fireshipjohn

Hi, I see there is a new official camera for the Raspberry Pi, 12 megapixel Sony IMX477 sensor, C/CS mount. What possibilities does it have for us? All-sky, Guider, Peltier addition or maybe a lower risk way to Debayer https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/new-product-raspberry-pi-high-quality-camera-on-sale-now-at-50/ John

Yes, very unstable seeing here in Essex, but looks good when its stable! V. Difficult to focus. John

Yes, here it is in Essex in the last 10 mins...

Hi Wyvern, it does not need to be command line only, you can run a Ubuntu/Debian desktop and VNC to it, use CLI when its available, I use ASTAP on Astroberry and its pretty good for stacking and alignment. It works on a Raspberry Pi4 so I have no doubt its really fast on that sort of hardware! Don't forget the upload/download time and bandwidth in that equation though.

Hi, I had exactly the same issue with that adaptor when trying to mount my EQ5 on an EQ6 tripod, spoke to the supplier who said it was only specced for the HEQ5. So I did go the Fred Dibnah route and took a dremel to the inside face of the Geoptik. 10 minutes of gentle grinding and it fits snugly. Who is going to see the inside of the adaptor anyway

The reducer aspect is still useful (if desired), the flattener aspect corrects the image distortion towards the edges of the frame, for a small sensor it will have no effect, but will cause no harm also! If it's like my ED80 the .85x Flattener/Reducer presents a 48mm thread, you probably need a 48mm/42mm (T thread) adaptor, https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-m48-to-t2-adapter.html but I would check with FLO The spacing to your sensor is critical, from the back of the Flattener/Reducer you need 55mm to the plane of the sensor. See this useful guide on the ZWO site: https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/tutorials/best-back-focus-length-solutions-55mm.html

It's a reference to the widest aperture available over the range of the zoom, typically more at the lower end of the zoom range, so in your example at 55mm it would be f4 and at 250mm it would be f5.6. All the smaller apertures are available at all zoom lengths, so f8 is available across the range of the zoom.

I agree with @david_taurus83 you need to test this all out locally first, there is a learning curve! Not sure of the advantage of the Stellarmate app, you can connect directly to Astroberry via your web browser. Why would you need an app? And a leisure battery is a good idea, That's what I use with a case that incorporates sockets, fuses and a 5v regulator.

Or if you want even cheaper how about astroberry on a pi4. I use that and it's really very capable, I can use computer, tablet or phone to view it remotely. My system is a motorized EQ5 with AstroEQ box, but EQ6 will be easy. The main consideration will be a 12V supply with 5V output sufficient for the Pi. You will probably need a decent powered USB hub also, dont skimp on that. Then its just wiring and learning

Hi James, As there is not much else in the circuit, and I assume you have removed the Stepper driver to eliminate that? If so and the problem remains its almost certainly the reset circuitry. Try removing those components until the basic Nano works. I did not build the reset/power on cct. in, and my focusser works just fine. Definitely do not connect 12v up yet! Good Luck John

My low torque focuser uses silicone hairbands from Boots Wife and daughter keep me supplied

Annoying clouds here in Essex but got some decent breaks, poor photo with the phone, but nice small disk

Excellent seeing in Essex, much to my surprise! John