Powered by Invision Community. Everybody tell ioptron to sort it out! Thanks for the review. This app is targeted for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers that use a telescope with a German Equatorial. From what Ive researched it looks like you can do all that on the SkyTracker Pro even though 5lbs is outside the specs on the payload without the counterweight. It doesn't have exactly that function. I have an iPhone and have an iOptron Skyguider Pro on its way. The field of view of the iPolar is 13-degrees, with a resolution of approximately 30 arc-seconds. Also it will work with Parallels Desktop for Mac & Windows 7, 8.2 or 10. It can also help a Sky-watcher equatorial mount An app for Astronomy and Astrophotography enthusiasts that use a German Equatorial Mount for your telescope. I think this is the easiest visual way to Polar Align, when you get used to it, it can be done in under 10 mins. The iOptron iPolar Polar Alignment Software. I prefer to make a visual observation at nightfall to align with Polaris. The iPolar Electronic Polarscope in the RA axis of the SkyGuider Pro. All users should download a new copy from the link below. Thanks for the additional information. Cube-II/CubePro with 8408 Hand Controller, 8401 Hand Controller Star Catalogs Reloading, 8408 Hand Controller CEM25 Catalog Data Upgrade, iPolar Electronic Polarscope Software (Windows). Sorry for the novel and thank you so much for your opinion! If you would like to know more about the iOptron iPolar, I would be happy to answer. Your email address will not be published. See the rest of the astronomy apps I recommend. You'll need to enter in the lat-long coordinates of your location, which you can easily find online or using the GPS on your phone. Now you can get familiar with Astronomy by identifying stars, planets, and constellations. The overall accuracy of the algorithm has reached sub 0.1 arc-seconds now.The app now using a 10 minute marker reticle, the same reticle used in the polar scope of iOptron(R) telescope mount since 2014.A must have for iOptron(R) SkyGuider Pro, iOptron(R) SkyTracker Pro, SkyGuider and SkyTracker users!Also very helpful for any iOptron(R) telescope mount owners. Works well with SGP and Redcat 51 combo. Edited by Ishtim, 02 May 2019 - 10:39 AM. My biggest problem with my SkyGuider Pro is the alt-azi mount it came with. I would definitely get the PA dialed-in as best you can using the built-in polarscope first. I found an old Contax that has the same threads but find myself at a loss as how to put it all together. instead of my full name pls. The app's name is Polar Clock, the link to the store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.astrotools.polarclock, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Any idea if it exist for Mac OS? The Polar-Aligner is a simple astronomical application for the northern hemisphere to help you to align your mount easily. Anyway, I digress. I see you have what appears to be the William Optics wedge, rather than the OEM wedge from iOptron. Celestron telescope mounts are equipped with a feature called All-Star Polar Alignment. Because if the pole star and the other stars around it are obscured by trees, it would seem like it would not work. I've found comments on the web of experienced amateur astronomers that admitted they never had polar aligned their mount so accurately before. I just wondering maybe I can ask for advise with what euipment i have. Today we're proud to provide quality products direct to your doorstep through an experience you'll enjoy. You also need to set the rotation center of the mount, which can be calibrated after clicking the "clear rotation center" button on-screen. It includes basic tools for leveling your equatorial mount (spirit. So many utilities you never knew you needed. These knobs work in the same way that the altitude adjustment bolts did. The PF-L Assist app helps you to align the equatorial mount of your telescope to the north celestial pole or south celestial pole in order to make it turn parallel to earths rotational axes. Equatorial platform polar alignment help! Hope this makes sense. Also is this a typo.62 x 40 minutes.. Or should that be 62 x 4 minutes? Hi all, as a complete beginner, who is gradually getting some kit together, the question of which Polar Alignment App I should get for my Android phone is exercising my mind. You put a ballhead on the top and add a clip from a small phone tripod. With the polar alignment dialed-in thanks to the iPolar, I was able to shoot 4-minute exposures at ISO 1600 on the North American Nebula and surrounding area. The altitude adjustment bolts can be a little difficult to get the hang of. If you havent yet gone down this road, its worth looking into the new iPolar. Polaris can be spotted in the sky quite easily, as it is much brighter than any