I use "Pull-up, Push-Down" to remind myself which way to move. I "Pull", meaning rotate the knobs backward toward me to move the line up. And I "push" it, meaning I rotate forward away from me to move the line down. Starting from the East side of the mount (left side when I'm behind it) the same applies to the DEC knob, I "Push" it away from me (rotate toward the west) to move the altitude line down, and I "pull" it by rotating it to the east to move the line up. I used to use Celestron's ASPA, which can be faster, but I found PHD2 Drift Alignment to be far more precise. Thanks for the video!

@PatriotAstro

3 жыл бұрын

Great tip, thanks! I am always on-board anytime I can make something like this easier to remember.

Thanks Chad. Tried this method last night with a 1200mm newt and OAG. It worked ok however I had some issues with Dec backlash when changing dec directions.

@PatriotAstro

2 жыл бұрын

ugh. Backlash is a bad word around here... :)

On my azeq6 I would loosen the fork and accessory tray knobs slightly just enough to enable the azi and lat adjustment to be smooth and not over stiff. Do the routine twice to take in the effect of one adjustment changing the other. less time on the first more on the second.

@PatriotAstro

2 жыл бұрын

Yep, great point!

Thanks for sharing that….

@PatriotAstro

2 жыл бұрын

You bet!

very informative Chad, thank you for making this video, very helpful

@PatriotAstro

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Can you do a 5-minute capture without guidance, just with drift alignment??

Now the Three Point Polar Alignment plug in has been created for NINA, that seems far easier to use so may not need to drift align ever again. Wonder how these methods compare in terms of accuracy.

@PatriotAstro

3 жыл бұрын

I agree. Although in some cases I could see where drift alining may be more accurate, the reality is that if you get a good enough polar alignment combined with active PHD2 guiding… NINA will get you close enough to go five minutes plus in exposure time … easily. Plus you don’t need Polaris… :-)

@emuhead

3 жыл бұрын

@@PatriotAstro Would be good to test out Drift alignment & 3PPA & also accurate polar alignment using a PoleMaster (or preferred method) and see how accurate each type ends up being, just to satisfy curiosity.

@PatriotAstro

3 жыл бұрын

I’ve used my polemaster as confirmation for all of the mechanisms and it shows they’re all about as accurate as I thought they would be. The reality is even the polemaster may not be perfectly accurate. A slight machining error or seating error into the front of the mount or a slightly misaligned RA axis and you’re going to be off Arcseconds minimally anyway. There are arguments for being off with your polar alignment and even your balance so, who knows… Just get it close, use guiding, and it doesn’t really matter. ;)

@emuhead

3 жыл бұрын

@@PatriotAstro Thats really good to know, thanks. Great channel by the way, and keep the videos coming. 👍

Can it it be done anywhere on the equator as i can go that low

@PatriotAstro

4 ай бұрын

you can give it a shot but you may have more success using the drift alignment method ins PHD2.

Hey Chad ! Very interesting video. In your opinion, is Draft Align usefull if I'm already doing my polar alignment with a QHY pole master ? I'm looking to have the best PA I can, and I know that PHD and NINA can help with that, I'm just not sure that they are better that Pole Master for that.

@PatriotAstro

Жыл бұрын

I'd say that unless you are unhappy with your polemaster, there is no reason to do both. There will always be some about of error due to machining of the mount, plus how accurately you click on screen during the process, etc so even the polemaster can have some acceptable amount of error. I will say that the theory behind both is solid, and 'maybe' PHD2 Drift Align 'could' be more accurate... but I'm personally not sure the amount of difference is worth the extra time it takes to complete. (especially if you are using a guide camera to auto-correct)

@HaroldxC

Жыл бұрын

@@PatriotAstro thanks for your answer ! Actually i'm trying to figure if TPPA in NINA after Polar Align with Pôle Master is usefull. Don't know yet wish one is more accurate

@PatriotAstro

Жыл бұрын

@@HaroldxC If you have a polemaster and a view of polaris, I'd just use that. Otherwise, 3PPA should do just fine.

Can i do polar alignment with only south part of the sky avallable

@PatriotAstro

11 ай бұрын

PHD2 and NINA three-point polar alignment plugin both allow you to perform a Polar alignment without the north star visible

@givemespace2742

6 ай бұрын

As a fellow southern hemisphere denizen the answer is yes. Just point your scope/mount to the southern stellar pole and proceed as normal. PHD2/NINA/Sharpcap alignment tools are very good for us southerners because using a polar scope is a pain with trying to even find Octans and the result you get with the electronic alignment is better. I find that the Sharpcap Polar align tool is easy to use but maybe not too accurate. I find the PHD2 tools a bit fiddly and I'm not able to get repeatable results. I'm probably not doing it right. NINA I have yet to try.

Looks like the polar alignment tool in Pempro.Just $150 cheaper (free). Lol

@PatriotAstro

Жыл бұрын

Yep, you can’t beat the price. :-)