APPENDIX C:
Smart Mount
Introduction
Smart Mount improves the pointing accuracy of your RCX400 telescope's "Go to" sys- tem. Despite careful efforts to calibrate and align telescopes, they may fail to precisely center objects. Smart Mount allows your telescope to learn about, and then correct for, any systematic pointing errors, regardless of the cause.
Because training your mount takes some time, we recommend that it be primarily used on permanently mounted instruments or when imaging requires very accurate pointing. Once Smart Mount training has been performed, the scope will benefit from it so long as you carefully park the telescope at the end of each session and do not modify the mounting.
For portable instruments, we recommend training Smart Mount each time you set up your telescope to insure best results.
We recommend that you use an illuminated reticle during the training procedure. An illuminated reticle allows you to precisely center celestial objects in a telescope’s eyepiece. The more precisely you center objects during Smart Mount training, the more pointing precision your telescope will be able to achieve.
Operation
The Smart Mount feature is located in the Autostar II Setup menu.
In order to use Smart Mount, create a model that allows Smart Mount to improve your telescope's accuracy. This is normally done by training Smart Mount. Once training has been completed, you will save your model. Autostar II allows you to save several models under different names. This allows you to, for example, save one model for a heavy imaging camera configuration on a permanently aligned scope, and another when you have a lighter load on the mount.
Training
In order to obtain solid, repeatable results, perform the following procedures before you create a model:
•Auto align
•Drift align
•Collimate
•Align OTA
•Calibrate Home
•Then train both the RA and Dec training calibration
Once you have calibrated and aligned your telescope, if you wish to start a new model, go to the Smart Mount main menu. Locate and select "Erase" to clear the current model. Next, proceed with the steps below:
Note: If you do not erase the current model, the training session will refine the current model.
•Locate “Train” in the Smart Mount Configuration menu and press enter.
•The telescope will select and slew to several (over 40) stars.
•When requested to do so, carefully center each star and then press ENTER.
If you find that you cannot see a star because there is an obstruction blocking your view:
•Press MODE briefly to skip this star. Another star will be chosen.
To exit the training sequence before it is completed:
• | Press and hold MODE for about two seconds and then release it. |
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When you have completed training: | 55 | |
Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the | ||
Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving. |
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