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  • Latest Posts

    • Or if you are ever considering visiting the South African Astronomical Observatory near Sutherland then you might be able to pick up some wine made on a local estate. I got some of these from a cafe in Sutherland. Nigel  
    • Where are the diffraction spikes coming from in these images? I get how this would appeal to somebody looking for a do-it-all box that will point and shoot. No argument there. It's a low cost gateway into imaging. Seems to be quite popular with the visual crowd, who don't want the time, headache or expense of a full astro-imaging set up and processing learning curve. Also may appeal to some imagers who want a quick grab-n-go, or a n00b looking to get into imaging.  But those low-res images confirm what is my opinion. It isn't for me, I went past that level a couple of years ago with a APSC DSLR and tracker, and I agree with Ed Tings opinion. But hey, horses for courses. You want to use this, not my concern. I just know I'd be looking to move on within a few months, and this thing is not upscaleable.   
    • You can normally sync the mount once you've done a plate solve though I've never felt the need to do this as you have plate solving at your fingertips.  
    • On some levels last night was disappointing and frustrating but at the same time I did quite a bit of work on my process so I'm claiming it as a win. Scope out at 1330 to cool as it looked like the sky was going to be clear. 1900 I got out with the finderscope on a tripod and had a look at Jupiter - when the clouds cleared I could discern some banding and 4 moons. It always surprises me when I can see something through the scope and look up and see the target is covered in cloud - but there is enough light that the telescope can pick it up.. About 2015 the clouds had cleared enough so I move the C925 and mount onto the terrace - first outside session with the Asiair - and the issues started.  It wouldn't plate solve with the camera in the OAG suggesting the issue was the focal length, then I remembered the Focal reducer was in place - so I calculated the new focal length and tried again - still no go.. I was tempted to go back in the house at that point but persevered, replaced my finder scope with one I could put the camera on - and it plate solved. Went through the all sky polar alignment - which took ages with the clouds. While I was waiting I took the OAG off and on went a diagonal and an eye piece. With the mount polar aligned I started slewing to targets and realised that the guidescope was out of line.. Thought about calling it quits there but persevered and aligned everything - swung to split Lyrae and as the mount slewed total cloud cover rolled in.. So not much seen but a good evenings work in poor conditions which should save me time when when do get a clear night !  
    • My understanding based on how it works in Ekos is that the software maintains a mount model which takes into account the accuracy of PA etc. This is updated every time you platesolve and allows it to calculate the slew needed to accurately reach an object. The software has options to save the model on your computer so its reused the next time (this would work only if you havent moved the scope & mount, eg.in an observatory). I dont know if the model is saved onto the mount itself as different mounts may or may not have that capability to retain this info. Here is the explanation from Stellarmate page: Each time an image is plate-solved successfully, a Sync point is appended to the Mount Model. With more points added, the mount GOTO accuracy would improve especially if there are sync points close to the GOTO target.      
  • Recent Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Earl

      grey wet and hail....
      · 0 replies
    • Hawksmoor

      The sky has ben briefly clear for a change so captured some data. A spectrum from the carbon star La Superba and some video clips of the Full Moon. The Lunar data gave me the opportunity to try James Ritson's latest lunar disc macro for AFFP02 which was in his last update. Excellent for high definition, even when using my mini rig and 66mm Altair Lightwave scope. Have put image of Full Moon in my Moon Album. Still working on processing the spectrum.🧐
      · 0 replies
    • Earl

      Grey and wet, how suprisng.....
      · 0 replies
    • Earl

      64GB CF card arrived. only had a 512mb with the camera with the space for 30 photos LOL. 350 photos took up 30GB Raw and JPG max res... thats better!
      · 0 replies
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