Setting Up the Polar Scope
Carefully remove the
Rear Mounting Plate
from the back of SAM and fully
insert your
Polar Scope
into the exposed hole. If you have set things up
correctly to this point, you should be looking directly north when looking
through the
Polar Scope.
Attach the
Polar Scope llluminatar
to the other end. This will help make the
reticule pattern in the
Polar Scope
eyepiece more visible in dark conditions.
Adjust the intensity of the illuminator by turning the dial. Make it bright
enough to see the reticule pattern, but not so bright as to wash out your view
of Polaris.
Rotate the
Polar Scope
so that the "O" label on the reticule pattern is at the
12 o'clock position (i.e., at the top). When positioned correctly 3 will be seen
at the right, 6 and the bottom and 9 to the left.
Using the
Altitude
and
Azimuth Adjustment Knobs
on the wedge, adjust the
view in your
Polar Scope
until you can see Polaris in the field of view. It can be
anywhere in the field of view at this point. You will adjust to its exact location
in a moment.
Using the Polar Clock Utility
to
Fine-Tune Your Polar Alignment
Now tap on the
Polar Clock Utility
in the
Main Menu
of the Star Adventurer
mini Console. Tap on
Northern Hemisphere
if it is not already selected.
The app shows you a drawing that matches the view in the
Polar Scope.
Note
the position of the small black dot. It represents Polaris and shows where
Polaris should be located relative to the NCP at the time off your session.
Turn your
Altitude
and
Azimuth Adjustment Knobs
until Polaris as seen in the
view finder of your
Polar Scope
matches the position of the black dot. You are
now precisely polar aligned with the NCP (represented by the intersection at
the centre of your field of view) and can increase the the focal length of your
lenses and/or exposure times of your photos with confidence.
Carefully remove the
Polar Scope llluminator
and
Polar Scope
making sure
that you do not disturb the position of the tripod. Now you can attach your
32
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Back
1:30 PM
Polar Clock Utility
-
Location
Ni/¥1md::iH:IJI-
Southern Hemisphere
Local longitude
123
°
00'W
Local time
01 :30PM
Polaris Position
10:19
Light On
SynScanWiFi_a1281 e
Light Ott
4.82V
camera gear (ball head, camera). NOTE: If you are using the optional
Fine-Tuning Mounting Assembly
you can perform the polar alignment
procedure with all of your gear already mounted.
Connect your camera to SAM via the SNAP control port using the
appropriate interface cable for your brand of camera. Power up your
equipment and you are ready to go!
Using the Optional Fine-Tuning Mounting Assembly
You can remove the need for a ball mount by using the
Fine-Tuning
Mounting Assembly.
This assembly attaches to the
Saddle
and permits
adjustments in the declination axis -the axis that runs perpendicular
to SAM's rotational axis (known as the Right Ascension, or RA axis, in
astronomy terms). Freedom to move your camera on the declination
axis lets you point it to any location in the sky, just as the ball mount
does. But the
Fine-Tuning Mounting Assembly
is much more than just
an alternative to using a ball mount.
One of its biggest advantages is that it enables you to increase the
payload of your imaging equipment by using a counter balance
system. You can use larger, heavier lenses -or even use two cameras
at a time.
With the
Fine-Tuning Mounting Assembly
you can even attach a
small telescope to SAM for extended viewing of celestial objects held
steady in the eyepiece by SAM's continuous tracking ability.
But maybe the biggest advantage of the
Fine-Tuning Mounting
Assembly
is that you can leave your
Polar Scope
in place and perform
the advanced polar alignment procedure even with your entire
photographic payload in place. This greatly reduces the likelihood
disturbing the precision polar alignment when adding equipment
after the procedure has been performed.
To install the
Fine-Tuning Mounting Assembly
please follow the
directions in Appendix IV.
33
