iOptron Pole finder iPolar HEM (82066)

PoleMaster is a high-precision, easy-to-use electronic polar alignment scope designed to make accurate polar alignment fast and straightforward. Achieving precise alignment can otherwise take a long time, and even a small bump to the mount can force you to start over. While mounts such as iOptron’s center-balanced equatorial models allow quicker alignment through built-in polar scopes, they still require awkward positioning and physical effort during setup.

The most direct method of polar alignment is to locate the true north point and match it with the rotation center of the right ascension axis. PoleMaster follows this principle by mounting directly to the front of the RA axis and using a highly sensitive camera to image the northern sky. Its sensitivity far exceeds that of the human eye, allowing it to detect not only Polaris but also surrounding faint stars. Using these star positions, the system calculates the exact location of the true celestial pole.

PoleMaster also determines the precise rotation center of the RA axis using advanced calculation methods. Both the RA rotation center and the virtual polar point are displayed on the computer screen. By adjusting the mount until these two points overlap, accurate polar alignment is achieved quickly and reliably.

This electronic polar scope provides a fast and intuitive alignment process, allowing users to reach polar alignment accuracy of up to 30 arcseconds in as little as two minutes. It offers a practical and efficient alternative to traditional alignment methods.

The iOptron iPolar system supports Apple devices. For macOS, a dedicated application is available that enables precise mount alignment using the iPolar camera. For iOS devices such as iPhone and iPad, the iOptron iPolar Mobile app can be used, although it requires the additional iMate Astronomy Control Box to connect the camera to the mobile device. The macOS software is subject to a fee, and iOS operation requires extra hardware. Users should ensure compatibility and proper connections before use.

Technical specifications:
Apparent field of view: 13°
Position precision: 30 arcseconds
Interface: USB 2.0
Sensor type: CMOS
Pixel size: 3.75 µm
Bit depth: 8 bit
Supported operating systems: Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10

General information:
Weight: 70 g
Series: iPolar
Type: Finder
Build type: Polar finder