Can't get goto LX 90 aligned?

Ok I definitely feel like a dummy now. To night was my 3rd night time ever with a telescope like this goto and I was out from 9:30 to 11:10 with my new use LX 90 and I still can't figure out what I am doing wrong in getting it to align. It has the wedge set to 39 for my longitude. The scope mount is set to polar in setup. The Latitude and Longitude is set correct. Time date and location set. The wedge is pointing to Polaris as well as the scope is aligned on Polaris in the eye piece. I use align to 2 stars. It starts on Polaris. I next chose Dubhe and it slews to point strait down? So I start over and choose Kocob and again it slews strait down? It thinks every thing is strait down? What in the world am I doing Wrong? When I say the wedge is pointed to the north or Polaris the level is aimed at me and the forks are leaning back towards me. I thought maybe the forks should lean away from me but when I tried turning it around that way it seems impossible to use because the finder scope looks like it will hit the forks? Any help will be hugely appreciated. With not knowing any thing about this I don't know if somthing is wrong with the telescope. I sure hope not. I will be much better if it is me the operater.

Thanks Dan

>>Ok I definitely feel like a dummy now. To night was my 3rd night time ever with a telescope like this goto and I was out from 9:30 to 11:10 with my new use LX 90 and I still can't figure out what I am doing wrong in getting it to align.
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Dan:

I can't really help you much but I do have a couple of ideas and thoughts:

1. I have been doing this astronomy thing for quite a few years now and I had a frustrating time getting my CG-5 ASGT up and running. It took more than one night but finally I did. At first it would miss the alignment stars by 30 degrees or more.

2. EQ/Polar alignment is the most difficult and aligning on Polaris as the first star is probably not a good idea, I would choose another star that is not almost due north. What could be happening is that the scope is interpreting a small misalignment with Polaris as a rotation and thus a different position for Dubhe.

I would choose stars that are relatively widely separated and not both in the northern part of the sky and avoid Polaris.

3. Make sure you set the scope to home position. I am not sure what that is, I would imagine it would be pointing north at Polaris but I don't know.

3. Is there a 3 star align? I believe accurate alignment in the EQ mode requires 3 stars.

4. Have you gotten it to work without the wedge in the Alt-AZ mode? If not, I would suggest starting out in this simpler mode. Not only is the alignment simpler, but the viewing positions are less awkward as well. An SCT on a Wedge can present some pretty awkward positions. Once you get up to speed without the wedge and are comfortable, then move on to the wedge. Take smaller steps and then once you have mastered that, move on.

5. Make sure you don't have the scope set to a 24 hour mode where 9:30PM is really 21:30. I imagine this is not the problem but you never know.

6. I think it is unlikely that there is anything wrong with your scope. There is a definite learning curve to GOTO. Once it is mastered, it does work well but getting up to speed can be frustrating/disappointing.

In the past, I have owned three Autostar telescopes and all have worked quite well. I think starting with the ALT-AZ rather than the EQ mode is the place to start and once you have that up and running, try the wedge but stay away from Polaris. Polaris might be just fine but my intuition says its going to cause problems.

Best wishes, clear skies ahead!!

jon

Yup, You guy's that said the wedge was backwards were right I think. I tried setting up the scope today remembering where the stars were last night and told the scope it was last night and went through the moves. I could tell it was going the right directions. I am running out side every 10 minuets tonight looking at the clouds hoping they will clear. I want to try it out tonight if I can. Hell with the cold this is fun.
Thank you all for your support!

Dan