surrounding stars in the immediate area. But if its your travel/quick setup rig remember that you have given up your ability to polar align the mount without software assistance. The phone holder is a 3D printed device that is on ThingAVerse. Apart from the most reliable app for polar alignment (with or without a polar scope), PS Align pro has become the astronomer's swiss-army knife with all the tools added over the years. In early May 2020, I decided to purchase a Canon EOS Ra camera from B&H photo. The best astronomy and stargazing apps for your mobile phone. I rather not have to pay for an app but if the iOptron app is more precise, $2 isn't going to kill me. When astronomical observations or imaging is done using an equatorial telescope mount, the right-ascension (RA) axis should be parallel with the rotation axis of the Earth to avoid star-trails and errors in guiding. so you have said The lack of dithering was evident in the data. Its not absolutely necessary, but at least youll know that the star is completely centered, rather than close enough. All of the telescope mounts on the list above include a polar alignment scope (depending on the version you order), with the exception of the Celestron CGEM. With my Astrotech 72 ED and Sony A6500 I can currently get two minutes with my skyguider no star trails. I can't get it to use GPS, though. The cross in the middle of the circle is the North Celestial Pole (NCP), and the ring that circles it is the path of Polaris throughout the year. Community Forum Software by IP.BoardLicensed to: Cloudy Nights, This is not recommended for shared computers, Morpheus Eyepieces on sale at EyepiecesEtc.com, Dual-band 7 nm instead of uv/ir cut for quark, OTA to suit CGX with view to Astrophotography, The NEAF Report from nPAE Precision Astro Engineering. There is no menu button. How does autoguiding work? Polar scope dial. How do these compare? I was about to try to customize my skyguider pro with a polemaster, before I saw this video. Hi! And the stunning images! As I want to tackle astrophotography I bought a new mount and a QHYCCD PoleMaster; I haven't even removed the cap of the polarscope of my new mount. If I travel up into Oklahoma, like the Oki-Tex Star Party (36 degrees), I need the High Latitude version. For instructions on polar alignment using Drift Align in the Southern Hemisphere, visit How to Polar Align Easily in PHD2 Drift Align. If you use stellarium or a star chart to locate Polaris you will see that it can be found by drawing an imaginary line through the two stars that form the end of the big dipper (the bowl end). Not to mentioned saving the sore knees, cricked neck, minutes/hours of cursing and fiddling etc etc. $2.99 in the App Store What is it about? iOptron Polar Scope This is an app to show the position of the Pole Star (Polaris in Northern Hemisphere, or Sigma Octantis in Southern Hemisphere) in the polar scope of all the iOptron. I use a Astrotech 72 ED II and Sony A6500 . Note: This app is a companion for the Polar Loop, Polar Loop 2, Polar Loop Crystal, Polar A300, Polar A360, Polar M200, Polar Polar Beat is the ultimate free sports and fitness tracker app from the pioneer of wearable sports technology. My question for you is this: I am looking for a tracker to be able to get into astrophotography more than I already have been (photographed the Great American Solar Eclipse, attempted to capture the lunar eclipse in January; using a few different Nikon cameras-film and digital, and a 500 mm lens with 2x teleconverter), and feel the iOptron SkyGuider Pro is the correct guidance system. Raising review to 4 stars. The polar axis does not move when you move the telescope. This app is targeted for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers that use a telescope with a German Equatorial you can get the calculated result to align your mount with a small error. is iPolar software available only on Windows? The polar alignment was really dialed-in, but a 40-minute exposure is a but much. Sky Map is a hand-held planetarium for your Android device. The North America Nebula in Cygnus is a large, bright, and beautiful target thats located in an area full of hydrogen gas including the impressive Pelican Nebula. Thoughts? The iOptron SkyGuider Pro is sure to be a popular mount to add the iPolar upgrade too, but this is not the only telescope mount compatible with this electronic polarscope. The iPolar installation process was interesting. Map Android | I guess I will stick with the stock mount. Polar Scope For polar alignment, iOptron sells their app for $1.99 but I have downloaded a free app (there are some ads at the bottom) called the Polar Scope Align. It works in both the northern and southern hemispheres, and comes with a selection of popular polar-scope reticles. If you are setting up during the day, a compass will do the