For what it’s worth I’m at 21º at sea level and although in the northern hemisphere it is also very difficult to polar align as Polaris and the north celestial pole are near the horizon and usually obstructed by a coast line so I am very appreciative of videos like yours👍👍 all the best
Nice work. This will be a game changer for me, I tend to do the tripod levelling first and then it annoys the hell out of me getting it set up, so I don't do much tracking. Thanks
I have to polar align in the urban sky . I also uses the sky map apps . Like sky view and latter PS align pro . It will get me very close to Polaris . And then I’ll fine tune with the polar scope. Clear sky 💪
Hi Matt, just stumbled across you TH-cam channel - subscribed 👍. Love seeing the different variations people use for polar aligning. I always align with just the wedge as I've found the motors and batteries in the tracker messes with the apps - this may be specific to the phone /apps being used though.
@@GrowPhotography Hi and thank you for subscribing 😀 also subscribe in return. Yes, it’s amazing to see how many different ways there are to polar align out there! Regards Matt
Hi Matt, The algorithm put your video up in my feed today 👍 Well put together video and a good explanation of PA. Could you explain in another video what your rig is on top of the Dec bracket and how you use it for panoramas. I think you have a tilt head but other than that not sure. Thanks. Carl
Hi Carl! Ahh the algorithm…so hard to crack but glad it reached you! I actually have a video half completed. It will be based on tracked panoramas. Here I will explain what gear I use in more detail. Should be out in a week or so once I get over this flu. Best regards Matt
@@Steve-pw2op hi Steve, if you don’t have a plate you can also rest your phone above the battery compartment on the tracker and push the top of the phone against the housing of the start tracker. You can still get decent results like this. Hope this helps. Matt
I discovery that, like watches interfere with compass, the glasses made with metal do interfere with too. I use glasses to read and I need to stay near to iphone, and… the compass start to be crazy.
@@pcsilveirasilveira4326 yes, it can be a pain, powerlines and other large metal objects can throw out the compass I do swing the phone in figure 8’s for a bout 30 seconds it can help to settle down the interface. After all this method is only going to get you within the ball park of a true alignment. Thank you for watching 😀
@@luizcarlosalvesoliveira3560 Hi, as I assume you are using a android phone the app in this video will not work on your device, however that being said sky safari 7 pro has a polar alignment function that is equivalent to the app shown in this video and is available from the google play store. Let me know how you go. Matt
Greetings, This video is very helpful 👍🏻👍🏻 by the way, can the polar scope align app used for shooting nebulas with longer lens or is it just for wide field astro photos? Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback! You can use the app to roughly polar align the tracker in most cases this will get you extremely close to the sigma octans assuming you are in the Southern Hemisphere. I have tried this with a 300mm lens and got some trailing. In my opinion you will need to precisely align the tracker for nebula photography. Have a look through your polar scope once you have aligned with the app and you should see your target stars!
I wish someone would post a video on how to do it without the app. This video? Cool for visual learners, but it's just repeating what's in the manual, and in every other video on the subject I've seen so far. However, nobody explains how to interpret the numbers in the reticule nor why you need to rotate your polar mount so they are aligned a certain way, other than "because that's what the app says". Unfortunately, search engines are circling the drain right now, or I'd have found it in under 2 minutes of searching, like 10-15 years ago. Alas, it will remain a mystery for now...
@@nightscapeodyssey.mattclarke cool. I wasn't expecting you to go out of your way to do it, but I'll be looking forward to it. Can't seem to find that info anywhere, and it looks like it's about to become a lost art...
@@omulet29 if you’re only viewing the planets and the moon this method should be ok. From an astrophotography perspective I know it is accurate especially with wider focal lengths. As you go to longer focal lengths the more precise the polar alignment needs to be. This method should get you with in the ball park and depending on what hemisphere you are in it will help you locate Polaris or the Octans for fine tuning. Hope this helps. Matt
@@BigBadLoneWolf thanks for watching! These apps are not perfect but one thing that helps is to swing your phone in figure 8 pattern prior to using. This will calibrate the phone to any interference and improve accuracy.
@@aquatone01 if you are using android try this application play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_kechko.Polaralignment if link doesn’t work the app is called Polar Aligner Pro in google store. Let me know how you go 😀
For what it’s worth I’m at 21º at sea level and although in the northern hemisphere it is also very difficult to polar align as Polaris and the north celestial pole are near the horizon and usually obstructed by a coast line so I am very appreciative of videos like yours👍👍 all the best
Glad I could help and thank you for commenting 😊
Nice work. This will be a game changer for me, I tend to do the tripod levelling first and then it annoys the hell out of me getting it set up, so I don't do much tracking. Thanks
Thank you! This will get you pretty close and if you use a wide focal length lens you won’t get any start trailing. Thanks for watching 😀
Thanks.
Wonderful shots. Not a hope in hell in getting pictures like these in the southern part of the UK.
