[g__day (Matthew)]

Where I am up to on this.

MaxPoint tells me I have the mount aligned so that the SCP pointing error is:

i) Polar Azimuth 00 degrees 01 arc minutes 32 arc seconds
ii) Polar Altitude 00 degrees 00 arc minutes 49 arc seconds

PC hand controller On start-up I select ESC on the SkySensor2000 - which tells it uses the last alignment configuration data it had when it was switched off the preceding night. I then do a 3 star confirming alignment on Rigel Kentarus, Achernar and Altair.

I am now measuring my initial alignment pointing error in RA and DEC (which will change as I commence re-aligning on always the same three stars this season).

1. Rigel Pointing Error RA -1 arc minutes DEC -12 arc seconds

2. Acherner Pointing Error RA nil DEC +8 arc seconds

3. Altair Pointing Error RA -1 arc second 9 arc minutes

* * * * *

I'm going to repeat this tomorrow - weather permitting to see if I get exactly the same pointing errors on wake-up.

Given I've gone from 30 arc minutes to under 10 arc minutes on resume, whilst my align has gone from 30 arc minutes to below 2 - this makes me think time accuracy, polar alignment, backlash in gears and the level of the mount are key non random factors.

Time will tell!