This is my default imaging setup procedure when imaging objects in the East.

1. Power up observatory.

2. Connect USB cable from the main USB Hub and power supply to the PC.

3. Launch, in this order: i) TheSky6, ii) FocusMax (automatically launches MaximDL), iii) CCDAutoPilot, iv) VNC Server. Make sure PC is connected to the WiFi router.

4. Establish telescope connections. Setup TheSky6 link to the mount. Connect MaximDL to TheSky6 and the focuser. Connect CCDAutoPilot.

5. Enable coolers in MaximDL, make sure set point is OK. (Default is -20 deg. C)

6. Unclutch the mount and manually align the telescope to a known bright star near zenith in the East direction via finderscope crosshairs. It is OK for the telescope to be on the West side of the mount. Clutch the mount. Sync to the star in TheSky6. At this point no manual telescope adjustments are acceptable. Usual sync constellations are: Ursa Major (Spring)

7. Set Meridian Delay to 4 East (4E) on the mount using keypad. Make sure autoguider speed is 0.5 and tracking is sidereal.

8. Flip the telescope to the East side of the mount via keypad and align to the same star. The telescope is on the wrong side of the mount now. This is to make sure that zenith is available and you can image through the meridian. Align the star in finderscope crosshairs and sync in TheSky6.

9. Focus using FocusMax. Do not use AcquireStar at this stage.

** At this stage the telescope is ready for imaging in the East. **

10. Slew to the selected target in CCDAutoPilot.

11. Make sure FOV angle is set correctly in TheSky6. When the camera is oriented at zero degrees towards the mount (cables down), the correct FOV angle is 270 degrees. This is applicable when the telescope is on the East side of the mount. FOV will be at 90 degrees when the telescope is on the West side of the mount.

12. Make exposure via guide camera. Make sure MaximDL picks up guide star. If it does not, create a user-defined object to center the guide star in the guider FOV and adjust the CCDAutoPilot target.

13. Check all session details in the CCDAutoPilot. If everything is correct, begin session.

14. Connect via VNC server to supervise.

 

IMPORTANT NOTES

NEVER SLEW WITHOUT VISUAL CONTROL SO TELESCOPE WON'T HIT THE PIER. (BIG OUCH!)

CHECK MAXIMDL PICKS UP THE GUIDE STAR BEFORE RUNNING CCDAUTOPILOT SESSION.

NEVER LEAVE TELESCOPE UNATTENDED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. CLOSE THE DOME ONCE DONE.

SET COOLERS TO WARM UP AND ALLOW CAMERA TO REACH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE BEFORE FULL POWER OFF.