How To: Using the K3CCDTools Drift Explorer for Drift Alignment

iceman (Mike) · #1 03-07-2009, 07:04 AM

Hi all

Al Sheehan (sheeny) has written a how-to article about Using K3CCDTools Drift Explorer for Drift Alignment.

You can read the article at the IceInSpace Projects page, or directly by clicking on the link below:

Using the K3CCDTools Drift Explorer for Drift Alignment

Thanks to Al for writing the article. If you'd like to contribute an article, review or other content to IceInSpace, please contact us.

Thanks

iceman (Mike) · #2 14-07-2009, 04:39 AM

Article uploaded.

sheeny (Al) · #3 14-07-2009, 07:02 AM

Hey Paul... looks like I found my Round Tuit before you found yours.

Please throw in any tips or tricks I've missed!

I must thank Paul [1ponders] for teaching me to use the drift explorer.

Onya mate! Definitely one of the best things I've learned.

Al.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #4 14-07-2009, 07:14 AM

thanks Al. I know I've been dragging the chain on this one so

for coming through for everyone.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #5 14-07-2009, 08:04 AM

Thanks for taking the time to write it up Al.
It will be of great help to quite a few people.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #6 14-07-2009, 09:03 PM

One thing I've always tried to do with using K3 is when I make my adjustments in alt or az I watch the screen and use my handpaddle to keep the star on the screen as I adjust. Makes the process a whole lot quicker if you don't have to go searching for a bright star again. And yes I use the Target icon as well rather than the reset icon.

Also if seeing is a bit iffy and the star is jumping around and if the star is bright, enough I'll defocus a bit. It smooths the graph out considerably. Especially when doing my altitude adjustments.

Oh and don't forget to set the camera and telescope types in the Telescopes and CCD Camera menu under tools.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #7 14-07-2009, 09:15 PM

Oh and.....

.... I'll often set my interval rate at the bottom of the drift explorer to between 1000 and 2500ms depending on how bad the seeing is. Sometimes the longer refresh interval helps in straightening out the seeing.

Using the technique Al has described I have successfully imaged for 1800 sec with guiding only in RA, without noticeable trailing after a 45 min drift training session. Normally 15 - 20 min is enough once the technique is perfected. While doing a pointing model on my AN with Gary Kopff one night at Lostock (the year I taugh my young padawan, Grasshopper Al), we used the AN to check my polar alignment. The AN's accuracy measured to 2.5 arcsec if I remember correctly. Elevation was out by 40 arcsec and AN couldn't measure the Az error as it was too small to be measured.

kinetic (Steve) · #8 14-07-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

we used the AN to check my polar alignment. The AN's accuracy measured to 2.5 arcsec if I remember correctly. Elevation was out by 40 arcsec and AN couldn't measure the Az error as it was too small to be measured.

A brilliant function on a brilliant piece of software.
My polar alignment too is spot on Paul thanks to periodic
checks with K3.

Also, I recommend using Excel to plot your graphs to visualise
the main PE culprits in your gear train.
I can't do without it...well worth the registering fee.

Al, Paul....

Steve

[1ponders] (Paul) · #9 14-07-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Also, I recommend using Excel to plot your graphs to visualise the main PE culprits in your gear train.

That will certainly be a priority once I'm permanently mounted Steve.

Once the drift technique is perfected it is amazing how accurate you can get the polar alignment in such a short period of time.