How to Polar Align with NO STARS.

[@michaelwalsh7846]

I told my wife that everything is pointless and we are all going to die, but she still insists I decorate the house! 😢

[@theinterstellarfeller]

You are the gift that keeps in giving, Dylan! Happy New Year and wishing you clear skies ahead!

[@chlrsnj326]

Dylan, I 3d printed a bracket similar to the Move shoot move bracket (basically a tube with a hole through it that replaces the polar scope) , but what I put in the end of it is a green laser. This works very well and is super fast, but you do need to have an alignment star visible. Also you can set you legs up so that you have two legs in alignment with the East/West, place a straight edge along them the place you phone against the straight edge (a level on its side basically) and set up for true north using the compass. That gets you really close as well. My tripod leg feet are covered in Orange overspray spray paint at the bottom of the legs where I spray paint the ground at the point of contact for the legs. Works well for all surfaces including rocky, gravel, grass, etc. Align the mount, spray paint the ground. Easy Peasy.

[@DylanODonnell]

Nice!

[@rodbatman237]

For Celestron Mount I bought a starsense for autoalign and it helped me to save lot of time and to get very nice polar alignments. It helps me to do the star align in a couple minutes and then in CPWI or the control run the ASPA routine.... I can do it 3 times in less than 20 minutes to get very nice precision.

[@Spaced_Out_Bill]

Polar alignment is the single thing that made me want to quit in the beginning. I can't see Polaris from my back yard and I was trying to do it from a book..😢 I had no idea there were KZbin videos about it 😂 I found yours, Cuiv's channel and NINA, I learned so much! Here I am 7 years later still waiting for the clouds to leave

[@DylanODonnell]

Yeh it held me up for at least 6 months !

[@jedidiahwest4619]

It’s funny and sad at the same time. When it’s cloudy I’m sad that I can’t image but when it clear I’m depressed because I should be imaging but I’ve already found a new excuse for the night

[@beatsntoons]

Polar Alignment for me also was the worst thing in the world in the beginning. Now, thankfully, that pain is shared with everything else in this hobby. Gear that doesn't talk nicely to other gear. Non-existent standards or standards that companies ignore or make up themselves. Random hardware glitches when things worked perfectly before. More money to fix problems that just creates more problems. The list is endless! Why do we do this hobby again? Oh yeah, pretty pictures come out the other side.

[@laurentldoldi840]

I am using a Pentax K3-III camera, no need for polar alignment. Its integrated Astrotracer mode 3 takes 2 pre-shots of 18 seconds each to compute the stars movement, then it takes the actual image (say 50 s) while moving the sensor to track the sky. Made gorgeous MW and Orion (with a 300mm lens) images with it.

[@PeterIldefonso-cp5mq]

Would like to see a full alignment using the move-shot-move adapter. I am attempting to do mostly wide field/DSO objects and do not have a view of Polaris from my prefered astro location.

[@koomber777]

I guess the MSM phone holder for eyepieces would work as well? That would get it looking through the actual polar scope though.

[@ldipenti]

Super interesting! I almost give up while starting the hobby. No one tells you that polar aligning from the southern hemisphere is so difficult. Thanks to iOptron's iPolar I didn't abandoned, I'm still surprised on the amount of hours wasted trying to do a visual polar alignment using Octans from my Bortle 9 backyard.

[@psiddarth3581]

Very nice video. What i used to do in the past is use a combination of two apps inclinometer app and compass app ( which also shows the Magnetic declination). Recently, I started using daytime polar alignment app which does the same as above.

[@40Sec]

Is that the one that works on Android? It's surprising just how much mobile astronomy software is only on iOS (like the AR app in the video). Would also love to be able to use my Android phone with my HEM15's iPolar scope, but I've just given up on that at this point.

[@josephsworkshop75]

Fantastic! Bought the adapter straight away for the gti. Thank you and happy new year!

[@DylanODonnell]

Happy new year mate !

