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Another Mach2 video
Harley Davidson
I had a guy on my YouTube channel, Tim Morrill request a video of how the motors sound on the Mach2. He was still waiting for his to be delivered.
I set it up in my garage to reduce all the sounds I get from living in the country. Also, I'm not using a high end camera for my videos. It's a small Nikon. The "slapping" sound while the motors were running is the keypad cord hitting the tripod leg [I didn't catch it at the time, oops]. The motors have a very nice hum to them. Astro-Physics Mach2 mount - How the Motors Sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPG4b1onndk tony
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PntON on Keypad and APCC
Hi AP,
For use without guiding my current model on the Mach2 brings a small drift without consequence on the poses of 3 to 4 'but which for sessions of 4 to 5 hours of exposures causes a gap between the first and last which makes the trails appear. difficult to deal with on the end result. It is therefore an opportunity to test the Point + track mode option of the keypad. My keypad is already plugged in when I turn on the mount and in EXT mode. I only want to have confirmation that APCC open, pointing and tracking correction disabled on it, I can do the initial keypad operations with my sky mapping software and enable tracking correction from the keypad by PntON. Clear skies Dominique
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New Solvers for APPM?
Bill Long
Hello,
Just curious if there has been any traction in getting new solvers added to APPM?
Thanks,
Bill
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Re: Capacity check on AP 1100
Jeff B
I'd like to see that picture too. 😀
On Sun, Dec 6, 2020 at 12:29 PM Bill Long <bill@...> wrote:
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Re: Capacity check on AP 1100
Bill Long
The 1100 could probably track fine with a Ford F150 mounted on it. 😉
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Jeff B <mnebula946@...>
Sent: Sunday, December 6, 2020 7:13 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Capacity check on AP 1100
"I have had an AP 10" Mak, a TEC 180 refractor, a Tak 90 II, and an AT-72 all on an AP1100 at the same time."
Boy, I'd like to see a picture of that!.
Jeff
On Sun, Dec 6, 2020 at 9:36 AM Michael Hamburg via
groups.io <michael_hamburg44=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:
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Re: Capacity check on AP 1100
Jeff B
"I have had an AP 10" Mak, a TEC 180 refractor, a Tak 90 II, and an AT-72 all on an AP1100 at the same time." Boy, I'd like to see a picture of that!. Jeff
On Sun, Dec 6, 2020 at 9:36 AM Michael Hamburg via groups.io <michael_hamburg44=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:
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Re: Capacity check on AP 1100
I have a Celestron Edge11 HD with an Orion 80mm ED refractor piggybacked on a 900GTO for imaging and never a problem with tracking or balance. Best wishes, Michael
On Sunday, December 6, 2020, 06:06:05 AM EST, Dan Purjes <dan@...> wrote:
I have had an AP 10" Mak, a TEC 180 refractor, a Tak 90 II, and an AT-72 all on an AP1100 at the same time. No problem, though this configuration is only for viewing, not imaging. This mount never ceases to amaze me with its capabilities and smooth performance. This is not a permanent configuration in my observatory, but one that I mount occasionally. I like the different width of field, visual views provided by each scope on a target. Adds context to the views, so to speak. The two larger scopes are mounted on a dual saddle bar. Each of the smaller scopes is mounted on a bar on top of the bigger scope. Dan
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Re: Another Recommendation of the Ridgid Tool Cart for transporting the AP900/1100
Hi John
Yes, the RA assembly just barely fit, and I forgot to mention that I had to cut back some of the reinforcing ribs in the lid of the box to allow the lid to close. I used a 1-inch layer of foam in the bottom of the box, and that made the mount base stick up just a little bit too much to close the lid. I am still working on the Dec axis cart. I have been thinking about either putting the counterweight shaft in there, or (more likely) putting my cables, CP4, and Keypad.
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Re: Capacity check on AP 1100
Dan Purjes
I have had an AP 10" Mak, a TEC 180 refractor, a Tak 90 II, and an AT-72 all on an AP1100 at the same time.
No problem, though this configuration is only for viewing, not imaging. This mount never ceases to amaze me with its capabilities and smooth performance. This is not a permanent configuration in my observatory, but one that I mount occasionally. I like the different width of field, visual views provided by each scope on a target. Adds context to the views, so to speak. The two larger scopes are mounted on a dual saddle bar. Each of the smaller scopes is mounted on a bar on top of the bigger scope. Dan
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Re: Another Recommendation of the Ridgid Tool Cart for transporting the AP900/1100
john vogt
Well done on the Ridgid cases especially the foam cutting done for the RA assembly. Thinking is wouldn't fit
I didn't try the RA assembly into the 22" Tool Box, looks like it just makes it. Will you store anything else besides the Dec. assembly in the Rolling Cart? Note, and I didn't realize this until later, that the tool holder at the rear of the Cart is removeable. CS, John
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Re: Meridian management
With SGP you don't have to worry about "minutes past meridian to flip" SGP will never stop an exposure for something and will wait until the exposure is finished to issue a flip. So in SGP just set your "Minutes past meridian to flip" to 0. Let's say your exposures are 10min. If the mount crosses the meridian at minute 2, the mount will track past the meridian for the remaining 8mins and after the exposure is complete SGP will issue the meridian flip. Works perfectly and I've never done anything else.
joel
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Re: Meridian management
Marcelo Figueroa
What I do and it works perfectly well is to turn off the meridian limits in ACPP and let SGP take over. I usually use about 10 or 15 minutes past the meridian and ensure that the wait for meridian option is activated.
