When is it best to use TPoint?
When is it best to use TPoint?
When only the most accurate telescope pointing will do. TPoint™ software provides world-class telescope pointing analysis and correction to help identify, quantify, and automatically compensate for systematic errors that exist with all telescope mounts.
Can TPoint be used to measure polar axis error?
Sites where Polaris is invisible are no problem for TPOINT, which can measure polar axis error to accuracies expressed in arcseconds simply from analyzing pointing in whatever region of the sky happens to be accessible.
Do I need TPoint to control my telescope?
Both TheSky Professional and TheSky Serious can control your “go to” telescope and show the position of the telescope on a simulated sky chart without TPoint. While TPoint provides tools for telescope pointing analysis and polar alignment that improves your telescope’s pointing accuracy, it is not required to control your telescope.
What are the TPoint figures?
The TPOINT figures dictate the precise adjustments that need to be made to align the polar axis optimally, important if field rotation is to be minimized. Two versions of TPOINT are available.
What is the best way to check optical collimation?
Now the VERY BEST WAY to check optical collimation is with an artificial star. But in order to do this, you have to be pretty far away. The glint of a telephone pole ceramic insulator or the reflection off of a car bumper, either being a few hundred yards away, might work… But I don’t recommend this method.
How much Miss-collimation is acceptable?
For example, even with only about 3 arc minutes of miss-collimation, the peak of the spike is LOWERED by almost 10%… And 3 Arc Minutes is the MOST miss-collimation you should accept. Now when SEEING is poor, even MORE energy is being thrown from the spike of the PSF curve, so that even MORE faint stars are lost.
Why do I need to calibrate my telescope with TPoint?
Coupled with TheSky, it helps get the mount aligned with the refracted pole (the optimal location for most amateur astronomer’s observing needs). TPoint requires that the telescope be calibrated by slewing to a series of stars and recording the pointing error at each position.
