Guiding experiments

So, just to fine tune the resolution to my confussion. To polar align for good quality astro-photography I need to buy one of those polar wedge thingys? i gave my wife a wedgy but it didn't help my photography, in fact I couldn't see for a while :twisted:
Bill H.

I forgot which scope you have but if it's one of those ETX or LX AltAz scopes then it will probably need a wedge so you can jack the scope up to whatever many degrees north of the equator you are.

For long exposure photography trusting the computer align on the scope is not enough. You need to do a drift align too. For that you will need either a reticle eyepiece or crosshair software from a guide camera. Then you can judge how the field is drifting and then fine tune with the Alt and Az adjusters on the scope.

Clear skies but to too tired from sailing to be bothered tonight. Did we win the rugby? I have more than too much money on Ireland winning the 6 nations and have layed far too much money on Wales not winning it all. Gulp!

EVERY single night and it's a pain! Though it's getting easier with practice.

I saw a review for the LX200GPS-SMT in Astronomy magazine and wish I bought that instead of the LXD75. One touch of a button and it aligns to north, levels itself and then performs a 3-star alignment. Annoying!

The coming months will see me put a pier in the garden and then build a shed around it. Then come the 30 minute exposures!

James,
you have a great sky there, little pollution.
Next step, Barnards loop.
As for the 30 minute exposures, I wish it was so simple,
you need excellent PEC and perfect polar allignment for that.
Also, I dont think the canon is not up to it interms of noise, thats the realm of proper CCD cameras, maybe??