Can I do polar align and track with Synscan via laptop (I have no handheld)? Does it not use plate solving?
Thanks
Thanks
Andy Wray:
Yes, you can do polar alignment and tracking with Synscan. It has its own database of stars built-in and you would typically do two or three star alignment.
On its own it does not do platesolving.
All that said: I believe all Synscan mounts are what is called ASCOM-compatible and are therefore able to be controlled from a PC (I do so with my HEQ5 Pro). You can then, with a suitable astro-imaging camera, do accurate polar alignment, platesolving, gotos, guiding etc..
It sounds like you are quite new to this, so please feel free to let us know why you asked that question, what you have equipment-wise or what you are thinking of doing.