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Re: Meridian management
KHursh
Thanks Andrea,
I am doing something slightly different, I think. I am trying to predict when the flip might occur so I can tell my imaging software what to do. APCC is set to flip at the meridian limits set in APCC, but that time will differ according to the DEC of the object I am imaging. You (I think) have already decided on a 45 minute delay, which is what I may ultimately do, but if my object is at a lowish declination I may not have to flip at all. I can play with my setup during the day and watch what it does at various declinations and write down when it approaches my limits (I should have done this when I set up my limits), but I am trying to ask if there is another way to predict the behavior
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Re: Meridian management
Andrea Lucchetti
Hi Kevin, there is a similar thread from me about 1-2 weeks ago. I don’t comment here because I still have to practice what I have learnt.
But if you are imaging with sgp I assume your problem is just to avoid loosing time at th meridian. If your frames are 600s, I think that a delay of 600s is enough to finish a frame and flip.
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Meridian management
KHursh
I now have my Mach2 humming along pretty well. I have set up APPC Pro with horizons and meridians and a pointing and tracking model. Where I am stuck is with meridian behavior. I know that my mount can handle tracking past the meridian up to a point depending on where it is relative to my safety limits. My question is, with NINA or even SGPro, I have to tell the software, how long past the meridian to wait to flip so how do I predict this based on the Dec position of object I am imaging? Am I overthinking this? Should I just pick a relatively safe time, like 45 minutes, and flip there for all objects? TIA
Kevin
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Another clear night for testing
Roland Christen
Howdy Astronuts,
We have had an unprecedented series of clear nights here due to a high pressure system that has stalled over the Midwest. Allowed me to do extensive testing of mounts and scopes this past week. High pressure means great transparency and also rapid cooling. This is what my 160 EDF refractor looked like last night around Midnight. Thick frost on the tube, the mount etc, but the lens remained clear. That dewshield really works, and that's without any sort of dew heater.
Hope to post a few snapshots of deep sky objects this weekend (just snapshots, nothing really good)
Rolando
 -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics
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Re: Mach2 Keypad Availability
I have added a new section to the Software Updates page of our website for version 5.xxx and added a link to a document that discusses upgrading older keypads. Check it out https://www.astro-physics.com/software-updates/
Clear Skies,
Marj Christen Astro-Physics, Inc 11250 Forest Hills Rd Machesney Park, IL 61115 Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847 www.astro-physics.com
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io]
On Behalf Of Marj Christen
Sent: Friday, December 04, 2020 10:25 AM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Keypad Availability
Yes, keypads with serial number 1568 and higher can download the new software. The function of FOC and RA DEC REV buttons has changed in the new program, so the buttons on the current keypads are labeled differently. You can simply use your current button pad and memorize the new functions or will have the opportunity to upgrade the button pad for an additional charge. See our website: https://www.astro-physics.com/keyvfk2
More details on this in the coming weeks.
Clear Skies,
Marj Christen Astro-Physics, Inc 11250 Forest Hills Rd Machesney Park, IL 61115 Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847 www.astro-physics.com
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io]
On Behalf Of David via groups.io
Will my current keypad (from my old Mach1, that I’m currently using with my 1100GTO) work with the new software update?
David
On Dec 3, 2020, at 8:45 PM, Marj Christen <marj@...> wrote:
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Re: Mach2 Keypad Availability
Yes, keypads with serial number 1568 and higher can download the new software. The function of FOC and RA DEC REV buttons has changed in the new program, so the buttons on the current keypads are labeled differently. You can simply use your current button pad and memorize the new functions or will have the opportunity to upgrade the button pad for an additional charge. See our website: https://www.astro-physics.com/keyvfk2
More details on this in the coming weeks.
Clear Skies,
Marj Christen Astro-Physics, Inc 11250 Forest Hills Rd Machesney Park, IL 61115 Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847 www.astro-physics.com
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io]
On Behalf Of David via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2020 9:27 PM To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Mach2 Keypad Availability
Will my current keypad (from my old Mach1, that I’m currently using with my 1100GTO) work with the new software update?
David
On Dec 3, 2020, at 8:45 PM, Marj Christen <marj@...> wrote:
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Re: Multi-star guiding
Terri Zittritsch
Your skies must be way better than mine, or the multi-star aspect of the Maxim guiding somehow average out the seeing across the three stars for you. I need to read up on this to understand how it takes advantage of the multiple stars and my guess is some kind of averaging which can filter out seeing to some extent.
I just picked up a full frame 60mp ASI camera with filterwheel and OAG. I plan to try the OAG but have had limited success in the past. I do have a lodestar which is the guide camera I'd use with this kind of setup due to its sensitivity. I really enjoy the flexibility and FOV fo the guidescope, but maybe I have some amount of error as a result of the differential flex. The precision movement of the mach2 makes it a joy to use. Terri
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Re: Capacity check on AP 1100
Worsel
Chris
Thanks! I can build it with that info. Bryan
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