Can't align Argo Navis...

[DJVege]

Hi guys,

I can't seem to align my AN correctly. Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong? I think the problem is to do with my first star alignment, but it would be good if you guys can confirm this, please.

Process
---------
1) Do all that initial stuff to setup the AN. (Assume all cables are correctly connected, and settings are correct)

2) Mode Fix Alt ?? I put the scope flat on the east side of the mount (balance point) and turn the scope to 90 degrees perpendicular to the Polar axis, and hit enter! (So far so good).

3) Mode Align star: Here is the problem, I think. For my first star, so I NOT move the mount in RA? Only move in declination? If so, my problem is that there are no bright stars that fall in that path? ACRUX is probably the closest, but would still require both axes be moved. So, anyway, I had to move both axes to align ACRUX.

4) Align second star: I used Achernar.

Now, if I want to find anything, it's off by a lot. In the right vicinity, but still waaaay, off (26mm EP). If you just use your fingers to measure the error distance, I'm talking 3 or 4 fingers. Of course, I can point to Achernar perfectly, though.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[gary]

Originally Posted by DJVege

I can't seem to align my AN correctly. Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong? I think the problem is to do with my first star alignment, but it would be good if you guys can confirm this, please.

Thanks for the post. However, don't forget support is always available by emailing
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au

By using that support mechanism, you can typically guaranteed the quickest response
as it is difficult for us to monitor so many groups in real time.

Process
---------
1) Do all that initial stuff to setup the AN. (Assume all cables are correctly connected, and settings are correct)

2) Mode Fix Alt ?? I put the scope flat on the east side of the mount (balance point) and turn the scope to 90 degrees perpendicular to the Polar axis, and hit enter! (So far so good).

3) Mode Align star: Here is the problem, I think. For my first star, so I NOT move the mount in RA? Only move in declination? If so, my problem is that there are no bright stars that fall in that path? ACRUX is probably the closest, but would still require both axes be moved. So, anyway, I had to move both axes to align ACRUX.

It seems you've added yourself an additional procedural rule that is not there.

After performing the FIX ALT REF, you can align on the first star by moving
the scope in both RA and Dec.

Your SETUP ALT ENCODER direction sense sign will be either a + or -.
What side of the mount you align first should be consistent with this sign.
If you want to align on the other side of the mount, simply reverse the sign.

This is an attribute of spatial geometry rather than some caveat of Argo Navis.
When the scope does a meridian flip, the direction sense of the Dec (Alt)
encoder reverses.

To ensure an unambiguous encoder direction sense, if the OTA is East of
the meridian, align on a star West of the meridian and if the OTA is West of
the meridian, align on a star East of the Meridian. This ensures that geometrically
the Dec encoder direction sense will be guaranteed to be consistent for when the
OTA is on one side of the meridian or the other.

4) Align second star: I used Achernar.

Now, if I want to find anything, it's off by a lot. In the right vicinity, but still waaaay, off (26mm EP). If you just use your fingers to measure the error distance, I'm talking 3 or 4 fingers. Of course, I can point to Achernar perfectly, though.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Ensure that the FIX ALT REF point is as close as possible to the Dec=-90 degree
point. Alternatively, use the Dec=0 degree point where the OTA is at right angles
to the polar axis.

Move the scope in both RA and Dec to align the first star. if you need to do a
meridian flip, reverse the SETUP ALT STEPS encoder direction sense sign and
then perform your alignment.

In the longer term, we recommend you use the GEM EXACT ALIGN setting
combined with a short TPAS run.

Email sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au for further assistance.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[DJVege]

Hi Gary,

Thanks for that. I kind of get it, and i kind of don't!

My encoders are both negative. But the manual says i should put the scope on the EAST side of the mount regardless. Only if I want to put the scope on the WEST side, do i change the sense sign. Right?

Also, regarding the FIX ALT REF. Slightly confused.


----10 minute thinking going on here-----

Ooooh...ok. So my FIX ALT REF and my first align star must be done on the same side of the meridian..? Yeah? So, if I'm on the EAST, I can align the first star with canopus / sirius...or something in the west.

OK! Thanks Gary! Will give it a go tonight! I'll run the initial setup again just to make sure that's all correct (encoder direction sense etc...).

Sorry, for not emailing this to directly to wildcard, but as it wasn't a technical problem, just user "n00bness", I thought I'd post it here. Shall email you guys in future.

Thanks again, and I'll report tonight with my findings!

