How to improve the pointing accuracy when operating a GoTo-type automatic import astronomical telescope?

How to improve the pointing accuracy when operating a GoTo-type automatic import astronomical telescope?

What is a GoTo telescope?

GoTo telescope refers to an optical telescope that is equipped with relevant astronomical software in the telescope stand and can accept instructions to automatically point to the celestial object selected by the user. Both axes of the GoTo stand are equipped with drive motors, which allow the user to enter commands through a microprocessor and use the right ascension and declination values ​​of the celestial body, or pre-stored data, to point the telescope at the selected celestial object. Target.

Methods to improve the pointing accuracy of GoTo telescope import :

  1. Make sure your tripod is level and stationary. You can use a bubble level to help you confirm the level of your tripod.
  2. Enter the coordinates accurately, or use a tripod equipped with a GPS device, confirm that the standard time is correctly set, and confirm that the GPS is connected before starting star calibration.
  3. Make sure the telescope is properly balanced on the right ascension and declination axes.
  4. Make sure that the upper, lower, left and right axes are tightly fixed to avoid loosening during observation.
  5. Check that the gear backlash is adjusted to the proper setting. If it is an AVX or CGX or CPC astronomical telescope, the mounting base should be set to move at a rate of 3 within 3 seconds. If it is a NexStar astronomical telescope, the mounting base should be set to move at a rate of 5 within 3 seconds.
  6. In "Scope Setup" > "GoTo Approach", use "Alt Negative" and "Azm Positive". Through this setting, connect the SCT eyepiece and the diagonal line to move the GoTo of the telescope upward and to the right. (With these settings, the GoTo for an object will be seen moving up and right through an eyepiece and diagonal attached to a SCT.)
  7. Calibrate your finderscope and eyepiece so that their observations are consistent. Use high-power eyepieces to perform starry sky alignment on selected stars (using zoom eyepieces can help you calibrate more conveniently and quickly). By defocusing the telescope slightly, you can make the star point larger, making it easier to find stars.
  8. Please be sure to choose bright stars (brightness greater than or equal to 2.5 magnitude) located on both sides of the meridian and far away for calibration. Please be sure to avoid using planets or the moon as calibration objects.
  9. When calibrating the starry sky , place the star at the lower left and gradually approach the star upward and to the right.

Learn more about the related operations to make the Goto import pointer more accurate :

  1. You can use the Calibrate GoTo function after calibrating your finderscope and eyepiece.
  2. Precise GoTo allows you to select celestial objects from the built-in database and perform starry sky calibration using nearby brighter and different stars to improve the accuracy of starry sky observations. Once you aim at a nearby star, the hand controller will automatically calculate the error value between your starry sky calibration and the GoTo calibration. When the telescope turns to the star you want to observe, the GoTo will automatically memorize the error value and make adjustments.
  3. During the observation process, you can change the calibration stars, which is very useful when observing celestial bodies rising from the east at night. Simply select the celestial object you want to observe from the menu and the telescope will automatically turn to it. If you need to change the calibration star, press "Undo" until the star reappears in the celestial object menu. Use the up and down keys to search again. The calibration star you want to replace, select the calibration star you want to replace and press Enter. You can select the star closest to your original calibration star as the new calibration star to maintain calibration accuracy. After the telescope finds the calibration star, use the finderscope to align it with the calibration star and press Enter. Then use the eyepiece to align it with the calibration star and press Align.
  4. "Sync" can improve starry sky pointing accuracy in specific areas. Like Precise GoTo and changing calibration stars, you must first select the star from the database and wait for the telescope to turn to it. After completing the turn, press "Undo" until the originally selected star appears on the main menu. , then press Align, use the up and down keys to select the Sync option, press the Enter key, place the target object in the center of the finder, then press the Enter key, and then place the target object at the center of the eyepiece and press Align .
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