· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 IanT member Reged: 01/28/08 Loc: Melbourne, Australia Setting circles and equatorial platforms       #2345852 - 04/23/08 01:52 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello to all This question probably has a simple answer but it sure has done my head in. On my Dob base I have constructed a setting circle similar to those described in many posts to this forum. I use a digital inclinometer for the vertical axis. I take care to level the base before dialing in the co-ordinates of the objects I wish to view. The system works well. Now, if I were to place the base and 'scope on an equatorial platform (Roundtable type), how could I use my circle/inclinometer on what is now a base tilted to 37 degrees? Cheers Ian Post Extras:       snogum professor emeritus Reged: 04/30/07 Loc: Western Australia Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: IanT]       #2346308 - 04/23/08 10:06 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You would then us Right Ascention & Declination co-ordinate system instead of Altitude and Azumith system. Your Laptop or palm pilot should be able to output corodinates in RA and Dec just as easily as it did Alt & Az Post Extras:       snogum professor emeritus Reged: 04/30/07 Loc: Western Australia Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: snogum]       #2346310 - 04/23/08 10:07 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Oh and G'Day mate Welcome to CN Post Extras:       IanT member Reged: 01/28/08 Loc: Melbourne, Australia Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: snogum]       #2347692 - 04/23/08 08:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for that. It seemed so simple I assumed that there must be a catch!! Cheers ian Post Extras:       CosmoJoe member Reged: 10/03/12 Loc: Gilbert, Arizona Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: IanT]       #5475726 - 10/17/12 07:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   i don't understand. if RA cooridates constantly move. would the RA circle need to be reset everytime you reset the platform? maybe this is a little over my head. i need to see a platform with circles in action to understand i suppose. Post Extras:       Phil Sherman Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/07/10 Loc: Cleveland, Ohio Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: CosmoJoe]       #5476600 - 10/18/12 09:39 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   To use your RA circle, you need to set it to the RA of your current target just before moving the scope. You can then use it to point the scope at a different RA. Pointing accuracy degrades at the rate of one degree every four minutes so you should be able to use the setting circle to find your new target. On my GEM, the RA circle moves with the mount when tracking. When slewing, the circle remains fixed and the RA changes as the mount moves. Phil Post Extras:       CosmoJoe member Reged: 10/03/12 Loc: Gilbert, Arizona Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: Phil Sherman]       #5477050 - 10/18/12 02:04 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   and that will work if the RA scale is on the dob base? Post Extras:       cheapersleeper Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/22/10 Loc: Sachse TX Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: CosmoJoe]       #5477131 - 10/18/12 02:42 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   His setting circles are Alt/Az, he can't use them to track his position when the platform is running. One of the apps for the Palm Pilot used to be able to calculate Alt/Az for the objects on a platform so I assume there are other apps that can. Post Extras:       SteveInNZ member Reged: 10/07/07 Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: CosmoJoe]       #5477157 - 10/18/12 02:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I think that this advise is wrong. With a platform your scope is still sitting with the base level and is still operated in Alt-Az mode to locate an object. Post Extras:       CosmoJoe member Reged: 10/03/12 Loc: Gilbert, Arizona Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: SteveInNZ]       #5477645 - 10/18/12 07:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   that's what i thought. so to use manual circles i would basically have to level the platform and only get half the tracking? Post Extras:       CosmoJoe member Reged: 10/03/12 Loc: Gilbert, Arizona Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: CosmoJoe]       #5477689 - 10/18/12 08:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank you, from what I can tell manual setting circles + eq platform= useless. Fork mount conversion is the way to go Post Extras:       cheapersleeper Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/22/10 Loc: Sachse TX Re: Setting circles and equatorial platforms [Re: CosmoJoe]       #5477818 - 10/18/12 09:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Astromist for the palm pilot had a function that corrected for a platform's movement while calculating Alt/Az. I assume some other app might do that as well. That would make the combination useable. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 27 registered and 39 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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