Theatre Hipparchus

Process I used to get started with Maxpoint.

Telescope connection:

Telescope control through a laptop was a fun winter project for me. Once the connection issue was solved in the workshop, it paved the way to try out fantastic pointing software like Maxpoint. I used my patented "learn the hard way" technique. Here are the pitfalls I encountered with basic telescope connection:

• com ports - getting these in order took a great deal of perseverance.
• technology mismatch - I am guessing, but it looks like telescopes are still members of the modem family whereas modern laptops use faster forms of data transfer. A series of adaptors, cords and converters were needed.
• software control program - Maxim DL/CCD supports ASCOM initiative which is a fine "universal" system for scope control. Great piece of software but there was a learning curve to use the interface properly. 
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The above combination includes a four port powered hub from Belkin, a USB to Serial adaptor and the critical part was that light grey connector to run from the serial to the 505 six pin cable. About the connector - I know that Meade sells the connector kit but this one is from Software Bisque to connect the LX200 to a pocket PC - about $15 US.

Note - I have had scope control using either of the two RS232 ports but for Maxpoint the port closest to the Autoguider is recommended. This is a six pin cord in the picture and while others have reported success with a standard 4 pin telephone type, I couldn't get those to work. The HBX port has the Autostar connected. 

Onwards to Maxpoint - Telescope interface in Maxim:

On the toolbar in Maxim click on the telescope control icon and this interface should appear. Ascom is included as an installation option. I did a separate download because at the time I didn't really know what it was all about. 

The Ascom program from Bob Denny's site DC3 Dreams and this interface works for a number of different telescope makes. Just for practice I was using it after the Autostar had finished the initial two star alignment. I was quite impressed by the accuracy of the Goto objects I had selected. Somehow the targets, some of which were 60 degree slews were much better than the results I had using the Autostar!?

In the illustration above the scope is set to Maxpoint which is necessary to run the program. I do have a focuser but for simplicity elected not to use that option yet. Click on setup and this interface will appear.

As it turned out using the Belkin 4 port hub the connection was on port 6. Literally I tried every one of the eight selections offered. Note - I have not set up the scope aperture, focal length and elevation which are important to the programs accuracy.

Once the right connection port is in place press OK and open Maxpoint program. This interface will appear. 

In order to get connected click on scope setup and select your model from this interface. This picture shows that has already taken place.

In this instance the scope is connected and we are ready to go. This is a first run and I have selected full calibration and checked the box to have the interface always on top. I believe the time is in sidereal time so I have to check on whether it is in sync with the time I was putting this together. (I don't yet understand the relationship between sidereal time and what my watch says.)

In the above example my scope coordinates and the program target coordinates are fairly close together. I have had a few instances during start up where the scope was a full 10 hours in RA opposite the program, and yet the objects where close to field of view on the slew? When I sort out why I will update this section. Even syncing didn't help this situation. It may come down to doing a one-star align then envoke the telescope control program and goto another star and do a sync then. Anything to get the scope and this programs readout at least close.

Taking Observations

This is the part that caused my trepidation. I recognized about a third of the stars listed for observation and wasn't sure if I would be able to centre the ones I didn't know. As it turned out the scope was tracking or "going" (short for gotoing) well enough that the object stars were quite obvious. Some were lovely doubles to boot. Here is a sample of the sky map that is generated. 

In this picture the X's no longer line up with the stars because some time has elapsed and the program updates the stars to where they are at the moment. You can slew to the new position of a star you have already done after a reasonable length of time. This is practical if you have a limited amount of sky to work with.

There is also a terrific attachment to the software that allows you to raise the horizon - (the blue circle) so that if you are obstructed in any direction the program will take that into consideration for selection of object stars. I have to look over the house in the east so I would make the adjustment to that horizon.

As you make your observations a wonderful thing starts to happen. Your object stars start appearing mighty close to the centre of your eyepiece. Not in all cases but I would put the missed targets down to some balance issues I am having. You can literally see on the Maxpoint control panel how far or how close the target is going to be just by comparing the scope to target numbers. 
The Observations table shows the errors that are plotted in the following circle graph:

Above we see a good number of the observations plotted within 6 arc minutes with a couple of stragglers outside of that range. Overall I know the goal is to get down to the arc seconds range but I was pleased with this result and the fact I could check the mounts pointing accuracy anytime with a program like this on board. It was a great deal of fun learning this software and in the future I plan to get to an automated approach using the CCD imager. The license for MaxPoint was $150 U.S. and I think it is a terrific value. I know it will speed my accuracy for imaging DSO's and progressing at this hobby in general. I marvel at how software can be used to refine and control telescopes. Fantastic stuff!