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Re: Very oval stars with excellent guiding - how?
Ray Gralak
Hi Eric,
The right side of this is with guiding OFF. I believe it shows polar alignment isn't perfect, but it's pretty close. NoteAccording to the pointing model, the mount's polar alignment is over 10 arc-minutes off in elevation and over 20 arc-minutes off in azimuth. Since you say that the polar alignment is now good, it might be that polar alignment shifted or was manually adjusted afterward, which would cause drift when tracking correction is enabled. I think you should improve polar alignment and then redo the model in either case. Also, for a refractor, the pointing model's RMS is high. It should be closer to 10 arc-seconds for East and West. You might want to check that all fittings are tight and cables are not interfering or tight, which can cause random or unmodeled errors. Lastly, enable Dec Arc Tracking if your license allows for that. This will usually produce better tracking accuracy than the full-sky model does because it accounts for pointing errors outside of the full-sky model's pointing terms. -Ray |
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Re: Very oval stars with excellent guiding - how?
Roland Christen
1) are you sure that you were guiding when you took the image?
2) If you did a model but the scope drifted in RA and Dec it appears that you did not activate the model
3) What is your guiding setup? Off-axis or separate guide scope?
4) We may want you to run a simple test on the CP4 to see what software version and internal settings are. Will check with you tomorrow during office hours.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Claeys <AstroEric@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sun, Apr 24, 2022 5:58 am Subject: [ap-gto] Very oval stars with excellent guiding - how? I have a TEC 140 refractor on a 1100GTO with encoders on a permanent pier. I ran a 378 point model, and am getting excellent guiding with SGP and PHD2; mostly +/- 0.25 pixels, but getting very oval stars. I'm not sure how that can happen, and don't know how to fix it.
Full-size pictures and additional information, including full setup, is at https://eccssw.com/AstroIssues/OvalStars/. Here's the model results. I have no idea if this is "good" or not.  Here's guiding with tracking corrections On, then Off. Even when Off I'm getting pretty good guiding. Note the scale is +/- 1px.  The right side of this is with guiding OFF. I believe it shows polar alignment isn't perfect, but it's pretty close. Note the scale is +/- 4px.  And hear are the oval stars:  How can I be getting very oval stars with extremely good guiding and pretty good polar alignment?This just started happening recently.-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics |
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Re: Very oval stars with excellent guiding - how?
Hi Eric I can offer a few observations: On your model, you may have a few errant points (max error on east is 174 which seems high to me) I suggest you enable these two options  Second, enabling/disabling your guiding should not be that dramatic, especially for an encoder mount. your comment "although checking later showed azimuth off by about 15 minutes and altitude about 1 minute." sounds to me like something may have slipped or settled? maybe time to check things over and do another polar alignment Finally, anytime I hear "great guiding, but oblong stars" my first reaction is differential flexure. Not sure what is your guiding setup, but if you are guiding on a separate scope, that is definitely a suspect Brian On Sun, Apr 24, 2022 at 3:58 AM Eric Claeys <AstroEric@...> wrote: I have a TEC 140 refractor on a 1100GTO with encoders on a permanent pier. I ran a 378 point model, and am getting excellent guiding with SGP and PHD2; mostly +/- 0.25 pixels, but getting very oval stars. I'm not sure how that can happen, and don't know how to fix it. --
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Re: Very oval stars with excellent guiding - how?
Jeff B
What Mike says but when I look closely at some of the dimmer stars, they look like very tight double stars to me. Odd. Keep us posted. Jeff On Sun, Apr 24, 2022 at 8:47 AM M Hambrick <mhambrick563@...> wrote: Are you seeing the oval stars across the whole image ? If so, it could be that your imaging train is tilted ? If you are only seeing the oval stars in the corners you may have some field curvature. |
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Re: APCC - APPM and NINA
Last night, it was cloudy. So, I set up APPM and connected it to my AP1600 mount. For the camera option, I selected NASA SkyView so I could see how the procedure works. It took about 25 minutes for the mount to go to the 36 points.
Since I am in a manual domed observatory, I will select the "Pause after each Slew" option to ensure that the scope is aimed through the shutter opening before capturing an image. But for doing my first APPM run, should I choose "Plate Solve" or "Plate Solve and Recal" for acquiring the data for my mount/scope configuration? Also, I do not own third party applications like Maxim DL, CCDSoft, SGP, etc. and will be using the "NINA camera" option my cameras have native NINA drivers. In using the "NINA Camera" option, does APPM control the camera thru NINA, take the exposures and call up ASTAP to do the plate solving. Finally after APPM has run its course and gone to all the points in the APPM routine, does it prompt you to save the acquired data and use it to create a model? I did not see that occur after running a 36 point APPM yesterday using NASA SkyView option. Jack Huerkamp |
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Re: New Videos on the AP YouTube Channel
Thanks Karen. More great videos.
I will throw another one into the suggestion list. How about a video demonstrating how to set up meridian delays with APCC and the Keypad. Maybe this would be better as two separate videos. The idea would be to demonstrate how to set the delays up in the software and to show how the mount behaves once they are set up. Mike |
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Re: Very oval stars with excellent guiding - how?
Are you seeing the oval stars across the whole image ? If so, it could be that your imaging train is tilted ? If you are only seeing the oval stars in the corners you may have some field curvature.
Mike |
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Very oval stars with excellent guiding - how?
I have a TEC 140 refractor on a 1100GTO with encoders on a permanent pier. I ran a 378 point model, and am getting excellent guiding with SGP and PHD2; mostly +/- 0.25 pixels, but getting very oval stars. I'm not sure how that can happen, and don't know how to fix it.
