Hi all new to the forums and new to stargazing. 

I do analogise if this issue has been answered before, I did try to search but cannot find any information.

So I bought the EXOS2 PMC-Eight and I've been trying to polar align for the past two nights but failing miserably, could anyone please shed some light on this for me please.

Things I've tried are setting the mount level using the inbuilt bubble level and also using another bubble level to make sure, setting the correct altitude for my location, pointing the mount North and positioning Polaris in the little circle. I've tried adjusting the RA position so the counter balance arm is pointing at the Polaris clock (I use an app to find the Polaris time) then fine adjust the mount to get Polaris in the little circle, but all this just seems to fail, I ask the mount to point to an object but every time the position is miles off. 

I'm obviously doing something terribly wrong here any help for a noob would be gratefully appreciated.

Another note, I've watched a few videos about the polar scope collimation and tested if it's correct and all is fine.

Thanks, Bill.

Bill,

Are you using ExploreStars? Make sure your time and location are correct.
--
Lloyd Simons
Mattawan, MI
Telescopes: Astrotech AT72ED II, Orion 8" Dobsonian, Tectron 15" Dobsonian, Celestron Super Polaris C8
Imaging Camera: Canon T3i
Guide Camera: QHY5L-IIM on a 60mm F4 Guidescope
Mounts: iExos-100 PMC-8, Vixen Super Polaris
Mount Control: KODLIX gn41 mini PC, Explorestars on a Lenovo Tab 2 A10-70F Android 6.0
Software: N.I.N.A. for imaging, PHD2 for guiding, Sharpcap for PA, Cartes du Ciel, PixInsight

Thanks for the reply, Yes I'm using ExplorreStars everything is setup correctly after following the tutorial on youtube.

On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 10:25 AM, Bill Kinnair wrote:

I'm obviously doing something terribly wrong here any help for a noob would be gratefully appreciated.

HI Bill,

I am sorry you are having issues with getting and verifying a good polar alignment.  First, what mount are you using? Is it an iEXOS 200 or EXOS 2/G11 PMC-Eight?  Based on your description using the polar finder, it sounds like you have the EXOS 2 PMC-Eight mount. Typically if you are confident that you have a good physical alignment then the only issues that can cause a large pointing error are the location and time settings, or a physical problem with the mount such as a gear binding issue or perhaps a power supply issue. 

Based on that, I would suggest that you verify the following (assuming a verified good "physical" polar alignment using a compass and level and the polar scope as needed)

1. Power supply voltage is => 12Vdc
2. Longitude, Latitude, Time, and Time Zone are correct for your location
3. The mount is placed in the Home position according to the index pointers on each axis.
4. The mount is balanced (slight imbalances are okay)
5. The gear mesh is good based on no noticeable excessive motor/drive noise indicative of motor skipping steps.

If you have these things, then DO NOT DO a virtual 2-star or 3-star alignment. Slew to an object and it should be within a degree or so of the target. 
If this is not the case, then I am not sure what else it could be.

Give that a try and let us know.

Thanks.
 
--
Jerry Hubbell
Vice President of Engineering
Explore Scientific, LLC.
jrh at explorescientific.com
www.explorescientificusa.com
1010 S. 48th Street
Springdale, AR 72762
1-866-252-3811

Author: Scientific Astrophotography: How Amateurs Can Generate and Use Professional Imaging Data
             Remote Observatories for Amateur Astronomers: Using High-Powered Telescopes From Home


Mark Slade Remote Observatory (MSRO) IAU MPC W54 Equipment
Wilderness, VA
Mounts: ES PMC-Eight G11 + Telescope Drive Master (TDM)
Scopes: ES 165 FPL-53 ED APO CF, ES 102 FCD100 ED APO CF
Cameras:  QHY174M-GPS + FW, QHY163C
Misc: 3-inch 0.7x Focal Reducer Field Flattener, Filters: Luminance,
Red, V-band Photometric, Diffuser, 200 lpmm Spectral Grating
Software: MaxIm DL 6, Cartes du Ciel, Astrometrica, AstroImageJ, AutoStakkert!

Thanks for the reply Jerry.

Yes I am using the EX0S-2 PMC-Eight mount.

I can confirm everything is setup correctly regarding the Longitude/Latitude, Time, and Time Zone.
I am also using the mains power plug that come supplied with the mount. The home position is set correctly and the motors sound fine and the mount is level.

I think I might be polar aligning wrong it's all so confusing, can you confirm that Polaris has to be centred in the little circle or do I need to preform some steps before hand?

On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 01:22 PM, Bill Kinnair wrote:

I think I might be polar aligning wrong it's all so confusing, can you confirm that Polaris has to be centred in the little circle or do I need to preform some steps before hand?

