PeterBolt Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 2 minutes ago, gabs said: I think I sorted...basically I used sharp cap to focus the target rather than do the same on PHD2 Brilliant! looking good. Fingers crossed for a clear night! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabs Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 58 minutes ago, PeterBolt said: Brilliant! looking good. Fingers crossed for a clear night! Good luck! Thank you so much 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 Just setting up now. Got another clear night ahead of me. Hoping to capture around 4 hours of Ha data to add to the 4 I already have. I finished 10 hours of OIII data last night. The result looks promising. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterBolt Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 That looks amazing already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 30 minutes ago, PeterBolt said: That looks amazing already! Thanks. I wasn't expecting such a strong OIII signal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabs Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 (edited) 23 hours ago, PeterBolt said: Brilliant! looking good. Fingers crossed for a clear night! Good luck! Last night I managed to get a decent focus on the guide scope, so PHD2 was start to guiding when I received the error message : not able to make sufficient correction in R.A. I have made a quick research and it seems to be very common issue for beginners. a wrong polar alignment, not balanced scope, wrong calibration and so on. I have attached copy of the log file. Thinking that my polar alignment wasn't perfect i tried to do it again with sharpcap but I was stuck to the first step where it was trying to detect 12 stars. I think i need to calibrate again my camera and make new dark frames .... PHD2_GuideLog_2021-07-14_102417.txt Edited July 15, 2021 by gabs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterBolt Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 3 hours ago, gabs said: Last night I managed to get a decent focus on the guide scope, so PHD2 was start to guiding when I received the error message : not able to make sufficient correction in R.A. I have made a quick research and it seems to be very common issue for beginners. a wrong polar alignment, not balanced scope, wrong calibration and so on. I have attached copy of the log file. Thinking that my polar alignment wasn't perfect i tried to do it again with sharpcap but I was stuck to the first step where it was trying to detect 12 stars. I think i need to calibrate again my camera and make new dark frames .... PHD2_GuideLog_2021-07-14_102417.txt 86.36 kB · 0 downloads Sorry but I've only ever had that message when either I have lost communication with the mount or something is physically stopping the mount from moving... snagged cable, scope hitting tripod etc. Other than that maybe some of the more experienced people will have some better ideas.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 6 hours ago, gabs said: Last night I managed to get a decent focus on the guide scope, so PHD2 was start to guiding when I received the error message : not able to make sufficient correction in R.A. I have made a quick research and it seems to be very common issue for beginners. a wrong polar alignment, not balanced scope, wrong calibration and so on. I have attached copy of the log file. Thinking that my polar alignment wasn't perfect i tried to do it again with sharpcap but I was stuck to the first step where it was trying to detect 12 stars. I think i need to calibrate again my camera and make new dark frames .... PHD2_GuideLog_2021-07-14_102417.txt 86.36 kB · 3 downloads Here are my settings I use for polar alignment. They should be good for your setup. To get good guiding, make sure polar alignment is as good as you can get it. You don't need to find 12 stars in Sharpcap, when Sharpcap displays image solved in green letters, you are good to go. After polar alignment, do your 3 star align, then calibrate your guide setup in PHD2. Once calibrated, don't forget to run the guiding assistant. Apply all settings it recommends by clicking on the buttons. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabs Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 12 minutes ago, AstronomyUkraine said: Here are my settings I use for polar alignment. They should be good for your setup. To get good guiding, make sure polar alignment is as good as you can get it. You don't need to find 12 stars in Sharpcap, when Sharpcap displays image solved in green letters, you are good to go. After polar alignment, do your 3 star align, then calibrate your guide setup in PHD2. Once calibrated, don't forget to run the guiding assistant. Apply all settings it recommends by clicking on the buttons. Thank you ! So much I hope this time to be luckier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabs Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 14 minutes ago, gabs said: Thank you ! So much I hope this time to be luckier! Does it makes any difference for a polar alignment with sharp cap if the guiding scope is installed in the show bracket rather than on the main scope ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 (edited) 14 minutes ago, gabs said: Does it makes any difference for a polar alignment with sharp cap if the guiding scope is installed in the show bracket rather than on the main scope ? Not at all, as long as it is secure, with no movement whatsoever. One thing you might do is secure your cables, wind blowing on your cables can affect guiding. Edited July 15, 2021 by AstronomyUkraine 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabs Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 13 minutes ago, AstronomyUkraine said: Not at all, as long as it is secure, with no movement whatsoever. One thing you might do is secure your cables, wind blowing on your cables can affect guiding. Ok good to know that! Thanks I will do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Taking the last 2 hours of Ha data I need for the Crescent nebula, then it's on to SII data, hopefully will get between 1 and 2 hours of SII towards the 10 I'm aiming for. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterBolt Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 I can't set up tonight as I have lots of work to do tomorrow 🙄 but it's looking good for me Friday and Saturday 🤞🤞🤞 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 16 minutes ago, PeterBolt said: I can't set up tonight as I have lots of work to do tomorrow 🙄 but it's looking good for me Friday and Saturday 🤞🤞🤞 Work shouldn't get in the way of pleasure. 🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabs Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 1 hour ago, AstronomyUkraine said: Work shouldn't get in the way of pleasure. 🤣 I agree ... I have a new message tonight from PHD2 . I am getting exhausted of that.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 25 minutes ago, gabs said: I agree ... I have a new message tonight from PHD2 . I am getting exhausted of that.. Did you run the guiding assistant after calibrating in PHD2? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabs Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Just now, AstronomyUkraine said: Did you run the guiding assistant after calibrating in PHD2? Yes it says to do a fresh calibration but I have no clue how to do that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 (edited) 14 minutes ago, gabs said: Yes it says to do a fresh calibration but I have no clue how to do that Search for the star called HIP 101936 in your hand controller, that is a good star to calibrate from. Start PHD 2 when you have slewed to the target, then shift click on the green guide button, that will start the calibration process. After that, run the guiding assistant again. Any star due South on the Equator, to the West of the meridian is a good star to calibrate from. Edited July 15, 2021 by AstronomyUkraine 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabs Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 6 minutes ago, AstronomyUkraine said: Search for the star called HIP 101936 in your hand controller, that is a good star to calibrate from. Start PHD 2 when you have slewed to the target, then shift click on the green guide button, that will start the calibration process. After that, run the guiding assistant again. Thanks but it seems it doesn’t have this star in the catalog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 4 minutes ago, gabs said: Thanks but it seems it doesn’t have this star in the catalog. Slew to due South then, but don't have your scope pointing up too high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabs Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 5 minutes ago, gabs said: Thanks but it seems it doesn’t have this star in the catalog. Maybe I found it as I gave it the coordinates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 2 minutes ago, gabs said: Maybe I found it as I gave it the coordinates Great, f you do the calibration at a different time or day, you'll need to find a different star in Stellarium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveS Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 Just finishing off 2 hours on the Tulip, first imaging I've done for weeks, and of course, software issues. Roof automation borked by a Win-Dross update. Still, it's quite clear tonight with the milky way showing good structure down to the horizon, including the Lagoon naked eye. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carastro Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 Dave T and l are imaging together. carole 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts