Thank you Jerry for the input. That was a question I had about locking onto the brightest star in my FOV with my 50mm guidescope. I will give that a try tonight.

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

Hi Tommy, The Explore Stars 2 or 3-star "virtual polar alignment" system is designed to make it as easy as possible (within reason) for beginners to get a good alignment so that the GOTO navigation (P

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

Wes, Thank you for all the input. I will digest all the info you provided and try to get my mechanical alignment down using the steps you provided.

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

Tommy, Yes. I use APT to control my camera, use live view on the canon T5i and slew to the selected target, center it in live view, then hit the sync button in CDC. Works like a champ. I slewed to mul

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

Tommy: If you are doing visual, you will want to get good at this alignment. If you are ding astrophotography, you will need to get good at mechanical polar alignment for tracking purposes, and then u

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

Tommy, If you're imaging, you'd want to plate solve using what your imaging camera sees, not your guide camera. Lots of options for that, just depends on what software you're using to manage the D5600

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

Robert, Next on my list was auto-guiding. Its been really cold the past couple months and didn't want to get into till summer. I will look into plate solving with Sharpcap. Thanks for the info.

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

Jeff, thanks for all the input. I've got polar alignment down-solid using Sharpcap, so I don't get star trails in my photos anymore, up to 60-sec subs so far. My biggest issue is the go-to with star a

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

Tommy, Yes, but not with Explorestars or visual. It's called 'plate solving', and people generally use it for framing their target when imaging. Basically, your plate solving software asks the imaging

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

Hi Tommy, I had the same issue using ExploreStars. I was pretty much told the database is what the data base is. I was instructed to scroll thru the alignment star choices given until you get to stars

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

Hello all, I have been having trouble performing a 2 or 3 star alignment, meaning I am not 100% sure I've locked into the correct star, so I usually take my best guess. This usually throws off my go-t

#sharpcap #alignment #ExploreStars #iEXOS-100

I just picked up the AZ adjuster for my iEXOS-100 mount and polar aligned via Sharpcap. Wow what a difference with the AZ adjuster, so much easier. Thanks for the heads up. I got an excellent my first

#alignment #iEXOS-100 #sharpcap

Jeny, Not quite sure what scenario you have in mind, but FWIW, Sharpcap does not need a separate Astrotortilla installation to perform a Polar Alignmnent. If you're talking about using Sharpcap to do

#alignment #iEXOS-100 #sharpcap

I'm curious if somebody tried to plate solving with guide scope and SharpCap? I believe SharpCap can use Astrotortilla for it.

#alignment #iEXOS-100 #sharpcap

Skull HQX I really do appreciate the feedback, and given the forum rules I wouldn't mind going into more detail with you in another space. Regarding elaborating I'll do my best: 1. Set-up and level th

#alignment #iEXOS-100 #sharpcap

I'm not sure what you mean exactly. Can you elaborate? Regarding the resulting picture. It looks good Jeff. The core isn't overexposed and there is nice detail. For constructive feedback I would say r

#alignment #iEXOS-100 #sharpcap

I just thought I'd close the loop. I posted this photo elsewhere on the forum, however I did want to say that the PA through SharpCap allow this photo of 80 stacked 30 sec. Exposures unguided. I also

#alignment #iEXOS-100 #sharpcap

Tommy, Nope. Think about what the axes of your mount are doing during tracking and it should become clear. In a perfect world, the RA axis is in line with the celestial pole. The RA's tracking rate is

#alignment #iEXOS-100 #sharpcap

Thanks for the info. Could I just make azimuth adjustments via explore stars slewing? Or is this not possible?

#alignment #iEXOS-100 #sharpcap

Unfortunately his Astro Tech AT60ED + ZWO ASI 120MC-S combination provides far too little field of view to do PA using SharpCap. Alternately, if he uses his Nikon D5600 with the AT60ED the field of vi

#alignment #iEXOS-100 #sharpcap