Software needed to start

[Matzi]

Hi all

So I just got my first Scope, and setup.

Now I need to know which softwares I need more than those I already downloaded.

So far I got:

ASCOM

EQMOD

PHD2

SGP

 

I'm not sure how to use the programs yet, as I'm completely new to this. Also got the EQDir cable for the EQmod.

My plan is not to use star alignment, but SGP and platesolve.

Thanks in advance

 

[geordie85]

I'd suggest browsing the light vortex tutorials. They can help you with the software you need and how to use them 

[Skipper Billy]

This is very useful for setting up SGP- http://mainsequencesoftware.com/content/SGP-The First Week.pdf

There are also some useful documents about PHD2 and ASCON/EQDIR etc on my website - https://sites.google.com/view/astro-imaging/how-to

Have fun !

[Matzi]

11 hours ago, Skipper Billy said:

This is very useful for setting up SGP- http://mainsequencesoftware.com/content/SGP-The First Week.pdf

There are also some useful documents about PHD2 and ASCON/EQDIR etc on my website - https://sites.google.com/view/astro-imaging/how-to

Have fun !

Thank you guys

[Spaceade]

I have found SharpCap 3.1 to be really useful for polar aligning.

I believe PHD2 now has similar features, but not as easy to use as Sharpcap. SharpCap premium is about £10 a year, i think.

[cjdawson]

I image using my scope, and one of the most critical parts is getting the polar alignment as good as possible - the better your alignment, the less your guider will have to work, and the better the images will come out in the end.

To your list of software, there is two things that I would add.

1. ANSVR - https://adgsoftware.com/ansvr/   It's astronmetry.net plate solver for windows.

This can be used to in SGPro to add a second plate solver to the system, allowing blind solves to happen.

 

2. SharpCap Pro     for the polar alignment feature.

This will help you to get the polar alignment really good, and it looks simple to use - you do it before turning on the mount.

 

Here's a demo

 

And finally, you'd be well advised to have some kind of planitarium program.   I personally prefer to use SkySafari on my iPad and connect to SGPro on the laptop.

[Helen]

36 minutes ago, cjdawson said:

I image using my scope, and one of the most critical parts is getting the polar alignment as good as possible - the better your alignment, the less your guider will have to work, and the better the images will come out in the end.

To your list of software, there is two things that I would add.

1. ANSVR - https://adgsoftware.com/ansvr/   It's astronmetry.net plate solver for windows.

This can be used to in SGPro to add a second plate solver to the system, allowing blind solves to happen.

 

2. SharpCap Pro     for the polar alignment feature.

This will help you to get the polar alignment really good, and it looks simple to use - you do it before turning on the mount.

 

Here's a demo

 

And finally, you'd be well advised to have some kind of planitarium program.   I personally prefer to use SkySafari on my iPad and connect to SGPro on the laptop.

Thanks for the link to the windows version of a local astrometry.net - that will be really useful for some PhD-related stuff I'm working on!! 

Helen

[Matzi]

So I use CDC, I'm polar aligned. My time, location is in CDC. But when slewing to M45, it slews in the opposite direction?

 

On 11/11/2018 at 17:32, Skipper Billy said:

This is very useful for setting up SGP- http://mainsequencesoftware.com/content/SGP-The First Week.pdf

There are also some useful documents about PHD2 and ASCON/EQDIR etc on my website - https://sites.google.com/view/astro-imaging/how-to

Have fun !

Thank you guys

[Merlin66]

Matzi,

Hmmm

OK, have you synced CdC to a known target before doing the GOTO??

 

[Matzi]

7 hours ago, Merlin66 said:

Matzi,

Hmmm

OK, have you synced CdC to a known target before doing the GOTO??

 

Synced as in manually finding the target?

[Merlin66]

Yes, identify a target and then set the scope to it, identify the same target in CdC and then sync. This will then set the mount to the target coordinates and provides a specific starting point for subsequent GOTO.

 

[Matzi]

Ahh thanks. Will try that

[Matzi]

So do you only sync to one target? And then it finds the rest by itself with pinpoint accuracy, depending on how well you aligned it, and your polar alignment?

Also I can't seem to control the mount, and slew it manually with my keyboard?

[Merlin66]

I use EQMod with my NEQ6...

I can use the game pad to move the telescope under EQMod and set the telescope at/ close to a nominated target, then use CdC to sync on the target.

 

[Matzi]

Does a PS4 controller work?

[Merlin66]

Matzi,

Don’t know.

you’d have to check out the EQMod recommendations on their forum.

 

[Matzi]

So I got the ASCOM/EQMOD working with my PS4 controller. I Polar aligned using Sharpcap, and reached excellent polar alignment. So I used CDC, and my controller, and manually found Capella to align with, and it worked perfectly with slewing around to different targets, and they were pretty much centeret all of them. But when I started using my stock Nikon D5300, to take some test shots at different targets in SGP, all pictures turned out as Monochrome? Also when I tried processing the single images I took in PS, the histogram was in the opposite direction, than it should be. All to the right?