The pointing accuracy of the INT is sufficiently high that acquisition onto the centre of the TV field (within 15 say) is usually possible. Positions should therefore be measured to better than 5 arcsec. A finding chart is necessary for all but the brightest targets. It should cover an area somewhat larger than the field of the acquisition TV, with orientation and scale clearly marked. A 10square is about right.
Two coordinate systems are supported : mean pre-IAU76 and geocentric apparent at the time of observation. Neglect of the difference between pre- and post-IAU76 systems gives rise to a maximum error of about 1 arcsec in practical cases, which is small compared with the pointing error. Optional parameters are proper motions (often needed for white dwarfs used as spectrophotometric standards,) where the epoch is assumed to be the same as equinox, and differential tracking rates in RA and Dec, (needed for solar system objects). Conversion of target coordinates can be performed with the COCO package (Starlink User Note 56) beforehand in the UK, or on the VAX 8300 at La Palma.
If the target is fainter than about 20 magnitude, it will not be visible on
the acquisition TV and a Blind Offset will have to be performed,
(see Section 
for details of indirect methods).
The offset star should preferably be within an arcmin of
the target, and should be in the magnitude range 9 to 16 mag.
The difference in position between the
target and blind offset must be measured to arcsecond accuracy
before arriving at the telescope.
Blind offsets by moving the telescope are not currently reliable
in Dec (errors of 1 - 2 arcsec are possible) on the INT.
However subarcsecond accuracy is easily achieved by moving the probe
of the autoguider.