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Drift aligning with the nearly-full rig
#Mach2GTO
#Polar_Alignment
ernie.mastroianni@...
With a bright moon and clear skies, I spent the July 1-2 evening drift aligning at a remote Wisconsin state park site to accurately configure the RAPAS with the Mach2. This was the first time I had the C925 and guide scope in the field on the Mach2. My guide scope of choice is actually a 25-year-old Nikon 300mm f/4 ED lens.
Also, I was able to use Sky Safari via WiFi to run the mount in conjunction with TheSky running the Mach2 on a laptop via RS-232. This worked long as I connected to and initialized the mount via RS-232 and APCC first. While waiting for the hand controller to be shipped, it was a big help for me to have the Sky Safari app to nudge the drift star back onto the crosshairs by using my iPhone. That green streak of light under the telescope is a firefly trail. Ernie
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Re: APCC PRO upgrade from Standard
Keith Olsen
Excellent. Thank you Joe! :)
Keith
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Re: APCC PRO upgrade from Standard
Joseph Beyer
Keith, When I upgraded earlier this year all my settings from APCC standard were carried over to the Pro version. Installation was straight forward. Joe
On Thu, Jul 2, 2020 at 11:08 AM Keith <keitholsen@...> wrote: I don't know where else to ask this question so I came here.
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Re: How to remove MACH1 (spring loaded) gearbox. Instructions show two lock down screws on the back of the box. My 2.5 year old mach1 does not have those 2 screws.How do I remove it to inspect the worm?
fd@...
I bought a new Mach1GTO in October 2017. SN 10971. It has 2 screws in each motor box.
See the third photo in this set on IMGUR. Also see my comment on IMGUR about needing a lot of torque to loosen those screws. -- Mach1GTO and GTOCP4 on permanent pier
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APCC PRO upgrade from Standard
Keith Olsen
I don't know where else to ask this question so I came here.
Is the APCC Pro upgrade a new seperate application or does it overlay the Standard version and keep the settings from the Standard Version? Thanks, Keith
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Re: Has Notification Started?
Hello Larry and all, We have not yet started the notification for the second run of Mach2s. At present we are focused on making final edits to the Mach2 manual, updating the Keypad manual with a variety of new functions, taking orders for a run of 130GTX scopes, and assembling and shipping the last few mounts in the first Mach2 run. Fear not, however, as mount-making progresses. Since June 1 our production staff has been hard at work moving the second run through the process so delivery of these mounts will be delayed only by the 10-week Illinois coronavirus shutdown. To answer a question that was floating out there recently – all first-run Mach2s were offered to people on the old Mach1 list. We have not yet started on the Mach2 list that begins 4/4/2019. We love and appreciate your anticipation. Please hang in there. Karen Christen AP
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io]
On Behalf Of Larry Phillips
Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2020 8:52 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: [ap-gto] Has Notification Started?
Marge, the first of June you said that you expected to begin notification for the next production run of Mach2's later in June. Has that started? The reason I ask is I thought I was close to the top of this list and if you had started
notification and since I have not heard anything then perhaps I am not as high on the list as I had hoped. -- Karen Christen Astro-Physics
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Has Notification Started?
Larry Phillips
Marge, the first of June you said that you expected to begin notification for the next production run of Mach2's later in June. Has that started? The reason I ask is I thought I was close to the top of this list and if you had started notification and since I have not heard anything then perhaps I am not as high on the list as I had hoped.
Larry Phillips
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Re: PlateSolve2 vs. TheSkyX Image Link for APPM Point Mapping
Roland Christen
Thank you for your thorough analysis.
Roland XChristen
-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Beyer <jcbeyer2001@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Tue, Jun 30, 2020 2:20 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] PlateSolve2 vs. TheSkyX Image Link for APPM Point Mapping Writing back just to close the thread on the resolution of my issue. I've found a solution but just reporting back to minimize the rebuilding of wheels for anyone else is having issues.
I picked one of the images that Platesolve2 wouldn't solve during the APPM run the other night and loaded it into different programs.
1. Astrometry.net (nova.astrometry.net) - image solved
2. Stand alone version of ASTAP - solved in less than a second
3. Stand alone version of PlateSolve2 - solved in a bit over a second
4. Opening the image in SGPro with ASTAP solving (right click on image) - solved, about a second
5. Opening the image in SGPro with Platesolve2 solving - solve failed
I created a profile in SGPro using ASTAP as the default plate solver for APPM and the mapping run completed in nearly half the time needed when using PlateSolve2.
