I recently modified my simple astrophotography set up to aid in target location.
My basic system is a Canon 60D with Tamron 100-400mm lens and a Hoya Starscape filter, =12.0ptmounted on a Star Adventurer Pro 2i. This is not a go-to mount.
I built a bracket out of 3/8” Baltic Birch ply, which is quite stable. The bracket is parallel to the lens axis and is mounted by an arc cut into the bracket which tightly fits the barrel of my lens, and by attachment to the camera hot shoe. Aluminum C channels hold my iPhone 11. The bracket also can hold a guide scope.
By using the “daytime” function on the PS Align program, I can quickly locate Polaris and then use the polar scope on the Star Adventurer to polar align. I do final alignment using the ASIAIR Pro. With Polaris centered on my camera screen, I use the PS Align “sync-to-target button” to calibrate the phone to my set up.
Using the DSO Database in PS Align, I locate a target, M101, which I will hop to from a star, Mizar. With Mizar in the crosshairs of PS Align, I would again center it on my camera screen and, if needed, sync again to ensure final calibration. I hop to the target using the PS Align crosshairs and start the exposure sequence.
The description is more complex than the use. I can be polar aligned and on target in 20 minutes. This modification makes my system into a simple go-to mount.
My basic system is a Canon 60D with Tamron 100-400mm lens and a Hoya Starscape filter, =12.0ptmounted on a Star Adventurer Pro 2i. This is not a go-to mount.
I built a bracket out of 3/8” Baltic Birch ply, which is quite stable. The bracket is parallel to the lens axis and is mounted by an arc cut into the bracket which tightly fits the barrel of my lens, and by attachment to the camera hot shoe. Aluminum C channels hold my iPhone 11. The bracket also can hold a guide scope.
By using the “daytime” function on the PS Align program, I can quickly locate Polaris and then use the polar scope on the Star Adventurer to polar align. I do final alignment using the ASIAIR Pro. With Polaris centered on my camera screen, I use the PS Align “sync-to-target button” to calibrate the phone to my set up.
Using the DSO Database in PS Align, I locate a target, M101, which I will hop to from a star, Mizar. With Mizar in the crosshairs of PS Align, I would again center it on my camera screen and, if needed, sync again to ensure final calibration. I hop to the target using the PS Align crosshairs and start the exposure sequence.
The description is more complex than the use. I can be polar aligned and on target in 20 minutes. This modification makes my system into a simple go-to mount.
