Setting Circles for a Dob

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Has anyone else made this mod?
I've downloaded Setcirc and printed out my appropriatly sized alt az scales.
I don't think that I'll have too much trouble fitting them, but any hints and tips would be helpful.
Thanks

[slice of heaven]

I've done it to 2 scopes,not setcirc though, the only points that come to mind are
Make sure the numbers on the az are easily readible from a reasonable height (their never too big)
Protection from dew

[rmcpb (Rob)]

I did not end up using the altitude scale on the program but used the inside of the azimith circle to make a 90 degree scale that would go on my bearing. I set it up so its correctly aligned to on the outer edge of the teflon pads on the scope. As for the azimith scale, I made a disk of 3ply, routed a grouve in the lower section of my base that it sits in and put the scale on that. Now I just plonk down the scope, level it, align on a star and set the scale for the right setting then I'm off and running. I use Pocket Stars on a Jornada to get live alt/az settings of objects and its a beaut setup.

Good luck

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I laminated all the printouts before cutting them up and taping them together. The alt strip I slipped under the teflon pads, it sticks out a little.
The az scale is a semi circle with a cutout for one teflon pad. It sticks out alot, about an inch. Too much, but a pair of scissors will fix that.
I didn't fix them permanantly, there is a little bit of movement to allow for adjustments when aligning your guide star. But a little blutack fixes it in place once the adjustment is made.
For a first attempt, I'm fairly happy with the results.
I'll fiddle around with it more, perfecting it until I feel confident enough to take the jigsaw to the base and make it a permanant fixture.
I moved the spare computer down to the laundry shed so I can have The Sky running while I'm outside.

[Argonavis (William)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I laminated all the printouts before cutting them up and taping them together. The alt strip I slipped under the teflon pads, it sticks out a little.
The az scale is a semi circle with a cutout for one teflon pad. It sticks out alot, .

Jeanette

I spent many years fiddling with alt az setting circles, still have some downstairs. I admire your persistence and enthusiasm, and I don't want to send the wrong message, but I could never get them to "work". The scale of the setting circles needs to be fairly large to get good accuracy, a challenge for the altitude bearing. I found getting good accuracy a challenge anyway, and went back to star hopping, which I found quicker and easier. Perhaps I have (had) a knack, but I can easily envisgae where things are by off setting from the nearest bright star.

In summary, I found altaz setting circles just a frustration. I now use digital ones, albiet more expensive, but sooooo much more convenient. Considering the small amount of time I actually get under a dark clear sky, for me they are an invaluable time saver.

Just my experiences... 2c.... etc

cheers

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I must admit that starhopping is quicker. But it is a bit of fun, albeit frustrating fun, to use setting circles. Nothing like hands on experience to learn.
The program that I used to print it all out, SetCirc, does a good job with the scale quite large, you need to cut them down to suit the base of the rocker box.
One day I hope to go digital, but until then........

[ving (David)]

i tried setcirc and created some settign circles, but found that i had to shine a torch on them to read them anyhow and so got rid of them. I just star hop around and generally find what i am after...

i think digital is the way to go if you are gunna have 'em

[rmcpb (Rob)]

I have to agree, the exercise in setting circles was worth doing for the educational factor but I rarely use them now. With the abililty to print out Telrad charts from Starry Nights and the Telrad on my scope with a low power, wide angle eyepiece there is no real need for the setting circles, especially as they work in Alt/Az which is a constantly moving target.

However, when I finish my current mount project I will be putting setting circles in it but they will in RA/Dec and, hopefully, much handier but only time will tell.

Cheers