How do you drift in polar alignment?
How to Accurately Accomplish Polar Alignment
- First, aim the mount’s polar axis roughly at Polaris.
- If the star drifts south in the eyepiece, the polar axis is pointing too far east.
- If the star drifts north, the polar axis is too far west.
- Shift the polar axis left or right accordingly, until there is no more drift.
How do you drift align in the Southern Hemisphere?
Rule number ONE for drift alignment in the Southern Hemisphere: If a star near the meridian drifts UPWARD (South) in the eyepiece of the telescope, the NORTHERN direction on our telescope axis is too far EAST (Right) of the NORTH Celestial Pole, and the SOUTHERN direction on our telescope axis is too far WEST (Left) of …
Do you need a reticle for Drift alignment?
The Drift Alignment method is one way of achieving this. An eyepiece with illuminated cross hairs or reticle is needed for the Drift Alignment method. First perform a quick alignment using the proceedure described above. Next, choose a bright star within twenty degrees of the Celestial Equator and within an hour in RA of the Meridian.
How is the drift align tool used in PHD2?
The drift align tool in PHD2 can be used to quickly obtain a precise polar alignment of your equatorial mount. The process takes a little bit of practice, but after doing it a few times, you should be able to obtain an accurate polar alignment in minutes. Preparation Make sure your mount is reasonably level.
How to align equatorial mount in the southern hemisphere?
The method is straightforward, but it does require some time and patience. First, aim the mount’s polar axis roughly at Polaris. Now point the telescope at a star that’s somewhat above the celestial equator and as close to south as you can judge by looking opposite Polaris. Put in a high-power eyepiece.
Which is better polar alignment or Drift alignment?
This will produce a polar alignment good enough for visual use and short exposure photography. If long exposure photography (several minutes or more) is planned, then a better polar alignment is required. The Drift Alignment method is one way of achieving this.