Polar Alignment Using Our Sun. Basics from mount setup to finish.

Polar alignment using our Sun. It’s basically drift alignment off our closest star. This video has the absolute beginner in mind. I demonstrate some practical tips from mount setup to the basics behind using the Meridian and celestial equator to get you started. From the video you should be able to identify what direction to adjust your mount. This would be useful mostly for folks with no access to a pole star, those setting up remotely, people planning a Solar time lapse etc. I hope I conveyed the simplicity of the method and offered the viewer the tools needed to do it themselves. Clear skies.

[@danielg.9578]

You can also use the shadows from the sun. As the sun drifts across the sky the tip of a shadow such as your tripod will make a straight line East and West. Mark one Point and wait 10 minutes and then mark the other point. Draw a straight line between the two points and place two of your tripod legs directly on that line and the third leg will be pointing North or South as long as the legs are equally spaced out. Also, if you setup at Solar Noon the shadow will pointing directly north as well in the northern hemisphere.

[@GarnettLeary]

That sounds legit and easy. Thank you for sharing

[@davevick1775]

7:45 - I bought one of those self-stick flexible measuring "tapes" they sell at Lowe's-Depot-Menards to stick to the edge of your table saw, and stuck it on the counterweight tube of my Star Adventurer GTi. Et Voila! Now I can easily repeat my counterweight placement every time I take the rig out for a session. Beware, though: Some measuring tape stickers are not as thin as others, and depending on your mount's weight clearances you may need a *REAL THIN* sticker to let the weights slide on the tube without jamming up. Just a thought; worked for me. Thanks for the good solar tutorial, HTH, HAND, &c...

[@jefflucas_life]

Oh most helpful, prep me up before using a sharp cap when I search for clear dark skies ~ anywhere but home. Great video!

[@JenhamsAstro]

Very clever take on drift align Garnett, I would never have thought of it.

[@GarnettLeary]

It works well. I’m getting consistent results under 1’ which is excellent for medium fl. I’m torn between a Calcium K-line filter or the AM5. Getting old sucks. This Atlas is a bit heavy these days. Happy Easter to you and yours. Eager to see what you have in store next.

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

Nice and straightforward. I think this will really help me stay on target for the annular eclipse in October. Thank you!

[@GarnettLeary]

I hope so. We’re all eagerly awaiting it. I plan to do something completely out of the box and shoot it in Calcium K-Line. Not sure if it’s ever been done. Risky but what’s life without challenge? Thanks for stopping by and best of luck.

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

Good tutorial Garnett! Aligning in daytime can save you important time for astrophotography!

[@Vic-pz5oh]

Sun's very quiet today bud. 2/4/23.great idea using the sun to polar align. Clear skies vic

[@kenhaughan5428]

Will definitely try that. Good tip to use a sunspot when there's no full disc (plenty of spots around at the moment!) Might also encourage more people to not ignore one of the most interesting objects in the sky once they try this and see how active the sun is right now. I suppose you can currently also use the same technique with the planet Venus during daytime to polar align.

[@GarnettLeary]

Haven’t thought about that but there’s no reason Venus wouldn’t work. The difficulty level would be much higher. There’s definitely an up trend in solar right now. Lunt just introduced a double stack for the 40mm. I begged them for one when that scope first hit the scene. It’s an amazing scope especially on the Helio Find mount.

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Great tutorial Garnett I've only done a very rough PA when doing solar unless I'm using the observatory so I'll definitely be trying this method next time.

[@GarnettLeary]

I’m averaging at or under 1’ with about an hours worth invested. It’s definitely worth trying.

[@Astronurd]

I really need to give this solar viewing and imaging a go. It’s been a long time coming.

[@GarnettLeary]

Sun activity is increasing

[@avt_astro206]

Very Nice Tutorial Garnett!

[@GarnettLeary]

Thank you

[@TalGivoly]

Thanks. However, at 13:43 you said you would put the key at the end of the video - what adjustment to make based on where the drift is. But I cannot find that key. Where is it? Tx

[@aaronden]

Thanks - could you clarify the instructions for adjusting the azimuth as the sun drifts? If the camera / lens are on the eastern side of the meridian, what would be the alt/az adjustments to make given upward/downward/leftward/rightward drift of the sun out of the frame?

[@aaronden]

For example, when scope is pointing east, you say if drift is southward then polar axis is low. does that mean we should increase the altitude on the mount?

[@GarnettLeary]

@aaronden yes

[@aaronden]

@@GarnettLeary thank you - and when the scope is pointing west, if the drift is southward what does that mean and what should we do with the altitude of the mount?

[@geoffc1862]

Useful, thanks. Question, why concentrate on North, when the trailing legs should line EW?

[@GarnettLeary]

It’s assumed you’d be pointing that direction in polar alignment preparation. That’s all.

[@wynand988]

Interesting video, very informative. Curious effect with the Sun drifting like that, why do you think that happens? :)

[@GarnettLeary]

Unfortunately it’s happening because of how inaccurate I was guessing polar alignment. If I was using an 800mm telescope it would be absolutely awful lol

[@wynand988]

This seems to a problem mainly with the sun but not the stars is that correct?@@GarnettLeary

[@GarnettLeary]

Both. The rate by which this occurs is different between our Sun, Moon, and stars. This is why you find multiple tracking rates on mechanically driven mounts.