Doversole

How is do you connect your mount to the ASIAIR? I use a USB cable. Once again, I do not use the Synscan app at all.

Sorry I will come back to you, I need to switch on the scope and mount to check with my configuration.

I suppose you have ticked the box meridian flip in your autorun or plan modes?

@xion824, I do not use the Synscan app at all as the ASIAIR is controlling the mount. I don't have an issue with the Meridian flip. The ASIAIR will indicate the time for the Meridian flip to occur depending on the object, then stop the plan and execute. Could you please share your ASIAIR configuration?

A had a few issues with guiding following a meridian flip using an ASIAIR and a Redcat51.

Anyone experienced issues? Would you mind sharing your ASIAIR configuration. I do recallibrate following Meridian flip.

- I use guiding rate 0.5 (should I try 0.75?)

- callibration step: 9000 (I use a 120mm guidescope) - I will get callibration within 5 steps. I may need to reduce this a bit to add a few more steps. The sweet sport may be around 5000.

- Max duration 2000ms

I also find the mount struggle to get the guiding back after dithering.

RMS is usally around 1.5".

Views welcome!!

My last and final image, a 2 panel mosaic, using the Samyang 135 and a APS-C sensor, the ASI071MC: From America to the Crescent Nebula. 

Done whilst travelling in France during some holiday.

Here is another one!

The Crescent Nebula NGC6888 in Cygnus in HaO3RGB using my RC8 scope with an ASI1600MM-Pro mono camera.

Imaged over 3 nights in the UK with average seeing conditions (quite a few high clouds). I will add some more data if ever I got the opportunity.

A classic in the summer triangle! M27, the Dumbbell Nebula in HaO3RGB.

RC8 scope, ASI1600MM-Pro mono camera.

Narrowband Ha and O3 was used for the starless image, RGB for the stars.

Processed in PixInsight, using a mask strech to avoid blowing the centre of the nebula.

I thought I would never get some clear skies here in England!

I am using the ASI174MM Mini with a Celestron OAG and an RC8 scope (1600mm focal length). I never had any issue finding a guide star. 

Large pixels and big sensor.

Hello Astronomers!  

This invitation is for Friday 16th JUNE at 7:30 when we are very pleased to present in the Oak Room upstairs at the Haven Centre, Crawley Down (RH10 4LJ) and by Zoom Video conferencing:.

THE TALK
‘Observational Cosmology – an Update’

Professor David Bacon will introduce from scratch where we’ve got to in our understanding of the Universe. The behaviour of galaxies indicates that there are strange entities, dark matter and dark energy, which dominate the way that the cosmos is developing. Detailed measurements are also showing that our theories are creaking and may need changing, and he will describe some of the attempts to do so. He will discuss the prospects for better understanding with the exciting range of forthcoming world-class telescopes.

THE SPEAKER
This is a return visit from one of our favourite speakers: Professor David Bacon is Associate Director of the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at Portsmouth University. His research interests include cosmology at radio wavelengths, gravitational lensing, theories of gravity.

Our MEETING PLAN is:

We will start the session around 7.15 for a 7:30 start.  Video call link:
 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84453092128?pwd=QjZ0UDBFZTVqTjBOV1dVRTRScm9kZz09

Meeting ID: 844 5309 2128        Meeting Passcode: 412277

• Telescope Surgery (‘Solar Observing’)

• OPEN UP and get connected to Zoom

• Introduction and Welcome - all new and recently joined members

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  BREAK (member’s feedback forms)

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• CLOSE 

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Here is the Pinwheel galaxy, on the left taken on the 24th May, on the right taken the 2nd April, both from my garden in South-East England.

RC8 scope from StellaLyra, ASI071MC cool camera, on a EQ6R-Pro mount. About 4 hours integration for both images.

The image on the 2nd April was under a very bright Full moon (but one of the only clear night in April!!)

10 minutes ago, 900SL said:

I think the HEM15 is belt drive on the Dec, so backlash should be minimal?

I suppose it means the mount needs to be balanced in DEC which is not a huge constraint.

The HEM15 is now on sale in the UK.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/harmonic-drive-mounts/ioptron-hem15-mount-without-ipolar.html

at £1159 without the iPolar, it makes it an attractive protable solution, far cheaper than the AM3. Is there something I am missing?

A very nice couple of galaxies in the constellation Canes Venatici: The Whale and the Hockey Stick.

