Couple that with the fact that these astrophotography filters can be expensive, and youve got some, Continue Reading Light Pollution Filters for AstrophotographyContinue, In my opinion, the best astrophotography lens is one that can capture a variety of images of the night sky in a reliable and consistent way. Loosen one, tighten the other. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. MySiderealTime is a useful Sidereal Clock utility to assist you while you use your telescope and mount during your astronomy viewing session or for your night of astrophotography. I find adjusting the polar alignment with it to border on insanity-inducing. Is it better that I upgrade my Skyguider pro with Ipolar or ASIair as you use a phone with ASIair. I recently used it to polar align my iOptron Sky Tracker Pro. There are various methods for aligning the orientation of a telescope mount with the pole, but one of the most popular A beginners guide to using a Polar Scope for Polar alignment. A precise polar alignment can provide you with many benefits when it comes to astrophotography, including better autoguiding accuracy. It's the other way around. This is a very popular telescope mount for beginner to intermediate astrophotography enthusiasts. Want even more accuracy when Polar Aligning your telescope mount? Next, youll want to find the latitude and longitude coordinates for your location. But if its your travel/quick setup rig remember that you have given up your ability to polar align the mount without software assistance. However, I consider this a pricey investment at $268 when I already own a QHY PoleMaster electronic polar scope for aligning my larger telescope mounts. Let me know what do you think. As you may already know, the SkyGuiders job is to accurately track the apparent motion of the night sky for long-exposure astrophotography. I used all 62 x 240-second exposures in my final image. So yes using an app is a good idea to show where abouts Polaris needs to be on the clock face. The issue is that it sits to low to the ground to see through the polar scope. Note: This app is a companion for the Polar Loop, Polar Loop 2, Polar Loop Crystal, Polar A300, Polar A360, Polar M200, Polar Polar Beat is the ultimate free sports and fitness tracker app from the pioneer of wearable sports technology. It is important to note that the tripod needs to be pointing North before leveling. I see you have what appears to be the William Optics wedge, rather than the OEM wedge from iOptron. Today we're proud to provide quality products direct to your doorstep through an experience you'll enjoy. Youll want to use an illuminated reticle eyepiece with a crosshair to center the star in your field of view. For proper use of this site, you need to enable javascript in your browser! When you retighten the mount axes, you can move alignment dont overtighten, just enough to hold it and I also dont over under the fixings to reduce movement when I tighten just leave them finger tight but moveable. That seems counterintuitive unless they were suggesting that maybe just the North Star was obscured but the other stars around it were visible. The Polar Scope Align app for iOS was designed to make polar alignment easier and provide an alternative method of aligning with polar scopes to improve their precision. What did you do to locate the target ? you can do the same thing with software such as SharpCap or with a system like the ASIAIR using you main imaging camera to do your polar alignment so no separate alignment camera needed at all Hit the connect button and the IPolar camera should connect to your laptop - the usb driver should auto download and install the first time you use it but might be a good idea to do this before being away from the internet, just in case! I want to buy one and be done rather than wish Id upgraded later. Is polar scope align availableon Android ? Related Post: The best astronomy and stargazing apps for your mobile phone. The overall accuracy of the algorithm has reached sub 0.1 arc-seconds now.The app now using a 10 minute marker reticle, the same reticle used in the polar scope of iOptron(R) telescope mount since 2014.A must have for iOptron(R) SkyGuider Pro, iOptron(R) SkyTracker Pro, SkyGuider and SkyTracker users!Also very helpful for any iOptron(R) telescope mount owners. You may also consider that you may not even need a polar alignment camera at all. Narrow bandpass imaging requires that you collect longer exposures than you would in broadband, especially when using a color camera like a DSLR. Trevor, are you able to CHECK the polar alignment after you disconnect the cable? I attempted this process at the early onset of dusk, and found that I had better results waiting until it got a little darker. Late June may have the shortest nights of the year, but it sure beats spending extended periods of time outside in the cold winter months. I think this is the easiest visual way to Polar Align, when you get used to it, it can be done in under 10 mins. I rather not have to pay for an app but if the iOptron app is more precise, $2 isn't going to kill me. As you can imagine, I had mixed feelings about disrupting this proven configuration to upgrade it with the iPolar device. I even traded in my SkyTracker for the SkyGuider Pro, and I added the William-Optics Z61 as well. The app needs to be purchased separately at an extra cost, but alignment is a breeze once installed. Long story short, here are my questions: 1. Android users can download PolarFinder, and iPhone users have Polar Scope Align Pro. If so then use the star adventurer mini console. maybe not the answer you were expecting, but I renewed my interest in astronomy after some 15 years, and upgraded my gear. You put a ballhead on the top and add a clip from a small phone tripod. During shooting? I was looking at the William Optics base. Let StarTracker guide you to explore the universe. I found this review helpful instructive and inspirational. All of the telescope mounts on the list above include a polar alignment scope (depending on the version you order), with the exception of the Celestron CGEM. Edit: I saw the comment that you have to go to Settings > Apps > Permissions and give it Location permissions and now the GPS Longitude works. I would like a setup that can function without a counter weight if possible. Thank you. Compared to the ease of polar alignment with the SkyTracker, Ive been a bit intimidated about the alignment due to the way the polar scope rotates in the shaft, thus potentially off-setting the alignment. 