Paramount GEM User Guide
105 | P a g e
Polar Alignment Quick Start Guide
1. Use the “Rough Polar Alignment” procedure (page 100) to approximately align the mount with
the celestial pole.
2. As described in the TheSky Professional User Guide, perform an automated pointing calibration
run to collect pointing data so that an accurate estimate of the polar misalignment can be
determined.
The number of points used in the initial calibration can vary depending on your needs. As few as
12 calibration points can be used to characterize the polar misalignment on portable setups, or if
you are just getting started. For permanent installations, or portable setups where you want to
completely characterize the mount’s errors, you might opt to collect 150 or more calibration
points before generating the Super Model. If the equipment on the system, or the polar alignment
changes in the future, or you’re setting up the mount each night, a portable recalibration can be
done to reestablish the pointing accuracy in the original model.
3. When the pointing calibration is complete, create the Super Model based on this data. The polar
misalignment details are available on the Polar Alignment tab of the TPoint Module window.
4. From TheSky Professional, click Tools, Accurate Polar Alignment and follow the step-by-step
instructions.
After completing the Accurate Polar Alignment wizard, the mount is accurately aligned with the pole. The
polar alignment terms (ME and MA) in the TPoint model automatically changed to reflect the new position
of the polar axis.
Going forward, each time your portable system is set up, perform a Recalibration using the Portable
option on the Calibration tab of the TPoint module window so that the new polar alignment offsets can
be determined.
Using the PoleMaster
QHYCCD’s PoleMaster™ is an easy-to-use electronic polar scope, and an alternative to the traditional polar
alignment scope. Software Bisque offers a Paramount MYT/MX PoleMaster Adaptor that can be used to
attach the PoleMaster to the declination axis and assist with polar alignment.
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