[AZ-Observing] Troubles on the Pole [Was: Re: Re: Tonight (Friday)

A while back, I had troubles with my LX200 when polar aligning.  
Eventually I noted the following:  (1) I had the equatorial wedge angle 
set about 2 degrees off, probably due to having set up and "leveled" the 
tripod on my >slanted< driveway.... (2)  Finding and centering on a 
similar pattern of stars >below< Polaris for the alignment. (This latter 
might only be possible at certain coincidental times of the year, of 
course.....)

Corrective actions:  Reset wedge to correct central Arizona latitude; 
actually point at Polaris; and of course, put it on the pole finder 
circle (in the finder scope) on the correct side of the pole, for the 
given time of year....
This results in being able to track a planet for close to 30 minutes in 
a medium eyepiece field, without any further drift alignment -- adequate 
for visual use, IMHO.

The two-star "go-to" computer-aided alignment routine, as explained in 
the Meade manual for equatorial alignment, does NOT work properly (as 
stated).  When re-centering on Polaris, going back and forth from 
Polaris to an equatorial star, you MUST re-center to only 1/2 the 
(error) distance.  Otherwise, the adjustment/solution will NOT 
"converge".  This will drive you craaaaaazzzzzy.  (The Meade folks know 
about all this.....)

Only took me 45+ years to learn all this, AJ....
Ken, I like your thinking!!
Having your own named asteroid isn't necessary, but it helps, I think....

Gene Lucas
(17250)

Ken Sikes wrote:

>AJ here is an "out" for the 1.5 to 2 deg error ( I have used it before), 
>since Polaris is a binary star you were using the "other" star to look for 
>"other" objects
>
>Ken
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "AJ Crayon" <acrayon@xxxxxxx>
>To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Cc: "Rick Tejera" <saguaroastro@xxxxxxx>
>Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2007 5:58 PM
>Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Tonight (Friday)
>It wasn't mentioned on the list as I just discovered it day before 
>yesterday.  To be more specific there was NO problem with the telescope, it 
>was operator error.  Couldn't figure out why it was off 1.5 to 2 deg.  When 
>polar aligning I was putting Polaris on the wrong side of the NCP - duh!
>Took long time but there was lots of waiting for clear skies, replacement 
>parts and e-mail responses.
>Clear skies,
>aj
>
>---- Rick Tejera <saguaroastro@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>  
>
>>AJ,
>>I either missed it or you didn't mention it on list. What was the
>>determination of the problem with the new Scope?
>>Rick Tejera
>>President
>>Editor SACnews
>>Saguaro Astronomy Club
>>Phoenix, Arizona
>>saguaroastro@xxxxxxx
>>www.saguaroastro.org
>>
>>    
>>

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