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Msg from list owner re: pictures
Derek Wong <dawong@...>
Mark Turner wrote:
I found Todd's pictures to be fabulous - he seems to get better all the time! Unfortunately, some binaries sent through another e-group caused some people's browsers to crash...hence the suggestion. Until we can find a better solution we should use web page references. Thanks, Derek
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Thoughts on DSV, and new upgrade to 2.02.10
Charles Sinsofsky <strfire@...>
Hello everyone,
Please be sure to download the 2.02.10 upgrade for DSV, I have improved significantly the load and startup time from 2.02.09. I did not like the long wait to start the program, a signifcant improvment should be visible now. Another note, I would like some more feedback on usage of DSV, if you have any notes or features you would like to see, please be sure to use the User-Comments area on the web site, off the main table of contents. It permits you to directly send me email about your thoughts etc... Update on version 3.00, we are closing in finnishing this one. I will be looking for BETA Testers, it is a MAJOR upgrade with many many new features. I would like some BETA testers who will provide feedback to me for it. last note: I am finnaly going to get a chance to add the GOTO and standard AP listserves to my web site and the A/P web site. sorry delay. I also completing a email for all AP-GTO users who have DSV and I have their email to get them notified about this list. Thank for your time. - Charles Sinsofsky www.digitalskyvoice.com aka: strfire@ibm.net
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600 GTO Instrument Capacity
paul_schroeder@...
Hi all -
I have a 600 GTO with the wooden tripod on order with AP (not due until spring, unfortunately). Initially I will use my Traveler on this (I know the 600 is overkill), but I plan to eventually acquire an SCT -- of course I might just succumb and buy one ahead of the 600's arrival. I do have a quick question for the group. What have you experienced in the way of SCT capacity for the 600 GTO, particularly when doing any kind of imaging? I am assuming that an 8" will be fine; will the 600 work with the Celestron 9 1/2"? Is a larger SCT out of the question? Also, for visual work how large an SCT would be workable? Thanks for any input and best regards, Paul Schroeder
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Re: 600 GTO Instrument Capacity
RCK <rkuberek@...>
Paul_Schroeder@datacard.com wrote:
Hi all -Hi, I currently image with a C11 on an AP600 mount. It is workable with three counter- weights and a dovetail plate, but I've ordered an AP900 for greater stability. A big reason for this is that I use a fairly heavy camera (ST7) and a very heavy flip mirror (Van Slyke Slider). For visualy, I think it's great, but I do recommend getting three counterweights. Bob Kuberek
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Re: 600 GTO Instrument Capacity
RCK <rkuberek@...>
John Mensick wrote:
Just to clarify my earlier response, the C11 works fine on the AP600. However, it doesn't quite balance in DEC with all my imaging stuff hanging off the back. The pier is a great idea, though. Bob Kuberek
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Re: 600 GTO Instrument Capacity
John Mensick <steadyeye@...>
I have a 600 GTO with the wooden tripod on order with AP (not due until Hi Paul, Put your 600 on one of A-P's portable piers, and you'll greatly increase it's load capacity concerning small tremors - as with photography. It's not so much that it can hold more weight with the pier, it's that the vibration is significantly diminished, as well as an increase in wind resistance. People have put a C9.25 on a 400 mount on a pier succesfully for photographic purposes - a C11 on a 600/pier should be fine, and more portable than a 900. Clear Skies, John
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Re: 600 GTO Instrument Capacity
howard lazarus <lazhow@...>
Hi Paul;
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Ofcourse not always possible, I have a astro pier which does make a big difference. Using a AP 600 mount I have the AP 130mm and also the Meade 10". I use the special dovetail plate supplied by AP and the sliding plate supplied by Losmandy all of which you can get directly from AP. The wood tripod will not give you the results you may seek in the future and would consider AP 6" 48" pier...easy to setup but not as pretty as the wood tripod...or if you have a spot that you can use frequently nothing would beat the permanent astro pier. LASTLY, AP SERVICE IS OUTSTANDING..CALL MARJ OR CHRISTINE, TELL THEM YOUR PLAN AND THEY WILL GUIDE YOU. IF THEY FEEL THE AP 600 WILL NOT HANDLE YOUR NEEDS YOU CAN BE ASSURED THE HONEST AND CORRECT ANSWERS WILL BE SUPPLIED TO YOU. Have fun and hope you get you setup shortly...it only took 8 months for me to get my 600. Howard Lazarus Paul_Schroeder@datacard.com wrote:
Hi all -
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New Images With AP600
RCK <rkuberek@...>
I've posted some new images, using the ST7E camera on the AP600.
