Drift alignment for dummies

[orly_andico]

I have finally managed to get a dead-on polar alignment!

and this is using only one star (since it's so cloudy these days and my balcony has a limited view)

And all it took was a software called "WebCamScheinern" ("WebCamSeem")

http://wcs.ruthner.at/index-en.php

You need a webcam, Meade DSI, or DMK/DBK camera, and you need to know the calibration star's declination. That's it! makes drift alignment trivial. There's a bug in the instructions though, it says during correction, "put the star on the red line with your handset, then use the azimuth screws to move the star to the green line." For some reason, this didn't work for me, but when I reversed it (put the star on the green line with the HC, move it to the red line with the screws) I got a dead-on polar alignment.

It is not free, but there is a 30-day trial. And being able to drift-align in 10 minutes seems well worth the moolah (I haven't paid yet though).

[cataclysm]

Hi, thanks for sharing this info.

[Bergkamp_]

nice~! looks like i gonna try it out soon~

[PETER LOO]

Thanks Orly for sharing. i'm using another method, which i called "Lagi Simple method". In polar alignment, the main idea is to make the equatorial mount head parallel with the earth rotational axis (in 3 dimensional space) which rotate at a rate of 15 deg per hour (X24 = 360 deg).

Preliminary: Place your mount facing North using a Magnetic compass, Balance your scope, Zero scope surface East West, then North South, park scope at home position

a. Dec axis (Y- axis) adjustment:
Check bubble level on the Mount to ensure that it is centre (East West zero as well as North South Zero degree), if not, adjust tripot.
Adjust the Lattitude lever to attain 1.25 deg reading on digital level meter placed on counter weight or counter weight shaft (the later is more accurate but read 88.75 deg).

b. Azimuth axis (Z - axis)adjustment: Activate your GOTO and let the mount goto a bright known star eg. Capella
Look into live view window or other capture screen for the known star & bring it to the center of the screen using the 2 Azimuth adjustment knobs near the base.

c. RA axis (X-axis) switch on the Mount motor drive, this set to rotation at 15 deg/hr & opposite in direction with Earth Rotation.
Sample picture: Taken un-guided 2.5 mins X 15 ISO 800, Scope = Meade 80 ED APO, Cam = Canon 500D mod, Object = m1, Mount = Vixen GPD2, polar aligned by above method

d. Perform an Azimuth Drift - (latest added info @ 2019)

[mymoon]

PETER LOO

maybe a few pictures will help.

It is still a hit and miss affair for me, a drift alignment for polar alignment.

cheers

[PETER LOO]

Oops my friend, i meant mymoon, the "lagi easy" method that described above should actually be called mechanical method in finding the Earth Rotational Axis. It works somewhat opposite of using a Polaries to align the mount. I use this method to align the mount 1st, & then it should be pointing at Polaries although we can't see it here... hope it helps.

[PETER LOO]

Okay kawan, here are 2 pics for a start

[PETER LOO]

here is two more

[Gary]

Nice illustrations. Thanks!

[PETER LOO]

Thanks for reading Gary. i goto Chaah once a while, which is near to Bekok, heard u have some friends / relative overthere ?