You should use a level app on your phone if you have one and a compass to independently verify that you are very close (to within a couple of degree) of the North Celestial Pole (NCP). If that is the case, then you should be within a 2 to 3 degrees of the target when slewing to the object. Close enough is good enough for this first try. Don't forget to take into account you local Magnetic Declination for the compass reading.
 
Thanks
--
Jerry Hubbell
Vice President of Engineering
Explore Scientific, LLC.
jrh at explorescientific.com
www.explorescientificusa.com
1010 S. 48th Street
Springdale, AR 72762
1-866-252-3811

Author: Scientific Astrophotography: How Amateurs Can Generate and Use Professional Imaging Data
             Remote Observatories for Amateur Astronomers: Using High-Powered Telescopes From Home


Mark Slade Remote Observatory (MSRO) IAU MPC W54 Equipment
Wilderness, VA
Mounts: ES PMC-Eight G11 + Telescope Drive Master (TDM)
Scopes: ES 165 FPL-53 ED APO CF, ES 102 FCD100 ED APO CF
Cameras:  QHY174M-GPS + FW, QHY163C
Misc: 3-inch 0.7x Focal Reducer Field Flattener, Filters: Luminance,
Red, V-band Photometric, Diffuser, 200 lpmm Spectral Grating
Software: MaxIm DL 6, Cartes du Ciel, Astrometrica, AstroImageJ, AutoStakkert!

Hi everyone, I think you need to check if your polar scope itself is calibrated, I know this is supposed to be done at the factory but maybe it can get knocked about in transit. I checked mine and it was miles out. If this is out you won’t be properly polar aligned even though you think you are. 
--
Michael Whitaker
Wakefield, UK. 
MOUNTS. Exos-2 PMC Eight..
SCOPE: RVO Horizon 72ed. 
CAMERA: Canon M50. 
SOFTWARE: Just iPad at moment.

How do you polar align, which app (if any) do you use. 

--
Michael Whitaker
Wakefield, UK. 
MOUNTS. Exos-2 PMC Eight..
SCOPE: RVO Horizon 72ed. 
CAMERA: Not Applicable. 
SOFTWARE: Just iPad at moment. 

I didn't think about the scope inverting the image I downloaded a new app called PloarisView it has an option to invert the same as the view through the scope, I will test this when the weather permits.

The reticle markings in this polar scope are very confusing I did manage to fine some information online with our retical markings it might help. But the information is still confusing for me :(
http://www.nightskyimages.co.uk/polar_alignment.htm


Can you let me know how you get on with the your new Polar scope.

Thanks Bill. 

On Thu, Sep 3, 2020 at 12:16 AM, Jason Colbeck wrote:

I'm in the same position,,,not exactly sure how to aligning Polaris with the reticle markings,,I'm doing what you do with the pole finder app,,but I notice that different scopes some times have it inverted,,,so If it says for example 10 to on the app ,,try 20 to on your reticle,,I did & I was a lot closer.  Still,,I'm looking at changing it to one I'm more familiar with .This fits eq5 mounts so Hoping this fits the exos-2 

On Wed, 2 Sep 2020, 15:25 kinnawill via groups.io, <kinnawill=googlemail.com@groups.io> wrote:

Hi all new to the forums and new to stargazing. 

I do analogise if this issue has been answered before, I did try to search but cannot find any information.

So I bought the EXOS2 PMC-Eight and I've been trying to polar align for the past two nights but failing miserably, could anyone please shed some light on this for me please.

Things I've tried are setting the mount level using the inbuilt bubble level and also using another bubble level to make sure, setting the correct altitude for my location, pointing the mount North and positioning Polaris in the little circle. I've tried adjusting the RA position so the counter balance arm is pointing at the Polaris clock (I use an app to find the Polaris time) then fine adjust the mount to get Polaris in the little circle, but all this just seems to fail, I ask the mount to point to an object but every time the position is miles off. 

I'm obviously doing something terribly wrong here any help for a noob would be gratefully appreciated.

Another note, I've watched a few videos about the polar scope collimation and tested if it's correct and all is fine.

Thanks, Bill.

Yes I made sure the Polar scope was calibrated.  

 

On Thu, Sep 3, 2020 at 12:59 AM, Michael Whitaker wrote:

How do you polar align, which app (if any) do you use. 

 

On 3 Sep 2020, at 00:46, Jason Colbeck <jasonacolbeck@...> wrote:

Did that the other day on my neighbor's aerial,,it was way off,,,Its bob on now. Just the reticle issues Bill has ,,I have.

