teoria_del_big_bang

On a slightly different note quite recently I read a thread (not on SGL - is that cries of traitor I hear ? 🙂 ) about updating the Firmware of the QHY258 but can't seem to find the thread again or find info anywhere how to do this or what levels of firmware cured what issues. Has anyone ever updated their Firmware or heard anything similar. Obviously not really something to do unless it is curing critical issues as firmware updates are always dodgy to perform. Steve

Odd, although I have had issues with my QHY 268M not connecting sometimes then if I unplug the USB cable and reconnect it its then is available in the NINA drop down box. I am not sure what issues it can cause but the instructions for loading the QHY package say to install it with the camera unplugged - did you follow this ? However I usually get it to connect in EZCap without issues so very odd. I certainly do empathise with you as yes this hobby just loves to give you issues like this, usually on a lovely clear night when you just want to get imaging. Steve

BBC Sky At Night Magazine Back Issues (buysubscriptions.com) Steve

That is superb 🙂 Definitely one of the best images of this target I have seen and there is a lot of them 🙂 Steve

Not sure I just powered mine up (saw your post just before I went to bed as weather here is pants) and I can see it ok. as far as I know I am on the latest QHY driver and also up to date with NINA releases so maybe worth a go updating them. Good luck 🙂 Steve

Your title is a little confusing as this sounds like it has nothing to do with autoguiding as it happens when you slew to a target at which stage autoguiding is not even being used. How much imaging have you done before starting to use autoguiding ? Did you once have it all working and only since introducing PHD2 and a guide scope and camera it has gone wrong ? All sounds a bit confusing to me as PHD2 and autoguiding has no influence at all over slewing to target only once on target and tracking will they come into play. If you have no real experience in imaging yet then don't panic as we all had these sort of issues once and best not to try to do everything in one go, forget the guiding for now and concentrate on good polar alignment and slewing to somewhere near the target, it will not go bang on the correct position but should be in the ball park at least if your settings are correct. Maybe tell us where in the world you are and maybe some screenshots of your setup in NINA regarding the mount and Astrometry. Check things like the time, site coordinates. How are you telling it to go to the target, through NINA or handset ? Steve

I think at one time this was true, I had seen the same recommendation some years ago but a lot of work has gone into this area in PI and would think there is now no reason not to use PI for all pre-processing (someone will correct me if I am wrong here). Personally I really suggest you use WBPP script and at least have a compare. It is so easy to use especially when you grasp the use of keywords and for any image using multiple sessions with different flats or different exposure times it is a Godsend. Steve

That is soooo good, wonderful detail and colour. Steve

Believe me do not wish your life away, all being well it will come but don't be in a rush to get there 🙂 That would be a great thing to do, pity its not so easy to spend more than 90 days anywhere now without residency and then that creates other issues if you want to spend the other 6 months in UK, but can't get into that argument, and don't want to 🙂 Steve

Well that tells the whole story of 2022 for me 😞 Steve

I guess it would have to be self build if I did that, but a thought, wife loves the beach 🙂 Steve

I really would like to see a map of UK showing the amount of clear sky over a year then I can start persuading the wife that that is really a great place to retire to 🤣# Does any such thing exist ? Steve

HERE is an old thread that may help and has links within it to other similar threads. As you will see I built on a couple of years ago and works a treat using a large(ish) leisure battery. Only real downsides are it is very heavy and needs putting on trickle charge every few weeks even if not used to keep battery healthy and do not run the battery right down when in use so buy a battery bigger than anything you think you may need in a night. Steve

I must admit I miss a lot of possible imaging time because I usually only leave my rig out if I am absolutely sure it will not rain at all which in Yorkshire does not happen too often, or in the darker months when I can start imaging on or before 9 pm I may do a couple of hours as usually for me a perfectly clear sky usually ends up with cloud cover soon after rolling my gear out onto the patio and so after an hour or so imaging usually gets rolled back in. The summer months were obviously the driest as the country suffered the drought but I also do not do much in the non astro darkness time of year due to poor conditions and lack of targets suitable for my current setup. So my notebook (which is a continuous one not just yearly) has about 10 pages filled out 😞 As you managed some sort of imaging for more than 1/4 of 2022 that is some achievement so well done 👏 And for 2023 I really do hope you run out of pages 🙂 Steve

These really are spectacular images, I love the top one especially and it would proudly sit on my living room wall after the biggest enlargement possible if it was mine. 🙂 Steve

Thanks for that, they are a great help 🙂 God knows when the skies up here will clear though to put them to use . ☁️🌩️ Steve

Great image by the way @Quatermass 🙂 Steve

I am also wanting to use the advanced sequencer but not yet got my head round it and so many times end up using the simple sequencer just to get some imaging in before the clouds roll in. I would really love to see some of your templates and sequences if that is not asking too much 🙂 Steve

Welcome to SGL 🙂 Please tell us a little about yourself and feel free to ask any questions, SGL has lots of friendly members willing to help with anything 🙂 Steve

Great images, 2022 is one to forget for me too imaging wise as also terrible for me, so I join you in hoping for some clearer skies in 23 🙂 Steve

I certainly think you are right not to go with a toy telescope if you really want your daughter to get into astronomy properly. Of course at 7 this is very difficult to determine if she will or not but I still think you have to give them something reasonable, without spending a fortune, otherwise a pure toy scope will probably put her off for the immediate future. I think both your choices are pretty good options although I am not the best to give telescope advice they seem reasonable starter scopes to me. The first one would probably be ideal for her to use pretty much on her own with minimal supervision but the second, more expensive one, would be good for you both to use and if you did the observing together then that would also encourage her more to continue in what really is a great hobby, and maybe could lead to more such as a career path, you never know 😉. @Mandy D suggestion is a good one and not sure how it works ordering from FLO but they ship all over Europe so maybe an option. Steve

I bought a 2nd hand RC6 for exactly the same purpose but by the time I added all the bits to make it a useful imaging scope. Quality focuser including adaptors to make it fit, Full length top dovetail for a guidescope (or I suppose a OAG). Balance weights so it is not so far forward in the mount dovetail clamp it is unsafe). Reducer - yes I know it says can be used without but after asking in SGL most people seemed to think I would be better off with one. Then it starts to be not so much the budget scope you originally thought it was. That is not to say don't get one but just something to factor in coastwise when you are looking at your budget. Oh and I still haven't sorted the collimation out yet a year later, but that maybe more down to me not devoting enough imaging time to it last year due to the overall lack of nights without cloud cover more than an issue with the scope. Steve

Darker skies now I bet Steve

Your not that far from RVO near Rotherham I would take it there and get their opinion on what is needed. Steve

Ha Ha, it's okay you will get a load more now for this apology 🙂 I think we know you well enough to forgive you, just this once. Steve