AstronomyWithClaire

Hey So set up in the day, focus on a tree using the main camera/scope, then use sharpcap to focus the guide camera? How do you measure the distance from the scope to the main camera? I don't know where the sensor is on the Altair 26c. Thanks for any Pointers!

Hi everyone - I've been taking astro photos for a while now but recently obtained a Starlight XPress filter wheel with an OAG. I'm using an Altair 290C with it and cannot for the life of me get focus. I'm using NINA and a Pegasus Focus cube 2 to get Scope/Camera focus then I take the laptop outside, set the PHD2 refresh to 0.5 second and try to focus using the tiny grub screw and moving the camera / OAG body in and out of the tube. All I get is lines instead of stars. / <-- that sort of idea. If I move the prism in and out, the shape changes but not enough. I dont have the dexterity mental or otherwise to move both at the same time and lock off. Help!?

Thank everyone! Where do I post images?

Hi from reasonably dark West Sussex! I used to frequent these forums a long time ago, in a galaxy... well, right here actually. Any way that was a while ago and things have moved on. I'm a bit more of a grown up astrophotographer now - got some work in a few places (SAN magazine, a gallery in the UK and in NY, various interviews and podcasts) and I aim to promote women into STEM and space sciences - for which I am collating a book on the subject with four others. Equipment: Altair 102edr, an Altair 26c, Starlight OAG xPress filter wheel (LPRO Max, a 4nm Dual band Ha/Oiii and a 4nm Sii/Oiii DB), an Altair 290c guider, an MeLE fanless mini pc (onboard) for remote access, a Pegasus Focus Cube 2, 8port USB3 hub and Pocket Power Box mini, a Polar Camera, a Skywatcher EQ5 pro. I use NINA for sequences and SharpCap for polar alignment. Hey everyone!! Claire