Setting circles

jb1970 · Post by **jb1970** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:57 pm

Hello all,

Does anybody use the setting circles on their equatorial mount? I always find objects purely by star hopping. Presumably it is quicker (assuming correct polar alignment) to use the setting circles to get in the general direction using RA and dec?

Jack

Davej · Post by **Davej** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:40 pm

jb1970 wrote:Hello all,

Does anybody use the setting circles on their equatorial mount? I always find objects purely by star hopping. Presumably it is quicker (assuming correct polar alignment) to use the setting circles to get in the general direction using RA and dec?

Jack

Hello Jack,
In all my years of viewing I have never used the setting circles. I have found my way around the sky by "star hopping" as you"ve been doing.
I polar align the eq5 for tracking but thats it. The setting circles on a couple of scopes I have had were a bit "sloppy" ..too much play in them and that put me off. (No chance with the Dob

)
All the best.
Dave

Hampshire Astronomer · Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:43 pm

Same here

Setting circles have caused me nothing but wasted time

I star hop as well and I think you will find most people do

Dave

PaulC · Post by **PaulC** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:10 pm

Nope, I'm a GOTO guy.

KendalAstronomer · Post by **KendalAstronomer** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:20 am

Horses for courses. If you're a great star hopper, then star hopping is faster. If not, if you're target's away from known stars and difficult to locate due to light pollution and you know the RA and Dec of the object you want, (and don't have/want goto) then setting circles are useful.

Society for Popular Astronomy

Setting circles

Setting circles

Re: Setting circles