Aligning the telescope

If the telescope is not pointing where it should (you ask for M87 and it points at Leo), the software has lost track of where the telescope actually is and needs to be recalibrated.

Fortunately, the procedure is fairly simple:

1. Make sure that the time is properly set on the TCS Console (see Starting Up step 9)
2. Aquire a known object by hand, using the finderscope and fine-tuning with the illuminated reticle eyepiece.
   • Look at the catalogue of objects and pick out a bright object (Vega, for example) that is nearly overhead. Don't use objects near the pole, like Polaris, that are more degenerate in RA.
   • Aquire the object using the finderscope following the finderscope instructions.
   • Insert the illuminated reticle eyepiece into the eyepiece holder, and make sure that the eyepiece is the chosen light path (see here).
   • Center the object using the Movement Paddle.
3. Tell the software the coordinates of the object you just found.
   • On the TCS, go to
     • 1. Initialization menu
     • 2. Set telescope position
     • Enter the coordinates of the object selected.

The dome may need re-initialized as well. Just have it move to the home position and then set the dome's position on the software to 270.