Video #38 PHD2 Drift Align (4K)

By viewer request - here are the step-by-step instructions for using PHD2 drift align to achieve Polar Alignment without Polaris. There is a complimentary (older) video on this here : • Video #3 Polar Alignme...

[@martinfish4079]

Thanks for the video - very helpful and looking forward to trying. Here's a tip - I have learned that if you run your programs (PHD2, Stellarium, APT . . . etc) "as administrator," then they can all connect to ASCOM at the same time without needing to turn on/off while switching between programs. You can do this by right-clicking on the icon and selecting "run as administrator." Or, you can right click on the icon, choose "Properties," then the "Shortcut" tab, then the "Advanced" button. Tick the "Run as Administrator" box and it will then modify the desktop shortcut so that it always runs as administrator and you can just click on it as normal from then on. Hope that helps!! (I should say that I'm using EQMOD, and it works for that . . . hopefully it works for your setup as well.) Thanks again for the video - subscribed!

[@real_astrotard]

Good tip - I'll try it.

[@thomasbardenwerper9365]

This is the best video I've found yet on drift alignment using PHd2. Thank you for taking the time to make it. Subscribed!

[@real_astrotard]

Hope it's helpful.

[@thomasbardenwerper9365]

@@real_astrotard It is. VERY helpful in fact. You also have an excellent presentation style and attention to details others miss or assume we know. Please keep these videos coming - you're making a needed contribution to the AP community that's been lacking. Thanks again!

[@real_astrotard]

@@thomasbardenwerper9365 Cool. Thanks for the feedback.

[@peitaoyan1000]

Thank you so much! This is the best drift align tutorial I've seen and it has been extremely helpful! I can finally shoot on my balcony!!

[@real_astrotard]

I'm glad it was helpful!

[@Jason-qt8bm]

This was exactly what I was looking for. I just took the plunge and got my first rig knowing that Polaris is behind a group trees. Now to binge on your other content and wait for my packages. Hope you hit 1000 subs, your hard work and content is deserving of hitting that mark!!

[@real_astrotard]

Glad it was useful.

[@MobilMobil-kv5ke]

Thanks so much. I’m new to the hobby and I’m struggling with terminology and I got confused with the names of the two sets of adjustment knobs. The first set was when you were adjusting the horizontal orientation of the mount head. I believe you called it “declination”. I was inclined to call that “azimuth”. I would define the declination axis as the axis going right through the optical tube and perpendicular to the polar axis. The second set of alignment knobs you called “right ascension “. I thought it should be called altitude because it sets the altitude of the polar axis above the northern horizon. I think of “right ascension” as being the axis that moves with the sky. So I would call polar alignment the alt/az adjustment of the polar axis of the mount head. The adjustment knobs would sound strange to call them right ascension and declination adjustments. Thanks for the video. It is nicely illustrated.

[@real_astrotard]

I'm sure you're right about the alt/az knobs.

[@VisibledarkAstro]

I've never tried PHD2 to align. Interesting. I use the EQMOD polar align routine. It has worked well. Informative video. Thanks! Cheers.

[@real_astrotard]

That's on my "experimental" list for trying. I'll give it a shot someday when there are no interesting targets. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@AmyAstro]

Do you have a video on how to do that?

[@jayarnold3196]

Very impressed by first video, more of the same here. Thanks again.

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you for showing this. I have never tried, but now I will. Thank you!

[@real_astrotard]

Cool... let me know how it goes Amy.

[@AmyAstro]

I attempted this tonight and I'm missing something. Scope is pointing a the intersection of the meridian and equator. PHD is on and controlling the scope. Camera/scope connected. I tested that I had a star and it auto selected a star. I turned off the looping. Exposure set at 1 sec. I select drift align tool and say drift. I lose the star after a few seconds. They look like dashes going across the screen. I never see the red and blue lines to follow. I am polar aligned via a pole master. I just wanted to test this way out. Do you see something I missed? I never made it to the Altitude adjustment. I'm looking forward to trying this again. I could gain a southern view if this works for me, since at that location I lose a view of polaris. Thank you!

[@real_astrotard]

@@AmyAstro Try adjusting the camera gain. Maybe auto-star select is losing the star (if you see a red-flash that's an indicator as such). Sometimes when the sky is light polluted or clouds passing bar you can lose the star. Let me know if you'd like to try a webex or something.

[@AmyAstro]

@@real_astrotard yeah I was definitely losing the star, but I could see them. The sky was really clear. They were just moving fast across the image. I will give this a try next clear night. Thank you for the offer, if I don't figure this out I will take you up on that offer.

[@real_astrotard]

Would love to collaborate sometime Amy and share results via our KZbin channels.

