Robert,

I had the same problem just last night. It was only the second time
I tried using the wedge (8" LX200). I was determined to see how
accurate I could get the alignment and how accurate my scope could
track before I pop for a CCD camera. I used the drift method
on a star at 0 dec and on the meridian. I adjusted azimuth and
altitude on the mount for quite some time (it took me a while to figure
out that the east/west drift was periodic error; I kept trying to
correct for that). After the wedge was properly aligned and I went
through the LEARN mode for Smart Drive, I tried a GOTO to another
star. Not even close (several degrees off) !! This scope is very
accurate in the ALTAZ mode. Is it possible to track accurately
(no drift for 10-15 minutes) and still be off in polar alignment ??

Nick Bernier
Dallas

mode

Ric L Ecker wrote:
>
> writes:
> >Hello All,
> > I operate my LX200 in polar mode and have been doing polar alignments
> for
> >astrophotography according to the instructions in the Meade manual. I
> set
> >the dec to 90 and HR to 0 and start the routine. When I first got the
> scope
> >I could do three 15 minute routines and get a polar alignment that would
> not
> >drift in dec for about 20 minutes. Lately this is not the case. I can
> spend
> >upwards of 2 hours using this method and not get more than 3 minutes
> without
> >drift. I have checked the dec circle calibration, clock setting, bubble
> >level and long and lat settings, all seem right.
> > Next, I decided to do drift alignment. After 1 hour of drift aligning I
> had
> >no dec drift for 30 minutes. However I noticed that when I calibrate on
> a
> >known star and then slew the scope to polaris, polaris is not in the
> >eypeice. If I adjust the long and lat on the wedge to center polaris
> mypolar alignment is ruined. Something seems out of whack here but I
> don'tknow what. Anyone got any ideas?
> > Thanks
> >Robert
>
> I use to do the Meade routine with varying success, I think its
> dependant on the time of year and different method that came across these
> pages of Mapug, all with some degree of success but not constant. I have
> abandon these methods of quick alignment and just count on dec. drift
> alignment, which gives good results all the time. Next time you want to
> go back to Polaris after a good dec. drift alignment give Star #19 a
> try......this should get Polaris in the FOV..........ric
>
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