Posts Made By: Mike Shade

Supposed to be getting a new 1200GTO in the next few weeks (hopefully) and it is going to be setup on a pier in my observatory. I was thinking of drift polar aligning it, taking a couple of nights to get it really on. However, someone suggested that Tpoint might be the way to go. I wonder if anyone clever has figured out how much the AP ALT/AZ polar adjustments move the mount. Tpoint will give a message about how much mount is off in what direction but moving it that amount would be interesting unless one knows about how much say a 1/4 turn moves the mount.

Thanks for any information,

Mike

M88, C-14 at f/7, one 30 minute shot, flat/bias/dark, some processing in Maxim and AIP4Win. Also noticed that some information is lost in uploading image, "real" image is somewhat better.

Sonoita Hills Observatory, Sonoita AZ

Mike

Have yet another question...the soon to be arriving AP1200 GTO (hopefully) will reside on a pier in the observaory here. I was thinking that doing a several night drift alignment would be a good a way to get an accurate polar alignment (with a C-14 at about 400X, I can get no DEC drift in 20 minutes). However, in speaking with Herb my friend and neighbor, he offered that Tpoint might be useful. This brings up a few questions: Does this program add anything above and beyond a very good polar alignment? Do people have any experience in this type of situation, i.e., doing a drift alignment and having Tpoint asist in a better alignment? If so, how much of an improvement? Worth the time and trouble? How well does it work with an AP1200? Is there a significant improvement in tracking and or pointing accuracy (some folks have offered that it is not worth the time and trouble)? I have of course looked at the website and it looks interesting but am interesting in people's experiences.

Thanks,

Mike

NGC 891 from Sonoita, C-14 at f/7, ST7 binned 2X2, flat/bias/dark, one 30 minute exposure, some processing in AIP4Win and Maxim.

Mike

M97, C-14 at f/7, one 30 minute exposure with binned 2x2 ST7, flat/bias/dark and some processing with AIP4Win and Maxim.

Mike

How about a forum for light pollution and a link to the IDA?
Might bea good place for people to try and work on solutions to the problem.

Mike

M1, C-14 at f/7, ST7 binned 2x2, one 30 minute exposure, some processing in AIP4Win and Maxim, Sonoita Arizona

Mike

M3, six-inch Astro-Physics refractor at f/7, ST7 binned 1x1, Losmandy G-11 mount, one 15 minute exposure, some processing in Maxim and AIP4Win, Sonoita AZ.

Mike

M64, AP 6" f/7 refractor, 1x1 binned ST7, Losmandy G-11 mount, one 20 minute exposure, some processing in Maxim, Sonoita AZ

Mike