Joe
On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 11:56 AM Ray Gralak <groups3@...> wrote:
> OK, thanks. The setting to save the failed solves is already checked. I'll try solving those independently and see
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Re: PlateSolve2 vs. TheSkyX Image Link for APPM Point Mapping
Joseph Beyer
Writing back just to close the thread on the resolution of my issue. I've found a solution but just reporting back to minimize the rebuilding of wheels for anyone else is having issues. I picked one of the images that Platesolve2 wouldn't solve during the APPM run the other night and loaded it into different programs. 1. Astrometry.net (nova.astrometry.net) - image solved 2. Stand alone version of ASTAP - solved in less than a second 3. Stand alone version of PlateSolve2 - solved in a bit over a second 4. Opening the image in SGPro with ASTAP solving (right click on image) - solved, about a second 5. Opening the image in SGPro with Platesolve2 solving - solve failed I created a profile in SGPro using ASTAP as the default plate solver for APPM and the mapping run completed in nearly half the time needed when using PlateSolve2. Joe
On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 11:56 AM Ray Gralak <groups3@...> wrote: > OK, thanks. The setting to save the failed solves is already checked. I'll try solving those independently and see
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Re: First light with Mach2GTO
jypeng@...
Thank you, Karen.
Jian Yuan Peng
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Re: PlateSolve2 vs. TheSkyX Image Link for APPM Point Mapping
Terri Zittritsch
On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 10:10 PM, Greg Vaughn wrote:
I used platesolve2 for a long time as my plate solver in SGP. As a result of a forum discussion (here as I remember) about using ASTAP, I have switched to ASTAP (it was easy) and found that I can plate solve much faster and I think it works very well with APPM, returning points faster. I like it better than platesolve2. Consider switching to ASTAP if it seems slow with platesolve2. Thanks for the post Greg, I should have started reading at the bottom. Someone else recommended ASTAP and I think I need to finally try it. Terri
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Re: PlateSolve2 vs. TheSkyX Image Link for APPM Point Mapping
Terri Zittritsch
On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 12:33 PM, Ray Gralak wrote:
That is not normal. You normally should be able to get 2-3 points per minute.Ray, have you tried using SGPro and platesolve2? I did not get 2-3 points per minute. I was maybe getting 1 per minute average. This accounted for the fact that some points (maybe meridian) needed to be solved multiple times (twice only I think). So while each solve likely took less than a minute, with the central points that needed to be solved twice, it averaged out to 1 per minute. I always shoot at 1X, but have do have usb3 download. One of these days I'll try binning, but I've never thought binning on a CMOS camera did anything at the camera for efficiency. T
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SatelliteTracker is now SkyTrack
SatelliteTracker was sold back to the original developer/owner and renamed to SkyTrack.
SkyTrack is now under development with an ascom connect.
$9.00 license
I ordered SkyTrack today and have not received license and have not tried SkyTrack
I still use SatelliteTracker v2.51 direct connect pc to CP3 on Astro-Physics 900GTO
but I know some of yall were waiting on an ascom connect.
SkyTrack Satellite Tracking Software
Homepage
Youtube SkyTrack setup operation
What is it boy? What do you see?
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Re: Should I record a PEM?
On 6/29/2020 5:37 PM, Mojo Jones wrote:
Finally my question: This system is very forgiving, with a huge wideI think you should record a PE curve and turn on PEM. Nothing to lose, but possibly something to gain. Even though you're getting decent results now, why not use PEM to potentially improve things, even if only slightly. If things get worse, you can always turn off PEM. But at least the curve is in the mount, ready to use. --- Mike
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Re: North Keypad button problem
Dominique Durand
On Mon, Jun 29, 2020 at 08:55 PM, uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> wrote:
I think you may want to not follow this advice and not heat your keypad. We are in contact with the manufacturer, and will advise shortly what their recommended fix is for the keypad.Thanks Rolando, I'm waiting for your advice as to when this will happen again.
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Re: Should I record a PEM?
Roland Christen
Yes, definitely record a PE curve and then turn PEM ON. You can record it with your main camera on your scope, and you will be accurate, even at your short focal length. Don't record the pE curve with a short guide scope or finderscope.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Mojo Jones <mojo@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Mon, Jun 29, 2020 4:37 pm Subject: [ap-gto] Should I record a PEM?
I'm successfully using APPM in the early evening to map 23 points or
so. I have to say, not having the autoguider makes everything so
much more reliable and fast. There's no need to "plate solve and
center" on a new target -- it's always center of the frame in SGP.
I'm also in a very forgiving system with a wide field and old
camera.
