Joe Bauman wrote:
I don't know about a distinction between aligning for viewing and for photography, with this setup. Another thing to check into.
Joe, there's a simple and straightforward way to find out if the auto alignment is suitable for imagining. You'll need an illuminated reticle, one that will give you at least 100 power (use a barlow if necessary). Like I said before, if you don't have one I'll loan you one. Once you've got the reticle, set up your scope and have it polar align itself. Then insert the reticle, power it up and locate and focus on a test star located near where the celestial equator crosses the meridian. Turn the reticle such that one of the lines is aligned east-west and put the test star on the line. Then, with the RA drive running and any Dec drive disabled just step back and let it run for 2 minutes. Look back in and see if the star is still on the line. If it is, your polar alignment is fine. If it passes that test, find another test star on the celestial equator but low in the east or west. Then do as above and see how it looks after a couple of minutes. As before, if the star is still sitting on the line all is well. In both cases you are looking for movement above or below the line. Ignore any movement along the line as that kind of movement is caused by the drive, not polar alignment. The nice thing about this test is that it can be easily and quickly performed even in your yard. Light pollution has no effect on the test. Carpe Noctem! Patrick