Polar scope for CG-5...?

[Jarndyce]

I'm beginning to experiment with imaging with my C80ED, but my polar alignment is a bit hit and miss.

A polar scope would obviously help:

http://firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=polarscopeEQ5-3

Are these any good, or am I wasting my money? I assume the EQ5 one will fit a CG-5?

Thanks!

[Whippy]

They do fit the CG5 and they do what they're supposed to do. The problem is that you do need to get your polar alignment really quite accurate for imaging. Have you tried drift alignment for polar alignment?

Tony..

[Jarndyce]

Thanks, I'm not familiar with drift alignment...

I'll go and look it up....

[Jarndyce]

I'm reading up on drift alignment.

I think I understand, but I'll have a play and see what happens. I'm beginning to realise the advantages of a pier!

Do I need an illuminated reticle, and would I be better off spending my money on one of these rather than a polar scope?

[Whippy]

I believe the illuminated reticle helps. Another alternative is if you have a webcam, you can use a program called WCS that measures the drift and calculates the adjustments for you.

Tony..

[Jarndyce]

Cheers Whippy.

WCS sounds interesting. Looking at drift alignment, I'm not sure how easy this is without some datum marks on the eyepiece.

I'm going to post some more specific questions in a new thread.

Thanks for your help.