JohnKoster

[JohnKoster]

As a newbie I have alot to learn. I have a Celestron CPC 11OO with a yoke mount. Lining up 3 stars seems to be easy but from then if I use the on board computer to find say Jupiter it doesn't line up; I still have to do it visually. Is there a program that is better and also one that stays on a target I have found?

[gbeal]

Welcome to Ice in Space, a nice place.
When you do your alignment on the respective stars, do they all appear within the eyepiece? And does it report that the alignment was successful?
If so, my guess is that your time set may not quite be accurate, planets are a bit more demanding of the exact time etc.
Gary

[raymo]

Hi John, In regards to your question ïs there anything better". The CPC1100's system does a good job, so either yours is faulty, or
some data is entered wrongly, such as the date being entered our
way instead of the American way, or[no offence intended] as a newbie
you are doing something wrong during the alignment process.
raymo

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Hi John,

The CPC1100 is a great scope. Great optics. Good goto.

My CPC1100 had a built in GPS so you did not need to enter location or date.
I am not sure they all have this but if so, then this is not the problem.

Did you remember to tighten the alt and Az locknuts before doing the alignment?

If using heavy eyepieces, sometimes this can cause the alignment to deteriorate. Counter weights can remedy this.

In the menu, make sure the tracking is set to sidereal.

TIP: After doing the 3 star auto align, press undo and the computer will tell you what it thinks are the three alignment stars, compare this to what you think they were.

TIP2: I never had great alignments if one of the alignment objects was a planet. I always tried to make sure they were three bright stars, not too high in the sky, covering both sides of the meridian (imaginary line from North pole to south pole).

TIP3: My alignments were always better if I levelled the mount first.

TIP4: Try to make the final movements to the alignment stars, the same direction as when the computer does a goto. (Default is Right and Up?)

TIP5: After alignment success, do a goto to each of the alignment stars. Check this for accuracy. If necessary, use the realign feature.


Hope this helps.
Al