Date
1 - 20 of 26
Point Mapping Strategies for the Mobile Imager
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Forgive me if this has been covered before...
I set up my mount each session. Get an accurate polar alignment, etc. I want to incorporate APCC's tracking rate correction and do unguided imaging whenever I can. When I set up I always know the object that I am going to image and I never start before 45 degrees elevation in the east and never go past 45 degrees down the western side. I always do just one object a night and park on the object for about 6 hours if I can. So, the question is... Do I need to set up a whole sky APPM mapping run when I know the declination and the path that tonight's object will be taking? For instance, if my object is at 0 degrees declination, then can I just do a dense APPM run that brackets 0 degrees? The image below is a screen shot of what I was thinking of for a 0 degree declination object:  -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Hi,
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I have done that with a two line mapping. Worked fine. Grüsse Konstantin v. Poschinger Hammerichstr. 5 22605 Hamburg 040/8805747 0171/1983476 Am 15.06.2020 um 06:36 schrieb Dean Jacobsen <deanjacobsen@...>:
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Terri Zittritsch
Hey Dean, I've noticed you use the ASI1600 camera as I do. What program do you use for capturing and how long is your point mapping taking? I'm asking because I'm curious about your efficiency and how long it takes. For some reason, I thought you were using an observatory setup.. but I see you're mobile like me. I'm curious as to the results of what you're talking about here. 2 line mapping, does this mean like 2 rows or points on a dec line along RA? I see you have 4 rows on the picture above.
For me, I have to wait till it's dark enough to use my polemaster to polar align, although I'm sure I could go earlier with the RAPAS. So this doesn't allow me to even start to point map until maybe 9:45pm or so in Vermont. From memory, the last time I tried a model, it took me 35 minutes to do what was called a 'small model' of around 30 points. I used it more or less as a test. And I'm using SGPro for my plate solving. For whatever reason, its efficiency for imaging is not great, and what I mean by this is how much overhead is taken by downloads and other control signaling.. So even though my plate solves, after the first, happen with the first plate searched, it's still slow. If I had a 60 point model, it would take maybe 60+ minutes. So for the most part, I haven't even bothered doing more modeling. So I am interested in what others use for capture/plate solving to maybe improve my overall efficiency. Clear skies are scarce for me this time of year. Last night I setup, polar aligned, plate solved, and then what seemed like a Vermont shaped cloud came over and ended my night without a single imaging frame captured. Best, Terri |
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Worsel
Terri
Which of the plate-solving options within SGP are you using? I know the APPC Pro manual suggests PlatSolve2 form Planewave, but ASTAP is much faster. A local install of astrometry.net is nearly as fast. Obviously there is a learning curve with both, but once configured, they are good to go. Bryan |
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Konstantin: That is good to know.
Terri: I have use of a permanent pier at a roll-of-roof observatory 100 miles away at the club's dark sky site but I tear down the mount and bring everything home. I don't leave my gear out there. Yes, I am using the ASI1600. It took me about 30 minutes to do a 68 point all sky mapping run the other night with Sequence Generator Pro and using PlateSolve2. The imaging and the plate solving ran pretty quick. 4 seconds for the exposure and plate solves were usually done within another 4 or 5 seconds. So it looks like I am averaging less than 30 seconds for each point, including slewing. So, I was very happy with the tracking I got using a 68 point all sky map. However, I am wondering if I can get even tighter tracking accuracy if I run a more dense map that is focused on the specific path my object for that night will take. -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Terri Zittritsch
On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 09:16 AM, Worsel wrote:
TerriHy Bryan, thanks for your response. I use platesolve2 as my base, but have a local copy of astrometry.net for blind solving as well. I have not tried Astrometry.net outside of using it with SGPro and blind solving. I've not tried ASTAP either but I'll look into it, thank you for the pointer! Terri |
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On Sun, Jun 14, 2020 at 09:35 PM, Dean Jacobsen wrote:
Still looking for opinions regarding success or cautions regarding point mapping runs which are specific to the path a particular target will take during the course of a night. If a scheme like this works then it would be helpful for those of us who setup and take down their rigs nightly. -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 12:33 AM, Konstantin von Poschinger wrote:
I have done that with a two line mapping. Worked fine.Konstantin, when you say "two line mapping", I am assuming those two lines are bracketing the declination of the object you are intending to image that night, correct? I didn't get a response from anyone as to whether there is inherently anything wrong with doing a special abbreviated map focused on the single object to be imaged that night. However, it seems like [purely guesswork on my part] this is similar to what is being incorporated into the new keypad software. -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Hi Dean, I use the two line mapping cause we have always different setups. We are working with a AP3600 with normaly two telescopes mounted. But then other peoples came and put their Teleskopes also on the mount. A normal full sky mapping would take to long. Thats why I tested the two line mapping. Normally when a setup is not beeing changed every time you should better build and reuse a full sky mapping. Yes the two lines are bracketing the declination of the objekt. Grüsse Konstantin v. Poschinger Hammerichstr. 5 22605 Hamburg 040/8805747 0171/1983476 Am 20.06.2020 um 16:40 schrieb Dean Jacobsen <deanjacobsen@...>:
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Thanks Konstantin.
