Virgin Guider with High Hopes

[richyrich_one]

Hi All

It's my first time guiding tonight, hoping to get a close up of Lovejoy. It's probably the last oppoutunity the way the weather is going, so no pressure. I could really have done without a 'last chance for 8000 years' scenario.

I'm using a 50mm finderscope with QHY5L-II Mono. Plugged everything in and everything seems to be working. I've read the guides and tried to absorb as much as possible but it's a lot to take in.

Any pitfalls a newbie like myself would need to be aware of? Hoping the cam will guide on the comet head. The words 'deep' and 'end' spring to mind.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks

[Owmuchonomy]

I'm no expert when it comes to comets but I thought the way it's done is to guide as normal on the stars and then stack in 'comet' mode in DSS. Somebody more proficient will hopefully come along soon.

[richyrich_one]

I'm no expert when it comes to comets but I thought the way it's done is to guide as normal on the stars and then stack in 'comet' mode in DSS. Somebody more proficient will hopefully come along soon.

Thanks Chris, that is one way, and it will work for short exposures.

The way I understand it is that if you want long(ish) exposures the comet will show perceptable movement, and therefore elongation, during the exposure as it's moving relatively fast compared to the background stars. I did 3 min exposures with a 160mm lens and that showed elongation of the comet head.

So you need to guide on the comet itself either by guiding on the comet head or with a custom guide rate. You will get star trails but a sharp comet and lots of detail hopefully.

Really hoping the comet head option will work.

[ollypenrice]

Guiding on a comet is an interesting way to learn about guiding! Best of luck. I confess that I've never tried it but it has to be the way to go with Lovejoy. Guiding on the background stars for three minute is certainly too long to avoid significant smearing of the comet. Go for it!

Olly

[frugal]

I guided on the comet itself. It ws certainly bright enough for the guide camera to pick up. The only downside is that the centroid is a bit larger and fuzzier, butitdid not seem to matter.

[richyrich_one]

Thanks for your replies, so busy at the moment.

As it turns out it was a complete disaster!

I had all sorts of hassle trying to get the QHY to play nicely with PHD. I spent so much time on it and before you knew it the clouds came in.

I'm still not 100% sure I have all/right drivers installed for it, or which QHY driver to select in PHD. I think I have settled on the ASCOM driver, it seems to give the expected output.

It didn't help that after playing around with sharpcap that it had not shudown properly and still had hold of the QHY somehow and I couldn't get anything but a black screen out of the camera for ages until I realised what was going on.

Oh well, it was a tall order to guide on a comet, first time guiding, with a new camera.

Looks like some clear nights are coming up, will have to get out there and give it another go.

Too late for a closeup of Lovejoy though probably...At least I got a widefield of it a few nights before...

[Photosbykev]

worth taking a look at this detailed tutorial on guiding with PHD and finderscopes http://lightvortexastronomy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/tutorial-imaging-setting-up-orion.html

[richyrich_one]

worth taking a look at this detailed tutorial on guiding with PHD and finderscopes http://lightvortexastronomy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/tutorial-imaging-setting-up-orion.html

I will, thanks.