[@bobthompson5317]

I've started doing what I've been calling "Reverse alignment" for star parties where I want to be observing as soon as the sun goes down. Set the telescope up, clear the alignment data and find the zero position (this is with an iOptron mount), let the GPS align, then tell it to find the moon (you could also probably use this method with the sun, if you're safe about it). Now the mount thinks it's aligned an pointed at the moon, so we just have to make this true. So adjust the azimuth/elevation of the polar alignment until the moon is in centered in the telescope (or shadow minimized if using the sun).

[@bengterlandsson7921]

Have had markings for the tripod for years and it’s awesome. Not being able to see Polaris from where I setup the scope, drift alignment was my only option. For non computerised mounts I can really recommend the option.

[@muzadv]

I do similar but use the skylabs bracket from NZ and actually align down thru the mount to the north pole here in Qld. Easier on the back to 😁👍 Best part that bracket works on all mounts with no adaptors.

[@jbreezy3146]

You know what I do three point star alignment within Nina along with platesolver3 works like a freaking charm every time

[@marbasfpv4639]

Ive been 3D-printing loads of custom adapters for my astro gear. Has worked great so far.

[@PhilTaylorPhotog]

For anyone with Quadlock cases, I bought a simple adhesive car dash mount from them which has the 90deg swivel - stuck it directly to the Celestron C8...

[@Wombatzone31]

Hell Yeah!! That would be a treat for solar!!

[@astro-canuck]

Have the MTM crew add some small neodymium magnets to the original bracket and we can mount it on an AM3 or AM5 mount.

[@DylanODonnell]

I think magnets will disrupt the smartphones internal compass (which is also why it’s good it’s so far away from the mount).

[@gomanastro]

GREAT, BUT, tell us how to do this with the 5ever-more-popular AM5 and AM3 mounts, no polar scope on these to attach to.

[@DylanODonnell]

If someone sends me one of those mounts I’ll work it out heh

[@GrundleStiltSkin]

Ps align pro on iPhone, you can put the phone in the saddle of the mount or build a cradle that also goes in saddle but doesn’t grip your phone.

[@DylanODonnell]

​​⁠yeh the only issue is metal and mount electronics can throw off the iPhone compass so holding it away from the mount but still at a 90deg angle is pretty neat.

[@blobrana8515]

Happy new year everyone

[@DylanODonnell]

You too bröther

[@robertogrossige67]

I often check with phone and put little fast the mount and do pic , the line tell you if you are allineated or not !

[@dxfiles99]

Another great video Dylan (just got an Edge 14 too, so loving that series), but please show some love to the UK next time please

[@thomasphennigan]

Always fun Dylan . Happy New Year !

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

LOL for the first few months of astro, I was hopeless at polar alignment. I later realised down the line, I'd been polar aligning with a polar scope that was massively out of calibration with my mounts RA axis! Once I'd KZbin'd the sh*t outa it, my PA and subsequent star alignment and GoTo were essentially perfect! All the best for 2025 Dylan and family, and thank you! I've really loved your content this year and look forward to next year's new content! 🤩👍 Clear Skies from Wes, England. 🪐🌙🌀

[@DylanODonnell]

That’s quite a handicap while getting started!

[@Goronar]

I use iOptron iPolar, and it is just great and super fast. And I'm not using a iOptron mount, I've made an adapter for a SkyWatcher mount.

[@paulmurphy9358]

Are you going to try to image Ina blue lake on the Moon with the C14?

[@DylanODonnell]

Probably :)

[@retiche]

Haha, super idea for the phone! I have a 3d printed thingy that allows me to attach a laser to the polar scope to get very close to the celestiale pole, then use indi to do precise polar alignment. Anyway, daytime planets require a precise polar to catch them in the frame

[@naveenravindar]

Have you tried a compass? Works pretty well for me no batteries required. That phone mount accessory though is pretty sick, definitely can see that being popular on the non Polaris side of the world.

