K3CCDTools Drift Alignment.

[Tandum]

If I align RA and Dec on an eastern star with K3CCDTools, should that alignment be good everywhere else? I managed to get the pier aligned east before the clouds set in but didn't get to check it elsewhere.

[[1ponders]]

I don't know what you mean by aligning RA and Dec Robin, drift alignment in the east (or west) is for elevation only using Dec drift. RA never comes into drift alignment.

Basic steps, Eastern (or Western) star at 15-20 deg elevation @ 0 deg dec (+/- 5 deg). Adjust elevation until north/south drift is eliminated. Keep to 0 deg dec and manually slew to meridian and adjust azimuth adjustment until Dec drift is eliminated again. Again no RA readings are used for adjustmnet. A couple of iterations between eastern star and meridian star should be all you need to achieve an accurate alignment.

Are you using the Drift Explorer window?

[Tandum]

Ahhh, I adjusted altitude and got to zero dec drift over 5 minutes with an eastern star and adjusted azimuth on the same star for zero RA drift as it was the only star out tonight :( Yes drift explorer but by the looks of the forecast it will be a while before I get another go. I ended up with zero ra and dec drift over 10 minutes.

[[1ponders]]

Just ignore RA completely Robin. I use a simplified method of K3 Alignment. first and foremost I make sure my webcam is orientated so that when i press the up dec button the star moves upwards parallel to the K3 reticle. That eliminates the need to record the camera angle.

[Tandum]

Yes got that from sheeny's article (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-544-0-0-1-0.html), dec is up/down on the screen.
If he doesn't put another key up for it soon I'll have to buy it :)
It expires tomorrow ...

[[1ponders]]

Its one of those programs that is so handy to have for a multiple of purposes. Being able to drift align so accurately and so quickly is definitely one of the bonuses of it.

[Tandum]

If it did ascom cameras I would not hesitate.

[[1ponders]]

There's a few cameras it would be great for the K3 to recognize, QHY5, SAC 4.2, better functionality with the DMK/DBK cameras. I still tend to use just a ToUcam 840 or 900 with it though. It just works

[RobF]

Yep - my ToUcam is never leaving my case until someone somewhere comes up with a more bullet proof easy way of polar aligning.

Many of us owe you big time for pointing out this method Paul :)

Robin, I'm never too proud to write all sorts of notes to myself. I find I drift align remotely only a few times a year, so best thing I ever did was write 5-10 lines reminding myself of the key steps Paul has outlined. I just keep it handy in a Notepad file on the laptop. At the SPSP I got cocky and thought I knew what I was doing - managed to waste 30mins trying to adjust azimuth off a star on the horizon....:rolleyes:

[Tandum]

I've always used wcs without a problem until this tak mount arrived. I'm buggered if I can get it aligned with wcs. I thought I'd need to align on a meridian star as you do with wcs but there wasn't one available.

I'd like to double check the alignment I have on the mount using k3 tomorrow night, it will be clear for a change, but it has expired and there is no new key on line. A few goto's will tell me how close it is.

Just sealing the new 10" light box now :)

[jjjnettie]

I finally splashed out and registered my copy. The key arrived today.
Looking forward to seeing just how much better the full version is.

[kinetic]

Well said Paul.
Having used it for years it is so familiar and easy to do.
Having said that, with my permanent obs setup never needing much
re-adjustment, I thought I would be a little out of touch using K3 D.E.
recently for the lightweight Scooter/GEM (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=60347) on the cold back lawn again:cold:
Nope....never an issue:thumbsup:. Great application, well worth the reg fee.

Steve