I do enjoy my AM5, it is easy to use, lightweight and stable (used for visual observation and solar imaging, so far)

I have a few improvement suggestions:

  1. an external polar finder to be installed on the side of the mount
  2. a holder on the tripod for the hand controller (I never know where to hang it!)
  3. an 2 or 3 stars precise alignment method in the smartphone application, without needing the Asiair

Thanks!

    ThierryLegault an external polar finder to be installed on the side of the mount
    a holder on the tripod for the hand controller (I never know where to hang it!)
    an 2 or 3 stars precise alignment method in the smartphone application, without needing t

    Thank you very much for the feedback!
    1 Convey to the team and will consider this.
    2 You can hang it on the knob of the mount.
    3 We are working on it.🙂

      10 days later

      ThierryLegault I don't know if this would work for you, but I attach a laser pointer to the side of the AM5 mount so I can very roughly align with Polaris initially, and then refine that doing the Polar Alignment in the ASIAir Plus. I'm not sure if you were looking for something to do a more sophisticated polar alignment using software, but I thought I'd mention this.

      I am VERY glad ZWO is working on a multi-star alignment as well! I think that would be a major improvement. (To ZWO's credit, they always seem to be working to improve things!)

          14 days later

          Can’t wait for the multi-star alignment to be added.

          Will this reduce the need to perfectly level the mount?

            Almach
            No, the multi-star alignment will not reduce the need to level the mount.

              8 days later

              That's maybe a bit off topic, but I'm nonetheless interested at why leveling the mount should be necessary for polar alignment.
              In the end, the ra axis has to align with the rotation axis of the earth. There are only 2 degrees of movement needed to align both axis: altitude (or elevation) and azimuth.
              So if the mount would not be level, altitude and azimuth would compensate for that.
              On the flipside, since the mount does not know what values for altitude and azimuth are dialled in on the mount and it can also not distinguish between for example a wrong altitude setting on the mount or a slightly wrong leveling in that axis. The mount has to figure out the errors for both axis and the user can then compensate for them with altitude and azimuth corrections.
              So why should a leveling of the mount be necessary (except for stability) for the polar alignment?
              Thanks,
              Silvio

                SilvioM In the end, the ra axis has to align with the rotation axis of the earth. There are only 2 degrees of movement needed to align both axis: altitude (or elevation) and azimuth.

                Silvio, there are 3 dimensions.

                Look up into the sky towards the pole. Pan your head left and right (this is the azimuth direction). Now pan your head up and down (this is the altitude or elevation). This will center the pole in your eyes.

                While you keep the pole centered, tilt your head. Notice that what you see now rotates around said pole. The pole is still centered, but the "picture" rotates. This is the east-west leveling of your mount.

                When you level your mount in the east-west direction, you basically ensure that the zero Hour Angle of your mount corresponds to the Right Ascension of the Meridian line at a particular time. I.e., it ensures that the mount is pointed at the Meridian when it is commanded to do so.

                Modern mounts have an internal mathematical model, and they can compensate for this leveling after doing a multi-star alignment. I have no idea if the ZWO mount has such a facility.

                If it does not know how to model this, and the mount is not leveled, a blind GOTO to a star east of the Meridian will have a different sign error compaired to a blind GOTO to a star west of the Meridian (because a Meridian flip causes a clockwise RA motor movement to change directions).

                Chen

                  Thanks for your answers.
                  I have to admit, I forgot about the Az-Alt-mode of the AM5.

                  Regarding the 3rd dimension: you're probably right, a blind goto would have an additional error, if the algorithm (or model) does not account for that.
                  So since ZWO is still improving its software: let's hope that ZWO DOES account for that ;-) - at least in equatorial mode.

                  Because if not would beg the question: if the leveling is so important, why are there no adjustment-screw or similar for that on the mount or the carbon fiber tripod?

                  • w7ay replied to this.

                    SilvioM why are there no adjustment-screw or similar for that on the mount or the carbon fiber tripod?

                    With the capability of plate solving (so blind GOTO accuracy is no longer important), the need to level is less important. Unless you are depending on "auto" Meridian flips, where leveling the mount can potentially save you a lot of time waiting for a Meridian flip to occur (each single degree off from east-west leveling will make the Meridian transit occur 4 minutes early or late).

                    Chen

                      4 days later

                      CingStars can you provide a picture how you install a laser pointer to the side of the AM5?

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