GOTO mount question

At my favorite viewing location I can't see polaris because trees are in the way. I don't yet have a GOTO mount, but if I did (say an Orion Sirius or the like), would it be able to track objects at high power if I don't perform a polar alignment?

Thanks!

Yes, the 2-3 star alignment will do fine for visual. Polor alignment is more important for photography.

Hi,
If you are in the need of a more accurate alignment sometime in the future, another option is to have the computer help with the polar alignment. For example on my G-11 with Gemini I can roughly polar align the mount and then select 3-4 alignment stars on each side of the meridian. Then I run a routine with the computer and it helps me adjust the mount to set the polar alignment. I don’t have to see Polaris.

I know this same approach also works with the Argo Navis digital setting circle computer, but with a few more steps to set up and calculate the internal pointing model.

Other mounts may offer the same feature; I have only had first hand experience with the Gemini and the Argo Navis.

Clear skies,
Paul