trick. Loosen one, tighten the other. For a more normal looking view through the camera, simply click on the RAW image button. A beginners guide to using IOptrons IPolar mount add-on for Polar alignment. Do I need am extra scope and camera or is it possible with the iploar and laptop? iPolar Electronic Polarscope Software (Windows) I just got the Sky guider Pro bundled with i-Polar. It does the opposite pretty well - if you strap your phone on the telescope, you select an object from the database and it takes you there (Push To button) - which can be accurate if you first calibrate it with a bright star that you can recognise and then "hop" to the object of interest. One issue is with the color of the Polaris When used with phone wrapped with red Gelatin sheets, to preserve dark adaption, green is completely filtered and the star disappears. If you have found this review helpful, please let me know in the comments. It provides a simple way for you to track the motion of the stars, so you can take long exposure images of the night sky. . How to use the iOptron's iPolar software for super accurate polar alignment Astro La Vista 7.85K subscribers 30K views 2 years ago In this video we go through the simple steps involved in. GPS update was made shorted for quicker refresh. Rather than using a polar scope, it uses a system of alignment stars. Think of a polar scope, the Ekos/Sharpcap routines, or the iPolar program as a quick and simple approximation. Hello, i really enjoyed watching your videos and im inspired. Hi! April 23, 2020 in Getting Started General Help and Advice. Not all camera lenses are created equal, and imaging a night sky full of pinpoint stars has a way of bringing out the worst (or best) of your lens, Continue Reading The Best Lens for Astrophotography (That You Probably Already Own)Continue, The Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer is an extremely popular portable star tracker designed for astrophotography. On the Sky-Watcher HEQ5, the declination needs to be rotated 90 for a clear view through the polar scope. Ill attach my newly acquired Canon EOS 60Da to the RedCat, with a dual-bandpass narrowband filter inside (2 Optolong L-eNhance). Does the laptop need to be connected throughout shooting or can it be switched off after alignment is finished and how long will it stay aligned if I use a heavier rig with lets say a 400mm lens. At this point, Polaris should be very close tothe exact position for a near-perfect Polar Alignment for the night. I have recently been reading and watching videos about the many things PS align Pro can do. You will be amazed. The SynScan hand controller is now available as an app on your smart device. Not sure I want to invest in the camera yet , but out of fear of star trailing I only do 30 sec exposures (a lot). Nam Glad to hear this was useful for you its a great option for SkyGuider Pro owners. Compared to the ease of polar alignment with the SkyTracker, Ive been a bit intimidated about the alignment due to the way the polar scope rotates in the shaft, thus potentially off-setting the alignment. Drift alignment in PHD2 is going to be better, but is still just a sample of the many possible measurements. At no extra cost to yourself I receive a small commission. On 03/05/2020 at 20:32, AstroRookie said: What's the best polar alignment app for Android? Would you recommend it? If so then use the star adventurer mini console. Great point Robin!! The lack of dithering was evident in the data, and would have helped to reduce noise in the final integration. Am I correct in that assumption? It is really a great app. Also, when entering longitude manually, regardless of whether you set it to display degrees, minutes, and seconds, or decimals, you have to enter the longitude in degrees, minutes, and seconds. These cookies do not store any personal information. The QHY PoleMaster is a high-precision electronic polar alignment scope. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. When the red dot fully covers the red cross, you are all done. The issue is that it sits to low to the ground to see through the polar scope. In my latest adventures in the backyard, Ive set up the iOptron SkyGuider Pro once more, but this time Ive added a rather simple device that makes a critical step of the astrophotography acquisition stage process easier, and more precise. Or has someone come up with an android app that would allow us to hook up via USB to our phones with the right cable, e.g mini USB to micro USB or mini USB to USB-C so we can basically do the same config setup without the need of the extra luggage. If yes how? For a complete rundown of the Canon EOS Ra, you can read my full review from January of this, Continue Reading Why I Bought the Canon EOS RaContinue, One of the most common questions I receive each day is which light pollution filter