[sac-forum] Re: Digital setting circle question

Dan, sorry for not getting to your initial query quickly, wife and I went out 
to lunch; but the responses were quite good and accurate.

Re - resetting the platform.  Once the platform is reset and the Reset button 
on the SC is pressed the scope is not pointing where it was before the reset - 
an obvious comment.  In regards to going back to the last object - that is not 
necessary at all.  Basically, when I do a reset, I push-to an object bright 
enough to see in the 9X50 finder, do a realign, then the reset as described 
and, finally as a check against cockpit errors, go back to the object.  In the 
past, that is last year and beyond, it was accurate enough, with another reset, 
a good 80%.  Sooo, basically, your statement is on target.  It takes just a few 
seconds to verify the alignment is correct, otherwise it may take a while to 
realize such.

Hope this helps and keep the questions coming.

AJ Crayon
Phoenix, AZ

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Steve D. 
  To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 7:26 PM
  Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Digital setting circle question


  Hi everyone,
     Back from the oral surgeon.  Everything went ok, but they couldn't keep me 
numb, for some reason.
    Anyway, thanks for all the responses.  Most helpful.  I'm not planning 
anything specific, (Tom, AJ, just wondering how the software deals with the 
changing aspects of sky tracking, and if it's mount dependant or not.
    Peter pretty much answered my initial question, but as these things go, one 
question answered generates 5 others.  (Thanks for the answer, Peter.  I may 
just use the link to do some more research in the future.)  Paul came closest 
to answering all my subsequent questions, saying the S/W converts all 
coordinates to polar coordinates, as long as it knows how the mount behaves.  
Thanks Paul.
    AJ was whom I expected to hear from most authoritatively, as I knew he had 
one, and his answer is great.  The link to the SC commander manual will come in 
handy, and I really liked the "cockpit errors" comment.  :-)  I have as many of 
those as I can handle, thank you very much.  To answer your question, I don't 
have one as yet.  My question is more based on the mechanics of the DSC.  
Actually, the software side of it, based on given mechanical systems.  Having 
been in electronics for 30 some years before, these type things still pique my 
curiosity from time to time.  Can't help it.
  Rick's second answer was great, as it gave some insight into the software, 
(which was my goal), but raises another question.  That question being, and 
this could go to AJ as well, when you reset the platform, is it required of you 
to reacquire the same target you were on before the reset?  This would make 
sense to me, as it would give the S/W a benchmark from which to work.  It could 
then recalculate to go from there.

    Tom: Confound you!  Let me get the chair working, first!  THEN we can think 
about automating it.  (But it quickly strikes me, that the Meade LX200 S/W 
operates an Alt/Az mount.  Hhhhmmmmm...)

  Thanks again, everyone.

  Steve Dodder
  President, Saguaro Astronomy Club
  Director, Stone Haven Observatory 
  fester00@xxxxxxxxxxx 
  http://www.stargazing.net/Astroman



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    From: fester00@xxxxxxxxxxx
    To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Subject: [sac-forum] Digital setting circle question
    Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:51:46 -0700

    Howdy,
       Here's a question, maybe technical, about DSC's such as Sky Commander.  
If I remember right, they mount on an alt/az Dob and calculate the position of 
objects in Altitude and Azimuth.  What happens when you put the alt/az mount on 
a platform?  Is the calculation still purely alt/az, or is the DSC informed 
somehow and adjusts the algorithm?  If I'm totally wet, let me know.

    Thanks.

    Steve Dodder
    President, Saguaro Astronomy Club
    Director, Stone Haven Observatory 
    fester00@xxxxxxxxxxx 
    http://www.stargazing.net/Astroman

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