[@DylanODonnell]

Magnetic poles shift (rapidly lately) so I prefer using the phones adjustment to determine the celestial pole’s location instead of the magnetic one which isn’t really accurately geographically. Having Polaris would be nice tho :)

[@astronome66]

Happy New Year D! Best wishes for great things in 2025 with lots of clear sky (preferably at night 😉) 🎉🔭🌠

[@Michael_H_Webb]

I have the AVX Mount and I followed KZbin videos to calibrate a polar scope. If I see Polaris in the polar scope, it's a victory. Then I use Celestron's All Star Polar Alignment (ASPA) and have very good results.

[@DylanODonnell]

Yeh ASPA worked a treat for me on the CGX for years :)

[@craiglowery4427]

Happy New Year to you and your family

[@michaelw6173]

I actually use the Skylabs New Zealand Polar Alignment Adaptor suggested by Nightscape Images that utilises a mobile phone. I use Sky Safari 7, also suggested by Nightscape Images and their settings, and Polar Align using the North Pole, seeing through the Earth. It can be done for SP but it is quicker for NP. It seems to get very very close this way. Being on the wrong side a hill in Lismore, I cannot see the Celestial South Pole clearly (tall trees), so the above was perfect for me. Quick and very easy.

[@DylanODonnell]

Nice :) how’s the sky out there? Town glow or are you on the right side of the hill for that?

[@michaelw6173]

@@DylanODonnell there is a bit of glow from the CBD, but I look over the Wilson and Turf Club. On the side of the hill as you enter Lismore from Byron. Still the LP is bad and if I get that beautiful Byron Bay Doctor coming up the valley, well there goes the night. I just want the clouds to go away, it has been a horrible 2024 for that. HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and the Family and all the best for 2025.

[@peter-hy3rp]

To use this adapter people still need to have / buy the MSM bracket. I wonder whether it would be easier to repurpose an old Polemaster adapter.

[@DylanODonnell]

That’s true. What I like about the bracket they made is that it sits far away from the mount so your phones internal compass sensors don’t get interference from the metal and electronics in there.

[@keeplookingup911]

I had been thinking of this for a long time, finally you brought this up.... Using permanent marker to mark the legs of tripod on the ground. That might just save the agony of polar alignment 😊😊😊

[@DylanODonnell]

Check with your significant other first 😆

[@IronMan-2024]

Hi! I saw a video where an astrophotographer with a go to mount would set it up to point north and slew to the Sun. If it wasn’t in the center he would use the adjustment screws to center the Sun. What do you think?

[@MrTyroneweaver]

Wow dylan did you just post this 23 minutes ago. And here I am in Idaho USA watching it already. I lived in Australia for while. Perth, albany, mildura , adelaide

[@DylanODonnell]

Nice! Yeh I grew up in Perth :)

[@jedidiahwest4619]

@@DylanODonnell go figure 😜

[@MrTyroneweaver]

I can still remember my address from 1969. 166 Alice Street Doubleview Scarborough

[@jedidiahwest4619]

@@MrTyroneweaver never been but I’ve heard only true Australians are from Perth 😏

[@Caedo12]

@@MrTyroneweaver Fellow Idahoan and former Kiwi here. Nice to see other Idahoans enjoy watching Dylan’s videos. 🤙🏻

[@IDID-mc1nb]

Great content as always. You have fans in the US :). Keep it up in 2025

[@DylanODonnell]

Thanks ! Have a good one!

[@Caedo12]

I’m currently tackling off-axis guiding for the first time with my Edge 9.25, and let me tell you, I am properly f’d off right now. It’s dark, it’s 28°F, and I am in no mood for faffing about. I’ve made sure the prism is in the optical path, but can I see Bellatrix? Nope. Not even with a 1.25 eyepiece in the OAG. I think I need to nudge the prism further in, but knowing my luck, I’ll end up with shadows on the main camera sensor just to spice things up. I love this 🤬 hobby. Kidding! But also…not kidding.

