Large X axis tracking error

[Marstiphal]

Just looking for some advice on a tracking error. As you can see from the graph, there is a large X axis tracking error that the guider had. Just wondered if anyone has any advice on what might be causing the error. Is this a setup issue or am I more likely to have a larger issue int he mount. Advice greatly appreciated.

 

 

[Freddie]

This is a bit like saying "my car is not working, how can I fix it" !!!!

If you provide some detail about the mount, guide system etc etc etc I'm sure some help can be provided.

[Marstiphal]

Sorry for the vagueness, I thought someone would see the large X Axis error and say - oh yes that's definitely a 'bla' issue.

Some details: I have a refractor sitting on a NEQ-6 pro mount. I have a William Optics GuideStar 61 being used as the the guide scope with a ZWO-120 as the guide camera. Its RJ11 is plugged directly into the guider port of the mount and the USB to my laptop. I'm using Maxim DL6 for the guiding software. 

 

As you can se from the graph, the Y-axis is tracking well at 0.384 RMS but the X axis is drifting, even at maximum aggressiveness in MaximDL, causing the star to slowly drift in the autoguiding software. I'm not even sure I know which direction the X-axis is but I was assuming its the elevation.

Edited July 22, 2023 by Marstiphal

[malc-c]

1 hour ago, Marstiphal said:

I'm using Maxim DL6 for the guiding software. 

 

For those of us who don't use that software how does X and Y relate to the normal RA and DEC axis.

[michael8554]

Is this a new problem, the guiding was previously okay ?

Not a Maxim user, so I'd guess that X is RA, as the wave-like component of the X drift looks to be PE related.

The overall drift suggests that X axis isn't tracking at the correct sidereal rate, and is not being corrected by Maxim.

Does Maxim have a Guiding Calibration, was that successful ?

Try guiding with PHD2 ?

Michael

 

 

 

[Marstiphal]

11 hours ago, michael8554 said:

Is this a new problem, the guiding was previously okay ?

Not a Maxim user, so I'd guess that X is RA, as the wave-like component of the X drift looks to be PE related.

The overall drift suggests that X axis isn't tracking at the correct sidereal rate, and is not being corrected by Maxim.

Does Maxim have a Guiding Calibration, was that successful ?

Try guiding with PHD2 ?

Michael

 

 

 

Hi Michael, thanks for the reply.

This is a new problem, though the system, has just been reassembled after I constructed a new housing for it. I will definitely give the calibration another go when I get some clear skies. The PH2 guiding is also a great shout. I'll give that all a go and see if it cures the issue.

Again, thanks for the advice.