From: "Mark Gaffney" <markgaffney@mac.com>

Date: June 29, 2008 3:23:21 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Vega, Antares & Achenar...

I got out at around 12.45am this morning & did a 3 star alignment on the above stars, 

Achenar on the opposite side of the meridian. The Go To was a bit off when finding these 

stars though so I guess my polar alignment is still questionable.A little later Equinox 6 was 

nowhere near so I`ll have to try again with the PA. On Friday night after the initial 3 star, PA 

&  3 star, EQ 6 was tracking Alpha Centauri for about 3 hours before it shifted to the left of 

FOV then up & out.I wasn`t sure of my alignment on Miaplacidus ( it`s difficult to distinguish 

from the field of stars as are Acrux, Mimosa & Gacrux on the C10-NGT) whereas I could 

distinguish Alpha Centauri on the opposite side of the meridian.You guys in the north are 

very lucky with Polaris to sight! Sigma Octans is a real problem especially if initial alignments 

are off I guess.Chris Bosshard`s Jupiter picture made me think of the lack of UV/IR filter on 

my IS DBK 21A F04.AS.This would explain why I had difficulty with my Jupiter movies. I will 

drift align when this is possible with the PA. Mark