adding extra alignment stars in alignmaster

lookus · #1 13-03-2011, 09:26 PM

i am wondering if there is any way one could add extra alignment stars in alignmaster. I have many stars which are not easily visible from my location.

can extra alignment points be added and how?

thanks for any help.

OzRob (Rob) · #2 13-03-2011, 10:30 PM

I would suggest sending an inquiry via the contact form on the Alignmaster website.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #3 14-03-2011, 07:45 AM

Just edit the file sterne.txt in notepad. Add the extra stars in the same format as the existing ones in there - ensure the epoch is consistent. I've done this and it works fine.

Here's mine:

lookus · #4 14-03-2011, 08:31 AM

hi peter,

thanks a lot for the help. i will use the data you have given but i would also like to understand what i am doing. can you please explain what you mean when you say "ensure the epoc is consistent"? and where do i get the star's information.? from a planetarium program maybe?
thanks again.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #5 14-03-2011, 09:33 AM

The epoch is the reference point (year) for the star positions (RA & DEC) since the stars are moving relative to eachother. If you mix up RA & DEC from catalogues with different epochs their relative positions won't be correct and this will impact Alignmaster's calculations of where the pole actually is causing an error in your polar alignment.

I used one of the Astroplanner catalogues to generate the RA and DEC for the stars in the file I attached.

lookus · #6 14-03-2011, 09:29 PM

thanks heaps peter. I got it sorted. You've made my aligning life much easier. cheers!!

kamayok3 · #7 08-04-2011, 01:58 PM

do you guys think it is correct if I use the RA and DEC data from Carinasoft voyager 4.5 for all the alignment stars?

Logieberra (Logan) · #8 11-05-2011, 12:33 PM

Peter

Would you mind re-explaining the process to add extra stars:

'Just edit the file sterne.txt in notepad'.
Do I subsitute your sterne.txt file for the one that comes with the program? I'm not at work, so I'm assuming that there is a sterne.txt file in the program file... Reading your attached list, it looks like you've just 'beefed' up the standar list - some familiar star names there

'Add the extra stars in the same format as the existing ones in there'.
Some question as above really... you have taken the standard list and included more. So I just use your list right?

'Ensure the epoch is consistent'.
If you're happy with the stars / alignment - given your photos - the epoch must me consistent

Have you encountered any issues since you first posted this list in March of 2011?

Thanks for taking the time to do this. I have not come across a similar post on any other forum

Logie.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #9 11-05-2011, 07:23 PM

Logie,

You can create your own edited list or use the one I posted. Just rename the original file that installs with the program and then copy mine into the same directory. When you fire up alignmaster you'll see the extra stars

Logieberra (Logan) · #10 21-05-2011, 05:56 PM

Beautiful. Thx Peter. Just added the list now (substitued the standard one with yours - it couldn't be simpler). And lots more stars to choose from now!

Logie.

ribuck (Richard) · #11 02-12-2013, 04:46 AM

Thanks Peter,

Really appreciate the file you created. Alignmaster wasn't any good for me as my view like many people was obstructed by other houses so i couldn't use the package with the built in star choices.

I added your list, and suddenly i had a product that i could use, and it worked really well, so well in fact i managed to get a 5 min unguided sub with my Heq5 and the stars were still pretty tight.

So can't thank you enough.

Rich.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...06332929_o.jpg

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #12 02-12-2013, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribuck

Thanks Peter,

I added your list, and suddenly i had a product that i could use, and it worked really well, so well in fact i managed to get a 5 min unguided sub with my Heq5 and the stars were still pretty tight.

So can't thank you enough.

Rich.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...06332929_o.jpg

Great Work Richard. Nice stars there, maybe the movement is a little Periodic error, over 5 mins it would show up. Great work all the same though.

I have used Alignmaster several times while setting up my pier in my backyard, boy it only takes a couple of minutes and your all done, amazing product, and simple to use. I should really get the full version, since my trial runs out soon... I think it's worth it.

Peter, thanks for providing the extra star list also, will give it a go next time I am in the Observatory.

UBoat · #13 13-12-2013, 09:04 AM

Thanks Peter that's a very useful addition.
I notice that your star list is in alphabetical order. Can you say what selection criteria make a good star pair and does AlignMaster apply the selection criteria separately from the star list or does the order in the list matter?

Many thanks UBoat

peter_4059 (Peter) · #14 13-12-2013, 10:44 AM

Alignmaster chooses the star pairs - the order in the list doesn't determine this. The original file was in alphabetical order so I followed the same convention.

Marios (Marios) · #15 11-02-2014, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter_4059

Just edit the file sterne.txt in notepad. Add the extra stars in the same format as the existing ones in there - ensure the epoch is consistent. I've done this and it works fine.

Here's mine:

Hi Peter

Can we use this star list indefinatley or will the coordinates need updating over time?

White Rabbit · #16 21-03-2014, 07:12 PM

I know this thread is a bit old but just wanted to say thanks to Peter for the additional star list. I makes things so much easier.