Introduction to PrecisionPEC

 

What is PrecisionPEC?

PrecisionPEC is a Windows application that provides tools to:

 

  • Analyze the periodic error of your Paramount ME robotic telescope mount (using an autoguider log generated by CCDSoft version 5) using a proprietary algorithm, precisely model the worm's periodic error.

  • Upload the modeled PEC curve to the control system.

 

The Problem

The Paramount ME's periodic error is typically in the order of 2-3.5 arcseconds. Under all but extremely good seeing conditions, measuring this small error can be very difficult, even using an autoguider, because the random errors caused by local seeing conditions is often larger that the actual period error.

 

Manually determining a "best PEC" curve to this data is short of impossible.

 

The Solution

 

PrecisionPEC!

 

Software Bisque has developed a very powerful algorithm that can precisely determine the periodic error of your gears, regardless of the seeing conditions.

 

How Does PrecisionPEC Work?

 

You collect ten or so cycles of tracking data using CCDSoft version 5. PrecisionPEC does the rest. PrecisionPEC knows the fundamental "harmonics" in your telescope system, and uses them for as the baseline for analysis of the mount's periodic error. A high-powered proprietary algorithm analyzes the data, and figures out the optimal PEC curve based on your data.

 

Once the fitted PEC curve has been computed, you can transfer the final PEC curve (based on the fitted curve) to the Paramount ME's control system.

 

What are the Results?

 

PrecisionPEC virtually "flat lines" the Paramount ME's periodic error curve. The photograph below shows the periodic error before (top segment) and after (bottom segment) the PrecisionPEC is applied.

 

 

Image details:

 

Duration: 16 minutes

Scale: 1.03 arcseconds per pixel

Optic: Celestron C-14 at f/11 (154 in. focal length)

Mount: Software Bisque Paramount ME

Camera: SBIG ST-9E

 

Notes:

  • The "gap" is a 15 arcsecond "jog" in declination, after which the PrecisionPEC curve was enabled.

  • The mount was deliberately moved "off" the celestial pole to generate the above trailing star image.

 

See Quantifying the Corrected Periodic Error for more information on this technique.