Just like my ‘Loading Checklist’, this checklist was created after I forgot to properly level my tripod. I had to remove my aligned telescope and mount in order to level my telescope and start building everything up again.
So …
My initial setup checklist
- Install tripod oriented due North
- Install battery and splitter box
- Cover splitter box lights
- Add tripod-spreader and position goto-handheld holder
- Level tripod
- Fix mount and connect to battery
- Add counterweights
- Add telescope
- Collimate telescope
- When observing
- Install and connect handheld to mount
- Add finder scope
- When imaging
- Just in case: Remove the handheld and finder scope
- Install the guiding scope
- Install the guiding camera
- Install the image camera and the coma corrector
- Install the ASIAIR
- Connect to battery through convertor
- Connect directly to mount using EQMOD cable
- Connect to guiding camera
- Connect to image camera
- Install both dew shields
- Tidy up all cables
- Balance setup on both axis
- Park setup in home position
My alignment checklist when observing
- Align telescope and finder scope
- Switch on the mount (yes I forgot once)
- Polar align the mount
- 3 star align the telescope
- Optional polar align the telescope to fine-tune 3 star alignment
My alignment checklist when imaging
- Connect to ASIAIR through phone just to get accurate GPS location
- Connect to ASIAIR through tablet
- Focus image camera to good enough for plate solving
- Align mount through plate solving
- Switch on the mount (yes I forgot once)
- Connect mount and both cameras to ASIAIR
- Focus guiding scope to good enough for auto guiding
- Point telescope to bright star and focus Bathinov mask
My pre-imaging checklist for each target
- Point mount to target
- Calibrate guiding camera
- Start auto guiding
- Take a 60sec exposure image to double check image framing
- Check and time for meridian flip
- Check ditter parameters
- Set auto image sequence