Imaged with an Stellalyra RC8 scope on a Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro, ASI071MC camera. 92x180s frames.

M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy caputered on the 2nd / 3rd April with almost a full Moon!

First clear night in West Sussex for about 7 or 8 weeks....

This was caputured using a RC8 scope on a Skywatcher EQ6R-Pro, with an ASI71MC cool colour camera. As the Moon was very bright, I opted for short exposures. So that's eventually 110x60s!

Processed with PixInsight, using Blur and NoiseXTerminator from RC Astro. Thanks for looking.

Enjoying the Elephant's trunk Nebula. Guiding more than OK.

I believe we need to relax a bit the usual parameters on ASIAIR. Like the stability criteria. 2" may be a bit harsh. I went to 3" and got a good result. Overall guiding around 1" error. That's very good given the focal length.

The meridian flip going bonkers is another issue. Still under assessment!

2 hours ago, Astroscot2 said:

A meridian flip is on my list to test, I just need a decent clear night to dial in the processes on the ASI Air.  When taking a few test images the other night , the Veil nebula was close to crossing the meridian, the scope was on the West side of the mount and close to the hard stop, There was no mention of a meridian flip being imminent by the ASI Air  even though I had selected it? I need to look at this. Looks to be clear-ish tonight

 

Regarding your guiding after meridian flip, are you re-calibrating the guiding, I see an option for this on the ASI Air.

 

Mark  

Yes I am recallibrating. Not sure whether it is useful but it doesn't take an awful long time anyway.

Thanks for starting this thread!

I am a happy owner of the Gti!

I use it with a Redcat 51 and ASIAIR to control it. I have conntected the mount using a standard USB cable and the same parameters than for the EQ6r-pro (Eqmod mount, 115200 baud).

It works pretty well except after a Meridian flip when the guiding will go all wrong as if the mount stopped tracking at all. It's not due to the ASIAIR as I exoerienced the same problem using a laptoo, APT and PHD2. If I stop the autorun sequence, go back to the object,  start guiding again and restart the autorun sequence, it will work fine again. Anyone did experience a similar issue?

Thanks for the 5 pixels dither tip, I will look into it.

On 23/08/2022 at 10:55, Adam J said:

How is guiding and dithering working for you?

Well the answer is average! 😂

I get a reasonnably good guiding (I use a Zwo OAG and a ASI120mm mini guide camera). With the Redcat, I am getting below 2" error, which is not so good as with the EQ6r-pro (where I am used to 0.6").

But, once it goes through the Meridian Slip then somehow it all goes wrong. The Meridian flip works, but then for some reason it won't guide properly at all. I had a similar issue using a laltop and APT / PHD2, so it's not the ASIAIR but maybe something in the configuration.

Looking into the details, it seems the guising also struggles to settle before imaging.

If I reset the mount and start again imaging after the flip, it will work again fine. Except I would prefer to sleep!

I see someone else has used different parameters to connect to the mount using USB (AZ Gti and 9600 baud). I may try this.

On 10/08/2022 at 21:02, Doversole said:

Has anyone managed to get the mount work with the ASIAIR using the USB connection? What configuration did you use?

I think it's probably worth opening a master thread on this mount as quite a few people will jump for it!

Thanks!

I can now confirm you can connect the mount to an ASIAIR with a standard USB cable.

Configuration is the same as for an EQ6r-pro. Select Eqmod as the mount and use 115200 baud speed.

ASIAIR recognises the mount,  control is working fine. No need to get a special eqmod cable,  no need to use the ST4 cable. USB,  plain amd simple!

Btw,  seeing the next delivery batch is not before next March, I must admit I feel privileged to be one of the first owners. Thank you @FLO

Has anyone managed to get the mount work with the ASIAIR using the USB connection? What configuration did you use?

I think it's probably worth opening a master thread on this mount as quite a few people will jump for it!

Thanks!

I received mine as well. But no clear skies here in England ....

How do you plan to use yours?

My setup will be a Redcat, ASI1600MM, guiding with an OAG and a small ASI120MM mini.

What a nice surprise to get the dispatch email this afternoon! Thank you @FLO

Would you think it's worth buying the version with the Tripod? Or would a solid photo Tripod be enough?

Cheers

My question may be a bit naive sorry, but why pay such a premium when the current mounts (I am thinking of the EQ6R-Pro) is good enough? The tracking error I get on that mount a well below the limitations from my seeing conditions. Why pay £1000 more for the same payload?