On Thu, 3 Sep 2020, 00:38 Michael Whitaker, <mwhitaker285@...> wrote:

Hi everyone, I think you need to check if your polar scope itself is calibrated, I know this is supposed to be done at the factory but maybe it can get knocked about in transit. I checked mine and it was miles out. If this is out you won’t be properly polar aligned even though you think you are. 
--
Michael Whitaker
Wakefield, UK. 
MOUNTS. Exos-2 PMC Eight..
SCOPE: RVO Horizon 72ed. 
CAMERA: Canon M50. 
SOFTWARE: Just iPad at moment.

 

 

--
Michael Whitaker
Wakefield, UK. 
MOUNTS. Exos-2 PMC Eight..
SCOPE: RVO Horizon 72ed. 
CAMERA: Not Applicable. 
SOFTWARE: Just iPad at moment. 

I dont use an app to Polar align as I can't find any I do use an app called Polar alignment and PolarisView they give you the location of Polaris. There is an app for Iphone but I us Android so its no good for me. 

On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 09:41 PM, Jerry Hubbell - Explore Scientific VP Engineering wrote:

On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 01:22 PM, Bill Kinnair wrote:

I think I might be polar aligning wrong it's all so confusing, can you confirm that Polaris has to be centred in the little circle or do I need to preform some steps before hand?

You should use a level app on your phone if you have one and a compass to independently verify that you are very close (to within a couple of degree) of the North Celestial Pole (NCP). If that is the case, then you should be within a 2 to 3 degrees of the target when slewing to the object. Close enough is good enough for this first try. Don't forget to take into account you local Magnetic Declination for the compass reading.
 
Thanks
--
Jerry Hubbell
Vice President of Engineering
Explore Scientific, LLC.
jrh at explorescientific.com
www.explorescientificusa.com
1010 S. 48th Street
Springdale, AR 72762
1-866-252-3811

Author: Scientific Astrophotography: How Amateurs Can Generate and Use Professional Imaging Data
             Remote Observatories for Amateur Astronomers: Using High-Powered Telescopes From Home


Mark Slade Remote Observatory (MSRO) IAU MPC W54 Equipment
Wilderness, VA
Mounts: ES PMC-Eight G11 + Telescope Drive Master (TDM)
Scopes: ES 165 FPL-53 ED APO CF, ES 102 FCD100 ED APO CF
Cameras:  QHY174M-GPS + FW, QHY163C
Misc: 3-inch 0.7x Focal Reducer Field Flattener, Filters: Luminance,
Red, V-band Photometric, Diffuser, 200 lpmm Spectral Grating
Software: MaxIm DL 6, Cartes du Ciel, Astrometrica, AstroImageJ, AutoStakkert!

I don't think this is my issue, my issue is trying to read/understand the reticule markings in the Polar scope they are confusing.

 

I was told to use the inverted image, let me know how you get on, are you using ExploreStars? 
--
Michael Whitaker
Wakefield, UK. 
MOUNTS. Exos-2 PMC Eight..
SCOPE: RVO Horizon 72ed. 
CAMERA: Not Applicable. 
SOFTWARE: Just iPad at moment.

On Thu, Sep 3, 2020 at 12:20 PM, Michael Whitaker wrote:

I was told to use the inverted image, let me know how you get on, are you using ExploreStars? 
--
Michael Whitaker
Wakefield, UK. 
MOUNTS. Exos-2 PMC Eight..
SCOPE: RVO Horizon 72ed. 
CAMERA: Not Applicable. 
SOFTWARE: Just iPad at moment.

Yes using the ExploreStars app. 

Hi Bill, just another idea, are you using a red dot finder finder scope to verify the mounts pointing accuracy? If not and your main scope has a long focal length you may find its small field of view is the problem as your target may be outside the field of view but not actually far off.......
--
Brian Skinner
iEXOS100
Canon 1300d dslr
Various lenses
ES Polar scope
Sequator image stacker
PIXR image editor

Hi Brian. 
No not using a red dot finder just using the finder    scope that come with the telescope, I think I've figured it out now. I've give it a good testing and seems to be pointing in the right direction. 
--
Bill Kinnair
West Midlands UK
Mounts: EXOS-2 PMC-8 GOTO
Scopes: Skywatcher 200PDS + Skywatcher Skyliner 200p
Cameras: ZWO ASI120MC + Canon EOS 1300D
Software: ExplorerStars, Backyard ESO, ASIStudio, AutoStakkert, PIPP, RegiStax 6, PolarAlignment PRO

What was the problem Bill?

--
Michael Whitaker
Wakefield, UK. 
MOUNTS. Exos-2 PMC Eight..
SCOPE: RVO Horizon 72ed. 
CAMERA: Not Applicable. 
SOFTWARE: Just iPad at moment.