Ioptron Skytracker Help

Just bought a skytracker at NEAF on impulse as I knew I had an upcomming trip for which I wanted a lightweight tracking platform. I now realize this is integrated with iphone for alignment. I don't have an iphone.

Does anybody know how I can get instructions or do calculations to place polaris, and the southern pole. I assume it might be like a TAK mount. For the TAK mount, I don't need polarfinder software to calculate where to put polaris.

thanks,
Kevin

There's an app for that (Tak has several BTW).

Just put polaris on the inner ring in line with beta or gamma Ursa Minor. So looking through the alignment scope with one eye, and at the sky with the other, in a straight line, center cross, Polaris on inner circle, beta or gamma Ursa Minor. To say it in another way, just put Polaris on the inner circle at the same angle as beta or gamma Ursa Minor is in the sky. Beta Ursa Minor is a bit more precise, but either way, it will be more that good enough for tracking camera lenses for short exposers (< 10 min.). This takes into account the inverted image in the alignment scope. If any one can think of a better way without gadgets, let me know.

Robert

Kevin Brennan said:
I don't have an iphone.

Kevin

For camera lenses under 150 mm FL and reasonable exposure times, adjusting so that Polaris is in the inner circle of the reticle should suffice. Then there is drift alignment -- always works.