I recommend for astrophotography in the city. Today we're proud to provide quality products direct to your doorstep through an experience you'll enjoy. You may also consider that you may not even need a polar alignment camera at all. - What are the GPS coordinates? So ASIAIR is a smart WiFi controller. We'd love to hear from you! There is a hole near the top of the body (for lining up if you don't have a polar scope) but I find this very difficult to use. Youll need to un-check this for the software to calibrate properly. Thanks for pointing out the typo! Narrow bandpass imaging requires that you collect longer exposures than you would in broadband, especially when using a color camera like a DSLR. Hi Trevor, Nice upgrade from iOptron. The telescope mount should have a latitude scale posted on one side, with an indicator of what latitude your mount is currently in line with. I noticed the weight changes my polar alignment so I started doing it with my counterweight attached but before the scope and camera. Stellarium is an astronomical map and is great for locating objects in the night sky. Slew mode for quicker framing of celestial images without knocking the camera out of alignment. SharpCap can help you align the RA axis of your telescope mount with the NCP by comparing images. If you Show Package Contents and double click on the app in the MacOS folder it will connect, but there is constant screen flashing making polar alignment difficult, at best. I found this review helpful instructive and inspirational. What did you do with it? For Polar alignment you don't really need an app, however, there's an app for Android called 'Calibration' which will clibrte your phone's accelerometer then give you a compass so you can see where 'north' is. It Nightshift is the ideal free night sky app for the experienced amateur astronomer as well as the casual stargazer. As seasoned veterans will tell you. Thanks. You currently have javascript disabled. This will be magnetic north though so only an approximation. Let me know what do you think. Im in Indonesia and a lot or equipment in the US, we dont have it here. Apart from the most reliable app for polar alignment (with or without a polar scope), PS Align pro has become the astronomer's swiss-army knife. Thanks again! It takes into account atmospheric refraction. It is now a matter of moving the mount left or right until Polaris comes into view. Originally developed as Google Sky Map, it has now been donated and open sourced. The system only needs 4 stars to locate the pole, and can do so even if the pole location is obstructed by tree branches or clouds. The app uses the best algorithm to calculate the position of Pole Star: The algorithm calculates 3D space motion of the Pole Star itself, precession, temperature and barometric pressure corrected atmospheric refraction, nutation, parallax, aberration, and etc.). Alternatively in theory you could do this: Also what is the great advantage to using the Williams Optics wedge? Couple that with the fact that these astrophotography filters can be expensive, and youve got some, Continue Reading Light Pollution Filters for AstrophotographyContinue, In my opinion, the best astrophotography lens is one that can capture a variety of images of the night sky in a reliable and consistent way. The information you have provided is invaluable. Ive been extremely satisfied with the results Ive achieved using this method of polar alignment, but its time to push the SkyGuider Pro mount even further. My one regret is that I havent given it a proper test drive yet. 8408 Hand Controller CEM25 Catalog Data Upgrade. Terms of Service | This setup usually consists of a DSLR camera and lens, but Ive seen some incredible little setups using dedicated astronomy cameras, and telescopes as big as the William Optics Z73 mounted (with a 50mm guide scope)! This method is handy if you own a Celestron mount, and Polaris is not in view. Contact | Edited by ecuador, 31 May 2019 - 02:06 PM. I have a small min-PC USB stick that I have used with Sharpcap to take my images. Home | Then its just a matter of taking a few test shots at 20-seconds each to frame it up nice. EQ5 Pro - Polar alignment & Scope aligment out. I think that you have highlighted in your video a good point: by replacing your polar scope with iPolar you are loosing the possibility to use it without a PC. live view and trial and error? If your view of the Big Dipper or Polaris is completely obstructed, you may need to polar align using the Drift Align method I mentioned earlier. Trevor thank you for your excellent review. Old Review for Historical Purposes: Useless on a Pixel 3 with Android 9. But.. My pictures really seem to get blown out at that time with pollution. Almost any starcharting software will give the position of Polaris, and most will correct for atmospheric refraction. After using an iOptron SkyGuider Pro star tracker for deep-sky astrophotography exclusively, it was time to, Continue Reading Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer ReviewContinue, The Celestron NexStar 8SE computerized telescope is one of the best-selling telescope packages of all time. By Setup your usual location (Lat & Long) at your site by clicking the change button on the settings dialog. Create a smart scope equipped with a smart phone in the air soft gun. - Where is north? Polar alignment is the process of accurately aligning the polar axis of your mount with the north (or south) celestial pole. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. It is very similar to the following models: The Sky-Watcher HEQ5 in this example features a built-in polar scope with an illuminated reticle. In the meantime since more people asked I did check the current status of the iOptron app and it doesn't look good And a quick tip: To ensure your 12:00 position is spot-on, center Polaris on the center-line and then adjust your latitude up and down. !Affiliate links for First Light Optics below. For polar alignment, iOptron sells their app for $1.99 but I have downloaded a free app (there are some ads at the bottom) called the Polar Scope Align. Settings: I found it could be hard to adjust the knob of the WO vixen base with heavy combo attached. I have a Samsung Galaxy S8. Accurate Polaris / Oct position calculation, including atmospheric refraction, stellar aberration, nutation. would you please edit my name in the comments to Mel I am trying to keep everything as small and light as possible. So I have to remove the sheets, adjust and put it back. I looked back at some images captured in February (from the Im seeing Red video) they were 4-minutes each at an equivalent focal length of 400mm unguided. iPolar is a smart electronic polar scope for everyone. It will be interesting to see just how far backyard astrophotographers can push the SkyTracker Pro, with the added polar alignment precision the iPolar provides. Thanks. All in all, it took about 15 minutes to remove the standard polar scope and install the iPolar on the SkyGuider Pro. This is an app to show the position of the Pole Star (Polaris in Northern Hemisphere, or Sigma Octantis in Southern Hemisphere) in the polar scope of all the iOptron(R) telescope/camera mounts.The app uses the best algorithm to calculate the position of Pole Star: The algorithm calculates 3D space motion of the Pole Star itself, precession, temperature and barometric pressure corrected atmospheric refraction, nutation, parallax, aberration, and etc.). By this point, the telescope mount should be roughly aligned with the height of the North Star. ioptron SkyguiderproASIairipolar. However, I consider this a pricey investment at $268 when I already own a QHY PoleMaster electronic polar scope for aligning my larger telescope mounts. (did you catch that in the video?). It features a large aperture optical telescope and a computerized GoTo mount. Join StellarMate to your home WiFi network. The mobile version of Stellarium is a fantastic tool to use when you are outside under the stars. Use this app to control the AZ GTi mount or other Sky-Watcher or Orion telescope mounts fitted with a SynScan Wi-Fi adapter. The iOptron SkyGuider pro includes a built-in polar scope, and you should be able to achieve an accurate polar alignment by eyeballing it. Why is it so important? - what is the Polar Clock is a lightweight, easy-to-use app, designed to help with the setup of an equatorial mount. There's also a "Wiki Align" section, useful for beginners - which details a . Trevor, Great video again !!! iOptron offers their own electronic polar scope for the SkyGuider Pro - the iOptron iPolar - which can be hooked up to your computer/laptop. I cannot see polaris clearly from my location any night be their trees or other obstructions. ASICAP can help you control the camera to do Video recording and picture saving. The app needs to be purchased separately at an extra cost, but alignment is a breeze once installed. Depending on the telescope mount, the view through the polar scope may be obstructed when the telescope is in the rest position. When you were using a heavy lens, did you remove the lens from the mount when fine-tuning the polar alignment, and then put it back? Its free and you can use it wherever you can take your android device, travel, outdoors, hiking and more.. Even a careful polar alignment routine that is slightly off will begin to negatively affect your images after about 2-minutes. No matter what app you use,you need the "hour angle" of Polaris to determine the relative position (rotation) of Polaris to the north celestial pole (NCP). My second question is whether to not to go with the ipolar? 