8401 Hand Controller Star Catalogs Reloading. The addition of the iPolar electronic polarscope adds time (and additional gear) to this process, which I will discuss further in a moment. would you please edit my name in the comments to Mel iOptron polar alignment app vs PS Align - Cloudy Nights 1. This will be great info for me too as I progress especially about Polaris needing to be off centre for photography. APT Darkness Clock (APT DC) is a free app without ads, that calculates the suitable time for deep sky astrophotography or observing in selected night and location. For polar alignment, iOptron sells their app for $1.99 but I have downloaded a free app (there are some ads at the bottom) called the Polar Scope Align. Now you can get familiar with Astronomy by identifying stars, planets, and constellations. Ive traveled to Costa Rica with this setup in my carry-on bag and set the rig up in 3-feet of snow in the backyard. The NexStar series of SCTs have been around for over a decade, and I was finally able to experience this beginner-friendly telescope for myself. The goal is to collect as much signal on a specific wavelength of light as possible. OPT offers the SkyGuider Pro and iPolar camera as a Package. If you google "Polaris hour angle" you'll get a bunch of CloudyNights resultsdiscussing the method behind it. I am trying to find a way to install a 90 viewer. It is really a great app. But.. My pictures really seem to get blown out at that time with pollution. As seasoned veterans will tell you. For more video tutorials and astrophotography tips, please subscribe to AstroBackyard on YouTube. iOptron Technique for Telescope Polar Alignment - Cloudy Nights Review: List - ioptron.com If you have found this review helpful, please let me know in the comments. Polar Alignment - Polaris hour angle A simple and easy to use application for determining the location of Polaris relative to the north celestial pole. This is why I prefer to use a PoleMaster with a customized adapter in front of it. This method is handy if you own a Celestron mount, and Polaris is not in view. Once the plate solve has succeeded, you should see a red cross, and a red dot on the screen. The PF-L Assist app helps you to align the equatorial mount of your telescope to the north celestial pole or south celestial pole in order to make it turn parallel to earths rotational axes. With this solution you can still use your polar scope when you are traveling. My one regret is that I havent given it a proper test drive yet. Pro version of PolarFinder no ads. Polar Alignment for iOptron SkyTracker - Stargazers Lounge Hello, i really enjoyed watching your videos and im inspired. Would whole heartedly agree with this. iOptron Polar Scope on the App Store Set up is a breeze and can be done in 5-10mins tops and it can be carried out during those dusk hours thereby not wasting viewing/imaging time. No matter what app you use,you need the "hour angle" of Polaris to determine the relative position (rotation) of Polaris to the north celestial pole (NCP). No big deal for those that like to tinker with electronics, but definitely an adventure for people like me. ** The Polaris application Use this app to program supported motorized camera mount for astrophotography and time-lapse photography. No human interaction required when iOS devices can using location service normally.iOS users can manually enter the location when location service is unavailable. You can get a pretty good polar alignment with this in the middle of the day or night. The app is helpful to match orientation of the DSO Planner Free is an astronomy observation planning tool with excellent star charting capabilities made by active and experienced amateur observers with a passion for visual observations. In my latest adventures in the backyard, Ive set up the iOptron SkyGuider Pro once more, but this time Ive added a rather simple device that makes a critical step of the astrophotography acquisition stage process easier, and more precise. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It is mandatory when you want to track with 400mm focal lenth for 4 min. Best star tracker camera mounts for astrophotography in 2023 The iPolar I'm demonstrating is pre installed into a Skyguider Pro, therefore this tutorial does not include instructions on how to install an iPolar camera into the polar axis of mounts.Please consider Patreon or Channel Membership: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=85055123Or you can show your support with a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DIYAstro?newA huge thank you if you choose to help out! On the reticle the Polar star (and the Octant for the Southern hemisphere) is engraved and should be positioned over the real Polaris by turning it. I was about to try to customize my skyguider pro with a polemaster, before I saw this video. I prefer to make a visual observation at nightfall to align with Polaris. This app is targeted for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers that use a telescope with a German Equatorial you can get the calculated result to align your mount with a small error. The reticle can be illuminated in a range when rotating (I would say several degrees of difference can still make it lit). What did you do with it? PolarScope is a polar-scope alignment app that runs on your Windows Desktop, Tablet and Phone. Any regrets With iOptron Sky Guider + iPolar? - Digital Photography Review If your view of the Big Dipper or Polaris is completely obstructed, you may need to polar align using the Drift Align method I mentioned earlier. Drift alignment in PHD2 is going to be better, but is still just a sample of the many possible measurements. Yes exactly. sink into