wiki:facility:main_telescope:pointing

Pointing

  1. Use your favorite star catalog to identify a well-known source that's easily recognizable by eye.
  2. Aim for a bright source near zenith (this tends to speed things up).
  3. With the source selected, navigate to TheSky6, hit 'cntrl-f' or select the binoculars button () to open a search dialog, then try to find your source.
  4. If found, an “Object Information” dialog box opens. Confirm that this is the correct source, then select the small green telescope button to SLEW ()
    1. TheSky6 will ask you to confirm the SLEW command – take a moment to ensure the surroundings are clear for movement.
  5. Now start taking some frames
    1. If your source is in the frames, HUZZAH
    2. If not … YOU GET A PADDLE and make it in the frame!
      1. Using the paddle, holding the slew button on the paddle and using the direction buttons, the telescope will move faster than just using the direction buttons
    3. It is perhaps easiest to work with the finderscope, which has a larger FoV than the main DFM telescope
      1. If you cannot get the source in frame, you can use sharpcaps plate solve feature.
        1. Have the telescope pointed a star dense area of the sky, plate solving needs more than 6 objects.
        2. Go to sharpcap > tools > Plate solve (solving only).
          1. Sharpcap will attempt to find where the telescope is pointing at, if it fails, move the telescope somewhere else and try again.
          2. If it solves, take the given Dec and RA and put it into DFMTCS > Telescope > Initialization > Telescope Position
            1. Select “Use Next Object Position”, then select “Apply”
  6. Make any necessary adjustments to get the source in the center of the FoV of the main DFM Scope
  7. Go to DFMTCS > Telescope > Initialization > Telescope Position
    1. Select “Use Next Object Position”, then select “Apply”