TheSkySearchers

Below is a direct quote from a post by Andy Glasso of Open PHD Guiding Google Group fame.

An easy way get the scope pointed in the correct region of the sky for calibration is to slew RA until your counterweight bar is close to horizontal, then slew Dec until your scope tube is somewhat perpendicular to the mount's polar axis, like this picture:


It needn't be exact, anywhere in the vicinity of that orientation is fine.

So, instead of looking for a star that is near to both the Meridian and the Celestrial Equator, just slew your scope till it looks like this then calibrate away!

Cheers,
JT

The PHD2 drift alignment tool will take you very close to the meridian and celestial equator as a first step in the alignment process if your scope is in the home position. Select drift alignment from the tools menu, click the slew button and away you go. It is the first place I go every session after doing a quick align from the HC menu.

Bob

Thanks!

If using Apt press Shift and click Goto that brings up pop up menu , choose bottom option that will slew mount to celestial equator.

I recall reading somewhere that in addition to doing a good PA, choosing a calibration star that is close to 0°Declination is best. Choosing stars between 0-10° DEC, my average total RMS is normally between 0.2 & 0.3. Maybe a coincidence, but my scope/mount are ‘usually’ somewhere near the orientation pictured when calibrating. I will definitely try this, maybe save some searching. thank you JT!

Mike