[@astrophotographer3628]

An informative video. However, when working with cameras and FOVs which may be quite small, the 3 star alignment is not strictly necessary (at this point), not even a one star alignment (as the model of the sky will necessarily change (slightly) after the drift alignment. It also costs more time. Drift alignment should be done in at least 2 iterations, AZ - Alt.., AZ - Alt., as, making adjustments in the first Alt. iteration will slightly change the values of the first AZ iteration, basically lowering the alignment error to a negligible amount. After that, a return to park, and a one star alignment near the prospective target, (or plate solving) will do the trick. I'd also do a calibration first (by hitting the green guide button on the bottom) before I call up the drift alignment tool (which will turn off the declination guiding during drift align, as only RA is needed for this purpose.

[@tangospace4579]

Now I understood better, thank you again.

[@real_astrotard]

Happy to help!

Thanks for the tutorial. I like very much your video edition, straight forward.

[@real_astrotard]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@katiepaine]

thanks for the video and info, helps a lot :) you'd think in the 2020's with all of our gps and sophisticated computers and stuff, we'd be able to just go out, aim the scope and it would know exactly where it is, at what ascension and declination and auto-polar align itself lol...perhaps i should start working on that hehe

[@real_astrotard]

There are some off-the-shelf products that come pretty close. Check out the Stellina Smart Telescope (all-in-one package) or the StarSense add-on to Celestron products. These go a long way in auto alignment. For me : I prefer the manual way - more confident in the result that way.

[@balacv02]

Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial. one question though, You mean altitude and azimuth, when you say adjusting RA and Deck?

[@PatrikFormanek1]

Thank you so much :-)

[@christopherdeaver5372]

Fantastic video.

[@real_astrotard]

Thanks sir. Hope the information is helpful.

[@foxglovemead]

Great informative (and entertaining too) video. Did you always need a pier extension (other scopes/cameras)? Do lead lengths dictate where you put PSU/other boxes and still get flexible movement or are leads shortened/extended to be comfortable?

[@real_astrotard]

Yes & yes.

[@riverpetein1038]

Thank you! What does one do if they don’t have a clear view of east or west horizons? I have trees all around but a clear view straight up. I was doing ok until PHD2 asked to slew to horizon. 😔

[@real_astrotard]

move toward it, you can target just above the tree line - it doesn't have to be parallel to east or west.

[@ranjitgovindaraj]

Thank you so much John👌🏼😁

[@real_astrotard]

Hope it's useful.

[@Gabi-tx7rw]

Thank you so much.

[@pekkahautala2549]

Hi and thanks foe so usefull video, my question is, do I look just for the RED line and adjust that on both Alt and RA? and skip the blue one totally

[@real_astrotard]

Both need to align to the horizontal.

[@pekkahautala2549]

@@real_astrotard Now I don´t understand, you said on the video "Now RA is the red line" when you pointed the scope to west horison. So should I look for the red or blue line when pointing west/east horizon and aligning the RA, the RED is DEC and that is alingned on south meridian where east meets south 90 degrees below polarstar. Do I have got it so far?

[@rexcao4454]

Thanks for the great video! I am curious that after doing the three-star alignment can improve the polar alignment, plus the auto-guiding further improves the accuracy. Is it still necessary to do an additional drift alignment?

[@real_astrotard]

If you're going for long exposures (more than 5 minutes) - I would do everything possible to dial-in that alignment.

[@gococoful]

Thank you for so much.

[@real_astrotard]

Thank you too

[@kajouman]

i use polar alingment tool in sharpcap,works very wel and easy too.

[@real_astrotard]

Yes I've seen that. This requires a solid view of Polaris doesn't it? In my case I cannot see Polaris so I think I cannot use sharpcap for Polar alignment.

[@Mistr_A]

@@real_astrotard you dont need the pole star as far as i can tell.give it a shot

[@real_astrotard]

OK

[@davidterraza889]

But in sharpcap you have to have a clear view of 5 to 6 ° around celestial pole in order to use te polar alignment tool, maybe you dont need polaris but you need a clear view of the pole "area"

[@nikasmorozov]

Silly question: do you use main telescope or a guide scope?

[@real_astrotard]

The PHD2 I am using a connection to the guide scope.

[@HogarthsAstrophotography]

Good job. One question, not sure why you disconnected your ASCOM connection in Stellarium before using PHD2. ASCOM acts as a hub and multiple programs can all connect to ASCOM drivers at the same time. I do this all the time or did I miss something ..

[@real_astrotard]

I know that PHD2 and SQGPro can both connect at the same time. But not possible with Stellarium I guess.

[@davidmurren4644]

@@real_astrotard You should be able to connect. I have NINA, PHD, Stellarium and CdC all running together. ASCOM allows multiple connections.

[@real_astrotard]

@@davidmurren4644 Mystery of tech.

[@georgehilios5079]

@@real_astrotard It depends on the type of ASCOM server your mount has. For Celestron, CPWI allows multiple ASCOM connections. The previous software did not (Nexremote)

[@georgehilios5079]

@@real_astrotard Also, Stellarium didn't support connecting to mounts via ASCOM until 0.20 (recent). So there's that too

[@andrevilhena1813]

Thanks for the vídeo. I have One doubt: when alignment is complete, should we redo the there stars alignment or can we start using the scope? Thanks.

