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8. Set Zero Position: The Zero Position is the mount
GOTO reference. Without setting the mount zero
position properly, it may cause large GOTO error or
even cause the scope to hit the tripod leg. The
simplest way to find the mount Zero Position of the
EQ mode is using the zero position sensors. Press
MENU=>Zero Position =>Search Zero Position, then
press ENTER. Follow the online instruction to
complete process.
Check online manual for AA mode Zero Position.
9. Set controller: Press the MENU button; then
“Settings” => “Set Time & Site”.
Enter the current date. Enter the time zone offset to
the UTC; for example:
Boston is “UTC -300 minutes”
Los Angeles is “UTC -480 minutes”
Rome is “UTC +060 minutes”
Sydney is “UTC +600 minutes”
Enter longitude and latitude coordinates according to
your GPS information. Toggle the Daylight Saving
Time (DST) between N(No) and Y(Yes) using arrow
key. Move the cursor to the end of the screen to
select the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.
[TIPS: All time zones in N. America are “UTC -XXX
minutes”. Latitude and longitude coordinates can be
obtained from GPS-equipped devices (navigator,
phone), or from the internet, if you are entering them
manually. “W/E” = western/eastern hemisphere;
“N/S” = northern/southern hemisphere; and “d” =
degree; “m” = minute; and “s” = second. Use arrow
and number keys to enter location information.]
When iOptron Commander Lite, a SmartPhone
version of ASCOM, is in action, one may easily import
the GPS info from a SmartPhone to the mount/hand
controller. There is no worry about lack of internet,
WiFi, or cell phone signals in rural areas; Commander
Lite can always get GPS info from a SmartPhone to
the HAE mount/hand controller, no dead corner.
10. Polar alignment: For an HAE mount without polar
scope or if the pole star is not in sight, you may use a
polar alignment routine in planetarium software, or
two bright stars for coarse polar alignment from the
8409 hand controller:
(1) Level the mount and set it to the Zero Position.
Align the telescope to the R.A. axis of the mount. An
eyepiece with an illuminated crosshair is highly
recommended.
(2) Use the Hand Controller (MENU => “Alignment”
=> “Polar Iterate Align”) to display the azimuth and
altitude position of several bright stars near the
meridian. Select one that is visible at a high altitude
as Alignment Star A. Follow the HC instruction to
move Alignment Star A to the center of the eyepiece
using a combination of the Latitude Adjustment
Knob and the “◄” or “►” buttons. Press ENTER to
confirm when the star is centered. Next, select a
bright star that is close to the horizon as Alignment
Star B. Center it using the Azimuth Adjustment Knob
and the “◄” or “►” button. Press ENTER to confirm
the settings.
(3) The telescope will now slew back to Alignment
Star A. Repeat the steps above. The iteration can be
stopped when it is determined that the alignment
error has been minimized. Press the BACK button to
exit the alignment procedure.
Both Azi and Lat. Locking screws/knob need be
slightly loosened in order to adjust the mount. Make
sure tighten them when done.
2022-05-05 12:01:36
UTC -300 Minute(s)
W071d08m50s DST: Y
N42d30m32s Northern