SkyScanAlign_Star_Maps_v3_12_41N.pdf - A pdf file containing monthly star charts showing alignment stars for SkyScan v3.12 for 41N.  Approximately 100 stars are shown. 

SkyscanChart3_12.zip - Sames as charts in SkyScanAlign_Star_Maps_v3_12_41N.pdf except each chart is an individual png file. 

Skyscanv3_12Align41N.html - A tabular listing of the SkyScan v3.12 alignment stars for 41N. 

SkyScanvAlign_Stars_v3_12_41N_alpha.doc - A tabular listing of the SkyScan v3.12 alignment stars for 41N in proprietary MS-Word 2003 format - alphabetical sort. 

SkyScanvAlign_Stars_v3_12_41N_alpha.pdf - A tabular listing of the SkyScan v3.12 alignment stars for 41N in pdf format - alphabetical sort. 

SkyScanvAlign_Stars_v3_12_41N_J2000.doc - A tabular listing of the SkyScan v3.12 alignment stars for 41N in proprietary MS-Word 2003 format - J2000 coordinates sort. 

SkyScanvAlign_Stars_v3_12_41N_J2000.pdf - A tabular listing of the SkyScan v3.12 alignment stars for 41N in pdf format - J2000 coordinates sort. 

SkyScanAlignment.dat
 - A tabular text 
listing of the SkyScan v3.12 alignment stars for 41N. Names are truncated for use in Cartes du Ciel. 

SkyScanAlignment.cds
 - A Cartes du Ciel external catalogue control file for the SkyScan v3.12 alignment stars for 41N. Names are truncated for use in Cartes du Ciel.  Use with file 
SkyScanAlignment.dat. 

Author: K. Fisher fisherka@csolutions.net

Date: 8/1/2007

Purpose:  For experienced amateurs, 3 star alignment with the SkyScan v3.12 controller can be more quickly achieved by reference to star charts that plot alignment stars as compared to allowing the controller to automatically select stars. The automatic star selection in the v3.12 controller frequently aborts in an "Alignment failed" error. In the manual chart method, the controller is set to "Autoselect stars-off" and "Sort order-Alphabetical".  Using the chart and table presented here, an observer knowledgeble about bright stars can quickly choose three appropriate stars and then manually select them during alignment. 

The chart and list provided here is particularized for observing points at 41 North latitude. 
The stars that the SkyScan v3.12 controller presents is filtered for the observer's latitude and the date of observation.  Although this table and chart will be useful between 30 degs and 50 degs North 
latitude, the controller may present other stars as valid alignment stars at latitudes other than 41 North.  The alignment star called "Tish", presented by the SkyScan controller is omitted here. 

The SkyScan controller manual (240406v2) provides the following guidance in selecting stars for 3-star alignment.  The instructions boil down to selecting stars based on an "L" shape configuration: 

1) Stars 1 and 2 are on the same side of the meridian, atleast 3 hrs apart in RA and between 3 and 60 degs apart in declination. 

2) Star 3 is on the other side of the meridian and is between 30 to 70 degs apart in declination from the first side. 

In terms of the azimuth charts presented here, these criteria can be satisifed by picking one star to the east or east-south-east quadrant, one star from the north east quadrant and a third from the north west quadrant. 

Method: 
In dedicated, off-scope mode, the SkyScan v3.12 controller was set to to "Autoselect stars-off" and "Sort order-Alphabetical".  A 1-star alignment procedure was initiated. On beginning the procedure, the list of all valid alignment stars for that date can be scrolled through.  Those stars were noted and a list built from data at the CDS Simbad internet catalogue and using the planetarium program Cartes du Ciel v2.7.  Valid alignment stars that the controller displays varies by the observer's latitude (41 North in this instance) and the controller setup date.  Three dates approximately 4 months apart (3/29/2007, 7/31/2007 and 11/1/2007) were used to capture a complete set of alignment stars for one year for this latitude.  Cartes du Ciel was used to generate a set of monthly alignment star charts for 41 N latitude. Regretably, this author did not have sufficient time to capture a set of alignment stars for the equator and the southern hemisphere.