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Initial Setup of the Mount
开云体育This is for anyone who regularly “goes mobile” to do Astrophotography.. How do *you* determine how to initially place the tripod?? ? I envision putting the mount in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you go to a location you have never been before, how do you determine where the tripod should be pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and rotate the tripod.. ? Can you just place a compass on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into account?? I would think the metal in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate?? ? Anywho.. I would like to know the various methods people use.. ? Derek |
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My first choice is to see where everyone else is pointing and mimic them :) but usually i just use an iphone compass app. i don't sweat the initial setup too much because i'll use polemaster or sharpcap to fine tune the PA On Wed, Jan 15, 2020 at 9:02 AM Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...> wrote:
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Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
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I set the tripod up then set a compass on the ground more or less centered between the 3 legs and look down thru the top of the tripod at the compass and adjust accordingly...do account for the declination...always within the adjustment range of the tripod. Stu On Wed, Jan 15, 2020 at 12:02 PM Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...> wrote:
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Derek I have an old manual that makes the fact that magnetic and polar north are not aligned everywhere.?? The earth's core generates a magnetic field that wanders (there was an article recently showing wandering at a rate of several feet a week,? if I remember correctly) so you align your compass to magnetic north then make a correction based on the latest geomagnetic map.?? So,? in my area, I note magnetic north then move the compass left or right by the offset degrees for my area.?? If you want,? I'll dig it out and and post it here Chuck On Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Derek C Breit <[email protected]> wrote: This is for anyone who regularly “goes mobile” to do Astrophotography.. How do *you* determine how to initially place the tripod?? ? I envision putting the mount in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you go to a location you have never been before, how do you determine where the tripod should be pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and rotate the tripod.. ? Can you just place a compass on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into account?? I would think the metal in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate?? ? Anywho.. I would like to know the various methods people use.. ? Derek |
开云体育Good question Derek, I have found that I use a compass on the ground then do a polar align.Anything I can do to help Gemini do it's job better. I find works. I am new to this and Lately I have been practicing drift alignment just in case I need to for
a back up plan.
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
From: Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...>
Date: 1/15/20 11:02 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io] Initial Setup of the Mount
This is for anyone who regularly “goes mobile” to do Astrophotography.. How do *you* determine how to initially place the tripod?? ? I envision putting the mount in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you go to a location you have never been before, how do you determine where the tripod should be pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and rotate the tripod.. ? Can you just place a compass on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into account?? I would think the metal in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate?? ? Anywho.. I would like to know the various methods people use.. ? Derek |
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These days, you might get good luck using a cellphone GPS app.?? They are amazing for showing the correct orientation not depending on magnetic field lines at all.?? Also the app will give the correct Latitude and Longitude.? If the app is installed, it doesn't need cellphone network access to work (the phone has GPS detection off line). Have fun, Michael?? On Wed, Jan 15, 2020, 9:37 AM crocco1250 via Groups.Io <crocco1250=[email protected]> wrote:
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开云体育Michael, that it the $1,000,000 question. Why is a cheep cell phone smarter than expensive telescope mounts?
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
From: Michael Herman <mherman346@...>
Date: 1/15/20 1:19 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Initial Setup of the Mount
These days, you might get good luck using a cellphone GPS app.??
They are amazing for showing the correct orientation not depending on magnetic field lines at all.??
Also the app will give the correct Latitude and Longitude.? If the app is installed, it doesn't need cellphone network access to work (the phone has GPS detection off line).
Have fun,
Michael??
On Wed, Jan 15, 2020, 9:37 AM crocco1250 via Groups.Io <crocco1250=[email protected]> wrote:
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开云体育That’s not necessary, Chuck, as it is simple enough to Google “Magnetic Declination”.. I won’t end up far enough from where I already live for it to be an issue anyway.. (I have to move from my nearly perfect Astronomy location..) ? But I see it is already obvious that everyone *does* use a compass in proximity to the mount.. That’s what I wanted to know, as I thought that wouldn’t work because of all the metal.. ? :-)) ? Derek ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of crocco1250 via Groups.Io
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 9:38 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Initial Setup of the Mount ? This is for anyone who regularly “goes mobile” to do Astrophotography.. How do *you* determine how to initially place the tripod?? ? I envision putting the mount in the center of the Azimuth adjustment range, but when you go to a location you have never been before, how do you determine where the tripod should be pointing?? I would be seriously bummed if I assemble the whole system, tried to polar align, and run out of adjustment so that I would have to disassemble and rotate the tripod.. ? Can you just place a compass on the tripod and use that, taking magnetic declination into account?? I would think the metal in the tripod would make the compass inaccurate?? ? Anywho.. I would like to know the various methods people use.. ? Derek |
开云体育Most of the metal in our mounts and tripods is aluminum, which is non-magnetic. As for the rest, just take the compass a few feet away from the mount, sight some distant object roughly in the direction of true north, then set up the mount using that as a reference.???-Les On Jan 15, 2020, at 1:14 PM, Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...> wrote:
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开云体育tripods is aluminum, which is non-magnetic *** LMAO! Holy cow, am I an idiot or what?? I should have known this! I hope my new question doesn’t show off more of my “brilliance”.. ? What’s that quote?? “It’s better to have people think you are a Fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt” or something of the sort.. I blame it on the stress of losing my “observatory”.. ? Derek ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Les Niles
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 1:28 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Initial Setup of the Mount ? Most of the metal in our mounts and tripods is aluminum, which is non-magnetic. As for the rest, just take the compass a few feet away from the mount, sight some distant object roughly in the direction of true north, then set up the mount using that as a reference.? ??-Les ?
