Alignment Procedures for GOTO Telescope Mount

[admin]

Ok I am a real Newbie at this although I got something going tonite due to Sirius shining and I was able to do a 1 and 2-star align with Betelgeuse but I am far from understanding this....

Could someone please explain how to do this Alignment properly. The HEQ5 Skywatcher manual could really be used for toilet paper but really how does one do this properly?

1) Do I need a compass?
2) If I do/dont need a compass do I need to exactly point the N on the mount to north? If so then why does the N not have an accurate pointer?
3) Does one need to do North / South star alignment always? Is it necessary? Also what about doing a 2-star align will this negate the need for the polar star alignment?
More questions to come....

[admin]

ok now I am more confused? In the southern hemisphere do we point the N labeled mount South???

[Vinnie]

Originally Posted by admin

ok now I am more confused? In the southern hemisphere do we point the N labeled mount South???

Eeermmm Yep.

[Carlos_dfc]

Hi Admin

I don't own a Goto, but I do have experience of a SkyWatcher Goto mount (I helped a newbie friend get to grips with his)

First of all, yes you do need to polar-align (and as Vinnie says - Yes the 'N' label should be pointed South if you are in the Southern hemisphere)
Polar alignment is the same for Goto and non-Goto mounts.
Polar alignment isn't critical for Goto to work though - as long as you can get within a degree or two, the electronics of the mount will work out the rest.

**Bear in mind though - non-critical polar alignment is Ok for visual observing - but if you get into astrophotography, then accurate polar-alignment WILL become important**

For visual purposes though - and for the pruposes of getting to know your mount, and becoming familiar with the alignment process, a 'rough' polar alignment will be fine.

Find out, and learn, where Sigma Octans is (It's only a degree and a bit away from the South Celestial Pole) Depending on LP at your site, it may well be invisible to the naked-eye - but WILL show up in a finderscope.
Set up your mount in the 'Home' position - weight rod pointing straight down, and the scope pointed forwards at 90° declination, and point the whole mount as near to South as you can.
Now - rack up the lattitude (the bolts at front and back of the mount) to match your own lattitude (scale on the side of the mount)
Be careful doing this, and make sure to loosen one bolt befroe tightening the other - these bolts on larger SkyWatcher mounts are commonly known as 'Bendy-bolts' because it's easy to bend them if you aren't careful.
Now you are pointed roughly South, and up at roughly the right angle, it's time to look for Sigma Octans in the finderscope.
Notice on the front of the mount, there are two bolts (left and right)
These lock onto a locating pin, which you may have noticed on top of the tripod - by adjusting these, you can fine-tune the left-right (azimuth) pointing of the mount.
Using these bolts - and the lattitude 'Bendy-bolts' - align the scope on to Sigma Octans.
If you now look through the scope itself, using a low power eyepiece, you can fine-tune tthe polar alignment further, by adjusting onto other stars nearer the Pole
(You'll need to check with a good chart at this point - I'm afraid I don't know the Southern Skies at all)
When you are satisfied with your polar-alignment - tighten the azimuth and lattitude bolts (watch through the scope, in case it moves during tightening)
Do Not alter the azimuth and lattitude settings for the remainder of the session - move the scope ONLY by the R.A. and Declination axes.


Personally - In the North, I know exactly how far across my field of view, I need to position Polaris, and can guage the angle quite easily by looking at where Kochab (Beta Ursa Minor) is.
I can get a mount within a few arcmins accuracy in the North, by sight alone
In the South I'd be lost beyond the point of finding Sigma Octans

Now you are polar aligned - do the alignment sequence from the handset.
3-star alignment is the most accurate - especially if you have only a 'rough' polar-align.
The Handset will 'offer' you alignment stars - if you can see the stars it offers, then agree, and the mount should point somewhere near that star.
(If you don't know your way around the sky too well - keep a star-chart handy for this purpose)
First star especially, it's possible the star won't be in the telescope's field of view - so now use the handset to centre the star, then 'OK'
Second star should be more central, but still get it as near the centre as you can before hitting 'OK'
Same with the 3rd star.

A few little hints...
Make sure that time is as accurate as possible on the handset, also your location as accurate as possible, and that time-zone is correctly set.
My mate Phil's biggest problems were a wrongly-set time-zone, and a lack of knowledge of which star the handset was talking about.

[admin]

thanks Carlos and Vinnie,
I will try your steps Carlos unfortunately the weather here has been very bad the past 2 days.... scope curse again.
Even then Sigma Octans I believe are Mag 6 stars and I have trouble seeing even Mag 4-5 with my eyes here in Sydney but I will try to go far away to a dark sky

I finally figured out how to get the polar scope out... so I have a while to go. I took some pictures of the steps involved however I found this resource quite good:
Astro Babys HEQ5 Polar Alignment for Idiots Page

[Vinnie]

Have patience Gus,

I just got home from my southern trip.

Give me a day or two and I'll work up a tute for you on Southern Hemisphere polar alignment. Bout time I got off my butt and did it. Also I have some reviews to post.

Carlos, if you read this, your theory is sweet, but realistically, Octans is just too faint to use on a night to night basis unless you have really good dark skies.

"Astro Baby" is no stranger, and her website is excellent, but she is in the Northern Hemisphere

[Carlos_dfc]

Originally Posted by Vinnie

Carlos, if you read this, your theory is sweet, but realistically, Octans is just too faint to use on a night to night basis unless you have really good dark skies.

Yep - I realised sigma is around 6th mag Vinnie
But if you learn to guage roughly where it is, it should show up in the finderscope shouldn't it?

Personally, when aligning in the North, I have my own take on the well-known 'Kochab clock' method.
There's a 9th mag star in the 'engagement ring' asterism. (which has polaris as the 'diamond') That star is pretty much opposite the NCP from Polaris.
If I adjust away from that star, I know I am adjusting towards Kochab.

Anyways - thing is - even from my mag 4.5 suburban sky at home, I can just about see that 9th mag star (it's actually about 8.8) in a 50mm finder - and it's a doddle to see in my ED100
(I use the ED for polar aligning, because I know that I get a 1.5° FOV with a particular eyepiece - Polaris is about 3/4 of a degree from the NCP - so if I put polaris right at the edge of the field, in the right direction, my FOV is centred within a few arcmins of the NCP)

I'd forgot that Gus is a newb to polar aligning though (sorry Gus)
And was just thinking from my own perspective

[admin]

Its ok thanks Carlos it was a very detailed and good answer (actually everywhere I went they mentioned Octans). At least you posted an answer, still waiting for Vinnies.. lol

[Vinnie]

Look in the Australian Forum

[admin]

ok Thanks I understand the compass / protractor method now for North and Southern Hemisphere alignment. If someone needs help please dont hesitate to ask. I may post a detailed review with pictures and videos soon (if this weather in Sydney clears up for a day!).