TerryMcK

Last year I got 54 clear nights.

I wouldn't worry too much about the graph. As you said that you were getting nice round stars then that is evidence enough. I've used the multi star guiding a few times and it is really good.

2 hours ago, BCN_Sean said:

Apologies if this is in the wrong section, I didn't know whether to put it here or in the getting started with imaging sub-forum.

I'm currently looking to build myself a portable astro-photo setup, nothing too big as one of the considerations is to be able to pack it in to a carry box that is similar in dimension to roughly airline hand luggage size without the tripod.

The plan I'm looking at over the next year is to go up to 300mm maximum, adding in a small guider setup running on a Raspberry Pi 4 and using a lightweight mirrorless (APS-C, ~4.8µm pitch) and a dew band for the time being to get (hopefully) 60 - 120 seconds per sub with an all up weight of a bit less than 3kg if all mounted on the same end of the bracket.

Mount wise, I'm leaning towards the SkyWatcher StarAdventurer 2i as with a few others I've looked at in a similar price range seem to have a few compromises although may be slightly better (mounts like the iEXOS-100, AZ-Gti) or my local place doesn't supply them (the smaller iOptron mounts).

Is this a sensible setup or am I expecting for too much from too little?

Any insights, suggestions or prods in different directions greatly appreciated!  Thanks in advance.

Sounds like a good setup. The SW Star Adventurer will be great for what you want coupled with PHD2 on the PI. Astroberry on the PI will work great for that as PHD2 is included. Couple it with a small guidescope like a ZWO mini guidescope,  a ZWO ASI120MM guide camera then you should be good to go.

That looks a lot better with crisp sharp stars. Glad you got the issue sorted out.

2 hours ago, Very Amateur said:

I've gone retro and bought the Philips SPC900 webcam. I installed the SPC900NC_00_dw7_eng.exe driver using Hildo's procedure above and it's working on my Windows 10 PC in Sharpcap. Fingers crossed for some clear sky soon to put it into action! 

Thanks Hildo. 

Yes they are good little cameras. I have two and a Logitech C270 which is almost as good.

On 01/01/2021 at 19:14, Shimrod said:

I have just bought one of these K&F tripods for use with my 20x80 binoculars. You don't specify a budget - the one linked to is their tallest aluminium tripod and costs £103 - however if you are tall (I am 6'2") then this tripod puts the binoculars at eye height without needing to extend the centre column. There are also a range of shorter K&F tripods available if you don't  need the height. The other useful feature this tripod has is a second 'centre' column that can pivot through 90 degrees - this means you can have the binoculars off to one side so you are not kicking the tripod legs - or use the tripod to one side of a chair while having the binoculars in front of you. Not as good as a parallelogram mount, but a lot cheaper!

I have just bought one of these K&F tripods and am impressed with it. It holds my Helios 20x80's with ease along with a Dynasun WT011H 3/8 Tripod Head Grip Action Ball https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001B0C2S6

It also converts to a monopod. Well recommended.

The first and last look slightly out of focus to me. Hot pixel seen in red at the top left of the frame. 

On another note reduce your ISO to 800 or less. There is no benefit from higher ISO apart from introducing more noise.

I probably won't be around by then.

Great work Steve.

Sometimes I find a gentle tap with the back of a teaspoon onto the rim works. But be gentle.

Fantastic captures

2 hours ago, savcom said:

Hi Steve

I was aware of the USB-C issues but a quick trawl revealed these (which may now be resolved of course). Looks to mainly apply to earlier versions of the Pi4.  Also - it's not clear if these would affect the uses we are putting them to.

USB-C issues:
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/16/exploring-the-raspberry-pi-4-usb-c-issue-in-depth/
https://www.cnx-software.com/2020/02/24/raspberry-pi-4-rev-1-2-fixes-usb-c-power-issues-improves-sd-card-resilience/

Raspberry Pi failure rate and main instability sources:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=295976&p=1785170#p1785170

 

HDMI issues:
https://forum.libreelec.tv/thread/20161-rpi4-hdmi-cec-not-working/
https://howtoraspberrypi.com/raspberry-pi-hdmi-not-working/
https://www.raspberrypistarterkits.com/guide/raspberry-pi-hdmi-not-working/

 

 

 

 

 

1st one looks like early hardware problems which have probably been sorted now.

Second one is a forum talking about SSDs and swap files the latter are totally configurable.

Third one is irrelevant as hdmi is not necessary (nor any screen for that matter) with Astroberry.

Thanks for linking to them though

Can you get one? That is the main problem at the moment with supply chain issues.

Just to say I have 2 x Pi4 4GB and have never had any issues with them at all. Not sure where you are hearing the unreliability from.

Good image Francis. I think Chuck from chucksastrophotography solved the cabling problem with a RASA by spiralling the cable. I'm sure I saw that on his Youtube channel.

I'm another Astroberry KStars/EKOS/INDI user on the Pi4. Recently I tried out the PHD2 multistar guiding on the platform and it worked really well just like the internal multistar guiding.

I too have gone through many iterations of capture software on a PC, still having a subscription to APT (only 6 Euros/year), looked at Nina which looks great, SGP which also looked good and is used by many people - some people have recently commented on its pricing model.

I have nothing against Windows operating systems (Microsoft server systems have kept me in employment for many decades) but after one or two "updates" done during the night when I was imaging I had enough. I turned the updates off in services but the Windows update medic service turned it back on. I can disable both services permanently by editing the registry and placing permissions on the keys. I could also change the time when it does upgrades but as I said I had had enough. No more Windoze on capture PC.

Linux was the way to go and the footprint of the Pi4 in a Flirc case is miniscule and EKOS does everything I want to do automatically while I sleep - plate solve, focus, capture images, guide the mount, change filters, rotate the camera, open/close a dome (if I had one), etc. Also being conscious of the little amount of time in the UK we get to image between the clouds I am no longer experimenting with capture software. Kstars/EKOS it is for me. I also have a second Pi just in case I run into issues with the first one.

Broadly speaking INDI in Linux is the equivalent of ASCOM in Windows and there are INDI "drivers" for most gear. New drivers are being added all the time.

Excellent talk Steve @tomato

Thanks very much

It looks great

Very productive evening Neil and some great captures

Ok at least that has got that out of the equation. That does seem to narrow it down to the triplet as others have said and get a realignment. I always steer clear of adjusting the optics and leave that to the pros.

I've seen that before with one of my scopes. It turned out that the backfocus was a tad out and during the colder weather it was more noticeable. The scope itself was alright in my case.

Have you tried altering the shimming of your camera.

Straight to the horizon 

I just stood by my scope and did a 360 photo with my iPhone and pointed it level at the horizon (which I estimated). You can fine tune the position of it within Stellarium.

Assuming you have Stellarium Scope (a third party program) installed and properly configured I think from memory you have to click on the object you are interested in within Stellarium and then press Ctl 1

It's ages since I used a PC with ASCOM/Stellarium/Stellarium Scope but it worked very well.

12 hours ago, chemist said:

TerryMcK, How did you determine pixel size of the C270? I am trying to use one of these in an optics lab.

I didn’t state the pixel size but it is 5.6 micron according to http://www.orion-xt10.com/philips-spc900nc-webcam.html

Google may be your best friend to verify.