[@DylanODonnell]

Yeh getting that initial focus is a huge challenge with the OAG. Point it somewhere star dense and turn the gain and exposure all the way up until you can see out of focus stuff then tune it in.

[@Caedo12]

@ Will do! Appreciate the advice!

[@Masoch1st]

Dude this is actually so cool man. You really have been making great videos man. I really like your personality and the way you let shit roll off of you too. Respect bro

[@DylanODonnell]

Hey thanks brother

[@erinbriggs7220]

Pretty cool adapter. Maybe something to 3d print...

[@stattonbroxham1588]

Polar alignment so much easier now with Nina or sharpcap can't every day I've used the polar scope or hand controller on any mount,the mount for the phone is a great idea,if you have a 3d printer share the design :p,another good tipmake sure your phone is calibrated

[@astroimagers]

On a wooden deck, balcony, the alignment was always off due to my weight...I had to straddle to and from the tripod via parallel planks 😅

[@DylanODonnell]

Ahh what a pain!

[@wodclerc]

Right, about 12 minutes late from Europe, but happy newyear and clear skies for the O'Donnells!

[@DylanODonnell]

Thanks so much !

[@IIIRotor]

This is the one thing I do envy the Flatards for, they do not need to do this, at all...

[@DylanODonnell]

lol

[@joeshmoe7967]

YEAH! For giving one away for someone in Canada! Watching from 51N 114W - Cheers

[@robertogrossige67]

HAPPY New Year Byron Boy

[@DylanODonnell]

Wooop! You too

[@forton615]

Best wishes from Europe anyway.

[@DylanODonnell]

Thanks !

[@brandonrunyon]

New starstuff!

[@DylanODonnell]

🥇

[@fmsilva11]

happy new year from europe :)

[@Visualographer_]

Neeed of the hour !!

[@Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxdddd]

Great. American. In japan love to get an adapter for my polar scope for my phone.

[@johnmcbryde715]

is this the right room for an argument?

[@DylanODonnell]

Maybe. :)

[@GregMcCall]

The SCP is ok if you like contorting yourself looking up from the back of your gear. An alternative is to align to the NCP from the front of the mount. The mobile app won’t care that you can’t see through the earth.

[@DylanODonnell]

Good tip !

[@GregMcCall]

@ Not my idea. I borrowed it from Richard Tatti kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWa8la2Zeq6bodUsi=P8GxQfNdXUPMfaxw

[@GregMcCall]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3XCn2mQqdiNatEsi=5DrfhdIAdWxld8Vp

[@davidsimard1522]

Happy new year to you and familly

[@DylanODonnell]

You too mate :)

[@capitaineplanete]

Bonjour from Montréal, Canada Dylan. I've been following this channel for a few years and would love to get your adapter. BTW, one of my mounts is the Skywatcher StarAdventurer GTI. The fit would be perfect! Thank you for the great videos. Have a great new orbit aroynd the Sun!

[@Adz573]

It really is amazing how far things have come it’s almost like cheating 😂

[@pinzyrat]

and the rest of the world? the contest seems like a world tour of a rock band! 🤣🇨🇱

[@ChrisRyan_Oz]

What was the app you had on your phone?

[@LiamMcDermott-r9w]

Sucks to be South African today 😢. Happy New Year Ozzies/Kiwis.

[@DylanODonnell]

Sry bru

[@101pilotwings]

Epic Intro ! 😂😂

[@ebeyonder]

Can this method be used on a mount that doesn't have a polar scope?

[@DylanODonnell]

Yep basically any way you can attach that bracket. The bracket has a square foot but the adapter has a round hole so it could be slipped onto anything round but not quite big enough for a guidescope unfortunately.