3. However, I recently tried to capture rho ophiuchi with my 200mm f4 lens I brought it to its knees (I ended up shooting at 100mm). After a quick installation of the software on my Windows 10 laptop, I connected the device via the included mini-USB cable. Aligning using its electronic polar finderscope and iOptron Polar Scope app is simple, and like most of its rivals, it also tracks the sun, moon and allows 1/2-speed motion time lapses at night. Step 6. You can control the all ASI USB 3.0 cameras as well as mini series cameras and selected DSLRs, an equatorial mount to GoTo and Guiding, Focusing with ZWO EAF, capture with your phone or tablet when connected to mPolemaster is a software for aligning the polar axis mounted on the mobile phone. For some reason, it is very easy to point the polar scope at the wrong star, especially if you are in a hurry, usually one on at a similar altitude. While Im intrigued by the iPolar, Im even more interested in that red aluminum-looking alt-azi base under your SkyGuider. Ive fitted a 2 Optolong L-eNhance filter into the adapter of my RedCat 51. Does the i-Polar only connect & work with a PC/Laptop? I bought the SGP with ipolar already installed and had it working in minutes linked to my MacBook Pro running V1.1 of the native MacOS software. All rights reserved. Features: The app is free, no contributions or ads and I have several upgrades already in the queue. I dont want to buy from amazon as the shipping cost and customs regilations here makes it even more difficult and time consuming. I take it that you think its a worthwhile upgrade? I like to place a level on the tripod before the mount is attached and make sure it is level on each axis. Because the Polaris is not exactly coincide with the Earth's rotation axis but rotates around it, one should know the exact hour angle of the Polaris to adjust (rotate) the finder. Trevor, Nice review . It comes with a USB cable to connect the iPolar to your Windows PC, and the polar alignment is done with using the on-screen instructions of the software. Privacy Policy | Simply put, you need to make sure that your telescope mount is rotating on the exact same angle the sky turns on. PolarFinder shows you the actual of the Polaris or the Sigma Octantis using the system time and GPS Polaris is a cool mobile compass which can be used with or without Wifi/GPS. Its RA (right-ascension) motor slowly rotates at sidereal rate to match the skies movement very simple, yet vital for deep sky imaging. They just need to hire one developer. Yup, you guessed it, you move your altiude and azimuth bolts until you align the red dot and cross over each other but wait, when you get close, the red dot is enlarged to help you, fab! The same process applies when using a small star tracker to take wide-angle nightscapes using a camera and lens. I often use them as their graphics are better than the HC display. Meanwhile, alignment is via a precision polarscope with an impressive eight brightness levels, as well as a smartphone app (iOptron Polar Scope for iOS (opens in new tab) and Polar Finder for Android (opens in new tab)). That seems counterintuitive unless they were suggesting that maybe just the North Star was obscured but the other stars around it were visible. The iPolar camera is just like the QHY PoleMaster I use on my larger equatorial mounts such as the Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro, but this one uses its own dedicated software, and was made specifically for popular iOptron mounts like the SkyGuider Pro. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. As long as you are not near the equator you can set the expected temperature / atmospheric pressure by clicking the Default Atmospheric settings button. Lastly if one was just shooting with a DSLR and camera lens oh, would you also recommend a ball head attachment to the Skyguider pro? So goodbye laptop when that day comes (hopefully soon). You need to hook a computer up to your telescope to use a polemaster I believe. The application tracks and draws the position of the Polaris (or Octant) in real-time and. You will then simply mimic this location by adjusting in your telescope mount. You add performance at the cost of more set-up time. The app didn't appear to update and the only thing I gave it was time, but when the menu icons actually appear and you can configure the settings the app is great and works wonderfully. When Polaris rides consistently along that line, you know the polar-scope is set for subsequent alignment. So, if the SkyGuider Pro is your main deep-sky imaging rig, the iPolar is a no-brainer, especially if youve had trouble with polar alignment in the past. This guide originally appeared in the February 2022 issue of BBC Sky at . The version of the iPolar I have came with an adapter to externally mount the device to the SkyGuider Pro.
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