Orion 6/6I Alignment Error Warp Factor, Overview of the IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator

Use the arrow buttons to scroll through the names of the alignment stars. The up arrow button scrolls through the stars alphabetically from A to Z. The down arrow button scrolls alphabetically backwards, from Z to A. When you arrive at the name of the star you wish to align on, you can begin to move the telescope so that it is pointing at that star (but don’t press the Enter button yet).

Note: The controller will not accept Polaris as the first align- ment star. This helps prevent the pointing accuracy from decreasing over time. It is OK to use Polaris as the second alignment star, however.

Take hold of the “navigation knob” on the optical tube and move the telescope so that it is pointing in the general area of the alignment star. Aim the telescope so the alignment star appears in finder scope. Be careful not to confuse the align- ment star with other stars in the area when doing this. (It will likely be the brightest star in the field of view.) Now, move the telescope until you have centered the star on the crosshairs of the finder scope. Look into the eyepiece of the telescope, and you should see the alignment star in the field of view of the eyepiece. If it isn’t, then your finder scope is out of alignment with your telescope and will need to be adjusted. Once the alignment star is in the eyepiece’s field of view, center it in the eyepiece as best you can by making small movements to the telescope. (If you have one, an illuminated reticle eyepiece is great for centering alignment stars). Once this is done, press the Enter button on the controller. You have now completed one-half of the two-star alignment.

The LCD screen will now read “ALIGN STAR 2” on the first line with an alignment star’s name flashing on the second line. As before, scroll through the names of the stars with the arrow buttons until you reach your second chosen alignment star. Repeat the procedure described above for your second align- ment star. When you have aligned on the second star, press the Enter button. The LCD will then display a number. It is the alignment error factor, or “warp” (W) factor.

The Alignment Error (Warp) Factor

The “warp” alignment error factor essentially lets you know if your alignment was accurate or not. Ideally, this number should be as low as possible, but any “W” of 0.5 or smaller is acceptable (regardless of + or - sign). Warp factors of ±0.3 and ±0.4 are the most common. Warp factors under ±0.2 are typically not achievable (but kudos to you if you get one!). If you complete an alignment and the warp factor is larger than ±0.5 (e.g., +0.6, -0.6, +0.7, -0.7, etc.), then you must turn the controller off (by holding down the Power button) and begin the alignment procedure again. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that the controller will consistently place objects within the field of view of a medium-low power eyepiece.

An unacceptable warp factor may indicate that you aligned on the wrong star or did not have the telescope initially in a pre- cisely vertical position. If you are having problems getting the warp factor at or below ±0.5, see the troubleshooting section in Appendix C.

Your IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator is now ready to find objects. Replace the high-powered eyepiece you used

Figure 25. If you’re positioned to the left of the telescope and face the direction the optical tube is pointed, the guide arrows on the Computerized Object Locator will correspond exactly with the direction you should move the telescope to pinpoint the selected object.

for centering the alignment stars with a low-power, wide-field eyepiece, such as the 25mm Sirius Plössl.

B. Overview of the IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator

The IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator (controller) has been specifically designed for ease of use. This section will help familiarize you with the basic layout and operation of the controller.

Pushbuttons

Besides the Power, Enter, ID, FCN, and up/down arrows, all pushbuttons have letters on them with numbers above them (Figure 21). The letters designate the function of the pushbut- ton. The numbers above them are used for entering numerical data only; the numbers are never active until a function is first chosen. The numbers are arranged like a telephone keypad for ease of number entry. None of the function buttons will work properly until an initial alignment, as outlined previously, is completed. If you press a function button be-fore the two- star alignment is completed, the controller will display “MUST STAR ALIGN.” Turn the unit off, then on again (by using the Power button), to begin the alignment routine again.

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