[@RaymondCHowes]

Happy New Year from up over!😂

[@DylanODonnell]

🍻

[@nadirteymurov1]

"The best way to polar align in the day is actually to polar align at night" Captain Obvious, 2025

[@DylanODonnell]

🫡

[@TheCosmicGuy0111]

Wowie

[@Hilmi12]

You missed using the sun to polar align. Level the tripod, point it north with a compass, make sure you start from accurate home position on mount. Cover the scope and goto the sun. Now use altitude and azimuth to tweak position so shadow of scope is smallest. If you have a solar filter you can then fine tune through the eyepiece

[@DylanODonnell]

That’s a good method too!

[@philkidd]

Posted and tagged you on my Instagram stories mate! 😊

[@zoeorriss192]

No UK? That's rude Dylan 😂 interesting option for sure though!

[@michaeltortola9476]

Happy New Year to you and your family! Thank you so much for your fantastic content! I'd try to win this, but I got enough issues with my SLT mount, and very primitive CPWI program. Just tried to update it after it did some funky stuff on me a couple of times now. I tried checking Celestron's site for what the latest update version should be for the hand controller. I know the current update for the alt and az is 5.18 but not sure wth the right one is for the hand controller like I said. Maybe if you have a chance you could lay some knowledge for us Primitive suckers who have yet had the money or the balls to step further into the world of AM5's or snazzy EQ mounts with ASIair and nina a so on and so forth,.... lmao,.... that was a mouthful, any help would be awesome with High fives all the way to Byron Bay!!

[@astroattorney]

"...some people like having friends, not us..." made me LOL. I'll share your video but I have no need for this device because I don't know what the Sun is anymore, just clouds. ☹️ Also, I have the SW SolarQuest so no need for your handy device. 🙏

[@jedidiahwest4619]

Let’s start an argument that way Dylan can get more engagement

[@DylanODonnell]

🥈 I disagree!

[@jedidiahwest4619]

Sorry, I’m a spaz

[@DylanODonnell]

@@jedidiahwest4619 haha all good so am I

[@jedidiahwest4619]

I’ve started new years drinking early 🥴🤷‍♂️

[@jedidiahwest4619]

BTW. Don’t give anything to me for free. I’m one of the lucky ones. Give it to the next US citizen please

[@markos.5539]

the contrast between the music and voice loudness is jarring.

[@chrisastro300]

WANT

[@timcorso6337]

Why not use Polar Scope Align Pro.. Start the app, lay your phone between the dovetails in the saddle (an iPhone Pro with apple case is a perfect fit in a Losmandy saddle). Do the alignment using Daytime/No Polariscope Alignment function. When you're finished Put the telescope on the saddle (carefully). Job done. No need for a special bracket. This might only be for iOS, not sure about other phones..

[@TheRattleSnake3145]

What was the alignment app called?

[@DylanODonnell]

It’s not really an alignment app.. just shows the pole nicely in AR mode which any planetarium app with AR should do. I like this one because it’s beautiful. SkyGuide for iOS (no android im afraid)

[@jbreezy3146]

What in the Hogwarts are you on about, Dylan? What kind of sorcery is this? 😅😂

[@luboinchina3013]

Please send this bracket, or at least 8:13 video to Dave McKeegan. He went to Antarctica to make 24h sun timelapse and he had to stay up for all 24h because he couldn't make it aligned good enough and sun would drift. He is great at eliminating flat earthers.

[@weepingtimel8970]

Amen on 1:38 - It is absolutely invisible 😂

[@DylanODonnell]

Such a hoax lol

[@paulomribeirojr]

I'm not a subject of the king, so I guess no gift for me... Great tips, though!

[@joecooksey4331]

New scope for Xmas... nope. I have plenty so I bought some NEW EYEPIECES! One can't have enough utterly unless eyepieces!

[@DylanODonnell]

Haaaaa

[@JuanRodriguezArchitect]

Where is the giveaway for that sweet Celestron in the observatory? 😂😂😂 Amazon sells adjustable cellphone attachments for telescopes.... Just saying.