I set up and break down my mount for every use so I want to come up with a strategy that doesn't involve a full sky mapping run each of the 4 or 5 times a month I go out to the observatory and image. I will give it a try tomorrow night. -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Roland Christen
I set up and break down my mount for every use so I want to come up with a strategy that doesn't involve a full sky mapping run each of the 4 or 5 times a month I go out to the observatory and image. If you have an observatory, why break down and remove the mount each time?
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Jacobsen <deanjacobsen@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, Jun 20, 2020 10:30 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Point Mapping Strategies for the Mobile Imager Thanks Konstantin.
I set up and break down my mount for every use so I want to come up with a strategy that doesn't involve a full sky mapping run each of the 4 or 5 times a month I go out to the observatory and image. I will give it a try tomorrow night. -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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Because of the security situation there. I don't have sole control of the site and thus I can't configure a security system [limiting access, etc.] that would make me feel comfortable in leaving my equipment set up.
Some people leave their gear out there. All of mine fits in the trunk of a Honda Civic and it doesn't take very long to set up and to break down. It is a worry free solution for me. So Roland, what do you think about the viability of using a 2 or 4 or 6 line mapping run to bracket the declination of my intended target? -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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If you always setup the same equipment I would try to reuse al full point mapping. Make signs on the counter wight shaft an so on and install all things in the same way.
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Konstantin v. Poschinger
Hammerichstr. 5 22605 Hamburg 040/8805747 0171 1983476
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Roland Christen
what do you think about the viability of using a 2 or 4 or 6 line mapping run to bracket the declination of my intended target You only need 2 dec lines for quite accurate results, maybe 4 - 5 points per line.
If you can leave your pier there, maybe one solution is to leave your mount base attached and simply remove the Ra axis from the base. There are 6 screws that attach the RA axis to the base and they can be easily removed to allow the rest of the mount to go home with you. That way you don't have to redo your polar alignment every time you set up, and your model will be accurate.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Jacobsen <deanjacobsen@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sat, Jun 20, 2020 11:33 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Point Mapping Strategies for the Mobile Imager Because of the security situation there. I don't have sole control of the site and thus I can't configure a security system [limiting access, etc.] that would make me feel comfortable in leaving my equipment set up.
Some people leave their gear out there. All of mine fits in the trunk of a Honda Civic and it doesn't take very long to set up and to break down. It is a worry free solution for me. So Roland, what do you think about the viability of using a 2 or 4 or 6 line mapping run to bracket the declination of my intended target -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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On Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 09:57 AM, uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> wrote:
If you can leave your pier there, maybe one solution is to leave your mount base attached and simply remove the Ra axis from the base. There are 6 screws that attach the RA axis to the base and they can be easily removed to allow the rest of the mount to go home with you. That way you don't have to redo your polar alignment every time you set up, and your model will be accurate.Yes, the pier is permanently mounted with the Mach1/Mach2 mounting plate screwed on to the permanent pier. However, I can't just drop the mount on the mounting plate and get the same position. I always have to tune up the azimuth polar alignment and sometimes a little altitude adjustment is required. Thank you for the suggestion about pulling the RA axis off the base!!! That is definitely something that I will do. That will save me a lot of time. Thank you for the suggestions on the dec. line mapping as well. -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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On Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 09:38 AM, Konstantin von Poschinger wrote:
If you always setup the same equipment I would try to reuse al full point mapping. Make signs on the counter wight shaft an so on and install all things in the same way.Thank you Konstantin, I will definitely incorporate your suggestions. -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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On Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 09:57 AM, uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> wrote:
It is working very nicely. I actually set up a 3 line point map run with declination spacing of 5 degrees and RA spacing of 11 degrees. Almost done with the data collection now. Have taken 100 of 126 images and I haven't seem any subs yet where the stars aren't round. I am imaging at 318 mm [f/3 with the FSQ-106] so perhaps this isn't a super difficult test of the capabilities of the mount and the software. However, I am impressed. -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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I forgot to mention the fact that I am not guiding.
-- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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... and the final result -
- 120 x 2 minute unguided - 100% of the subs were used https://www.astrobin.com/full/epobup/B/ - link to higher res version in upper right corner technical details page - https://www.astrobin.com/epobup/B/ -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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... and finally, the Mach2 + scope has a new look. No guiding apparatus.
https://www.astrobin.com/yqzal0/C/ -- Dean Jacobsen http://astrophoto.net/wp/ Image Gallery - http://astrophoto.net/wp/image-gallery/ Astrobin - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/ |
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