PoleFinder.exe (Version 1.7.0.0)
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This program simulates the use of the pole finder for Takahashi 
EM-200 and EM-400 mounts.

New:

Sep 21, 2012 

PoleFinder.exe has a WEBServer Http://hostName:9090/Polar/Finder.htm

To activate the server, open menu/View and click Run Server. This will display a new icon in the finder. By moving the mouse over the icon a tooltip displays the complete link.
Useful with a tablet pc when working with the polar scope.


The File menu has two entries to get location data and time zone

1st Reading location data from any of your ASCOM Platform 6.0 Telescope drivers (needs properties Longitude, Latitude and Elevation) 

2nd Reading location data from TheSky (professional versions 6 or X required)


Simple reading assistance of the reticule at night
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In the menu select View / Show 0 and 12hr matching dates

If this option is selected, two labels in the finder window show the 2 dates 
matching the 00:00hr and 12:00hr time scale. Use either and ease the reticule reading.
I.e., if you see 00:00 @ 10/8.7, turn the reticule, until the 0h of the hour scale
is pointing to day 8.7 in month 10.

Click the matching dates label and get a large window with the 0 or 12 hour matching day for 'remote' reading

NEW: activate a speaker under View/Activate Speech/Noon 12:00  or Midnight 24.00 and listen the current month and day position for the reticule. 

- With 'refracted' checked, all stars are lowered according to the atmospheric 
refraction of the observers latitude. Please see the EM-200/400 manual (How to use the EM... in Lower Latitude Area)


Requirements:

Microsoft Windows Operating systems XP with .NET Framework 
Redistributable Package version 2.0 installed or Vista and Win7.

Registry changes at runtime:

User data are recorded under
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\TakPolarFinder\Settings

Some handling instructions:

Most of the controls are standard. 
The 4 round controls in the lower part of the mount groupbox simulate azimut,
altitude errors and change the brightness of the scope's illumination.
They must be selected by the mouse and after selection, they respond either 
to mouse wheel rotation or +/- keys. A double click resets their values to 0.

The offset scale is calcutated with every change to the time zone or longitude.
A manual change by keyboard or left mouse button move over the black bar
can demonstrate the difference of any time scale position to the correct position.

The position of the date-ring is calculated with a date and/or time change. 
When the mouse pointer enters the date-ring, the cursor becomes a hand-cursor 
and allowes manual "eyepiece" rotation.

Keys:
Home  - date and time set to 2000-01-01T12:00:00 UTC  (J2000)
End   - date and time set to 2040-01-01T12:00:00 UTC
Up    - move the pole axis up
Down  - move the pole axis down
Left  - turn the left azimuth wheel clockwise
Right - turn the right azimuth wheel clockwise

Date & Time can be changed with Up and Down-keys while the cursor is placed 
in the Y/M/D and Time-fields.

 2007,2012, Hartmut V. Bornemann
Yahoo! ID: hvb356 






