there are several methods to initialize the scope with the sky --
they include:
previously initialized + scope not moved,
the instant eyeball initialization - good enough for visual
tracking,
tracking initialization,
traditional
2 star initialization
If the scope was previously accurately initialized and the scope has not been moved since then, pick altazimuth option 'reuse coordinates' at program startup.
If the encoder box has been left on, select 'reuse encoder
coordinates' at program startup. You are set! If the
encoder box was turned off, or if no encoders, then set the altitude
and azimuth by
1. center object in eyepiece
2. enter object's
coordinates via a data file or if necessary, manually
3. select
reset to equat coordinates: this will update the altazimuth
coordinates
1. select option to adopt altazimuth alignment at program startup
2. enter best guess altitude and azimuth coordinates where scope
is pointing, ie, if scope is horizontal and pointing to the south,
enter 0 degrees altitude and 180 degrees azimuth
3. reset to
altazimuth coordinates
This gives tracking accuracy good enough for visual purposes.
To improve (assumes that mount is fairly level, that timezone and
longitude entered accurately in config.dat file, and that time/date
of laptop is correct):
1. center object in eyepiece
2. enter
object's coordinates via a data file or if necessary, manually
3.
select reset to equat coordinates: this will update the altazimuth
coordinates
1. at program startup, select option to adopt no alignment
2.
enter best guess altitude and azimuth coordinates where scope is
pointing, ie, if scope is horizontal and pointing to the south, enter
0 degrees altitude and 180 degrees azimuth
3. reset to altazimuth
coordinates
4. put handpad mode into init #1
5. enter an
object's coordinates (typically a bright star from bstar.dat)
6.
center object in eyepiece (use high powered illuminated crosshair
eyepiece with barlow for most accurate results)
7. using handpad,
init #1
8. put handpad mode into init #2
9. follow object
with microstep movements using handpad for a minute or so
10.
using handpad, init #2: scope now tracks accurately and can find
nearby objects
11. hit shortkey 'i' to display the initialization
results and check that the latitude is reasonable
12. continue to
follow the object for a few more minutes
13. using handpad, init
#2 once again
14. hit shortkey 'a' for altitude offset reset,
answering yes
15. the initialization results (shortkey 'i')
should show accurate latitude, differing from the real value for the
site only by the mount's unlevelness
16. as objects further away
from initialization object #1 are slewed to, continue to re-init #2
for increased accuracy of slewing across the sky
1. at program startup, select option to adopt no alignment
2.
enter best guess altitude and azimuth coordinates where scope is
pointing, ie, if scope is horizontal and pointing to the south, enter
0 degrees altitude and 180 degrees azimuth
3. reset to altazimuth
coordinates
4. put handpad mode into init #1
5. enter an
object's coordinates (typically a bright star from bstar.dat)
6.
center object in eyepiece (use high powered illuminated crosshair
eyepiece with barlow for most accurate results)
7. using handpad,
init #1
8. put handpad mode into init #2
9. enter another
object's coordinates (typically a bright star from bstar.dat)
10.
center object in eyepiece (use high powered illuminated crosshair
eyepiece with barlow for most accurate results)
11. using
handpad, init #2
12. hit shortkey 'i' to display the
initialization results and check that the latitude is reasonable
13.
hit shortkey 'a' for altitude offset reset, answering yes
14. the
initialization results (shortkey 'i') should show accurate latitude,
differing from the real value for the site only by the mount's
unlevelness