[AZ-Observing] Re: MESSIER 2 declination error

  • From: "AJ Crayon" <acrayon@xxxxxxx>
  • To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:53:56 -0700

Dick, looks like many are taking advantage of a clear moon less evening. 
Thanks for report.

AJ Crayon
Phoenix, AZ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Harshaw" <rharshaw2@xxxxxxx>
To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 10:43 PM
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: MESSIER 2 declination error


AJ, ditto on the NGC-MAX controller.  In the guide mode, it took me right to
M2, slightly off center, but in the FOV nonetheless.


Richard Harshaw
Cave Creek, AZ


-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Stan Gorodenski
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 9:13 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: MESSIER 2 declination error

AJ,
I just powered up my Meade 16" f/10. I picked Arcturus as the first star
for it to slew to from the hand paddle. Sometimes I need to sync on the
first object and this is why I do this.  It took a GPS reading and
slewed to it. This night it was almost in the center of my old 20mm wide
angle Meade eyepiece and so I did not have to sync it. I then selected
M2 from the hand paddle. It slewed to it and, again, the globular was
almost in the center of the eyepiece. I had my doubts it would be so
accurate since it is is low in the horizon at this time of the night.

Meade's software on the 16" has no problem finding M2.
Stan

AJ Crayon wrote:

>Has anyone had problems locating M2 with digital setting circles or a GoTo
system?  This involves any of the electronic systems.
>I have run across declination errors with this entry on the XP4 Flash Sky
Commander digital setting circles and on Orions SynScan GoTo system.  Reason
is because the declination is -0° 49' and the way computer hardware handles
-0.  Turns out most computers convert -0 to +0 resulting in incorrect
calculations.
>
>I corrected my version of XP4 with an update the the Messier catalog when
this was discovered some time ago.  I have just found the problem in the
SynScan system and notified Orion this morning.
>
>So, I ask, has anyone else had problems with their system finding M2?
>
>AJ Crayon
>Phoenix, AZ
>
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