http://sciastro.net/flashca Bob Kuberek
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Re: New Images With AP600
visonneau-vincent <visonneau-vin@...>
Hi
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Wonderful,your images give me the idea to buy a ST7-E. Bye Vincent (a 900gto owner from FRANCE)
----- Message d'origine -----
De : RCK <rkuberek@ix.netcom.com> : AP Goto List <ap-gto@egroups.com> Envoy : samedi 14 aot 1999 01:55 Objet : [ap-gto] New Images With AP600 I've posted some new images, using the ST7E camera on the AP600.---- Click here for 4 FREE TRIAL ISSUES of Sports Illustrated! If you'rerate of $.75 an issue for 52 issues!http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/678
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E-Groups update
Derek Wong <dawong@...>
Hi everyone:
The e-groups site will be down Sun 8/15 from 9AM to 6PM. Thanks, Derek Wong
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Re: 600 GTO Instrument Capacity
Rich N. <rnapo@...>
Or, attach the 600 mount ring to a Losmady semi-pier and tripod
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
for the G11. Rich
Hi Paul,
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PEC Training
RCK <rkuberek@...>
After struggling for months trying to train the PEC on my AP600 manually,
last night I tried using the autoguider on board the ST7 for same. Here are the result from the first and last images of the night, after training. The pixel scale is 1 sec/pixel. The first column is Dec and the second is RA: ST-7 Track List Version = 1 Snapshots = 10 Snapshot_time = 30.00 Temperature = -5.23 Height = 500 Width = 765 Offset = 0 0, 0 0, 1 0, -1 0, -1 0, -1 0, -4 0, -5 0, -6 0, -7 0, -9 End ST-7 Track List Version = 1 Snapshots = 10 Snapshot_time = 15.00 Temperature = -5.23 Height = 503 Width = 760 Offset = 0 0, 0 0, -1 -1, -2 -2, -3 -2, -4 -2, -7 -3, -7 -4, -7 -5, -6 -5, -5 End Bob Kuberek
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Win CE?
John Mensick <steadyeye@...>
Does anyone know if the AP Go-To software will run under the WinCE
operating system? The reason this is important is tha it would allow much smaller computers to be used - WinCE is the Windows version for small handheld PC's. Thanks, John
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Re: Win CE?
Charles Sinsofsky <strfire@...>
No, I have though not tried it, the Windows CE platform can not support the
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
use of the voice system. Though on the other hand, a version of DSV with out voice might be able to be adapted to the Windosws CE platform. Perhaps I will look into this after DSV 3.00 is released. - Charles Sinsofsky author: DigitalSky Voice aka: strfire@ibm.net
----- Original Message -----
From: John Mensick <steadyeye@earthlink.net> To: <ap-gto@egroups.com> Sent: Monday, August 16, 1999 9:52 PM Subject: [ap-gto] Win CE? Does anyone know if the AP Go-To software will run under the WinCE
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Re: polar alignement,help (long response)
GrayFox65@...
