From: "hpholcomb" <hpholcomb@yahoo.com>

Date: July 30, 2008 7:18:47 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Iterative Polar Alignment

Hey Mark,

The Starbook-S system allows you up to 18 separate (and/or repetitive) star/planet 

selections to properly align the GPD2 for tracking at a single viewing session.

This IPA system uses selection 1 to position on Polaris, then selection 2 for another, 

appropriate star, then selection 3 for back to Polaris, then position 4 for the chosen star, 5 

back to Polaris, etc., etc., etc., readjusting each time with the Starbook-S's controls & 

screen (this can be "zoomed" for more precise adjustment) to obtain proper centering on 

the target.  When Polaris finally is centered w/o any adjustment, your mount is PAed.  

"Polaris" here either means the star, or the true N offset, which can be seen in the view 

through the GPD2's polar alignment scope.  That's a nice touch and should be used as the 

centering point for the odd numbered selections for best PA.

At least that's the way it was described to me.  It is a good example of the classic iterative 

method to arrive at a set goal or target or whatever.

Perry

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@...> wrote:

It just occurred to me your mount needs the ability to sync to perform  

the process. I don`t know what your Vixen set-up is capable of  

exactly! Mark.

On 28/07/2008, at 10:59 AM, hpholcomb wrote:

Can't iterative polar alignment with a GOTO mount be done with Polaris

and another star that is sufficiently separated from P using just the

mount's GOTO program (like Vixen's Starbook-S on my GPD2, for  

example)??

Perry

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