Richie092

I had this the other night. Just couldn’t get focus using Lakeside with Ekos on my Star 71. My step size is set to ten so will up that. in the end I sat there just capturing an image and watching HFR jump around so figured it was just a bad night but focusing has been the bane of my set up.

I don’t think it does. The idea is to create your capture list. Save it as “insert target here” then go to the scheduler, import it, then fill in the rest of the settings I don’t use scheduler at the moment I just set my alarm to wake me when the capture run has finished then manually park and shut down/dismantle

I just use a USB port from the Pegasus to power the Pi. Works fine. I checked the other night and I was drawing 3.5 amps. Most of that was the Atik camera. Not using dew straps yet I did go for the expensive power supply in the end. When you add up the cost of everything else I didn’t think it was worth skimping. The Pegasus has transformed my set up and take down times I love it

As I have the stepper motor on one side of the focuser I have velcroed the Pi (it weighs next to nothing) to the flat end of the other side and the UPBV2 is bolted to the extra long bar as MarkAR has done. p.s. I have tidied the cables now.

yep, Astroberry and a tablet to hotspot. Keep it simple.

Ekos on StellarMate for me. I got back in to AP during lockdown and when I logged back in here I noticed people talking about the Raspberry Pie. I thought they were talking about dessert until I looked in to it It is a bit of a steep learning curve if like me you don’t have a clue but worth the effort. 6 years ago I remember having multiple programs open on an ageing laptop trying to get them all to work together. Wasn’t fun.

You are not wrong. Will post up on what I decide but in the meantime stay well.

Thanks for the replies. it’s looking like the Essato is in the lead. Might get have to sell some stuff to fund it though.

Just going through the research on this myself for my 8HD what did you decide on #souls33k3r ? The Essatto looks lovely. For now I am "mainly" going to use for visual and would like a nicer focuser, imaging with it is deff in the pipeline though.

Couldn’t make this one but looking forward to seeing the re run. Have just started with PI so help with creating a workflow would be really helpful. Especially as you can use the same data set.

Lovely, really like the colours.

You are welcome. The stepper looks to me like it will be the last thing to go. I always thought the control box to be a bit flimsy. It's here if you need it.

Now I have my Pegasus working am happy to send you my lakeside controller and ribbon cable if you would like to borrow and rule them out?

Edited as I can see you have it fixed with the metal bracket, how is it rotating? The focuser has given me more headaches than the rest of the system combined... including the RPi4 and Stellarmate that was as familiar as alien technology to me.

My fingers are crossed for you. It does take a bit of tinkering to get the set up right doesn't it?!

Can't be overmounted 🙂. I also have an Edge 8HD that sits on it. There is a fair bit of weight there.

Ah yes, but as I have the older Star 71 I cant get the 105mm space between hole centres so I had to turn the gold dovetail over and "bodge it" with nuts and bolts, can't quite get my fingers under to use as a carry handle but is rock solid. Are you going for the uniguide? This one was in stock so went for it but it doesn't have a focuser, was a bit of a faff setting it up. I will admit it isn't quite as neat from the other side...

I had a similiar issue with my Star 71. Purchased a longer rail and stuck my Pegasus up the front. Works like a dream now 🙂

Hiya. I have the same set up. I connect and use it from the SkyPortal app. I click connect and align. Once it has gone through the process of doing this it will track whatever I choose. If you choose the moon it will choose the speed it tracks it at for example. fantastic set up, good choice.

What a great result for 51 minutes!! Well Done. I'm working on this at the moment thinking I might need another night on it but I might just have a go with what I’ve got and see if I can get it anywhere near as good as yours.

Are you on mains power or battery?

Thank you. Your comments are appreciated. I will have another go and calm it down a bit. 😬

Thank you for the feedback. I was getting a bit carried away towards the end I might have another go and ease off a bit. Loving my narrow band filters, I was surprised how much they held back the stars (if that is the right term)

Yeah but then you get it all hooked up and get your first view of the moon through it and you forget all about the cost/stress/choices 🙂

Another way to look at it is - You have ordered yourself a great visual set up there in my humble opinion. Over time, you can build up a second outfit from value second hand purchases for AP and keep using your Nexstar for visual. I did exactly what you have done. Tons of research then ordered the 8 Edge HD on an Evolution mount. It took a month or so to arrive and in that time I decided I wanted to go down the AP rabbit hole. Don't regret buying it though as I use it while the imaging set up is taking, well, images.