@@telwood15 Thank you ☺️ we are very lucky here in Australia you can usually drive just over an hour and you are in dark skies! Matt
I have to polar align in the urban sky .
I also uses the sky map apps . Like sky view and latter PS align pro .
It will get me very close to Polaris . And then I’ll fine tune with the polar scope.
Clear sky 💪
Hi Matt, just stumbled across you TH-cam channel - subscribed 👍. Love seeing the different variations people use for polar aligning. I always align with just the wedge as I've found the motors and batteries in the tracker messes with the apps - this may be specific to the phone /apps being used though.
@@GrowPhotography Hi and thank you for subscribing 😀 also subscribe in return. Yes, it’s amazing to see how many different ways there are to polar align out there! Regards Matt
Hi Matt,
The algorithm put your video up in my feed today 👍
Well put together video and a good explanation of PA.
Could you explain in another video what your rig is on top of the Dec bracket and how you use it for panoramas. I think you have a tilt head but other than that not sure. Thanks.
Carl
Hi Carl! Ahh the algorithm…so hard to crack but glad it reached you! I actually have a video half completed. It will be based on tracked panoramas. Here I will explain what gear I use in more detail. Should be out in a week or so once I get over this flu. Best regards Matt
oh so easy, lol....just need a special plate that I just so happened to have in my back pocket.
@@Steve-pw2op hi Steve, if you don’t have a plate you can also rest your phone above the battery compartment on the tracker and push the top of the phone against the housing of the start tracker. You can still get decent results like this. Hope this helps. Matt
@@nightscapeodyssey.mattclarke yes thanks Matt, that's what I ended up doing. 😀👍🏼🌌
I discovery that, like watches interfere with compass, the glasses made with metal do interfere with too. I use glasses to read and I need to stay near to iphone, and… the compass start to be crazy.
@@pcsilveirasilveira4326 yes, it can be a pain, powerlines and other large metal objects can throw out the compass I do swing the phone in figure 8’s for a bout 30 seconds it can help to settle down the interface. After all this method is only going to get you within the ball park of a true alignment. Thank you for watching 😀
Hi, what is the name of the app you use and how can I download it?
Is it on the Play Store?
Thanks
@@luizcarlosalvesoliveira3560 Hi, as I assume you are using a android phone the app in this video will not work on your device, however that being said sky safari 7 pro has a polar alignment function that is equivalent to the app shown in this video and is available from the google play store. Let me know how you go. Matt
Greetings,
This video is very helpful 👍🏻👍🏻 by the way, can the polar scope align app used for shooting nebulas with longer lens or is it just for wide field astro photos? Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback! You can use the app to roughly polar align the tracker in most cases this will get you extremely close to the sigma octans assuming you are in the Southern Hemisphere. I have tried this with a 300mm lens and got some trailing. In my opinion you will need to precisely align the tracker for nebula photography. Have a look through your polar scope once you have aligned with the app and you should see your target stars!
❤😂🎉😢😮😅
I wish someone would post a video on how to do it without the app. This video? Cool for visual learners, but it's just repeating what's in the manual, and in every other video on the subject I've seen so far. However, nobody explains how to interpret the numbers in the reticule nor why you need to rotate your polar mount so they are aligned a certain way, other than "because that's what the app says". Unfortunately, search engines are circling the drain right now, or I'd have found it in under 2 minutes of searching, like 10-15 years ago. Alas, it will remain a mystery for now...
Hi, Thanks for the insight! Ok you have a good point and happy to great a video on this. I will start putting it together over the coming weeks Matt 👍
@@nightscapeodyssey.mattclarke cool. I wasn't expecting you to go out of your way to do it, but I'll be looking forward to it. Can't seem to find that info anywhere, and it looks like it's about to become a lost art...
how accurate is the application only for viewing the planets and the moon?
@@omulet29 if you’re only viewing the planets and the moon this method should be ok. From an astrophotography perspective I know it is accurate especially with wider focal lengths. As you go to longer focal lengths the more precise the polar alignment needs to be. This method should get you with in the ball park and depending on what hemisphere you are in it will help you locate Polaris or the Octans for fine tuning. Hope this helps. Matt
@@nightscapeodyssey.mattclarke I use mak127
I downloaded a daytime polar alignment app. It was 8 degrees out
@@BigBadLoneWolf thanks for watching! These apps are not perfect but one thing that helps is to swing your phone in figure 8 pattern prior to using. This will calibrate the phone to any interference and improve accuracy.
Is this an iOS ap?
Yes, this is an iOS application. This is the most accurate app that I have found. Let me know if you need any more information. Matt
@@nightscapeodyssey.mattclarke Thank you. Shame as I am on an android but great video btw.
@@aquatone01 if you are using android try this application play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_kechko.Polaralignment if link doesn’t work the app is called Polar Aligner Pro in google store. Let me know how you go 😀
@@aquatone01 or you can use Photo Pills also on android 😀