Polar Alignment w ZWO ASIAir and Celestron Mounts

Own an ASIAir or ASIAir Pro? Own a Celestron mount? Ever have issues polar alignment using the ASIAir PA module? Well I know many that have and I have a way to help avoid those frustrating issues and save your mount and your sanity!!
3D Printed ZWO EAF Mount for RASA 8: www.thingiverse.com/thing:410...

[@captronsolo8269]

Thank you so much for this video. You’re the first person to mention powering off your mount when doing the PA with the AAP. I’m using a Star Adventurer Pro tracker, but the concept for PA is the same, and I couldn’t find any other review/tutorial that talked about this, so thank you, much appreciated.

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks! I’m glad I could help 😊

[@mr.d.8121]

Eric, you are a star. This is an excellent presentation, not only the subject but the manner and content is precise and well presented. I especially applaud you on the fact that you explained it twice in different ways. I am left with no further questions/confusions. I have an AVX mount and will put this into practice. Thank you gain and happy 2022....👍🌟

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks for the feedback Mr. D! Clear skies!!

[@OutlandishJourneys]

Great upload and very helpful tutorial, thanks! I was considering a CGX for my bigger scopes and good to see this work around for the ASI AIR Pro…best wishes from Scotland! :)

[@figzastro-photography]

Hey thanks. I just ordered my ASI air pro for my AVX. I was having alot of issues with Sharp Cap and the AVX so I decided to buy it. Thanks for the video.

[@JoeGeiger]

Thanks Eric. This was very helpful.

[@niceknowingu2007]

Thought I was the only one experiencing this problem with my Celestron AVX mount. PA works fine with my SW EQ6-R mount. Thanks for the work around for the AVX because I prefer it over the EQ6-R.

[@darv1852]

I had the same issue. Thanks for this video Eric. You're a pretty awesome dude. Now I need to figure out why my autoguiding is totally off. It was fine the first few times, but now the RA and Dec go wild. Even when I play with the aggressiveness and pre set up settings. Default used to be fine. My mount is perfectly level and balanced in both RA and Dec. I hope its not my mount (CGX-L) One night I forgot to put the counter balance weights on and the can tipped to the left with the clutch on due to weight . I have a bad feeling that may be the issue.

[@markbergendahl8904]

Great video ! Although I own a Celestron Maksutov, GoTo Mount and polar alignment camera, your tutorial shows me how it would make sense to acquire ZWO cameras and the ASIAIR in order to perform the polar alignment within the ASIAIR focusing and plate solving workflow.

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks I appreciate your feedback!

[@dovber90]

Thanks Eric. Had the same issue, thought it was just me! Appreciate the vid.

[@AstrowithEric]

M pleasure! Thanks

[@No_More_Wrath]

Thanks, I’ll try this next time.

[@CarpeNoctem42]

This is very helpful, much appreciated!

[@cedriclejosne101]

Thanks a lot for the method. I will try with my celestron mount

[@grkuntzmd]

Thanks. That's exactly how I polar align with my Skyguider Pro and the ASIair Pro -- just mechanically polar align the mount using the ASIair and camera, then turn the mount on.

[@MarcusZabo]

Nice setup... Thanks for the info!

[@AstrowithEric]

You bet, thanks for watching!

[@jeffreyvictor3678]

Great tip…thanks!

[@dmb2951]

Hi Eric, thanks very informative. As a beginner and recent purchaser guidance on

[@kayedsss]

Thank you very much

[@caminodesantiagojourney873]

Thank you!

[@erwinito1]

Wait- so I just got an ASIAIR for my Celestron CPC and doing some KZbin university before I go out there and the THIS CAT shows up wearing a robotech tshirt -yo!!! Sweet vid- helped me a lot.

[@AstrowithEric]

LOL I am a child of the 80's!! Thanks!

[@panzerdivizzion]

Thank you for the video! I’m going to try this right now. My air plus wont align. For anyone beginning in astrophotography, don’t buy a celestron mount. Run away! 1990 technology, and everything has to go through the hand controller. I would recommend any mount that can run eq mod, even if it means less payload. When I bought this gem it was celestron, or Orion for 40 lb payload or Losmandy for way more money. I wish I would have bought the Orion mount.

[@caminodesantiagojourney873]

Thanh you Eric.

[@astroam1455]

Thanks for this video. I was trying to polar align for the first time tonight with my new ASIair plus and when it would auto rotate it would only go to 38 degrees and then the mounts limit would stop rotation. I am gonna try this way tomorrow night and see if it works. Hopefully it works.

