Question about getting a simple star tracker to work

I bought a basic star tracker last month to try some longer exposures. The instructions said setup was 15 minutes. Three hours later, I was still in my backyard trying to get the polar alignment right. The problem was my tripod was on a slight slope, and I didn't realize how much that threw it off. I finally got a decent shot of Orion around 4 AM, completely frozen. Has anyone else spent a whole night just fighting with their gear?

3 comments

3 Comments

rowan21mo ago

Three hours for a fifteen minute setup is brutal. That slope issue is such a tiny thing that causes huge problems. I'm not surprised you were out there until 4 AM.

hollyg591mo ago

A slight slope kept you out until 4 AM? That's the most astronomy thing I've ever heard.

the_ruby1mo ago

Used to think leveling a tripod was just a suggestion until my own mount started tracking weird. Spent half an hour chasing a star that kept drifting out of frame. Now I break out the bubble level for even the quickest sessions.