Rather than put several mediocre pictures up here, because this isn't meant for that, I offer a link to a Photography site I haunt.
Please come back because I need a little guidance here.
In the past, I found my way around Polar Alignment by leaving my mount set up, and simply bringing my telescope and computer in and out. (A Warm Start)
But with my new Losmandy work of art, I'm packing it in and out. So my old ways can't be used.
I've taken to drawing pencil lines around where the feet land to try and get as close to the previous nights spot as possible. And I realize it only gets me so close, and I still have to get my PA adjusted. No problem.
Then... turn on the mount. From what I've gathered, a Cold Start is what I need to do. And what I did last night.
Then I picked Bright Stars from the list in the Gemini 2, slewed, centered up in the main camera, and went to a next star. Is that correct? Does the G2 just remember the star after I've centered it up? Or am I missing a step here? Because I think I'm not doing this quite right yet.
Should I be building a Model, like Scott shows with 3 West and 1 East, as my initial procedure?
I feel like I was missing many attempts last night because I went to apparently blank space and couldn't find my object. So I moved on to something else in the Stellarium FOV. Which is working as I had hoped it would controlling the 811 (Or Gemini 2? Sorry, learning my way around the terminology)
When I do find my object, I center it up, then start PHD2 guiding (I closed and restarted PHD2 after crossing the meridian going for the Flaming Star Nebula. Pretty easy with the latest PHD2.) That's the way I learned to do it with my old mount.
Or do you find building a model is the best way to find accuracy for slewing?
My eyepieces are my cameras.
Basically, I'm trying to operate remotely, after my initial start up. But without a virtual hand controller, I have to go back out to do corrections. Kind of counter-intuitive.
I miss being able to run the scope completely remotely.
A thought: Do I maybe need to update the Gemini 2's software? I shouldn't think so, but wondering.
Thanks in advance for any knowledge you'd care to share.
A Calf finding his footing for the first time here. ;^) LOL!
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SonnyE
(I suggest viewed in full screen)
