus. Hope you don't break it 🤞