On Jan 15, 2020, at 1:14 PM, Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...> wrote:
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开云体育Don’t feel bad… there are steel shafts and bearings and motor components in the mount, but if you align the tripod before putting the mount head on, there’ll be very little magnetic metal to mess with your compass. ?? -Les
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On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 at 16:13, Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...> wrote:
Compasses and magnets are not attracted to all metal.? Aluminum for instance is not a magnetic material Bill _____________ Pictor Observatory Twitter: @pictorobs Minor Planet 21350 - billgardner |
开云体育Bill, I place the compass down in the middle of the tripod extention and it points North. It points the same on the ground below the tripod.? so their is not enough ferrous material to affect the compass. But with a cell phone app the effects would be
moot.
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
From: Bill Gardner <pictorobservatory@...>
Date: 1/15/20 7:55 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Initial Setup of the Mount
On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 at 16:13, Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...> wrote:
Compasses and magnets are not attracted to all metal.? Aluminum for instance is not a magnetic material
Bill
_____________
Pictor Observatory Twitter: @pictorobs
Minor Planet 21350 - billgardner
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I use a small magnetic compass,or the GPS on my cell phone.
I set my tripod up so a single leg points North. (It came with the single leg pointing South. Just moved the pin 180°.) But remember, Polar North for your tripod is a very rough and general setting. When you can locate Polaris, there's your aim point. Just practice. Eventually, you'll be able to aim yourself North, look up and there it is. Edit In: Something else I've done is to use a long "yardstick" from the shop (aluminum, 48") and set it on the ground. Then compare it to my GPS on my smarter-than-me-phone. Then adjusted it so it is in line with North/South, then set my tripod using that as a reference, and the opposing legs evenly spaced from the edge of the Yardstick. Gets close enough to Azimuth into place for me. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Losmandy tripods machined so any leg can be your North leg? (120° slots for assembly) One of my biggest concerns is finding Polaris. At some sites there are just too many darned stars. For that I use the Big Dipper's Bucket.? 8^) |
开云体育Amen Sonny, The better you get with your set up the better your experience will be. Ajusting the front leg of the tripod to Polais when you can see it finally. As Sonny, mentioned the compass heading is just the start of your alignment process.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
-------- Original message --------
From: sonnyedmonds@...
Date: 1/15/20 9:36 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Initial Setup of the Mount
I use a small magnetic compass,or the GPS on my cell phone.
I set y tripod up so a single leg points North. (It came with the sing leg pointing South. Just moved the pin 180°.) But remember, Polar North for your tripod is a very rough and general setting. When you can locate Polaris, there's your aim point. Just practice. Eventually, you'll be able to aim yourself North, look up and there it is. |
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Unfortunately I don't have a pier so I set up in various places in the yard to avoid trees. ?I first decide on my target and then use an App called "Sky View" to find where in my yard I will get the most time on a target. ?Then like others stated I use a compass App to make sure my tripod is pointing correctly. ?After that I set up and shoot.
one other thing I do if I'm going to be in the same spot for a long time is take black spray paint and mark exactly where my tripod legs were standing so when I go out the next night I don't have to repeat pointing and balancing. if someone were to fly over my yard during the day and see those marks you would think UFO's had landed in my yard. hope this helps. Sean. ? ? |
开云体育>>> Please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Losmandy tripods machined so any leg can be your North leg? (120° slots for assembly) ? The tripod part is, but the part that holds the mount is not – the holders for gemini is in back ? Technically I suppose you could do any leg forward but the gemini might get in the way of RA movements if it’s on the side ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of sonnyedmonds@... ? [Edited Message Follows] I use a small magnetic compass,or the GPS on my cell phone. |
开云体育Yes that diagram. There’s roughly a hex bolt attachment to the tripod ? So while you can rotate it around, there’s only one position where you can attach the ears for mounting the gemini ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sonny Edmonds ? Hi Brian, |
开云体育Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I have also fastened mine down using three of the holes that (almost) line up on the top of my Meade Giant Field Tripod so that it *wouldn’t* rotate.. ? Might only matter to 1) me and 2) users of a Meade GFT, so I will leave off explaining why for now as I take it this discussion isn’t about that tripod.. ? Derek ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2020 12:37 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Initial Setup of the Mount ? Yes that diagram. There’s roughly a hex bolt attachment to the tripod ? So while you can rotate it around, there’s only one position where you can attach the ears for mounting the gemini ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sonny Edmonds ? Hi Brian, |
Michael Herman