Re: [APML]: [APML] GM-8 Polar Alignment Scope

[Richard Klappal <klappal@xnet.com>]

The Astro-Photography Mailing List
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If you are talking about the "three slid lines with gaps" that I think you are,
it is my understanding, from a dealer at Astrofest, that the gap at "place
second star here" is for 1990; next line/gap is for 2000, and third line/gap is
for 2010. They are to adjust for precession, and suggest that we should be using
the center gap, given that 1998 is closer to 2000 than to 1990.

Rich Klappal


Robin Casady wrote:

> The Astro-Photography Mailing List
> ------------------------------------
>
> >I have the polar scope for my GM8, I've been using 2 star alignment and I
> >get good alignment throughout the night!!   I wonder if you guys read the
> >manual before using the polar scope.  The manual states that this IS A TWO
> >STAR ALIGNMENT!!  One of the grids is for northern hemisphere while the
> >other is for southern hemisphere.
>
> Manual? We don't need no stinkin' manual. Actually, if you consider a
> handfull of Xeroxed pages to a manual and if you take what it says to be all
> there is to know about the polar scope, then you would believe it could not
> be used in the southern hemisphere. There are no instructions for southern
> hemisphere use at all.
>
> My understanding is that the dotted lines and broken crosses are for
> southern hemisphere use, and the solid lines are for northern hemisphere
> use. There are three solid lines with gaps for stars. For visual observing,
> two stars are sufficient. I find I get better accuracy if I use three stars.
>
> Robin Casady
> http://www.CarmelCoast.com
>
> Casady & Greene, Inc.
> http://www.casadyg.com