What Does The Sync Command Do; The Local Celestial Meridian - Software Bisque Paramount ME User Manual

Paramount ME User's Guide
identifying this star in TheSky6 Professional Edition, and then clicking the "Sync" button
from TheSky6. See "Performing a Telescope Synchronization" on page 80 for step-by-step
instructions.

What Does the Sync Command Do?

When you synchronize the mount, TheSky6 Professional Edition learns the mount's
orientation and can ascertain how to correctly slew the telescope to any position without
wrapping cables or running the OTA into the mount. (Provided that the settings in
TheSky6 Professional Edition's Data > Time and Data > Location commands are correct.)
When the Sync button is clicked, the information needed by TheSky6 Professional Edition
to automatically startup on subsequent sessions is stored in the flash memory of the
mount's control system.
In theory, after the Paramount ME is aligned with the celestial pole, it can be synchronized
once and never again. In practice, you will need to sync the system from time-to-time.
The following are examples of changes that will require synchronization and a subsequent
mapping (or short mapping) run:

Changing the polar alignment (requires a full TPoint mapping run).

Changing the optical tube assembly.

Changing the pier.
Proper synchronization is essential for proper mount operation. If the mount is not
synchronized correctly, it will always slew to the wrong location. Please carefully read the
following sections if you're new to astronomy, or have not previously operated a German
equatorial mount.

The Local Celestial Meridian

The local celestial meridian is a great circle on the celestial sphere that runs from the
zenith directly overhead to a point due South on the horizon, continuing around to the
nadir (directly below) and back up to the zenith. This line divides the celestial sphere into
east and west hemispheres.
In order to successfully synchronize the Paramount ME, you must be able to identify the
hemisphere in which a star lies. If the telescope is pointing to the west side of the
meridian, and you sync on a star that is on the east side, or vice-versa, then
synchronization will be wrong, and the mount will not slew to the correct coordinates.
From TheSky6 Professional Edition, click View > Reference Lines, click the Meridian option
to turn on the local meridian and then click OK.
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