Vincent,
Hello from Virginia. Trying to align the AP GTO mounts can be an intensely frustrating experience until you get the hang of it. In answer to your first question, no the mount does not have to be horizontal to successfully align the mount. I made that mistake when I first got started, but "it just ain't so!" I'm not sure why you aren't aligning successfully, I'll give some thought to the steps you describe to see if I see anything wrong with them. Meanwhile, I'm sure others in the group will do so as well. One thought to keep in mind. Stars located on or very near the meridian (due South) are very valuable for polar alignment. The reason is that when the mount is pointed to the meridian, turning the mount's altitude (latitude) adjuster translates into a purely vertical alignment star motion in the eyepiece. As the mount is moved to the east or west, a horizontal component is introduced into the movement of the alignment star when the altitude adjuster is turned. By the time the mount is laid all the way over to the east or west, turning the mount's altitude adjuster results in a nearly horizontal movement of the alignment star in the eyepiece field. Since the mount's azimuth adjuster always produces a horizontal movement no matter where the mount is pointed, this can lead to confusion and a seeming inability to bring the mount to proper alignment. You may also be experiencing a problem with orthogonality due to the fact that you are using an SCT on your mount. Others have suggested that it is more difficult to maintain orthogonality with SCTs than with refractors. If you use a star diagonal, lack of orthogonality there can be a contributor to poor performance as well. The AP Maxbrite diagonal is machined to be very close to true orthogonality. Having said that, let me offer an alternate alignment method suggested by Roland Christen, one that works superbly for me. Not only does it separate altitude alignment and azimuth alignment into separate steps so you can more easily see what is going on, but it also reveals any orthogonality errors quite clearly. Furthermore, it doesn't require visibility of Polaris to work, useful if your view to the North is blocked. I use this method all the time now, and I can align my AP 155EDF and 600E GTO so well that objects fall near the center of the field of view of a 3mm Radian, 10 arc minutes diameter at 365X. Under those conditions, the GTO mount is truly a delight to use. Here is Roland Christen's method. My amplifying comments are in [brackets]. Note that Roland says he can perform this method in 5 minutes. It take me considerably longer, but the results are worth it. GTO Mount Scope Alignment by Roland Christen I use another method to achieve accurate results, a modification of method 3 in the manual. [First, use either method 1 or method 2 to get close, within one or two degrees.] I choose a star that is close to the meridian overhead, and center the crosshairs on it. [Center the overhead star with the N-S-E-W buttons and perform a Recal operation.] Then I change the clock time by 1 hour and enter the same star on the hand control. The telescope now slews to the other side of the mounting, and the star will be offset in declination by some amount (the star can also be off the crosshair in R.A. but this is not due to polar alignment, rather it is due to non-orthogonality of the telescope vs. the mounting). To polar align, the star is moved half way to the center of the crosshair by turning only the altitude adjuster. The star is now brought the rest of the way with the buttons, and a recal is done by pushing button #9. That in effect sets the altitude of the mounting. If done properly, you don't need to do it any more times, but you could do it again by resetting the clock time to the original hour and slewing to the same star again on the other side of the mounting. A final fine adjustment can be done the second time. [Ignore any small displacement in R.A.] You can also adjust the orthogonality of your mounting by shimming up one of the mounting rings until the star comes in in R.A also. The azimuth setting on the mount is done by picking a star in the north, and then slewing to a star in the south at similar right ascensions. Bring the star half way to the crosshair with the azimuth adjuster, and the rest of the way with the buttons. [Ignore any small displacement in DEC] Then hit #9 button to recal the position. This way, the two adjustment axes are done totally independently. It is highly accurate and very fast. I can do it in less than 5 minutes and be dead on all night long. Sincerely Roland Christen
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polar alignement,help
visonneau-vincent <visonneau-vin@...>
Hello (excuse me formy english)
