7
TIL my backyard polar alignment took 3 hours because of a streetlight
I spent all that time trying to figure out why my mount was off before realizing a new sodium vapor light two houses down was washing out Polaris. Anyone have a good workaround for light pollution messing with your alignment star?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
hill.troy28d ago
I gotta push back on that, @max_ramirez48. A light pollution filter for alignment is like putting a bandaid on a broken leg. It messes with your view of Polaris itself, making it dimmer and less sharp. On the other hand, a cardboard shield is cheap and works better than you think. If it falls off in the wind, just tape it down or use a binder clip. Moving your whole rig behind a fence or wall is a bigger hassle and takes way more time to re-level everything. At least with the cardboard, you're only fighting one problem instead of three.
4
Honestly, that's the worst. I had to start using a light pollution filter just for my alignment routine. A piece of cardboard as a temporary shield on the side of your scope can help block that direct glare. It's a pain but sometimes it's the only way to get a clear shot at Polaris.
2
dylanh973mo ago
But why make it so hard on yourself? That whole cardboard shield thing is a messy fix that falls off in the wind. A good polar scope should handle some side light, maybe yours just needs a better baffle. Sometimes you just need to move your whole setup a few feet behind a fence or a wall instead of adding more junk to your gear.
6