Nexstar 8SE: Having Trouble Aligning

I know it sounds silly considering how easy it should be to align a Nextar 8SE (granted its my first time with alignment on any electronic scope)...but ive read the guide and used the SkyAlign option and centered 3 bright objects and it still failed to align. I also did enter the correct lattitude/longitude for my area (coconut creek fla 33073), and the right time, etc), date, etc..so not sure exactly what im doing wrong. I DID do a planetary alignment with success, centering and aligning mars in the scope...so its only "somewhat" aligned...but still definately off a good moon's area in degrees, or so =(. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-Mike

bump

Some folks do have trouble with SkyAlign. Often it's because the RULE has not been followed:

Make sure the 3rd star is NOT on a line connecting the first two (make sure the first two are widely separated, too).

Anyhoo, if you don't like SkyAlign, or SkyAlign does not like you, try the two star align option.

8)

Hello Mike,

I have an 8i so I do not have the Sky Align. I do the 2-star alignment and it works fairly well. I generally can get the objects into a 25 mm eyepiece. Here are some things I found elsewhere on the 2-star alignment and have been practicing with good success.


First, in the Setup menu on the controller, set the final GOTO approach directions as positive for both Alt and Az. I believe these are the factory pre-sets.

Next, leveling the tripod with a bubble level made a large difference. I use a small level on top of the base. fairly accurate north helps too. I use a compass and have used Polaris with the hand controller.

Then, When finding index position for level, be sure that the final approach direction is UP.

When sighting the alignment stars, I set the focus way off so star is a large disk with a blacked out center. This makes centering easy.

Also, and VERY important, at least on my 8i, is the that final approach direction to the alignment star is with the DOWN and RIGHT buttons. My Meade ETX has backlash adjustment in the software, but my 8i does not.

Before I started doing these things during alignment, I too had trouble. Good luck.