Here is a better explanation of how the program works. Why use WCS? This program supports you in polaraligning your mount using the drift align method with (we)bcam-support. It supports any cam which can be installed as windows-device. (Maede LPI, TouCam, NexImage...) The error in the azimuth axis and the pole height can be adjusted very fast, even if the polar star is covered (e.g. balcony observatory or on the southern hemisphere). The idea is to measure the star drift of an not accurate aligned mount with an webcam and to calculate the amount the poleaxis and azimuth is wrong. After that, it supports you in an almost perfect aligning the mount using the webcam display. With this program the time necessary for aligning is reduced to a minimum! ---- astrodeb@charter.net wrote:
I found this on one of the yahoo groups for polar aligning a mount using a webcam. For people that don't have GOTO mounts. this may be a good option.
http://wcs.ruthner.at/index-en.htm
If anybody is interested in trying it out I'd like to know how well this method works. There is a 30 day trial period before buying the program. The webcam approach is my Plan B. Of course this requires a laptop in the field to be able to use the program.
I'm planning on buying a webcam for planetary shots soon but I'd like to try my JMI NGC-Max Polar function first. I hear this routine is very accurate but I have not had a chance to try it out yet. I want to see how this method works before trying the webcam approach. It has been snowing off and on all day in St George so we are waiting for the sunny skies to reappear.
Debbie
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