A small leap up the learning curve

[LostNSpace]

Congrats on reaching 4mins with your subs Helen.....I can but dream......

Mark

[Helen]

On a dismal note - the fundamental rule of guiding is, if it works one night you can be sure it wont the next! Lets hope you break the rule.

Nope the rule is correct :crybaby: just wasted a clear night trying to get things working again. Ah well, maybe next time!

Helen

[anthony]

Only just spotted this Helen. 4min at F10 ( I must echo everyone else) is a significant landmark. Things might not always work as sweetly (balance polar alignment cables tied up nicely) but you know that it works. Excellent stars for that focal length and a superb apporach to winter!

Anthony

[Helen]

Thanks Ant. I was on a high after the 4 minutes (although I don't think my parents quite understood to significance when I was enthusing to them on the weekend ). Last night reminded me that there's stilla lot to master! Last night would have been great imaging, if only...

I'm hoping for a couple of hours early on tonight just to get it all running again and try and isolate issues - I changed too many things at once last night in my haste and so didn't bottom out what was causing the problem. I got one nearly proper shot and then it clouded over so as it was 11 I packed up, only to find once I'd packed that the cloud had completely passed and it was sparkly again - ho hum!

If it was easy it wouldn't have the same buzz when it goes right!

Onwards and upwards....

Helen

[anthony]

Fingers crossed for a clear sky tonight then and some results all being well!

Anthony

[MartinB]

What were the problems Helen?

[Helen]

Martin,

I decided to switch the camera/guider around as I thought I'd do some wide field in Ha with the ZS66 (been dying to do this for ages!). I then couldn't get a picture of anything on screeen, and because I've not used this combination before I had no idea where the focus point might be and so couldn't tell whether it was a camera/connection problem, or an Astroart problem, or as I first assumed just I was way out of focus. So I played with focus for a long time (in and out of the warm room focussing the ZS66 - is there a way of automating this??) before switching the cameras around, the cables around, and rebooting AA. It did then start to work. I got one half decent shot (except the camera slipped a bit on that ) and then the cloud rolled in .

On reflection, I think it might have been a USB connection problem. I have two USB leads and in an attempt to tidy the cabling up on the weekend I swapped them around. I'd tested that cable with the Toucam and it was fine, but I think the SX is more sensitive to USB problems. It wasn't clear last night by the time I could go out, but I'm going to do some testing today/tomorrow in the light. Maybe get a chance in the dark tomorrow too.

I got frustrated Tuesday because it was a lovely night and I felt that I wasted it - I think I should have quit while it wasn't working, and just gone visual and enjoyed But never mind! I've also decided to get my Megrez 90 set up in the Obs so that its easy to grab and go for visual - hopefully will allow the best of both worlds when the imaging is going well! or at least consolation when its not!!

Helen

[Aza]

Well done, I was over joyed when I finally got guiding to work. There will be no stopping you now