To all the astronomy guys out there

[Jack16]

Can someone teach me or know any really good internet tutorials on how to Polar align my telescope and track objects?

I have a Meade LXD 10" Schmidt Newtonian

[Tac]

If you are using the same mount my LXD55 has then you need to make sure you have your GPS coords set correctly in the autostar and align the mount to polar north not magnetic north.

Then you need to make sure the weight on the telescope mount is balanced.. on mine, a 6" refractor the weight can easily throw the tracking off.

[Jack16]

I don't have GPS, I have Go-To. And during setup there is an option to use polar or magnetic north.

[ink]

damn you guys my telescope I had, just had two little dials to move it along its path.....:-(.......it is cool as heck lookin at the moon up close, I tried to look at the andromada galexy, but my scope just wassnt powerfull enough, id like to get a new modern one,one of these days maybe.

[RichardDarkwood]

Can someone teach me or know any really good internet tutorials on how to Polar align my telescope and track objects?

I have a Meade LXD 10" Schmidt Newtonian

One of the guys in my club has that scope.

What kind of mount is the scope on, that will help a lot.

This is a link to my club's website, it may have some information on it to help you.  http://www.limaastro.org/

[Jack16]

What kind of mount is the scope on, that will help a lot.

LXD75 German Equatorial Mount

[Tac]

I don't have GPS, I have Go-To. And during setup there is an option to use polar or magnetic north.

GPS coords you can get from the internet. Just type in the city you're in. It doesnt have to be perfectly accurate. Its just so the autostar go-to system knows where on the planet you're in so it can slew correctly

If your mount has the magnetic north option then you're set. Just aim the tripod to it with a compass and select that option..the scope system will compensate the difference between magnetic and polar.

[Jack16]

If your mount has the magnetic north option then you're set. Just aim the tripod to it with a compass and select that option..the scope system will compensate the difference between magnetic and polar.

I do that, but when it goes to align, it's always way off

[SPKmes]

Probably because you have a German mount and you're in America.... ....sorry I have no idea but thought that was funny...well it was in my head anyway.
you guys have nice scopes though...wish I get one...mine is ok but man those meade's are nice.

[Tac]

Im not familiar with the 75 mount but my 55 also has a physical dial on the mount body itself that needs to be set to the correct settings.

...and I admit I had this mistake once... make sure the telescope swivel head is actually aligned correctly.. it has two little triangles along the swivel head and they should meet. I once spent an hour wondering why the hell the scope was pointing in completely random directions and it turned out i had the swivel triangles 'backwards'.  

[Jack16]

yes, the triangles do line up.

[Babalonian]

I know others have asked, but if you don't mind (and it's not your place of residence or you don't mind the AH BBS general public knowing) what are the GPS coords you are using?  Assuming the coords are corect, one of us should be able to quickly figure out what your settings should be and see if those match up to what you're using.

[Jack16]

Hmmm, I don't remember ever having to put coords in. Would I have to do that through the settings menu?

According to this website: http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html my coords are 40.148667,-75.102921

[Tac]

Yes, in the autostar menu settings it should have a GPS coord input option.

[Jack16]

K thanks. I'll give it a try on a not so cloudy night