error in polar alignment?

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jimmytoo
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2018 2:50 pm

error in polar alignment?

#1

Post by jimmytoo »

Hi,

In my and two friends' experience, a quite close polar alignment obtained from Sharpcap 3.1 is reported as somewhat less accurate by other followup apps. I don't have very many specific numbers, sorry. I got a 1' 30" difference in Sharpcap that was reported as 5-10' error in PHD Guiding Assistant. It seems to vary somewhat.

This note is more like a "heads-up" than an actual bug report. Polar Alignment is what drew me to Sharpcap, though :-/

James
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Re: error in polar alignment?

#2

Post by admin »

Hi James,

Just now and then I hear of someone who has this problem - so far if we have tracked down a cause it has always been some sort of physical movement (flexure) of the mount either during alignment or afterwards. Something as simple as a loose USB cable that pulls slightly on the guide camera can have this effect - see https://www.sharpcap.co.uk/sharpcap/fea ... leshooting for more hints. Other possibilities include settling of the mount if it is on a soft surface like a grass lawn.

One further trick to check on alignment in SharpCap - once aligned put the polar align tool back to the start and watch the position of the NCP cross as you rotate the mount - if your alignment is correct it should remain motionless during rotation.

cheers,

Robin
jimmytoo
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2018 2:50 pm

Re: error in polar alignment?

#3

Post by jimmytoo »

Robin,

That sounds very possible, for me at least. I'll check it out

Thank you for replying.

James
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