[@real_astrotard]

You can but not needed.

[@TheHelicapt]

Sorry for all the questions. Does the scope need to be right on the horizon line as I have houses blocking the horizon Are u using the guide scope and camera or main camera ?

[@real_astrotard]

PHD2 & Stellarium both connect to the guide camera and that is what you see in the video.

[@TiagoRamos79]

Thank you very much, it was a very informative video. By the way, what is your feedback from Eq6 R Pro?

[@real_astrotard]

Thanks. I have a video on that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWfdfJ6GfZKNiKs

[@Bogfra1]

Best It might be interesting for someone who doesn't have a view of the pole star but I think you're making it very difficult for you, I see on the video that you're standing with your telescope right against your house and I think you have a garden where you can go much further back and get above your roof that's one , since you have an EQ 6 pro I can recommend you to work with ASCOM and EQMOD this does allow you to have a connection with your EQ6Pro with more programs on the same time right now this is not a degrading comment only I find it rather peculiar since you know a lot about astronomy.

[@real_astrotard]

True - I have setup on the grass in the back and have been successful aligning to Polaris from there. The problem is balance degrades over the hours because the soil is not stable and placing wooden or steel planks under the tripod has the effect of killing the grass. So I setup on the cement patio and use PHD2 drift align. Setup time is less than 10 min it's really not a problem for me.

[@jaspalchadha1041]

Two things John, in the first bit do you just hit guide and not calibrate on a star first Also what happens if you can get stars in the horizon is blocked by buildings Thanks

[@real_astrotard]

auto-star select, then guide. if you see buildings or trees you're too low - move the scope up a bit it's ok it will still work.

[@jaspalchadha1041]

Nice one pal will try that

[@javiercuellolopez5610]

Thanks for great video. Do you know if The seeing affect the phd2 PA?. What's your recommendation about it?

[@real_astrotard]

I don't think seeing effects polar alignment - simply because the instrumentation used to adjust the polar alignment (PHD2 or reticle scope) is not sensitive enough to be affected by it.

[@pekkahautala2549]

Ok so do I first Drift aling Dec axis (RED Line) against South (180) where east meets west and North meet South (nearest star) at that point. Then RA (BLUE Line) axis at West or East and near horizon..because in your video you say that the RA is also RED Line, would be so happy to get answer.

[@real_astrotard]

DEC : 90 degrees orthogonal from Polaris, align both red/blue to horizontal. RA : East or West horizon, align both red/blue to horizontal.

[@pekkahautala2549]

@@real_astrotard OK Now its clear Thanks

[@kyredormangara4298]

thanks so much for this video. How do you connect PHD to your setup ? Are you using a CCD or a DSLR ? Because I use a DLSR and can't find th way to connect PHD

[@montygiavelli8125]

If I understand your question - You need a guide camera and scope dedicated to doing guiding. You could use an off-axis-guider and use your existing telescope but you will need a guide camera. You should be able to find plenty of videos explaining guiding.

[@kyredormangara4298]

@@montygiavelli8125 thx Monty. The question is more about the setup you are using in the video. Is it a DSLR ? or a CCD camera ? Because I would know if it is possible to connect my Nikon D7000 to PHD, but it sounds more and more to me like a dream ;)

[@real_astrotard]

I'm using a dedicated astro camera (mono) from ZWO. The gear details can be found in video #1.

[@TheHelicapt]

Still confused on how to do this. My house also blocks the North Star

[@dadrobinson2288]

I might suggest to watch the first video which gives more background to the steps leading up to PHD2 drift align. Here it is. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpC8n2t4j5V7o5I

[@TheHelicapt]

@@dadrobinson2288 Thanks a lot.

[@deeber35]

Are u saying u have to do a 3-star alignment before u use drift align? How does that work if u are not accurately aligned yet?

[@hobbylyfe4716]

How far off from 90 degrees orthogonal and western horizon can you be. I have a tree due south and my house covers the western horizon a little

[@quiquetorres5040]

When doing drift align with PHD2 do you connect PHD2 to the guide scope or to your main scope?

[@real_astrotard]

Guide scope.

[@nightswitch57]

great video!!, would you be bale to create a similar one for the star adventurer ?

[@srikanthmeg]

For drift alignment, do we need an equatorial mount and a guide scope?

[@real_astrotard]

Yes.

[@traveler7249]

What is the website? app? you showed early on the hours of clear sky?

[@real_astrotard]

meteoblue.com

[@napper1496]

whats the point of doing drift align if youre guiding?

[@real_astrotard]

Drift align first will make your guiding better, more accurate. Better long term exposures.

[@sanukadamsath5782]

Can I do this with a star adventurer 2i?