[gary]

Originally Posted by DJVege

Ooooh...ok. So my FIX ALT REF and my first align star must be done on the same side of the meridian..? Yeah? So, if I'm on the EAST, I can align the first star with canopus / sirius...or something in the west.

You've got it.

When you align on the first star, align on the same side as you did the FIX
ALT REF.

You can align on either side, as long as you changed the SETUP ALT ENCODER
sign to match.

OK! Thanks Gary! Will give it a go tonight! I'll run the initial setup again just to make sure that's all correct (encoder direction sense etc...).

Sorry, for not emailing this to directly to wildcard, but as it wasn't a technical problem, just user "n00bness", I thought I'd post it here. Shall email you guys in future.

Thanks again, and I'll report tonight with my findings!

No problem. We provide both pre and post sales support including with questions
such as this but emailing sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au is usually the
fastest way to get our attention as we monitor forum posts not quite as periodically.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[DJVege]

Thanks for that Gary.

Email sent!

[Alchemy (Clive)]

nice friendly service, cant get better than that, im going to definitely get one of those gadgets one day. hopefully soon.

[erick (Eric)]

Yep I'm in the queue, saving towards one!

[gbeal]

Best money I ever spent, unbelievable piece of kit.

[programmer]

Nice timely info, in case I need it Monday or Tuesday when mine arrives

Any other tricks/tips/gotchas for noobs when setting up the AN?

[gary]

Originally Posted by programmer

Nice timely info, in case I need it Monday or Tuesday when mine arrives

Any other tricks/tips/gotchas for noobs when setting up the AN?

Thank you for recently purchasing an Argo Navis system for your Dob.

Your unit shipped to Bintel in Melbourne on Friday so they should probably
receive it on Monday.

The one-time setup procedure is detailed in the introductory sections of
the Manual and I recommend you review them. However, this quick
guide on determining the encoder direction senses may be useful.

To determine the encoder direction sense signs on your Dob, perform the
following.

Push the scope to the vertical stop position. Power on the unit. Unit will
display MODE FIX ALT REF. Press ENTER. DIAL up ALT REF=+090.000 AUTO
ADJUST OFF. Press ENTER.

Press EXIT. DIAL up MODE ENCODER. Press ENTER. Push the scope
down in Altiude. Note right-hand displayed value as it changes. If it decreases
(i.e. +90, +89, _88, etc), leave the SETUP ALT STEPS encoder
direction sense sign (the +/-) alone. If it increases (i.e. +91, +92, etc.), reverse
the sign in SETUP ALT STEPS.

Having established the correct ALT encoder sign, determine the AZ encoder
sign from the following procedure.

Power the unit OFF. Push scope up to vertical stop position and power on.
Unit will display MODE FIX ALT REF. Press ENTER. DIAL up ALT REF=+090.000 AUTO
ADJUST OFF. Press ENTER.

Press EXIT. Use MODE ALIGN star to align on a couple of stars.
(Argo Navis allows you to align on any object, but the ALIGN STAR list
contains a set of convenient bright stars).

Press EXIT. DIAL up MODE RA DEC. Press ENTER.
Point the scope at a position approximately at the intersection of your local
meridian* and the celestial equator. Whilst pushing the OTA roughly along the
imaginary line of the celestial equator^ toward the East, note if the left hand
display value increases. If it does, leave the SETUP AZ STEPS encoder
direction sense sign alone. If it decreases, reverse the sign. Note that when the
RA value reaches 23:59.9 it will wrap to 00:00.0.

You have now determined the encoder direction sense signs.

To do a check, power off the unit. Push the scope to the vertical stop position
and perform a FIX ALT REF and two star alignment. Try using MODE CATALOG
to GUIDE to an object. If the object is in the FOV or not too far out, then
this is a good indication that the encoder direction sense signs are correct.

As one final step in the setup, DIAL up MODE SETUP, SETUP ALT REF
and use the DIAL and ENTER button to enter a value of +090.000.
Then when you perform the FIX ALT REF step, DIAL up ALT REF=+090.000
AUTO ADJUST ON, push the scope to the vertical stop and then press ENTER.
Go on to perform your two star alignment. Use MODE CATALOG to GUIDE to
another object.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

* The meridian is the imaginary line of Right Ascension which at any one
instant is , passing through the North Celestial Pole, directly overhead at your local
zenith, through the South Celestial Pole.

^ The celestial equator is the imaginary line of Declination equal to zero degrees
which runs West to East and passes about 38 degrees north of the zenith
from your location near Melbourne.

[programmer]

Exemplary service, thanks Gary. Printed out, and ready to supplement the manual