The alt-az "sleeper"

I have just submitted an article to astromart documenting that the well known Vixen Super Polaris mount can be used in alt-az configuration. I think most folks are aware that the Polaris mount can be used this way (the small one). But I also think most folks don't know that the Vixen Super Polaris can be used this way. (I don't think the Great Polaris can).

Herewith I am posting the instructions on how to do this. The Super Polaris is a well made little mount and the prices it currently fetches on the used market are well below the quality of the product. I think many people who are spending quite a bit on different alt-az mounts would be very happy with a Super Polaris in alt-az.

As I mentioned in teh article, I am indebted to fellow club member Mike Mayer for educating me on this use of the SP mount and also for providing a pdf of the original instruction page.

regards
greg n

Attached Image:

Now that is great info!!

Thanks Greg

Greg

I guess I just don't understand why you would want to do this. By leaving it in the normal polar orientation, you get easy tracking (either with a motor, or with a handle for the polar worm gear). You don't have to spend much time or effort on polar alignment for visual use, just plop it down facing roughly north, and you'll be close enough. Why switch it to alt/az mode?

Jarad

Here's the link to my recently posted article:

http://www.astromart.com/articles/article.asp?article_id=710

The answers to the question "why do this" are:

1. If you like alt-az, this is a cheap way to get a well machined product.
2. Alt-az is great for daytime use. I have had a hell of a time using my 4" refractor or my c8 on the Mohawk river. German equatorials are very awkward for daytime terrestrial use.
3. If you throw a super polaris in the car for astronomical purposes you can, by day, use it for terrestrial purposes, all you need is an Allen wrench.
4. alt-az digital setting circle congifurations are considerably less difficult to set up than german equatorial alignments in terms of overall accuracy. A two-star alignment buys you more accuracy in alt-az than in german equatorial mode. So for those that want to pop for dsc hardware for the super polaris, this is a potential plus.
5. The super polaris is so cheap on the used market that you can afford to get one and leave it set up in alt-az for quick set ups.
6. All that said, yes, it is possible to set up a GEM pretty quickly if you do an eyeball alignment and don't bother with all the wires for tracking etc.
7. In alt-az configuration I bet it would be very easy to make an adapter for the super polaris for binoculars.

regards
Greg N

ps. I really like these SP mounts. I had one and made the mistake of selling it. Ended up buying another one.

I actually tried this for awhile, and found it workable. The biggest advantage was not having to flip the mount around and lose track of where your slo-mo controls are and having to rotate the scope to put the eyepiece in a convenient place. However, I gave it up as it became obvious that I did a lot more viewing close to zenith than I did close to Polaris -- and it's still just as heavy. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be an inexpensive alt-az mount for an f9 refractor that will take DSC.