Well it's been a LOONG time since last posting. A house move and other family crises intervening.

Finally things are settling down and I managed to get out under the stars for the first time proper at our new house. Scope is now in a semi-permnent position (scope permanent, camera, PC etc. not)

So got the gear guiding again and got out my new and shiny ATIK 383L+ :D

Thin cloud + full moon so I was never going to get a good shot :mad:, but at least I could get the scope aligned etc.

New for this session:

1. Atik 383L+

2. decently dark sky (in theory, when it isn't cloudy)

3. semi-permanent position.

Result:

About half a dozen stars recorded on 12 x 1 minute frames. FWHM ~= 3.5 arc seconds. stil a way to go on that, target is 2 arc second FWHM.

Guiding log below (this is at 1.5m and 8.3u pixels, so about 1 arc second per pixel)

notable issues:

1. mount needs the self programming PEC re-write adding.

2. worms need some new ball beaings (in the post) and new motor mounts (also in the post)

3. CCD iced up a touch, so I mustn't run it so cold for now. (one of the problems on a newt, the CCD can face down, spilling cold air)