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STEP 5. Set the SkyTracker
The SkyTracker
depends on your latitude position. Choose the one with the center of gravity of the system as close to
the center of the base as possible.
Assuming you are in northern hemisphere, facing the SkyTracker
north. You may use a compass or an electronic compass from your smart phone. Please note that
true north may not be aligned to the magnetic north from you compass. However, most smart phone
compass may adjust it for you. Release the Latitude Lock a half turn by simply rotate the locking lever
counterclockwise. Set the latitude scale at your current latitude by turning the Latitude Adjustment
Knob and retighten the latitude lock. The latitude lock handle can be rotated to any suitable position
by pulling and turning. Loosen the two
align the polar axis to the north, then tighten the Azimuth Locking Knobs. More details on polar
alignment are in next step.
When powering on, the SkyTracker
selection of the tracking speed switch position: If your goal is only take the wide field image of the sky
and stars, set the tracking speed to 1X (celestial tracking speed). With a good polar alignment, this
will keep the stars rounded in your image.. If you would like to take the image of both the starry sky
and the night landscape at the same time, you need to set the tracking speed at 1/2X. This will let you
take clear images of both the sky and the land objects at a proper exposure. Solar speed is for
tracking the Sun and lunar speed for the moon.
Set the
south/north switch
southern hemisphere.
You may fast slew the RA axis at 180X speed by pressing and holding the RA Fast Slew
Button◄►. Release and press ◄► again the RA will slew in reverse direction.
STEP 6. Polar Alignment
To achieve accurate tracking, precise polar alignment is crucial. SkyTracker
polar alignment methods.
1. Easy alignment through polar sight hole
Aiming through the polar sight hole to the Polaris (or Sigma Octantis) while adjusting the
azimuth and altitude angles until the Polaris appears in the center of the field of view. Locking
all the knobs when done. (This method is less accurate, but useful if the polar scope missing).
2. Easy alignment through polar scope
Do exactly the same as above, but look through the polar scope. When putting the Polaris at
the cross hairs of the polar scope, the misalignment to north pole is about 40 min (or about 1
degree in southern hemisphere with Sigma Octantis).
3. Quick Polar Alignment
Using iOptron's AccuAlign
and accurate polar alignment. This is achieved by making the polar axis of the mount parallel
to the Earth's axis of rotation.
Press the power switch on the mount to turn the SkyTracker
eyepiece. Adjust the eyepiece to bring the reticle dial in focus. As indicated in
Figure 13, the Polar Scope Dial has been divided into 12 hours along the angular direction
with 10 min tics. There are 2 groups, 6 concentric circles marked from 36' to 44' and 60' to 70',
respectively. The 36' to 44' concentric circles are for polar alignment in the northern
TM
Pro mount
TM
Pro head can be attached to the Alt-azi base in two opposite directions
Azimuth Locking
TM
to N when in the northern hemisphere and to S when in the
TM
dark field illuminated polar scope as shown in Figure 6 for easy
Knobs, adjust the
Pro will be in tracking mode with a rate depends on the
TM
Pro on. Look through the polar scope
11
TM
Pro to approximately the
Azimuth Adjusting Knobs
TM
Pro offers 3
to
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