[sac-forum] Re: Digital setting circle question

Tom, 

As near as I can figure, when in the EQ Platform mode, the unit keeps track
of the time since the last alignment or reset. When you reset the platform
and hit the reset button, the firmware calculates how much the platform has
moved since the last reset and adjusts the coordinates to the new location
that the scope is now pointing to. 

It's a bit of an art form to do. You've got to pre-select the menu option
and then Reset the platform pretty quickly and hit the button as soon as
humanly possible once the platform is reset. In practice, I'm successful
about 60% of the time. I'll test the reset by going to a nearby Messier
object and re-centering on it if I'm within 1 degree. An error beyond that
usually requires a realign. Also I've found that after three resets the
combined errors usually add to require a realign. Not really a big deal as
by that time there are probably beret alignment stars available and the time
difference for either process is not so great as to detract from observing
time.  


Clear Skies

Rick Tejera

Editor SACnews
Saguaro Astronomy Club
Phoenix, Arizona
www.saguaroastro.org
saguaroastro@xxxxxxx 

-----Original Message-----
Behalf Of tpolakis@xxxxxxx
I do not have a good intuitive feel how this works.

Tom

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