I want to know if it is important to make the tripod horizontally if i want to use the polar scope.I have some problem with it. The precision of my ap 900 gto isn't very good and i dont know why.I used the next method : "i choose a star (for exemple deneb) and then manual move the scope to deneb. then once on deneb i use the telescope hand controller to select the star deneb in polar alignment mode and then auto slew it ot polaris after i select the star deneb. the scope will slew to polaris, at this time i use the alt/az only to center polaris as well as you can then i ask for re-calibrate and i choose deneb again the scope will now auto slew to deneb by itself, when you reach deneb, then i use the 'hand controller key n,e,w,s buttons center deneb in a medium power eyepiece, then press goto, the telescope will auto calibrate the new position of deneb and then autoslew back to polaris, I repeat the same star 4 or 5 times, then I choose another star a great deal of distance away from deneb and go through that one 5 times and then I choose another star and do it 5 times and then I go back deneb and the precision ISN'T VERY GOOD and i dont understand why? What is the problem (celestron 8",horizontally,orthogonality(i have the system astrophysics made for the celestron 8)) . If someone could help me. Bye Vincent FRANCE
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Re: polar alignement,help
Charles Sinsofsky <strfire@...>
When you are at Deneb for the second time, are you waiting till the scope
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
reaches deneb, you then use the N,S,W,E buttons, to move the star into the center of the eyepiece, and then press MENU not GOTO, press the MENU button to auto-slew back to polaris. I will check the code if you can press goto and see what happens, but press MENU this will re-calibrate the position of deneb and then auto slew back to polaris where you will use alt/az to set the position of polaris, and then either 'next' to exit or goto to re-select another star or the same star. I use this method all the time for my mounts and it works fine. - charles sinsofsky author: Astro-Physics DigitalSky Voice and the Hand-controller for the Goto mount. www.digitalskyvoice.com aka: strfire@ibm.net
----- Original Message -----
From: visonneau-vincent <visonneau-vin@infonie.fr> To: <ap-gto@egroups.com> Sent: Monday, August 23, 1999 9:21 PM Subject: [ap-gto] polar alignement,help Hello (excuse me formy english)
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Tracking!
RCK <rkuberek@...>
The news is good. I was able to train the PEC on my AP600 using the
autoguider on the ST7. The results are appended. The first column is DEC and the second is RA. The scale is 1.7 arcsec. per pixel and the total period covered is approx. 12 minutes. The object was NGC 6946. For the training session I used a tracking image exposure of 2 sec. and calibration times of 7 sec. and 7 sec. These results for unguided tracking are far better than I have gotten without the PEC (see my earlier posts). Bob Kuberek ST-7 Track List Version = 1 Snapshots = 16 Snapshot_time = 30.00 Temperature = -5.23 Height = 508 Width = 761 Offset = 0 0, 0 0, 1 1, 1 1, 0 1, 0 1, -1 2, -1 2, 0 2, 0 2, 0 2, 0 3, 0 3, 0 3, 1 3, 0 4, 0 End
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Re: polar alignement,help
visonneau-vincent <visonneau-vin@...>
When you are at Deneb for the second time, are you waiting till thescope reaches deneb, you then use the N,S,W,E buttons, to move the starinto the center of the eyepiece, and then press MENU not GOTO, press the MENUbutton to auto-slew back to polaris. I will check the code if you can pressgoto and see what happens, but press MENU this will re-calibrate theposition of I press menu,i make a mistake in my last mail Sorry Vincent
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Re: polar alignement,help
visonneau-vincent <visonneau-vin@...>
Hello again
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
It is just that the horizontally of tripods (or else) isn't important when we use AP Polar Axis Finder Scope??? Bye Vincent
----- Message d'origine -----
De : Charles Sinsofsky <strfire@ibm.net> : <ap-gto@egroups.com> Envoy : mardi 24 aot 1999 03:54 Objet : [ap-gto] Re: polar alignement,help When you are at Deneb for the second time, are you waiting till thescope reaches deneb, you then use the N,S,W,E buttons, to move the starinto the center of the eyepiece, and then press MENU not GOTO, press the MENUbutton to auto-slew back to polaris. I will check the code if you can pressgoto and see what happens, but press MENU this will re-calibrate theposition of deneb and then auto slew back to polaris where you will use alt/azto set the position of polaris, and then either 'next' to exit or goto tore-select another star or the same star. I use this method all the time for mymounts and it works fine.the Goto mount. www.digitalskyvoice.comif i why.Iwant to use the polar scope.I have some problem with it. scope toused the next method : thisdeneb. then once on deneb i use the telescope hand controller to then itime i use the alt/az only to center polaris as well as you can autoask for re-calibrate and i choose deneb again the scope will now 'handslew to deneb by itself, when you reach deneb, then i use the andcontroller then Ithen throughchoose thenthat haveI go ----the system astrophysics made for the celestron 8))-------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
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