Appreciation post: I had to pick between a new camera lens or a star tracker for my backyard shots.

I went with the star tracker, and after three clear nights in Phoenix, the difference in my Milky Way photos is honestly wild, so what's the best way you've found to practice polar alignment when you're in a rush?

4 comments

4 Comments

oliviabutler21d ago

My buddy Dave tried that once, just eyeballing it with his phone compass. He ended up with star trails that looked like a toddler's scribble. Now he at least uses the app that shows where Polaris should be, takes like two extra minutes.

riverb131mo ago

What's your quick polar alignment method when you're racing against the clock?

-1

morgan_stone331mo ago

My quick method is called "good enough for government work.

shane_wilson1mo ago

Honestly, "racing against the clock" just reminds me of the time I tried to set up before a storm rolled in. I spent so much time fiddling with a polar scope that I totally missed my window for any decent shots. Tbh now I just level the tripod and use the compass app on my phone for a rough north, good enough when clouds are moving in fast. It's not perfect but it gets me shooting quicker than any fancy method when I'm in a real hurry.