Polar Alignment

Using SharpCap's Polar Alignment feature
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rfa
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2018 10:34 am

Polar Alignment

#1

Post by rfa »

Can I use SharpCap´s polar alignment tool if Polaris is not visible for my location? If yes, what I have to do?
How does it work in Southern hemisphere? Any experiences?
Thanks for some hints. RFA
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admin
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Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
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Re: Polar Alignment

#2

Post by admin »

Hi,

The southern hemisphere should work fine, but you do need to have a view of the sky near the pole (whichever hemisphere you are in). That means that if the polar area is obscured by a building or a tree then the polar alignment will not work for you. Some people who are in a situation where the pole is only just obscured find that they can get the procedure to work by starting off with the mount 45° to the left of vertical and moving it to 45° to the right of vertical – this keeps the telescope little higher than the routine of starting with the mount vertical and moving it to the horizontal position.

Cheers, Robin
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