Starguide - A Practical Guide to Astro-Photography

Actual Step

Polar Alignment 

Updated: 2024-05-23

Purpose

Align the equatorial mount with the earth's axis

Previous Step

• Setting Time and Location Data 

Polar Alignment Options

Depending on your equipment you have several alternatives for the polar alignment. 

• Visual Polar Alignment with iEQ45 Polar Finder
• iPolar Alignment using the Optron Electrical Polar Finder
• Polar alignment using the Scheiner Method
• using the ASIAIR and ASIAIR App to do a polar alignment
• Polar Alignment during daytime
• Rough Polar Alignment using a smart phone

Required HW

iEQ45 Pro, optional: ASIAIR Pro

Required SW

• iOS App Polar Scope Align Pro (or PS Align Pro), 
• iOptron Polar Finder #3339, 
• iOptron Commander (including the ASCOM interface)
• Semi-Automatic Polar Alignment with ASIAIR

Next Step

• Star Alignment