Polar Alignment App Part 2 of 2 - Daytime Alignment Test Accuracy

PLEASE NOTE: There is no Android version of this, even though there are look alikes. The Pro version is $1.99, not $2.99 as stated in Part 1. Polar Scope Align Pro is an excellent app to get the position of Polaris. This is a demo of the daytime polar alignment routine. I show how to place the device on the mount and roughly align the mount for nighttime use. It seems accurate enough to get you in the ball park, especially for visual work, but a more accurate alignment will be necessary once night falls for astrophotography

[mne]

Thanks for the demo. I have a few comments based on my experience with this wonderful app: 1) I have an iPad Air 2 - the compass in the iPad is not usable for this purpose and as you showed, it is not able to keep a stable lock on the NCP 2) my iPhone XR has a wonderful compass and is very arcane stable. I get very good polar alignment performance. 3) you show the iPad too close to the mount. It needs to be at least a couple of inches away. I made a piece of wood that fits into the mount’s dovetail channel and installed an iPhone mount on that. Works great.

Also, I have been using the DSO “push-to” and “hop-to” features, using it as a guide for my manual EQ mount. I added an iPhone holder to the OTA tube. Works great too.

[wanderingquestions]

I made a wooden insert for my dove-tail mount too. However I added a 2 foot extension arm to the wood jig to move it away from the metal body of my mount. I also use just a iPhone so that isn’t as much weight on the wood extension arm

[DawgcityClev]

When I first saw you in the video, I thought you would say... "I'd like to play a game." in your (Saw) voice. LOL

[comm]

Jeff. Thank you very much. I was struggling reading a lot but going anywhere. You made it easy for me. Thanks.

[iamberserker]

I believe you need to take the tablet or phone away from the saddle to prevent magnetic interference.
If you extend the board you have attached to bring the tablet or phone down and off the saddle, you may get an accurate reading,
I will be testing my Byers 58 mount soon.
I will use your set up for the board, but I will lengthen it to get my iPad off of the saddle.
Thanks for the tip on the board, yours is a much simpler solution than the one I was thinking of.

[tonyvtc]

Thanks for sharing. I have this app love it. Going to try out the day time on my Atlas Mount to get in the ball park. Then fine tune it at night time. Note they do recommend not having the phone or iPad near metal. They even have a jig that will hold your phone made out of plastic. It slides in too the dove tail holder on the mount.

[paulwilson]

Thanks for this video. I am going to try it in the daytime exactly like you did. And also at night, without the scope on the mount just for practice. I think if I do that a few times I can learn to get "ballpark". I will be using Sharp Cap Pro from the laptop when I go for the real alignment, and that software can "take over" when I am within 5 degrees of Polaris.
You know, seeing on a video how it's done is so much more helpful than reading the text, which invariably uses terms that I don't quite understand.

[richardrogers]

Regarding daytime alignment, it will only be as accurate as the GPS unit in your phone. For most that's about plus or mines 5 meters. Still, that's pretty close. For daytime tracking of the sun it's more than adequate. Some of the latest phones are getting better.

I haven't tried this for nighttime alignment yet, but I think it could be a helpful tool for nighttime alignment to get it in the ballpark (Polaris is visible through the scope) especially in darker sky conditions. One of the problems I have in dark sky locations is there are so many visible stars it can be difficult to distinguishing Polaris from other stars when viewing through the polar scope. Even by setting the correct latitude and pointing the tracker due north, I usually can't get close enough to alignment just by eyeballing it. I still have to hunt for Polaris, and sometimes I get other stars confused with Polaris. I think I'm perfectly aligned until a test shot reveals I'm way off target. The daytime polar alignment feature seems like it would allow a close enough alignment that Polaris would be visible and easily identified through the scope, eliminating the need to hunt. Then it's a simple matter of making minor adjustments for final alignment through the scope. I like it.

There's an Android app named PolarAligner Pro. It's not exactly the same as the app in this video, and from what I can see, does not have quite as many bells and whistles, but it's similar and it works well. I think the cost is 4.99, and well worth price.

[astrodysseus]

Thanks for testing it, very cool and useful for rapid pre-setup or during day indeed

[britainthroughmylens]

This is not infallible but it will be accurate enough to get Polaris in the ocular, as opposed to any other stars that I may confuse with Polaris, which often seems to be my problem if I don't align at dusk when only Polaris is visible. So if nothing else it will enable me to easily polar align a little later instead of having to do it at dusk (if that makes sense). Thanks for this.

[dugy]

You though it was off but did you notice when you were done your cross hairs were close to where Polaris was supposed to be. Instead of aligning to the center. Align the cross hairs to where Polaris is supposed to be then look.

[gwzapo]

Hello Jeff, have you used this for your astrophotography? Really nice video. I don't have a problem with audo. Thank you for sharing.

[HAH_]

I've tried this several times and it unfortunately did not work. There is too much interference with the compass (iphone and high quality compass) because of the metal parts. You need to be 3-4 feet away from the tripod. I am still struggling with finding Polaris.

[PatrickGuerrisi]

What app do you suggest I use for android? I have an iOptron Skyguider Pro

[victorbeauge]

I would like to know wether this app. is usable in the Southern Hemisfere. Thanks

[ddiver]

thanks for the demo! If i can venmo or paypal you some cash can you make that wooden platform thing that holds your ipad? Thanks!

[heidiihnen]

I have tried with my ipad and my iphone and its always way off. I have put on a wood stick away from the metal. Nit sure what else to do. I woukd like to get at least close for shooting the sun during the daytime.

[deeber]

The scope doesn't throw off the app? No interference?

[paulwilson]

I have no trouble aligning the cross hairs with the app (whole iPhone in the mount saddle). What do you use for fine tuning once the scope is put up there? I plan to use SharpCap, and in fact was on my way when the clouds moved in. Focusing only on a laptop screen is pretty tough for me, but the first time I started out with no focus whatsoever. I was still able to get SharpCap to see 35 stars through the guide scope when all of them vanished above the cloud blanket. So cautiously hopeful for "next time" (ha, it remains totally cloudy).

[akkarparkiamopas]

How longest the exposure this technique can give you a sharp star without trail ?