Could there be a long tree root growing out under your
pier?
Christopher
Erickson Consulting Engineer Summit Kinetics Waikoloa, HI
96738 www.summitkinetics.com
From: ap-gto@...
[mailto:ap-gto@...] Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2015 10:22
AM To: ap-gto@... Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP V2
ASCOM v5.06.01 driver crashes when I click on RA Polar Scope
Tool
I found the RAPAS Polar Align to be a great tool. For
some reason, my “perfect” polar alignment from last fall, had shifted
considerably now in January. The 200 lbs of scope and mount sit on a Losmandy
tripod with its feet planted on cinder blocks buried in the lawn, so I didn’t
expect it to shift. I don’t know if it was frost heave for gale force winds that
shifted something, but the polar alignment was now way off.
Being that far off Polaris, starting
with Pempro was a hassle, so I re-attached the RAPAS, and dialed-in
Polaris, using Ray’s RAPAS program. The RAPAS had been aligned to
the AP-1200 adapter plate last fall, and re-attaching it now was perfect, quick
& easy. Alignment using the ZOOM feature in the program, then stretching
that window even more, made the task a breeze, since I could see a huge
magnification of the required circle position on a “somewhat distant” laptop
screen, a few feet away. RAPAS results were darned good, a really handy device,
then PemPro brought polar alignment back into perfection, with hairline
adjustments.
I would say that even if the polar alignment is
“somewhat” off, I would start by using the RAPAS, before getting into computer
techniques. It gives you a head start, and speeds things up considerably,
without the back pains of the old PASILLx polar scopes. The RAPAS is an
excellent instrument.
