Newforestgimp

I just can’t seem to get a nice image without stretching the nuts off it, I need a workflow that proves to me if the data is good so I can have faith in the data capture technique

HI All, I wonder if anybody would care to review a set of data I've captured, post processing for me is a massive learning curve and ive been concentrating on trying to improve the DATA IN. If anybody could look at the following and maybe do a quick process and advise what the main issues are to set me going on an improved path id be most grateful. The following were captured via NINA, with an ASI071mc Pro via an RC8" scope with apprx 0.71 reduction giving apparent FL of 1166mm, 2 min guided subs at 90 Gain 20 Offset, a CLS CCD filter is in the image train https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ye0fs1ynm67a8bz/AAC3Br8t0mlMmS4ufXvwVxNMa?dl=0 Any pointers as my attempts to process are not good, I dont know if its crap data IN Crap data OUT or Decent Data IN, crap bloke in middle causing crap data OUT 🙂 Either way im sure it will cause the gurus some laughter, i wont be offended. Regards & Clear Skies Andy

Cheers I’ll take a look and adjust mine 👍

I really like NINA until it randomly stops working for reasons unknown, however, I’ve just experienced the same with APT sooo….. With regard to NINA how do you handle the automatic Phd2 startup ? I always seem to get in a brain fudge with it. Andy

Ain’t that the truth !!! NINA is working for me tonight so I shall stick with it, we get precious few clear nights it kills me when you get some new error from the same setup that worked fine before. The APT forum are pointing to power supply mainly, and drivers, but it’s working with same supply and drivers on NINA.

Just tried NINA and temp is stable after three exposures, no power cuts etc, no Nina camera errors, the NINA errors may have been fixed by driver update performed Friday I guess ? So it would appear to be the way APT is triggering the image download or something ? Probably one of a million settings not correct on APT. problem is now is NIBA has been less than a fun experience for me so far, just when I think it’s working it errors on camera or mount or “insert any random device”

I would but getting errors about image size from NINA, I will try nina again.

Hi all I’ve been having issues cooling my ASI071MC PRO via APT, the initial Cool down works and maintains temp, but when I start an imaging session after the first exposure and every subsequent exposure is complete the power on the camera drops to 0% and camera temp begins to rise back toward ambient, the power remains removed for approx 20-30seconds then returns, the camera starts to cool again back toward the set point, however, before it can reach set point the next exposure completes, removes the power, temp starts to increase. this cycle simply repeats for the duration of the image plan. I’ve updated camera drivers, I’ve tried mains 12v 5a and battery 12v 10a supplies to the rig and the pattern remains. This is a new camera (late 2021 purchase) Any ideas ? Similar experiences ? regards Andy

I’ve since moved to a dedicated Astro Camera and focusing is getting better, not 100% pinpoint but as you say that could be the stock focuser which I’ll look to upgrade when funds allow.

Thanks Adrian, that sounds like my experience last night, horrible to watch and hear. I’m hoping the fact I can manually power the mount around via laptop and commander that I’ve gotten away with it ? As for control I was using laptop and APT until everything went south and I then reverted to Ioptron commander on the laptop. I might try using the handset as if it was fresh out of the box and try setting park position on that. Andy

First clear night in months and it was a total disaster. Spent hours trying to polar align & achieve focus, got there eventually, ran a few test exposures waiting for the nights intended target to come into view and then inexplicably decided I need to check the battery status and hit the wrong button & powered it off inadvertently whilst everything was running!!!!! Then the real fun and games started with a mount totally out of whack,I tried to park it and it crashed into the pier I’m just hoping to god I haven’t mullered it !!! I managed to get manual control back on the mount but I couldnt get it to park correctly and it crashed into the pier AGAIN !!!!! once again regained manual control, released the clutches, moved scope to weights down and scope pointing north and then reset the zero position. Manual movement tested again and then returned to zero position automatically. I was literally too scared to try and park the mount. Have I busted it ? Do I need to use the handset to reset park/zero position ? Is there an emergency stop button so I don’t have to frantically hit The manual STOP and wait for it to stop eventually, whilst watching it collide with the pier ? So Pi55ed off with myself right now 🤬 the mount in question is iOptron GEM45 on a positive note the guiding until disaster struck was incredible 🤪 Regards Andy

That’s really interesting and far different view from my current 120mm where I’m lucky to get one crescent moon 🌙 shaped star

Looks like it’s a toss up between the 224 and the 385 beyond the 385 it starts getting too pricey for me. does the 385 justify the extra £100 ? Will my guiding accuracy improve with it over the 224 ? Using a GEM45 mount

Any thoughts on the ASI462mc for guiding ? I see it is the successor to the 290 which is also highly thought of ?

My default choice was going to be the 224 but as with everything you then look at how much the next one is and the next one and so on. then start looking at pixel sizes, sensor sizes and end up in a mess not knowing which is going to be the best option.

Hi @vlaiv The 120 works, I will move this to another portable set up where it seems more suited partnered with a wide field refractor. Which leaves me requiring another guide cam so I might as well get one that’s a better match for the big rig and OAG & as a bonus if I could use it for planetary once in a while that would be cool too. my head starts to hurt when I consider appropriate pixel size and how to get best possible guide accuracy.

That’s a consideration I hadn’t made regarding the cables, good point.

Hi All, Feel like I’m chasing my tail trying to decide which guide camera to upgrade to. Scenario: I have an RC8” 1600 fl imaging scope with ASI071mc pro I want to guide, I’m currently using a 120mm that will move to mobile rig, I have both OAG and guide scope attached so I can easily switch between guide methods. Ideally I’d like to use the OAG but struggling with the 120mm and although not ideal for guiding id like a colour camera for planetary use. looking at various brands versions of the following… 224, 290, 174, 178, 327 Preferably I just want to buy once and buy right or if I went the mono guide route is there a “cheap” colour planetary I should consider instead of the above cameras ? Regards Andy H

Now that looks right up my strasse!! Not literally you understand.

Yeah that’s about as far as my knowledge goes, if this works it did make the whole process 100x easier 👍

Hi All recently received an OCAL electronic Collimation tool and tonight was first opportunity to play. I know it’s really hard to tell but if anyone can see if it’s wildly wrong and still out by a long way I’d appreciate the feedback.

Good idea 👍 I’ll try on there. it did work fine on APT but I guess that doesn’t rule out it needs an update. Andy

Anybody seen Errors like the below in NINA when connecting to ASI camera ? NINA has been fine recently and just when I think I'm getting somewhere with NINA it lets me down... Switched to APT and salvaged the session without any connectivity issues seen... ZWOptical.ASISDK.ASICameraException: Error 'ASI_ERROR_INVALID_SIZE' from call to ASISetROIFormat(cameraId=0, size={Width=4944, Height=3284}, bin=1, imageType=ASI_IMG_RAW16) Andy

Sorry Vlaiv, I thought I was replying to the original poster. 👍 Andy

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but did this guide speed change in commander help ? Did you adjust it in the screen shot provided ? Andy