Full-size pictures and additional information, including full setup, is at https://eccssw.com/AstroIssues/OvalStars/. Here's the model results. I have no idea if this is "good" or not.  Here's guiding with tracking corrections On, then Off. Even when Off I'm getting pretty good guiding. Note the scale is +/- 1px.  The right side of this is with guiding OFF. I believe it shows polar alignment isn't perfect, but it's pretty close. Note the scale is +/- 4px.  And hear are the oval stars:  How can I be getting very oval stars with extremely good guiding and pretty good polar alignment?This just started happening recently. |
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Re: DOVELM162 on Mach2
Jeffc
RTFM of course...
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DOVELM162 on Mach2
Jeffc
I’ve been swapping saddles around and installing a DOVELM162 on the Mach2 today.
Of course, finding the correct bolts is a bit of a challenge. Shows: 1/4-20 x 1" SHCS [for mounting to 900, 1100, 1200, 1600 or Mach1 (M1 uses 4), Does the Mach2 have the same DEC saddle threads as the Mach1? I used 1/4-20 x 1”, but they did “look” a bit long. That said, I don’t feel any play and the DOVELM162 looks seated well. Just wanted to double check.  Ps. The faster chart could use an update. -Jeff |
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Re: Setting a Fixed DHCP Lease to a Mach1
Jerome A Yesavage
I think I got it. My router would not allow me to assign the same number as already being used by the mount... had a lease already. So I made a fixed lease for another UNUSED number, then assigned that in APCC, and it connects.... on and off a couple times....
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Re: AP1100 Play in Dec Axis
#Guiding
Roland Christen
Little Moose ok, BIG Moose, no!
 Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Harley Davidson <astrocnc@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, Apr 23, 2022 2:42 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 Play in Dec Axis #Guiding
Roland
Would a "little MOOSE" be okay to use (as shown below) to tighten those screws :) tony  On 4/21/2022 11:54 AM, Roland Christen
via groups.io wrote:
Can I have overtightened the 8x bearing bolts? You problem appears to have been loose
clutches.
Overtightening the 8 screws is not an issue
unless you used an 8ft cheater wrench
with a Moose pushing on the end.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Rouz <rbidshahri@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Thu, Apr 21, 2022 10:17 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] AP1100 Play in Dec Axis #Guiding I tightened the 8 Dec and Ra bolts. they were pretty
tight to begin with.
I did change the camera configuration so the balance was off:
-- Roland Christen Astro-Physics -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics |
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Re: New Videos on the AP YouTube Channel
Harley Davidson
Excellent videos Karen. You make the ones I do look 3rd rate :)
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Is it possible to do a video showing (with a mount) how to do a complete daytime alignment of the mount? It would be much appreciated. Maybe get Roland in the video while he takes a break from making lenses. thanks tony On 4/22/2022 4:35 PM, Karen Christen
wrote:
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Re: AP1100 Play in Dec Axis
#Guiding
Harley Davidson
Roland
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Would a "little MOOSE" be okay to use (as shown below) to tighten those screws :) tony  On 4/21/2022 11:54 AM, Roland Christen
via groups.io wrote:
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Re: Windows 11
Patrick Sparkman
Everything has worked fine for me so far. I did the upgrade from from 10 to 11 using the Software Update in Windows.
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Re: Setting a Fixed DHCP Lease to a Mach1
Ray Gralak
Hi Jerry,
I set it on my router with the right MAC address but almost at random the Mach1 wants another IP address so if it isAPCC does not control the IP address settings of your mount. The best way is to log back into your router and make sure it is assigning a *static* IP address to the mount. -Ray |
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Re: Setting a Fixed DHCP Lease to a Mach1
The CP4 has wired and wireless Internet ports and each has its own unique MAC address and each will get it's own DHCP IP assignment. I hope that helps. "Always take the high road. There's less traffic." Observatory Engineer Summit Kinetics Waikoloa, Hawaii On Sat, Apr 23, 2022 at 7:58 AM Jerome A Yesavage <yesavage@...> wrote: Hi, |
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Setting a Fixed DHCP Lease to a Mach1
Jerome A Yesavage
Hi,
Am using APCC latest version and for the life of me cannot get the system to accept a fixed DHCP lease for its TCP connection. I set it on my router with the right MAC address but almost at random the Mach1 wants another IP address so if it is set to 192.168.0.88 that may work for a while, but then it goes to 192.168.0.89 and I have to modify the connection. Am I missing something in APCC? Jerry Y |
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Re: Windows 11
Pete Tuson
I bought a mini pc which came preinstalled with Win 11. I had no intention of trying it prior to that, but absolutely everything astro related works with no issues whatsoever. I can see no advantage to Win 11 over 10 but it's not a disaster if you have it. On Sat, 23 Apr 2022, 00:19 midmoastro, <teche70@...> wrote: I will echo Brian, no issues here running Win11. (NINA, SharpCap, APCC, ASCOM, etc.) |
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Re: Forgot to Park last night
Roland Christen
Loosen the clutches, send it to Park3, let it go where it wants. Then move it manually to Park3. That's it.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: michael mccann via groups.io <mmccawsprojects@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Fri, Apr 22, 2022 8:20 pm Subject: [ap-gto] Forgot to Park last night Darn, I forgot to park my AP900 last night. Started at pointing to zenith to do flats . So what actually happens to the clutches when it goes a few hours pushing scope against pier for a few hours? I suspect if I set the clutch at the right tension there’s probably no damage. Also, what’s the best way to recover? Do I try parking at CWD, or best to recal ? (I’m using N.I.N.A.)
Thanks ahead -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics |
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