STEP 11. Perform polar alignment
A CEM26 mount may be equipped with an iPolar
TM
electronic polar scope or an AccuAlign
TM
optical
polar scope.
iPolar Polar Alignment
For a CEM26 with an iPolar, refer to iPolar Operation Manual from iOptron’s website to perform the
polar alignment, or steps briefly outlined below:
Download and install iPolar Software (first time use);
Connect a mini USB cable between the iPolar and a computer USB port;
Figure 20. USB port on an iPolar electronic polar scope
Click Connect and start polar alignment by following on screen instructions.
Quick Polar Alignment
If the mount equipped with an AccuAlign
TM
optical polar scope, you can use the Quick Polar
Alignment procedure to perform the polar alignment. One of the CEM26’s unique features is that the polar
scope can be used at anytime as it is not blocked by DEC axle as is the case in a German Equatorial
Mount. This makes it possible to adjust the polar alignment while the mount is tracking.
As indicated in Figure 21, the Polar Scope reticle has been divided into 12 hours along the angular
direction with 10-minute tics. There are 6 concentric circles in 2 groups of 3 marked from 36’ to 44’ and 60’
to 70’, respectively. The 36’ to 44’ concentric circles are used for polar alignment in the Northern
Hemisphere using Polaris, while the 60’ to 70’ circles are used for polar alignment in Southern Hemisphere
using Sigma Octantis.
Figure 22. Connect polar scope LED
To perform the polar alignment:
(1) Level the CEM26 mount and set it to the Zero Position. Make sure the telescope optical axis is
parallel to the polar axis (R.A. axis) of the mount. If using a finder scope, adjust it to be parallel to
the telescope optical axis.