Automation

[martin_h]

Got to love it!!

I set the obs to do a fully automated run last night, RGB for a 2 panel mosaic no less. Woke this morning and first thing was to check that the obs roof was closed...yep!

So I had a quick look through the log file to see if there were any problems and had to laugh........... with 7 mins to go before the end of the complete sequence it decided that a meridian flip was coming up in 3 mins.....and as my sub length was 3 mins, it waited and then did the flip, re acquired the target, got the guiding going, re- focused for the filter and did the shot - all 2 of them! then parked and shut down for the night..........................................

Now, if I had been sat out there at stupid O'clock and a flip was coming up with 2 x 3 mins subs to do I would have called it a night. It actually took longer to do the flip and get going again than it did to do the shots!!

[sloz1664]

Hi Martin,

Great to see your automation is working well after the trial and tribulations of setting it all up.

I've often wondered about the "east heavy" syndrome on an automated set-up especially after a meridian flip and in particular the EQ6 mount.

Steve

[steppenwolf]

That's great, Martin - automation does pull up some funnies! Mine was the opposite of yours - I set a 3 hour session going but didn't check the position of the the Horsehead Nebula with regard to the meridian (because I don't have to!). It captured one image and did a flip so all the plate solving and focusing had to be done again after just a single shot!

[martin_h]

45 minutes ago, sloz1664 said:

Hi Martin,

Great to see your automation is working well after the trial and tribulations of setting it all up.

I've often wondered about the "east heavy" syndrome on an automated set-up especially after a meridian flip and in particular the EQ6 mount.

Steve

My mount (NEQ6) is quite stiff in RA and I can move a weight about 2 inches up and down the bar with no effect, so I just leave it and dont bother any more

[sloz1664]

hi Martin,

I was to embark on my Oby build, and to automate, starting this spring, as I was going to take early retirement. But events take their infinite path which now means the date has moved to mid summer or possibly later.

The build is still on - but late... I'll be picking your brains on the automated side of things when I have the Obsy built and running

 

Steve

 

 

 

[martin_h]

Pick away!....you may need a bright torch and a long stick tho!

[Daniel-K]

Martin that sounds like a dream set up. You must be chuffed.