nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

A year ago or so I bought software called, "Alignmaster" after watching this video. I got busy and never got around to trying it out until last winter. If you are using an EQ mount and are having issues with long exposures this approach nails it. Fast and simple and the software is around 30 US. Now all I do is set up the tripod - level and use a compass to point north....set the alt (I use an app called "angle meter" rather than the gage on the EQ mount) and no more getting on my hands and knees to look through the polar scope which invariably started my night of "seeing" with a stiff neck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNRFm3LtCrE

chazz4623 Loc: Prairieville, La

I like your idea better than others I've heard about, I have bone spurs in my neck, so...

northcoast42 Loc: Puget Sound, Washington

That looks very interesting. Thanks for this information. I think I'll give it a shot.

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

When I first set up I used a program called PemPro from CCDware, which allows a free all access trial period, it allows training of your periodic error but also will help you align your mount within a couple seconds of the Celestial Pole.

Most professionals use a method called drift aligning, but it can take some time many would rather spend imaging. Without a guider the AVX is lucky to get 180sec exposures, which just getting close is good enough as long as you are imaging under 2000mm. Field rotation will be so minimal I doubt it would be noticable.

Personally I try to do a 2 star alignment with 4 calibration stars every other week or so. After a couple of months I am still well under 15sec of error, with no adjustment.

Clear Skies
Matthew