[@Cowboypilot101]

Great setup. I think it will be helpful if you can add another video showing how you connected your mount. I have done this exactly this way but the mount keeps on giving the “ cannot connect “ or If thru the HC - Says USB cable not recognized. I have read a lot on ASI Pro website and no one seems to get it. The interesting part is when you switch on the mount and then try connect it - we would love to see what happens then. Thanks

[@josephluciani5531]

Great video…thanks so much for sharing your workflow. I’m waiting for a back ordered ASI Plus and I’m trying to do my homework. Since I have a AVX mount, I too am concerned about some of the things I’ve read. I kept reading that you had to first do a hand controller quick align…does you method eliminate the need to do this? Please keep posting more videos about the ASI air.. Thank you, Joe

[@AstrowithEric]

HI Joe, thanks for the feedback! I'm lucky enough to have been made an ASIAIr Experienced Officer so I'll be getting my AA+ in the next couple days and I will be doing more videos for sure . I do perform the quick align because unless you have already done some type of alignment and you've powered off your mount without hibernating, the HC will ask for an alignment to be done, so I just do the quick align and have the AAP take over. The polar alignment and plate solving that the AAP does will take care of dealing with alignment needs. One big key is make sure you have a really good polar alignment and your AVX and gear is well balanced. Clear Skies!

[@jasonlewis6021]

Thanks for the video, I appreciate the help and advice. I have an AVX as well and have a question for you. Do I need to do a 3 or 4 star alignment after polar alignment with the air pro in order to help with tracking or when I sync the mount to the air pro will that take care of that? I should note that I don't have a guide camera at the moment so am limited to 2 min exposures.

[@josephluciani5531]

Eric, thanks so much for the quick response and congrats for becoming an ASIAIR Experienced Officer! Can’t wait for the new Air videos! Would you mind one follow up question? I’m trying to figure out the hand controller work flow, i.e., turn on the mount > (do I need to input time/date/lat/and longitude?) > I then press “Quick Align” (which does nothing regarding slewing) and then let the AIR take over. Do I have it right?

[@AstrowithEric]

Yes still enter in the date/time and location data as you would with a 2 or 3 star alignment. I believe the AAP does use that information and it may help with then doing the AMF. I think you can also when using the AAP and going to the mount window that there is a sync mount button and it uses your phone or tablet's GPS location and shares that with the mount. not 100% on that but I believe it does. Also if you aren't aware there is an ASAIR Users page on Facebook that has a lot of the beta testers (some are good friends of mine) of the AAP and AA+ that can help as well. facebook.com/groups/ASIAIR

[@meademods6024]

I have not had a clear night yet to test your ideas.

[@craiglowery4427]

Great video Eric. Are you rotating the scope by hand and just guessing on the 60 degrees? Looks like we only rotate in one direction

[@AstrowithEric]

I actually rotate it by hand the 60 degrees. I usually rotate it so the OTA is on the west side.

[@figzastro-photography]

Are you polar align with the ASI Air Pro and turn on the CGX mount do you use the CPWI software at all or does the ASI take over that part to find a target? Do you have the ASI mini connected directly to the mount with the phone Jack,?

[@meademods6024]

I have a celestron cgem II mount and just setup the asiair pro. when entering PA. mode step 1 is ok check mark, step 2 when the asiair tells it to move in RA it does not count down to the correct degres it just shows mount has moved 0 deg?? and i can not go any further?? Please help.

[@ttnownow1292]

During Polar Align procedure.. Plate solves successfully however does not let me get past the next step ... does not seem to recognized the RA axis has rotated 60 degrees. ASI software did the rotate automatically.. then it says RA has rotated 0 degrees. and stays that way forever.. not letting me proceed.. I am using a Celestron Advanced AVX mount.. I have the latest firmware installed.. New unit out of the box first time used.. I also tried the Polar Align procedure with mount shut off and same thing.. does not give option to confirm mount has been rotated approx 60 degrees..

[@dmb2951]

...recent purchaser of a 9.25HD on a cgx mount and a ASIAir pro I found out there are some compatibility issues. i would benefit knowing how you configure your cables.

[@luispalacios568]

Hello, just purchased the cgemII and the asiair plus, but in my case the mount moves automaticaly 60 degress and then it stays there, and nothing happens,!!!!, Has anyone had this issue, or Am I missing something?, thanks

[@barrycampbell532]

I have this problem with my ASIAIR Pro with Celestron AVX and your work around fix does work but it defeats the purpose of the Fully Automated alignment. Also as many have found pressing the home button causes the mount to slew into the abyss and the Tracking button that turns itself off repeatably is also reported by many.. ZWO have said many timse that the problem is gone if the AVX mount is updated to same as ZWO have used on the AVX. Unfortunately I do have the latest update to firmware to the same level as ZWO said fixes the problem.

[@AstrowithEric]

I agree with you on the ZWO statement that the problem has gone away, I don't think it has, at least not 100%. I have both AVX and CGX, and both have updated software and still tend to have this issue, not all the time, but it does still occur. But the PA can't really be fully automated as you will still have to manually work with the Alt/AZ bolts. But I do like their PA method, I believe I heard that it's drift alignment, which I was told is one of the most reliable methods. But I'll have to verify if that's true. Thanks for the comment and feedback!.