[@DylanODonnell]

Haha

[@EH-pm1ke]

I’m surprised the phone is good enough, mine seems prone to being highly inaccurate

[@DylanODonnell]

They can pickup interference from the mount electronics. The bracket holds it nicely far away from that.

[@dazza1639]

Showing your hate for your UK masters again Dylan 😂

[@DylanODonnell]

Were criminals they sent to an island, remember ? ;)

[@blobrana8515]

Two words; Settings Circles

[@EvilBonsai]

I used a silver sharpie on my 8se mount arm. pointed it at polaris, marked spot. now, not highly accurate, but can find planets in bluesky

[@carltanner9065]

Best way to do the job?? Spend several million dollars buying a PW1000 and building an observatory to match, do a 100 point star alignment once setup and fit a couple of derotators to the naysmith ports, just in case😊😝😝😝

[@DylanODonnell]

I too find throwing money at the problems works a treat :)

[@X_Paul_X]

Giveaway was meaningless for anyone in Europe then! 👍

[@andrewweller5119]

Can't believe you blanked us UK Astrophotographers in your competition. it's not as if life here isn't depressing enough with our constantly cloudy days and nights? Thanks for nothing Dylan. 🤣🤣🤣 Cool bracket though. hope whoever gets one in those OTHER countries choke on it 🤣🤣🤣 TBF I just use a stick and a compass to get close to where I need. seems to work ok. 😀

[@DylanODonnell]

Haha I am sorry motherland

[@neilmansi3718]

No worries - won’t enter as from the Uk, cmon Dylan ! !

[@Visualographer_]

Meeeeee !

[@DylanODonnell]

🥉

[@bronco_fv]

Leaving out Europe, tss…

[@DylanODonnell]

I’m so sorry ! Canada is technically French right? Hah

[@bronco_fv]

@ well, I think they would disagree. But hey, I speak French 😂

[@biggsmpbiggs4045]

What about the U.K.???? They can Polar align with clouds ⛅️ 😅😂

[@StargazerFS128]

Very informative, but you’re not helping the megadork stereotype by wearing a long sleeve button shirt with shorts! gosh! we have a hard enough time with ladies.

[@DylanODonnell]

It’s called fashun!

[@PeterStaniforth]

No U.K.! BOOOOOOOOOO! 😲

[@DylanODonnell]

Forgive me Peter !

[@robertcarroll5036]

My ASIAir keeps on telling me that my PAs are extremely slow. Rude little butt head!!

[@darthdadious6142]

So, basically, the assumption of this video is that when people get their first telescope, they are computerized mount systems. You know, the s*** that costs > $1000. I want to be in one of those families. I got my first telescope 3 years ago. Standard equatorial mount, no computer. And I still can't polar align. I did see a mount for $700, oh, but it can't handle my telescopes weight. I have to go with the $900 unit. Hey, honey, can I buy a $900 mount? no need to yell dear, simple question. How about this $350 Seestar s30?....What? I can't look through the scope, but have to look through my cell phone? If I wanted to look at stars through my cell phone, I'd watch Astrophotography KZbin videos..... Thus, I'm here. Thus I have proven that the old proverb "Those who can't, teach" is wrong. It's, "Those who can't, watch others do it and grumble". bitter, maybe. Enjoyed the video regardless. Yeah, I'm that guy.

[@DylanODonnell]

Haha I feel your pain. Thanks for watching along anyway that’s quite an honour.

[@DylanODonnell]

(For me)

[@darthdadious6142]

@DylanODonnell I have been able to view Jupiter and Saturn (and its rings) on my 130 mm newtonian, but I can't do any photography on it. I could buy a motion drive, but I'm 0 for about 20 on polar alignment, City and airport are just north of me, so everything north of me is not visible. So, there is no point buying a drive. And its quality would be so bad I could only use it for star gazing (which is fun). Keep up with the videos, I love watching pretty much anything astronomy related.