Get polar aligned in minutes - Page 3

allan gould · #41 24-06-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookie8

Hi Allan
Does this software work with my humble eq5 mount?

Only if you can control it through ASCOM. So I think the short answer is no, but I'm willing to be corrected

allan gould · #42 29-06-2009, 09:03 PM

New version of Alignmaster has just been released (V1.5.34).
Matthias seems to be taking all suggestions for improvements to his program on board. He seems quite open to new suggestions so if you have a good idea, see if he will implement it.

h0ughy (David) · #43 29-06-2009, 10:24 PM

he is churning them out, what are the improvements

allan gould · #44 30-06-2009, 12:10 PM

Better coding apparently to calculate the offsets needed. The new changes to come are dedicated boxes for putting in new stars as well as new locations that can be saved. He is waiting for his net-site person to come back from leave and these will be implemented in the next release. Most changes would not have been noted are the stars are labelled with colours 1 &2 rather than names, better colour for certain boxes, flipping of the map for us here in the Southern hemisphere. You can append the star (sterne) file with new stars if thats what you want and the location txt file but the format MUST be correct. He is making this easier to do. Some changes havebeen made to the GPS implementation as well.

Loupy31 (Peter) · #45 02-07-2009, 08:00 PM

Hi Allan,
Its been a while, This software looks good, havent had a chance yet to test it but If you say its good I trust your judgement.
Tell me, what is the difference if i roughly align south, level mount, goto a star for first alignment, then just use the alt az to get the star centered in the eyepiece, wouldnt that be the same?

Cheers Peter

allan gould · #46 02-07-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loupy31

Hi Allan,
Its been a while, This software looks good, havent had a chance yet to test it but If you say its good I trust your judgement.
Tell me, what is the difference if i roughly align south, level mount, goto a star for first alignment, then just use the alt az to get the star centered in the eyepiece, wouldnt that be the same?

Cheers Peter

Hi Peter.
Software is good. Use the trial version but you need ascom controlled mount for it to work. Its not as simple as you suggest as it has to take into account different affects of refraction , flexture etc etc.
Give it a try but my best advice is to mark out where your tripod legs are , align the mount and next time just replace in the same position and your adjustments will be very small.
Use the 30 day trial to sattisfy yourself - I now use EQMOD with the HEQ5Pro and find all objects are now on the chip of my DSI with a 10" scope. Gotos are that good with accurate leveling and polar alignment.

h0ughy (David) · #47 21-07-2009, 12:36 PM

I wonder if this program can be used for polar aligning from SOL during the daytime? If it could imagine setting up during the day at ease.......

Octane (Humayun) · #48 21-07-2009, 03:47 PM

And bypass all warnings that come with your scope about looking at the sun.

h0ughy (David) · #49 21-07-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

And bypass all warnings that come with your scope about looking at the sun.

of course i would be using a solar scope like the 60mm Lunt

troypiggo (Troy) · #50 08-08-2009, 02:05 AM

Just gave Alignmaster a go tonight for the first time. Unreal! So easy and intuitive to use, and just did a couple of iterations and it's pretty accurate. Good gear that's on my "must have" list now.

JohnH · #51 10-08-2009, 04:21 PM

Tried this last night for the first time but the alignment generated was not good enough for a 4 min exposure at 1.73"/pixel and a 30'x42' fov there was noticeable field rotation present that I do not have with a drift align. This software automates the iterative goto method and helps in the selection and slewing to of the relevant stars but I think the instructions are incorrect. With iterative gotos you slew to a N or S star and adjust the mount (in ALT/AZ) to centre then you go to an E or W star and adjust with the HC to get centre and SYNCH and repeat the process.

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/astro/iterating.pdf

This can get you to +/- about 2'. I am not sure if the ASCOM driver is sending the SYNCH commands it appeared not, in any case the Gemini L4 has this feature built into the firmware so I am not sure I will use it again.