Getting Started
Step 2: Site Information

1. You need to know the geodetic position (lat/long) of your observatory. If you are lucky enough to own a GPS unit, this is a snap. Otherwise, use Google Earth or any of the geo-coding services on the net. Of course, you can use paper maps as well 
2. Your computer must be correctly set for your time zone, and whether or not you use daylight time. You should have set this up on your PC during installation of ACP. If not, you must do this now. Click the shortcut icon on the right to open the Date/Time control panel. Do not force UTC time on your computer!

The accuracy of your PC clock is vital. Windows XP and later have built-in time sync services, however they run at very infrequent intervals (once a week or less often). For the most in accuracy, you can use one of the 3rd party time sync apps to keep your PC clock locked to the USNO or NIST standard clocks. I use Rob Chambers' Dimension 4, which runs in the background and is very small. I have used it for years and never had a lick of trouble. Another time-setting program is AboutTime. If you are in the field, you can use a GPS for both position and time.

A few areas such as the US state of Arizona do not use daylight/summer time. The Date/Time control panel has specific time zone selections for most of these areas. For example, the correct choice for Arizona is (-07:00) Arizona rather than (-07:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada). Check to see if the checkbox Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving changes is disabled (grayed). If it is, you have selected a time zone that does not use daylight at all.

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