You have to align the telescope to use its features and to synch with The Sky software. Alignment is controlled through the hand unit on the side of the telescope and coordinated with the camera and the efinder.

To make the most of the alignment you really should do a six star mapping run using Tpoint as well. This will not take very long and it will assure that the objects you wish to view are centered on the CCD chip.

Alignment Procedure: The telescope, camera and efinder should already have been powered on through Robofocus.

Preparing the Telescope:

1. Using the Hand Control on the telescope it should read CGE READY.
2. Press ENTER. It will ask you to SET SWITCH POS.
3. Press ENTER. Check the time on the Hand Control against the computer. If they are the same press ENTER. If not press UNDO and follow the instructions on the Hand Control.
4. It will now ask for you to SELECT ALIGNMENT. Using the DOWN button press it until QUICK ALIGN appears. Press ENTER.
5. The words ALIGN SUCCESS should be on the Hand Control.

Synch with The Sky software: This is the main program you will be using to locate objects, "map" stars for alignment, and control the telescope. Essentially it gives a virtual sky where you can click on an object and tell the telescope to go to the object. The other programs work through this one. Check the manual for a full list of its features.

1. Click on The Sky icon.
2. Now type Shift+Alt+D to synch up the dome and the telescope
3. Establish a link with the telescope by clicking on the green telescope icon. A set of crosshairs will appear on the screen when successful.

Locating objects Using The Sky and the efinder:

1. To find an object you can right click on the virtual sky. A box will appear with a large list of objects to choose. Find your object from one of these lists or simply type it into the space provided. Click FIND. A dialog box will appear giving a lot of information about the object.
2. You can also click on any object in the virtual sky. The same dialog box will appear. Pay special attention to the TELESCOPE tab at the top. Click on that tab.
3. At the bottom of the box is a green telescope icon. Click on that to slew the telescope to that object.
4. Also at the bottom next to the telescope is an icon for mapping. You'll need this when using Tpoint.
5. Click the large SYNCH button in the middle of the box when you have the object centered.
6. You'll be able to see the object on the efinder. If you're in the observatory you can use the STV control box. If you are in the Hab you need to use the television.
7. To center the object on the crosshairs, go to The Sky and click on TELESCOPE at the top main menu and then MOTION CONTROLS.
8. Set the dialog box to JOG and keep the number of degrees small. Use the N,S,E,W buttons to move the telescope.

A Short Mapping Run Using The Sky: Mapping is a term that refers to pointing and centering the telescope at a group of stars distributed across the sky. A short mapping run is required because the telescope has to be resynchronized each night. Mapping six stars is enough to get precision pointing and will have the object of your choice centered in your CCD field throughout your observing run.

1. Right click on the Tpoint graph and choose Tpoint Model Object and Open.
2. From MODEL choose Short Mapping Run.
3. Click OK in the dialog box.
4. Exit the file and return to The Sky.
5. From within The Sky, synchronize on a known star.
6. Click the MAP icon. Continue for at least 5 other stars.

Focus of an Object: The focus of the telescope is critical for getting good images. Focus is achieved by using Robofocus. This assures accurate positioning and zero mirror shift. DO NOT TIGHTEN THE BOLTS ON THE BACK OF THE TELESCOPE- DAMAGE TO THE MIRROR COULD RESULT.

1. Coarse focus settings have already been made. Use these as a guide to start your focus. These numbers can change if someone does another Robofocus setup run. If you decide to do that please change these numbers accordingly for the next astronomer.
2. Robofocus is activated using either the Robofocus program or CCDSoft. CCDSoft is preferred because it has a focus routine.
3. Open CCDSoft.
4. Go to CAMERA and FOCUS TOOLS.
5. Use the IN and OUT buttons to get to the coarse focus position.
6. Click TAKE IMAGE and tweak the focus using the IN and OUT buttons.
7. If the focus is way off using the coarse focus settings then the settings have been changed. Click on @focus- this will start an automatic focus routine with Robofocus. Watch the numbers as the image comes into focus. Make a note when it is close. The @focus program will actually go beyond the focus point. When that happens click ABORT and start with the number you observed as your coarse focus.