How to Illuminate your polar scope
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- Опубліковано 28 жов 2021
- I talk about a hack for my unilluminated polar scope that enabled me to make illuminated with some glow in the dark tape. Credit for this hack goes out to a UA-camr named Alyn Wallace. I will link his page down below.
/ alynwallace - Наука та технологія
Having used an equatorial for years, I really enjoyed finding this hack. While I have a CGEMII mount and don't really need it anymore, this is a great "plan B" when everything else has failed. Mr. Wallace's idea was perfect. I literally put it on the inside of the polar scope's tube.
Nice one!
Two possible hints...
+ Phosphorescence or 'glow-in-the-dark' paint will work as well - or you could even dip the whole tubus multiple times for adequate coverage, but be sure to mask the threads (dripped candle wax works quite well).
+ The bright white head lamp used for charging might blind you for a moment in the process...
Use UV (ultraviolet) light, like used for checking for counterfeit bills, possibly an LED pen light. UV light is very energy intense, but does not blind our eyes in the dark.
* may the stars be with you * ;-)
Thanks for the suggestions 👍
Very nice solution with your adaptation! Well done! Indeed, I have purchased some of the excellent Move Shoot Move products which he helped create. Wallace is very sharp.
He is very knowledgeable. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for sharing this method. I'd suggest swapping that type of polarscope for a more modern one with a clock type face, far more accurate. You can then use the polar alignment ability in the Star Adventurer App to get better alignment. Also you will need to align the polar scope in the polar opening in the mount after removal. Good luck.
Thanks for the input but I no longer own that mount. But I hope someone who has that type of mount can use this information that you've suggested. Thank you
I have to say it, this is absolutely brilliant, you saved me a lot of money, brilliant!

Awesome....glad I could help 👍
Thanks for this video. It was the solution I was looking for.
Your welcome.
Absolute genius!
Thanks. Alyn Wallace deserves all the thanks. I got it from him.
Brilliant got to fide glow tape.
That’s great, thanks! I was about ready to get an illuminated polar scope or an expensive ipolar of polemaster. Instead I’ll give this a try
Thanks. Let me know how it goes.
My solution for astrophotography was to not bother with the polar scope any more. I'm in the Southern Hemisphere and even finding Sigma Octantis is a challenge much less aligning to it. I started to just use a guide scope and basic guide camera with the image capture software to polar align. I was getting better results than doing it manually and far faster. This worked even with my Star Adventurer using Sharpcap. You can just rotate the RA axis by hand to the two positions required for the calibration. The actual imagery on that rig was done with a Sony A55 DSLR. I actually added the mini guide scope and guide camera to player with ST4 guiding and found by accident it could be used to Polar align.
Thanks for the comment. I use Nina to polar align now and don't have that mount anymore. I thought I should keep it up just in case someone can use the info. I find the software route much faster as well.
❤very cool thanks❤
Sweet hack, thanks for sharing…….peace
Thanks 👍
Que ingenioso!!!👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks
Im new to the hobby, but im amazed at how expensive the Mounts are and no illumination on most of them, in the Army we had Optics that use Tritium, they will glow for 20 years or more. The glow tape is a great idea but for the money we shell out ($1700 in my mount)
This seems a bit silly to have to do on our own
I agree with your comment. Thanks for commenting. But this hack left a dead spot in the middle of the image in the polar scope. So I used the polar scope illuminator from my skywatcher star adventure and it worked nicely.
They're cheap nowadays if you can believe that. Back in the day, you had to spend a MINIMUM of $5k to get any kind of accurate tracking. If you wanted to take pics you used film because the cheapest digital astro cams were close to $10k. Everything was so outrageous in cost people just made their own stuff.
It's amazing how the hobby has changed even in the 10-15 years. Still expensive though.
so when you line up Polaris in the scope , does the big dipper also line up in the spot it's marked in the scope as well
You have to rotate to RA in order to line up the graphic on the inside of the polar scope to where it's positioned in the sky.
What tape did you use, can you please send the Amazon link or something for the product.
It ended up not working that great ☹️.
Do you think glow in the dark paint would work better?
It might definitely be?
haha, that is pretty cool.... Nice hack. Clear skies Everett
Thanks 👍
I hold my headlamp up to my Star Adventurer. A light comes with it but I always forget the dang thing.
This way you won't forget lol.
That light also sucks a lot...
Which light sucks? The star adventure one?
Is it too bright to see Polaris?
No. I could still see Polaris.
@@AstroEverett Thanks
maybe you could do a colab with him.....🙄
Unfortunately, I do not have that scope and mount anymore. Thanks for your comment though.
Just buy the clip on led
Thanks for the comment. I now have the star adventure red light clip.
its gettin old youtube. if i want to run FF and a AB. i have that right. stop messing with us. ITS NOT RIGHT...
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