Experience with ALCCD QHY PoleMaster Electronic Pole Finder

Hey, Mr. Kloss,

I wanted to get in touch about the iPolar. But what can you say about this weather...

So:

I installed the device immediately and tested it extensively despite poor visibility. This is truly a huge relief for me.

1. I think it's great that, unlike the solution according to the Celestron manual (polar alignment with Polar Align, section 8), the iPolar alignment can run before the star alignment.
Since the iPolar detects stars well before astro darkness during plate solving (it works very well), my polar alignment is now complete before I can start star alignment and exposure.
The Celestron's star alignment also runs faster (I feel). The time required for polar alignment is significantly reduced for me – a particular advantage in winter and when traveling 100-160 km to a low-light region (Lower Rhine, Eifel).

2. I also think it's great that I can easily and independently check the polar alignment (parallel to the exposure) (and readjust it with a short exposure interruption), for example, after significant go-to movements and on less stable ground.

3. Overall, with this combination, it now seems possible to operate the tracking system in a very low position (tripod), which is certainly an advantage that shouldn't be underestimated – combined with my camera's flip-up display, it reduces back strain... 😇

4. The tests with 1-minute exposures (in gaps in the clouds) produced good star rounding values.

Conclusion: a complete success and motivating for the next clear nights!
There's also a lot happening on the image editing side. SIRIL stacking works great, and the options afterwards are diverse, even for absolute amateurs like me. Computer technology, using GPU and CPU, enables very short stacking times...
I'm enclosing my checklists for polar alignment and Celestron setup from my "Astro Handbook" with this email (pages 8-9).

Thanks for the excellent advice, as always, and also for the quick turnaround.

Have a peaceful Sunday and best regards, Werner Raabe

Link to the ALCCD QHY PoleMaster Electronic Polar Finder:

https://www.teleskop-spezialisten.de/shop/Montierung-Zubehoer/Sonstiges-Zubehoer/ALCCD-QHY-PoleMaster-Elektronischer-Polsucher-ueber-Kamera-inkl-Adapter-fuer-viele-Montierungen::3879.html