I would like to add a little bit to this conversation. I don’t know if you guys are using The Sky X Pro or not but I do. If you haven’t used or are not using a T- Point Model I recommend doing so. A model of at least (200) points minimum will work wonders for your pointing. Even a model of 90 points will work wonders. After I started using the T – Point feature in the Sky I never had an error in point to a star. The thing runs totally automatically once you launch it and when done you can see how close the pointing is with the scatter chart it generates. You just set how much of the sky you want to map and hit start and watch the scope slew, take photos, the plate solve and catalog your star positions. When done The Sky generates a model that enhances your pointing dramatically.

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I have a 10,000 lb. concrete pier that is about 8 foot tall. My observing deck is on the second floor of my observatory. The base consists of a 4x4x4 foot square block of rebar reinforced concrete buried in the ground with two round sections on top of that. The first is 2 feet in dia and the second is 18 inches in dia. ?On top of that is a 4 foot steel tube pier fashioned after the Software Bisque Pier that they sell. I made my own as I have a small machine shop and a MIG, TIG, Stick welder which I used to manufacture the pier. So on top of that sits the Paramount ME. A busy road is within 200 feet of my observatory and I have never noticed any vibration.

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I have not done a Polar Alignment in over 3 years perhaps 4 but every time I launch The Sky and point to a star and slew to it, it is there on the screen. If I think it is a little off I just run another T – Point model and the Pointing error is almost zero. Because of too many reasons to mention right now I have not imaged in over a year but when I went to check the Pointing a couple of months ago it was so close as to be negligible.

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Like I said “eliminate all the mechanical problems because they are the easiest to identify and to rectify then worry about the ones associated with cameras, programming, and configuration errors”.

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I found this video by Charles Walker who I believe is now retired from OPT to be the best and easiest to understand. It is a step by step YouTube Video showing you how to run a T – Point Model. I also suggest you down load it and keep it just in case it gets taken down one day. If you don’t know how to download a YouTube Video I suggest (4K Video Downloader) it is free and will down load 99.9% of all YouTube Videos for safe keeping as well as videos from other Video web sites.

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“Creating T Points in TheSkyX for Better Tracking with Charles Walker- OPT”

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Periotic Error is another thing that you can and must do to get better tracking because of the eccentricity in your gear train that your mount has.

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I put the thing you must absolutely do in this order but usually not critical.

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1. Collimation is an absolute must for round stars. If you collimation is not spot on your guide stars will not be round nor will your image stars be.
2. Polar alignment.
3. PEC Periodic Error Correction. This corrects for the eccentricity in your gears both worm and worm wheel. These are repeatable errors that can be tuned out.
4. T-Point Model
5. ProTrack to compensate for mechanical problems with your mount such as scope axis not in line with mount axis or flexure and many other mechanical issues that it detects and corrects for.
6. Turn on ProTrack after you get a super model.

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The above mentioned things are a must for good pointing and tracking.

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Maker of the World Famous KISS Focuser?

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602-312-8797

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garyjarrette@...

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Hello Roger!? Good to hear of your success with the original dovetail bar.? Please understand, I don't have an axe to grind concerning the orange noodle (ON) but my experience has shown that it introduces unacceptable flexure.? This is what I found.? Starting with very good polar alignment, I was not getting acceptable pointing accuracy and plate solve errors were common.? I found that pointing was OK in limited regions of the sky.? However, when I moved larger distances I had trouble finding objects.? This was much pronounced when a meridian flip was involved. When I replaced the original dovetail bar with a? heavy duty one, I saw a significant improvement.? However, I felt that pointing could be better and sought another solution.? After considering a number of alternatives, it came down to two choices, the Software Bisque rings or a Homeyer Cradle (HC).? I chose the HC. Of course, the HC is no longer produced and used ones are seldom seen.? So, I built my own.? So far pointing accuracy is excellent and I seldom have plate solution errors.??

Best regards,

Frank