Bahitnov Masks & Guiding: Do i need?

[Mav359]

Hi everyone

i recently purchased a QHY5 for auto guiding and a bahitnov mask for focusing, i am looking forward to having a play, if the cloud ever clears....

In the meantime...

The mask is for my 9.25 but should i have one for my guide scope? does my focus need to be that good for guiding?

Cheers

[swag72]

No you don't need a mask for guiding. As I understand you are better having ever so slightly out of focus guidestars. I think my QHY5 and finder scope doesn't attain focus well at all, and it guides fine.

[MG1]

+1 agree with Sara

[drmillrace]

Stars look fairly blobby (not very techical I know!) on my QHY5 finder guider setup and it guides fine. It also helps me to distinguish real stars from hot pixels. To my shame I once tried guiding on a hot pixel and couldn't work out why phd wouldn't calibrate.