Getting Started
Step 5: Verify ACP and MaxIm Scope Control

At this point, everything is installed, physically connected, and operating. Now we'll do the engineering work needed to configure the software to make the most of your observatory's capabilities. After that, we'll do some imaging runs locally. Finally, we'll do some runs over the web!

ACP and MaxIm should already be running. First let's check out ACP's telescope hub using MaxIm. OK, here we go...

1. In MaxIm DL, open the Observatory Control window and go to the Setup tab. Change MaxIm's selected Telescope to ACP Telescope Hub (ASCOM). This connects MaxIm DL's telescope control to your actual telescope through ACP, allowing both programs to have access to the telescope without conflicts. Get into the habit of leaving ACP going while using MaxIm's telescope controls. You can click back and forth (or use Alt-Tab to switch back and forth), using the manual features of both programs.
   Do not connect MaxIm's Observatory Control this way when you are automating with ACP. It is not necessary, and it leaves open the possibility of MaxIm and ACP fighting each other when doing autoguiding. We're showing this to you so you know how so use ACP's hub when using MaxIm and not ACP itself.
   
   
2. Now click Connect in the MaxIm Observatory Control window, Setup tab.
3. In ACP, click the Slew or Sync (catalog) button to open ACP's "go-to" window. Slew the scope to a fairly bright star (use the alignment star list) near the meridian and in a reasonably star-rich area. Don't go below 30 degrees elevation. You can also use MaxIm's Telescope Control Window, Catalog tab, to slew to the target object. See how these two programs work together so effortlessly? This is the benefit of ASCOM!
4. Alt-Tab to MaxIm DL (if needed) and in the Observatory Control window, switch to the Telescope tab. Verify that the telescope's current coordinates are visible in the gray area on the left. Alt-Tab to ACP and note that the RA/Dec showing there is the same. Check your telescope's hand-box and see that the coordinates are the same.
   If MaxIm's coordinates don't match, click the Options button in MaxIm's Telescope Setup and click Display RA, Dec in JNow or J2000 to match the selected equinox in ACP's display. Thereafter the coordinates should match.
   
   
5. Take a short exposure (1-2 sec.) with MaxIm DL and verify that the bright star is in the field, somewhere near the center.

   If the target is not visible, or is near the edge of the field, use the Nudge buttons to move the scope and re-image until the star is centered. If the target is visible, you can also use MaxIm's auto-centering feature to center the target. Once centered, click ACP's Sync Scope button or MaxIm's Sync button to correct the scope's pointing. This should not be needed if you completed earlier tests.

6. Check your focus with MaxIm DL. Make sure that your focus is near optimum. This is important for the next step. If a saturated or spiked star is in the field, nudge the scope a bit until you have an image without a saturated or spiked star in it. Later, you'll be able to use ACP's auto-focus features.

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