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Hi,?

I am new to the group and I just have two questions regarding Gemini 1 system.?

1. Can I power up the mount and just use the tracking function without doing alignment or GOTO, just like using the non-GOTO version?
2. Can I enter the coordinates (RA/DEC) of an objects and do GOTO, for example, I know the coordinates of a binary star, instead of looking through the on board catalog, just go directly to it?

Thank you for your help!

Lei

Hi Lei

Refer to the , paragraph 5.3.6.2: Enter Ra/DEC.?

"This command allows you to enter the RA and Dec. coordinates for a point in the sky.As in the previous menu item, selecting "Enter RA/DEC" displays the telescope's currentRA and Dec. coordinates. You can now enter a new set of coordinates by changing the displayed numbers"

Also you can bookmark up to 10 objects via coordinates, save them and go to them at any time its above horizon.? See page 59, para 5.2.6.5 "Set Bookmarks":

"This menu item allows you to store as retrievable bookmarks, the coordinate position ofup to 10 objects. To mark the first object, center it in the telescope's field of view andexecute "Coordinates→Set Bookmark #0," where 0 is the number of the first Bookmark.The process can be repeated 9 more times for Bookmarks #1 to #9."

So yes you can enter Ra/DEC coordinates and it will goto them.???

You can use use Gemini ASCOM? to connect and control the mount with USB/Serial and use ASCOM to go to the desired coordinates.?? You can amend the object Gemini ASCOM object file "guc" file I think its called.? save and name the desired object you want and it will be remembered and you can recall and goto it.?

But all this said.....you have to align your mount before any goto is accurate especially if you have just set it up. ? This is true for all mounts. ?? If your mount is set-up up not moving between sessions, then you can use warm start and resume the previous alignment modelling and accuracy.


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Brendan

Hi Brendan,

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. It seems that even there is no number keys on the hand controller, I still can use the arrow keys to change the digits and use coordinates to goto. That's great to know.?
Also, on a cold start, can I skip the setup and move the scope by hands, then do tracking only? Just like the 492 digital non-GOTO version? Sometime I just want to do quick look at those bright planets without the needs of GOTO. The slip clutch feature that allows me to move the scope by hand then keeps tracking is addictive and I hope the Gemini version still has it.?

Thanks again!

Lei

Hi Lei,

#1, Yes just do a cold boot and let it go into sidereal rate tracking, no problem.?

#2, Yes but it will fail to find the object reliably unless you have built a sky model because the Gemini has no way to know what the misalignments are between the mount and the sky even with an accurate polar alignment. You could do a blind platesolve then let the software center the object for you but it is both faster and easier to just do the Gemini model building by aligning on at least three stars on the side of the meridian where the object is.?

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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

? ?Astropheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?

Hi Chip,

Thank you for the reply. Now I feel more comfortable with the capabilities of Gemini system.

Lei