All-Star Polar Alignment (Celestron AVX)

[Trippelforge]

Hi everyone!

I have a new AVX and haven't had clear skies yet to test it out. However according to the product page it comes with "All-Star Polar Alignment", and after looking into it I learned what it is. However I do not know how to use it, as neither the controller or manual mentions it. It's also noted on the page that it has "Sky Align", but I don't know what that even is. Does the controller's menu bring up either so you can start the process? Or is this just a fancy name (All Star) for the 2 star alignment with the additional 4 calibration stars? Sky Align wise, I can't even take a guess on what that entails. 

Thanks for the help!

[Stu1smartcookie]

Hi , Yes its all on the handset ... or if you have a wifi module you can align the mount via an app on your phone . Sky Align is a bit hit and miss but when it works it works well .

Stu

 

Edited October 31, 2023 by Stu1smartcookie

[Trippelforge]

2 minutes ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

Hi , Yes its all on the handset ... or if you have a wifi module you can align the mount via an app on your phone . Sky Align is a bit hit and miss but when it works it works well .

Stu

 

So will it actually come up on the controller menu as "All Star", or is it just the nickname for the built in alignment? I didn't get the Wifi module, but do have a USB cord to connect the controller into the PC. What software does a good job with calibration via that interface? Thanks for the help!

[Stu1smartcookie]

TBH ive never heard of the "AllStar " but the Sky Align in the signature alignemnt procedure for Celestron mounts . I would do a two or three star alingnment instead . 

[StevieDvd]

ASPA on the Celestron was a feature that Skywatcher mounts used to lack and was hailed as a good tool by AVX users.  You would do a normal star alignment, which in reality is compensating for a poor PA and then do a process to correct the PA by using any bright star. There is now a similar feature in SW mounts hidden in the manual.

You'd need to see the AVX manual or a google to find the process

[newbie alert]

It's a polar alignnment tool , used for PA on all stars, hence the name

Personally I never found it accurate enough for deepsky imaging and when questioned the fanbase suggested doing multiple iterations of it and returning the mount home and switching off between iterations. To my mind pa is aligning the axis with the celestial pole , so 1 point in the sky and doing the same thing multiple times doesnt help as that point in the sky doesn't move, the stars however do

If you want to pa quickly then either buy a polemaster or use sharpcap, I found both really quick, really easy and highly accurate

If you want to use the ASPA then just follow the instructions on the handset, it won't however tell you to return to home position and switch off and do a few more iterations

Other than that the Avx is a great mount, really enjoyed mine