From: "grumpa4" 
To: "Vibhu Veerabadrappa"
, 
Reply-To: "grumpa4" 


I use Carte du Ciel planetarium program on my computer for converting
RA-DEC for my Dob.  I point to the RA and DEC of the object on the screen,
and the ALT-AZ coordinates show in a box on the lower left of the screen. 
Using my ALT-AZ setting circles, I can usually go directly to the object,
or close enough to star hop the rest of the way.

Jule J. DuBois at 42N 89.6W

----- Original Message -----
From: "Vibhu Veerabadrappa" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 2:08 PM Subject: ATM Aiming a dob by RA/dec


>
> Hi all,
>
> My telescope is a homemade, 8" f/6 Newtonian with a dobsonian mount
> using a sonotube. It has a simple red dot finder.
>
> I am having trouble aiming and locating at the galaxies. I tried M81,
> M82 and M51 without success (tried for about a total of about 6hrs -
> will
> continue trying). In the meantime, I am thinking of putting some angle
> markers for the alt and az movements and use the RA/declination of the
> objects to aim the scope.
>
> For this to work, what are the requirements about the placement and
> alignment of the scope? For example, the base should be placed on a
> level surface. Then, when I point the scope at the zenith, then the
> declination of the scope would be the latitude of that spot on the
> earth (which is 37.5 deg where I stay). Then, to point to M81
> (RA 09:55.6, Dec +69ø04'), I would rotate about 32 deg towards Polaris.
> Right? Still, when I draw the picture of the celestial sphere, the earth
>
> and the scope, I am not fully convinced this will work - even with
> azimuthal adjustments, will the scope really be pointing to the object?
>
> What about the azimuth? I am confused here about how I should align the
> scope, and how much I should rotate the scope to aim at the object.
>
> Has anybody tried this method of aiming? Any experiences?
> Suggestions/advice?
>
> Thanks....
>
> --
> Vibhu Veerabadrappa, Sr. CAE, Apollo/Astro       Synopsys Corporation
> 445 N Mary Street, Sunnyvale CA 94085              408-390-3021 (C)
> mailto:Vibhu{at}synopsys.com                          650-584-5771 (O)
> Milpitas, CA 37ø26'N 121ø53'W
>
>

--- BBBS/NT v4.00 MP