[@TehDipiinDots]

Hey Eric, what cable do you use to connect your AsiAir Pro and your CGX, I have an AXV mount that has two AUX ports so I'm guessing it might be on of those. Awesome video by the way

[@AstrowithEric]

You use a micro usb cable from the HC to the AAP. Similar to what is used for PS4 controller charging

[@TehDipiinDots]

@@AstrowithEric Sweet, thanks for the quick response Eric!!! clear skies

[@arshadwm]

How to pA with Alt Azm Mount

[@arthrmr]

This was super helpful

[@mmmdiaz]

Thank you so much, Eric. I hope this works with my Meade lx200 mount.

[@jaimie_t]

Thanks Eric! What happens to your CGX 2-star (plus calibration stars) alignment when you power off the mount, is it undone such that you must repeat it after polar align? If so, can you redo the 2-star alignment using your imaging train or is it necessary to replace imaging train with eyepieces to repeat the star-align after PA?

[@AstrowithEric]

Once I’m done for the night, or next morning, I put the mount back to home position and put it in hibernate mode. That will keep the alignment and the next time (if within a day or two) I’d go to last alignment and restart my session.

[@meademods6024]

forgot to add that when I tried to hit the sink and GoTo function it said that it could not sink because the mount is 5* off pole??? WTF??? the asiair gave me my well deserved smiley face but yet it would not sink up?? you tell me?????????????

[@meademods6024]

I will try what you did and see if that helps. But why would we have the do this if the asiair plus is suppose to do everything for you??? unless the asiair does not like Celestron mounts???

[@AstrowithEric]

Very good question as to why ZWO has this issue with PA vs other mounts. TBH, I’ve transitioned to the CEM60 a couple years ago as I had some other issues with my CGX, non ASIAir related.

[@meademods6024]

are you close to MD?

[@ak13three]

Man I've been pulling my hair out over this. I have the Advanced GT mount that has never worked right. I am going to put it out in bulk trash next month. Will not buy Celestron again.

[@juvaknin]

Thanks. But.. when you rotate 60deg... and finishing the pa... you turn on the tripod when its 60deg? Or you strate it by hand back to home point and then power it up?.. the asiair will know the exact spot the tripod is it in?

[@AstrowithEric]

I manually disengage the RA clutch and move the RA the 60 degrees and move it back to the home or index position when I'm done and then reconnect to mount back to the ASIAir. The ASIAir will know that its back to the index/home position when its reconnected.

[@christianadelatour850]

Hi Eric can u please elaborate on Ethernet and AAP? Do u get a faster response on your tablet ? How did u do .... do u use the WiFi extender from Zwo?? Thank You from The Bronx NY

[@AstrowithEric]

Hi Christian, I actually don't use the ZWO wifi extender. I have an outdoor rated CAT6 ethernet run from the AAP to my UniFi router. I have a static IP address on my network assigned to the AAP and use my outdoor wireless access point and iPad to connect to the network and the AAP. So I get gigabit speed between the AAP and the iPad.

[@doctorschulte9751]

Are you using the main camera or the guide camera polar align?

[@AstrowithEric]

Your are using the main camera when doing polar alignment with the ASIAIR.

[@333raffles]

I have the nexstar 6se, and it points to another direction when rotating.i don't have a wedge. can I still manually move it?

[@AstrowithEric]

If you disconnect from the ASIAIR, you should be able to use your hand controller to slew your scope on the wedge and once you are are 60 degrees tell the ASIAIR that you moved and skip the step for it to move. I don’t have a wedge but it should still work if you are managing the movement and not the ASIAIR until you are polar aligned and reconnect to the hand controller.

[@adastro_tothestars]

Does tracking need to bet to "eq North " in the hand controller?

[@AstrowithEric]

I would think what ever hemisphere you are in would be set in the HC.

[@adastro_tothestars]

@@AstrowithEric I never had tracking issues with AVX and ASIAIR PRO till last couple nights. Started troubleshooting and noticed tracking setting in hand controller was set to "off"

[@doccortex1203]

Thanks for the vid. But really, why do we have to put up with this kind of thig. It should just work

[@meademods6024]

its clear tonight so i setup for testing. took me 1 hr. to get my smiley face!! "( and even after that the asiair would not connect to the mount????? So Angry right now! what a waste of time. if the asi air does not work with Celestron mounts that the makers of this product need to do some work to get this to work without having to do a workaround to get it to work!!! this is the 2nd video iv seen that some did a workaround with the cgem -avx mounts! you directions did work but could not connect to the mount!!! so I don't know what to do besides just through everything into my frozen pool and say F it!!!

[@meademods6024]

also where the hell is 60* ??? do you just guess at it!!??? I did but don't thing is was right??? it not like the mount has a built in gauges!!

[@AstrowithEric]

It’s halfway between vertical and horizontal, straight vertical is 90* and horizontal is 45*

[@meademods6024]

@@AstrowithEric right that about where I had it.

[@meademods6024]

maybe we can do a skype call?