Telescope Reviews: LX80 EQ Mode Alignment

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Jack Huerkamp
Vendor - Waning Moon

Reged: 10/13/05

Loc: Louisiana

LX80 EQ Mode Alignment
#5519469 - 11/14/12 12:24 PM

I finally had the chance to use my LX80 and C9.25" in EQ mode for the first time this past weekend. I did the two star alignment and alignment was successful. But I noted that there were offsets from true North in RA and Dec indicated on the controller. I was wondering if I should have loosened up the latitude and base and moved the mount to zero out the two offset numbers, and then re-performed the alignment. I found nothing on using the two offset numbers to achieve a more accurate polar alignment.

Would the numbers have zeroed out if I had loosened the latitude and base and moved the mount?

Would I then have to redo the two star alignment?

Thanks.

Jack Huerkamp

Post Extras:

jgraham
Postmaster

Reged: 12/02/04

Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Re: LX80 EQ Mode Alignment new

[Re: Jack Huerkamp]
#5519498 - 11/14/12 12:52 PM

Yep, in theory if you make the adjustments indicated by the controller you'll improve the polar alignment, but you will need to re-align once you make those changes since you'll change the offsets. If you're only off a bit and you're not imaging I'd make not of it and leave it alone. Plan-B might be to make the changes and re-synch the mount, that might work, but I'm not sure.

Post Extras:

OzAndrewJ
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/30/10

Re: LX80 EQ Mode Alignment new

[Re: Jack Huerkamp]
#5519667 - 11/14/12 03:08 PM

Gday Jack

Quote:

Would the numbers have zeroed out if I had loosened the latitude and base and moved the mount?

Maybe, maybe not. Those numbers are supposed to indicate how far off the pole your RA axle is pointing, but they can be suspect, and inconsistent. Ie even doing a faked 2 star align indoors, you can end up with an error display, even though the scope was left "on target" for both stars.
The best way to run is to get close, drift align then do a fresh polar one star align.