Astroscot2

I believe the update is refering to recent forecast updates and not the software. 

12 minutes ago, astrocliffs said:

I got my SA GTI a few weeks ago but only had a chance to use it properly last weekend. Unfortunately, I have an issue with the tracking.

I have a Redcat 51, Svbony sv165 guide scope, ASI183MC-Pro, ASI120MM and use ASIAIR to control everything. The tripod is level, the equipment is balanced on both RA and DEC, and polar alignment is almost perfect using the PA feature of the ASIAIR. I  did also use the inbuilt polar scope to rule out any issues with the ASIAIR. I had a set of brand new Duracell Optimum batteries inserted in the mount ( I read a comment somewhere that some unbranded batteries may cause problems).

Despite all this, at 60 seconds I get very bad star trails unguided. I could only push it to 2 or 3 mins with guiding. A friend of mine who was with me this weekend has the same mount (with same batteries) and without guiding he was able to see round stars up to 3 mins. This Friday I am meeting my local astro supplier to test the mount together. In the meantime, if anyone has any idea what might be causing the problem or what else I could test I would like to hear from you.

Word of warning - Do not tighten the RA clutch. I did (probably out of frustration for the tracking issue) and the green knob or whatever you call just unscrewed itself. The RA knob can be screwed in and SW must have used some glue to keep it from unscrewing when tightening or loosening the RA. Anyway, I used pliers to release the RA and super glued the green knob. 

I have a similar set up as you, have you tried powering the mount via the ASIAIR to see if that makes any difference?

Neil. That's excellent, really looking forward to Mars clearing my trees. 

Still an interesting read though.

7 hours ago, steviebee said:

Hi Astroscot2 l noticed you are using an extra balance weight on your set up. Could you let me know what weight it is as l have one from my EQ3 which is a tad over 7lb and before l chop it down to give about 3lb extra weight as per the extra iOptron weights that are being used to balance. Nice set up by the way.

Hello Stevie, 

The extra weight is a 1.8kg SW counterweight I believe.  I hope to do away with the extra weight soon once I have the OAG set up. The mount handles the weight with no issues.

Mark

Im enjoying having a look through my old astro notebook and comparing my observations on stelIarium  i found my first observation of Neptune  back in 1985 . Very low in the sky from Scotland and still not properly dark at that time of year. It looks like a saw something but my drawing seems to be inaccurate.  I was always careful making my drawings but not careful enough with this one.

Ive  had a little look around PI and im impressed at the options available for processing I suspect I will be making a purchase at the end of my trial.  The power of being able to remove the stars and work on the nebula is amazing. I need more practice with masks but again I can see the potential.  Will revisit this one once I get my head around the processes and scripts.

It was known as the owl cluster before ET arrived to the screens.

Thanks again for everyone's assistance, its greatly appreciated, currently running all frames through WBPP and no errors so far.;-) I will post the final image at some point, may take a while . small steps ...

Cheers

Mark

3 hours ago, Stuart1971 said:

@scotty38 is correct, and I did nearly ask this question at the start, if the masters were created in APP, as they do delete a lot of the fits header info after that are created…this was also pointed out to me in a video I watched, but have no idea where…I was told to start with all fresh data and create all the masters fresh in PI and not use them from other software…

The masters were created in PI.  I was wondering if APP adds or deletes info from the original FITS header ?

Thanks Mark

Thanks for taking the time to look at this. With being new to PI I doubt I would have found the issue. The masters were created using PI. I had originally worked the data a few weeks back with APP and wonder if it adds or deletes info from the frame headers? Will have another bash at this once home tonight.  

Thanks again!

Mark.

Hello Steve, Ive managed to make some space on Google drive and uploaded a file with the masters and 5 light frames. Link https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uMTjmKCTUY8STcRk5bBdBA-9vkLPXkvY?usp=sharing

Would you be able to download and have a look.

Mark

21 minutes ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

Can you upload the lights and master dark / flat / bias, maybe via Google drive or similar and I will try to run the process ?

Steve

Hello Steve, my google drive is pretty full at the moment. 

53 minutes ago, Fegato said:

Is there anything in the log or the process window that gives you any more information on the error? Did the Master Flat get created correctly in a Master directory in your Output Directory?

Sorry, bit hard to see from a handful of screens, and I've not had this error myself before.

Hello , Yes I can see the masters for the Darks and Flats.

4 hours ago, Astroscot2 said:

Thanks, shall check tonight and confirm.

 

Mark

Hello.  Ive attached the Calibration Diagram.  Im assuming it does not show the Darks for Flats?

51 minutes ago, Fegato said:

 

Thanks, shall check tonight and confirm.

Mark

7 minutes ago, scotty38 said:

post your calibration diagram please

Where do I find that?

Hello.

Yes dark for flats, Ive also tried your suggestion and placed the flat/darks into the darks section, still fails as below.

Mark

Still playing with Pixinsight and having an issue with batch processing, for some reason PI is not recognising my light frames and,  I can run the same data through APP and it all registers, calibrates and stacks fine.  

Ive tried reducing the number of light frames and still no joy?   I also drop my Flat/darks into the Bias section which I assume is correct.

Could I be missing part of the process? Ive watched the tutorials and pretty sure im doing everything right.

I ended up doing a full uninstall and reinstall and  all seemed to work this time. Appreciate everyone's assistance. 

Thanks

Mark

1 hour ago, Flamidey said:

You need to go to Script / Feature Script and then choose the components of EZ you want to see in the Script menu.

Hello Ive tried this also , PI is not finding any new scripts in the folder?

1 hour ago, billhinge said:

Did you restart PI? - just installed it a couple of minutes ago. I'd been meaning to but hadn't got around to it (it used to come preinstalled)

 

Hello, yes restarted PI and even the PC

 No luck

Ive downloaded the trial version of PI after watching many tutorials and wanted to take the plunge. Anyway ive installed the EZ suite script but for the life of me I cant see it listed anywhere as an option, I assume it should
be visible under scripts but nothing showing.  Ive checked the uploads installed and its showing as installed? Could I be missing part of the process?  I also read that starnet needs to be installed, ive checked and both starnet and starnet V2 are installed.

3 hours ago, licho52 said:

Why are you quoting me?  Did I say it has anything to do with either of these things?

If I read correctly you say the white and black of the new red cat would clash with the ZWO colour scheme and would be more suited with an ioptron mount and this would be a problem for you?.. so yes I quoted you and replied that I dont see how this really matters.  I would happy buy a white telescope and place a red camera on it

2 hours ago, licho52 said:

This scheme clashes with AsiAir and the whole ZWO kit.  It only would look good on some ioptron mounts and qhy/dslr cameras and no AsiAir.   Big miss for me.

I really don't understand what a colour scheme has to do with astronomy and the end results?