ART Lesson 6: pointing model

This lesson outlines some routine observations that can be made with the !ART. If there is ever a clear sky but no valid target for the telescope then these observations will be useful.

!TPoint Mapping Run

The telescope's slew to slew pointing is good but it can be improved with a mapping run. Mapping involves slewing to a known star, centring it in the field with the camera and then comparing the telescope's position for the star with the actual position of the star in the sky. It is a simple and easy operation to perform that makes the telescope more accurate as more stars are mapped.

Any star that is in ''!TheSky'' 's catalogues can be mapped. This means that many scientific targets for the telescope can also be mapped in addition to the scientific observations being made.

For a mapping run to improve the pointing of the telescope a ''!TPoint Model'' must appear in the ''Virtual Sky''. Currently, there is a preliminary ''!TPoint Model'' in effect containing 27 stars. This existing model should be expanded whenever possible to contain as many stars as possible. Professional users of ''!TPoint'' use models with as many as 1000 stars.

It is easy to map a star. Simply centre it in the field, open ''!TheSky'', go to the object's dialog box and click the ''Map'' button at the bottom. This button has a picture of a red crosshairs on it. The observer will be prompted to confirm this action. If the star is a far distance in reality from where the telescope thought it was then the confirmation box may say this point appears to be in error. If the observer is certain that the correct star has been centred in the field then it is safe to proceed.

Stars should be mapped all across the sky and at all times of year.

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