the grass, gets knocked by your foot) after completing the polar alignment! Can the ioptron ipolar also be used for guiding? The best astronomy and stargazing apps for your mobile phone. Works well with SGP and Redcat 51 combo. We'd love to hear from you! Best Ioptron polar scope apps for Android - AllBestApps Use it to identify stars, planets, nebulae and more. Use the mount's (optional) dovetail L-bracket and counterweight shaft with the counterweight attached. All of these incredible moments took place using only the built-in, illuminated reticle polarscope that comes with the SkyGuider Pro. Youll need to enter in the lat-long coordinates of your location, which you can easily find online or using the GPS on your phone. Updated Review: Menu button started appearing magically. PDF SkyTracker Pro Camera Mount Instruction Manual If you havent yet gone down this road, its worth looking into the new iPolar. By this point, the telescope mount should be roughly aligned with the height of the North Star. PolarAligner Pro (Astro Tool) - Apps on Google Play So ASIAIR is a smart WiFi controller. The North America Nebula in Cygnus is a large, bright, and beautiful target thats located in an area full of hydrogen gas including the impressive Pelican Nebula. The iOptron iPolar was developed because of a demand for polar alignment accuracy. If yes how? In this video we go through the simple steps involved in setting up and using iOptron's iPolar digital polar scope. Polar Scope Align Pro 4+ - App Store Call or email us today to let us know what you think. Call or email us today to let us know what you think. Aside from astrophotography (including an impromptu Facebook Live stream from our balcony) my wife, Continue Reading Astrophotography in Costa Rica (Carina Nebula)Continue, Your email address will not be published. We use cookies on our website, in accordance with our. Use this app to control the AZ GTi mount or other Sky-Watcher or Orion telescope mounts fitted with a SynScan Wi-Fi adapter. The overall weight of the telescope attached will determine how hard it will be to turn the bolts. Make sure to view the current position of Polaris in your mobile app, and make any adjustments necessary to your mount. Originally developed as Google Sky Map, it has now been donated and open sourced. I have used the iOptron SkyGuider Pro with the RedCat 51 extensively. So I have to remove the sheets, adjust and put it back. If you've used an older version of SkySafari, here's what's new: It's the feature described on this video if you haven't seen it. Contact | 2. ioptron SkyguiderproASIairipolar. The imaging camera in PoleMaster has a resolution of 30 arc second, so the best polar alignment that can be achieved by PoleMaster is also in the order of 30 arc seconds. Focus on Stars using various dimming hats. Hope this makes sense. The app didn't appear to update and the only thing I gave it was time, but when the menu icons actually appear and you can configure the settings the app is great and works wonderfully. Thanks Trevor for you hard work and clear and informative videos ! Youll need to un-check this for the software to calibrate properly. Looking at the android play store there seems to be a myriad to choose from, which do members recommend & why? Hi All, looks like my reply wasnt accurate so thanks for the updates. This process should be well understood before diving into astrophotography. Overall good software, works as intended. This setup usually consists of a DSLR camera and lens, but Ive seen some incredible little setups using dedicated astronomy cameras, and telescopes as big as the William Optics Z73 mounted (with a 50mm guide scope)! Because the Polaris is not exactly coincide with the Earth's rotation axis but rotates around it, one should know the exact hour angle of the Polaris to adjust (rotate) the finder. One issue is with the color of the Polaris When used with phone wrapped with red Gelatin sheets, to preserve dark adaption, green is completely filtered and the star disappears. Trevor thank you for your excellent review. Polar Scope Align Pro on the App Store There are IOS and Android apps that tell you where to position Polaris on the iOptron reticule. Fornax Mounts LighTrack II Review | Alternative to iOptron & Sky-Watcher I rather not have to pay for an app but if the iOptron app is more precise, $2 isn't going to kill me. The beauty of a permanent setup in an observatory is, that the polar alignment process only needs to be done once. I rather not have to pay for an app but if the iOptron app is more precise, $2 isn't going to kill me. Control StellarMate functions and access the Web Manager and Web based VNC Viewer. Until the iPolar, SkyGuider Pro users were left to improvise and create a custom adapter to mount a QHY PoleMaster. The field of view of the iPolar is 13-degrees, with a resolution of approximately 30 arc-seconds. I found an old Contax that has the same threads but find myself at a loss as how to put it all together. After using an iOptron SkyGuider Pro star tracker for deep-sky astrophotography exclusively, it was time to, Continue Reading Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer ReviewContinue, The Celestron NexStar 8SE computerized telescope is one of the best-selling telescope packages of all time. The bracket has a slot that will allow you to polar align with extra photography equipment attached. So many utilities you never knew you needed. Hi Trevor I like the Polar Scope Align app as it has other reticles if I ever get something else (unlikely). Astro Blog Delta Polar Scope Align for iOS - Ecuador's.NET In fact, I prefer the polar alignment procedure of the LighTrack II over the ones using the iOptron polar scopes. From what Ive researched it looks like you can do all that on the SkyTracker Pro even though 5lbs is outside the specs on the payload without the counterweight. iOptron Polar Scope App - Latest Version Troubles - Cloudy Nights Does the laptop need to be connected throughout shooting or can it be switched off after alignment is finished and how long will it stay aligned if I use a heavier rig with lets say a 400mm lens.