If you are using the optional Equatorial Wedge attached to your tripod,
follow this procedure:
20
Set up your tripod and ensure it is stable.
If you have a tilt/pan head or ball mount it is best to remove it from
your tripod. Attach the Equatorial Wedge directly to your tripod via
the 3/8-inch threaded mounting hole.
Once the wedge is securely attached align the tripod so that the
Altitude Adjustment Knob is facing north.
Now, level your tripod using the built-in Bubble Level. A level
equatorial wedge is not a requirement for astrophotography, but it
makes subsequent adjustments easier to make.
Once level, rotate the Altitude Adjustment Knob until the Altitude
Indicator points at your
latitude
on the Altitude Scale. (The altitude
of Polaris above the horizon at your location matches your latitude).
If you don't know your latitude you can look it up in the Star
Adventurer mini Console under Settings: Location.
Next, attach SAM to the Accessory Mounting Plate using the 3/8-
inch dovetail adapter included with the wedge. The saddle on SAM
should be facing north with the Polar View Finder on top aimed
toward Polaris. You can illuminate the Polar View Finder by pressing
the power switch on SAM, or by setting it to ON inside the Star
Adventurer mini Console. While looking through the Polar View
Finder port, use the Altitude and Azimuth Adjustment Knobs to
make finer adjustments until you can see Polaris in the field of view
of the Polar View Finder.
Now attach your camera gear being careful not to move the tripod
out of its polar aligned position. Connect the SNAP camera control
cable between SAM and your camera. Point your camera at your
subject, then proceed to set up SAM via the Star Adventurer mini
Console.
• Polaris
Look through
the Polar View
Finder and align
on Polaris.
Azimuth
adjusters
Looking through the Polar View
Finder align SAM until you can see
the star Polaris in the field of view.
This simple polar alignment will be
adequate for most purposes.
••OOO Bell 9
1:30 PM
( Back
Astrophotography
Exposure (Sec)
Photo Interval (Sec)
Photos
120
-
Run
•
0.2 hour I 01 :40 PM
Tracking Rate
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You now have your equipment set up and ready to go. Proceed to the
section "Using the Star Adventurer mini Console for Astrophotography".
Polar Alignment in the Southern Hemisphere
The simple polar alignment procedure described above is not possible
in the southern hemisphere due to the lack of any bright stars in the
vicinity of the SCP. For best results in obtaining an accurate polar
alignment, southern hemisphere users should get the optional polar
scope to refine their polar alignments. Please refer to
Advanced
Polar Alignment Procedure For Users In The Southern Hemisphere
in
Appendix I.
Using the Star Adventurer mini Console For Astrophotography
Although astrophotography is technically more challenging than
Regular-Exposure Time-Lapse
photography there are actually fewer
parameters to be concerned with. These are described below:
Exposure (Sec):
Exposure
should be set to a value that is sufficiently
long to record detail in the night time sky, which is typically longer
than 30 seconds. Be sure that your camera is attached to SAM via the
SNAP control cable, then set your exposure time in the
Exposure
field.
Be sure to set your camera to BULB mode, otherwise your shutter will
close according to whatever shutter speed is selected,on your camera.
Photo Interval (Sec):
Taking multiple long exposures generates a heat
build-up in your camera. This heat can increase the amount of grain
(noise) in your picture. You can reduce this effect by giving the camera
some time to cool down between photos. A good place to start is to
set
Photo Interval
to half of the value you set for
Exposure.
SAM will
continue to track the object during the
Photo Interval,
then resume
with the next exposure once the
Photo Interval
has elapsed.
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