I'm sorry I didn't buy APCC Pro back when I had a discount offer with a new 1100GTO. I didn't think it would serve any purpose when I'm not in a fixed observatory. I was very wrong! I've been shooting a Messier survey from home in Los Angeles County. Not because my shots are interesting or especially good, but because I can. :) Doing this has given me tons of experience with the entire process from set up to final image processing, by repeating it frequently. I've captured 47 Messier objects in the past two months, about 30 minutes of imaging time on each, with an old one-shot color SBIG camera. I have two setups: My small system is a very old (first run) Mach1 GTO with an AP Traveler 105mm f/6. The big beast is an 1100GTO with an AP 180EDT. I haven't been using the big one so often because taking it down involves waking up my wife at 2:30 to come out and help me lift it off the rings and stow it. She's been very willing for the most part, but I save that for special occasions. The Mach1 has a few enhancements, like the updated Alt-Az base, and adapter for the RAPAS scope. I've upgraded the CP3 to the V2 chip, so it works beautifully with APCC Pro. It does NOT have levers to disengage the drives from the gears, so I'm not able to do a delicate balance on the Mach1. But the system is light enough that it doesn't seem to be critical. Since I upgraded my CP3 controller chip, I've been running with PEC OFF. Finally my question: This system is very forgiving, with a huge wide field, and 2.45 arc-seconds per pixel. That's a little bit high compared to the recommendations for recording a PE curve in PEMpro. Should I bother? Best regards, Mojo
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Re: Should I record a PEM?
Roland and Ray will certainly give you the best and most useful answers but I'll throw in my two cents because I am in a sharing mood right now. On lights of exceptionally-bad seeing, I have experimented with PEM training runs, just for fun and self-teaching. My experience has been that running about 7 to 10 worm turns results in pretty good and even excellent PEM training, in spite of the bad seeing. Exactly like combining a lot of subs to minimize noise. This success is certainly partly due to how smooth the RA worm gears and wheels are my Mach1 and 1100. Cheaper mounts with sharper changes in periodic and random tracking errors might not give the same good results. Make that WILL not give the same good results. LOL
On Mon, Jun 29, 2020, 11:37 AM Mojo Jones <mojo@...> wrote:
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Should I record a PEM?
I'm successfully using APPM in the early evening to map 23 points or
so. I have to say, not having the autoguider makes everything so
much more reliable and fast. There's no need to "plate solve and
center" on a new target -- it's always center of the frame in SGP.
I'm also in a very forgiving system with a wide field and old
camera.
I'm sorry I didn't buy APCC Pro back when I had a discount offer with a new 1100GTO. I didn't think it would serve any purpose when I'm not in a fixed observatory. I was very wrong! I've been shooting a Messier survey from home in Los Angeles County. Not because my shots are interesting or especially good, but because I can. :) Doing this has given me tons of experience with the entire process from set up to final image processing, by repeating it frequently. I've captured 47 Messier objects in the past two months, about 30 minutes of imaging time on each, with an old one-shot color SBIG camera. I have two setups: My small system is a very old (first run) Mach1 GTO with an AP Traveler 105mm f/6. The big beast is an 1100GTO with an AP 180EDT. I haven't been using the big one so often because taking it down involves waking up my wife at 2:30 to come out and help me lift it off the rings and stow it. She's been very willing for the most part, but I save that for special occasions. The Mach1 has a few enhancements, like the updated Alt-Az base, and adapter for the RAPAS scope. I've upgraded the CP3 to the V2 chip, so it works beautifully with APCC Pro. It does NOT have levers to disengage the drives from the gears, so I'm not able to do a delicate balance on the Mach1. But the system is light enough that it doesn't seem to be critical. Since I upgraded my CP3 controller chip, I've been running with PEC OFF. Finally my question: This system is very forgiving, with a huge wide field, and 2.45 arc-seconds per pixel. That's a little bit high compared to the recommendations for recording a PE curve in PEMpro. Should I bother? Best regards, Mojo
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Re: North Keypad button problem
Roland Christen
I think you may want to not follow this advice and not heat your keypad. We are in contact with the manufacturer, and will advise shortly what their recommended fix is for the keypad.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dominique Durand via groups.io <dom33.durand@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Mon, Jun 29, 2020 1:47 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] North Keypad button problem [Edited Message Follows]
Joe,I too had to clean a TV remote control with this problem. Thanks for the photo. There with the AP keypad I went there quiet. I'm not sure I have exceeded 95 °F (35 °C). It was not a thermal stripper and I think the problem may return. Dominique
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Re: North Keypad button problem
Joe,
I too had to clean a TV remote control with this problem. Thanks for the photo. There with the AP keypad I went there quiet. I'm not sure I have exceeded 95 °F (35 °C). It was not a thermal stripper and I think the problem may return. Dominique
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