I have 2 observatories and they are at slightly different latitudes. So I have been trying to minimise the polar alignment time when switching between the 2.
In the southern hemisphere it is much harder to use a polar alignment scope as the pole stars are incredibly dim and just are hard to spot.
I found I can put a laser collimator (Antares newtonian $25 laser collimator - the type that fits in a 1.25 inch eyepiece holder) on the metal end of the polar alignment scope of the mount and it projects and hold it there by hand and have it square. It projects a beam through the polar alignment scope (when the OTA is to the east or west) and this beam hits the ceiling of my observatory. I marked it with a piece of black electrical tape so next time I simply adjust the mount until the beam hits the same spot and I should have achieved a repeat of the previous aligment saving me from having to do a fresh drift alignment.
I think it would be a great feature on a mount to have a built in laser projector that can shine on a wall/ceiling much like a lot of power tools do these days.
Greg.
In the southern hemisphere it is much harder to use a polar alignment scope as the pole stars are incredibly dim and just are hard to spot.
I found I can put a laser collimator (Antares newtonian $25 laser collimator - the type that fits in a 1.25 inch eyepiece holder) on the metal end of the polar alignment scope of the mount and it projects and hold it there by hand and have it square. It projects a beam through the polar alignment scope (when the OTA is to the east or west) and this beam hits the ceiling of my observatory. I marked it with a piece of black electrical tape so next time I simply adjust the mount until the beam hits the same spot and I should have achieved a repeat of the previous aligment saving me from having to do a fresh drift alignment.
I think it would be a great feature on a mount to have a built in laser projector that can shine on a wall/ceiling much like a lot of power tools do these days.
Greg.
