Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 24, 2008, 00:03:56

Title: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 24, 2008, 00:03:56
I worked it out,

this is 3x4 minutes guided using AA

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3031/2605890890_3b64af8444_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Mike on Jun 24, 2008, 06:03:56
What is it you have worked out?

And what are all those black spots Chris?
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 24, 2008, 07:04:10
Hi Mike,

I worked out how to guide in Astro Art, that's all, I use it for image acquisition so I thought I'd try it with my QHY6 CCD as the guider.  I have not managed to use the QHY with any other programme because the driver relays do not seem to work perfectly, thats all.

Black pixels are the higher value noise taken away from the image, i.e. no sigma combine.

Chris
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: MarkS on Jun 24, 2008, 07:35:44

It looks extremely accurate - which mount did you use?

I need to get my guiding sorted ...
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 24, 2008, 18:35:42
Hi Mark,

I have a bog standard EQ6 Skyscan V2.0 old one like Mike's.

Actually I rebuild it and added some new bearings the raw PE is under +- 20 and the curve is ok as well, if you need yours doing I can help!

I did the stats on the guiding this morning and they are 1.42 Arc seconds at FWHM, it needs to be about 40% better for my needs, but that's just fiddling with the settings.  I was also guiding on a mag 10 star!  Yipeeeee.

I think however I will use the £50 guide scope Tony got me at xmas and try this to see if I can get better results, I can explain later.

Chris


P.S. Belarus tomorrow, hangover Friday!






Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Mike on Jun 24, 2008, 19:23:12
Chris I need new bearings for mine. Are you able to recommend the ones you bought and if so what make are they?
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 27, 2008, 18:16:37
Hi,

The company is simplybearings.co.uk you can spend hours there reading about them I think the RA/DEC worm bearings we're SKF608 series, I'll try to dig out the part number it should be on the EQ Yahoo group, having seen your bearings (oh were missus) I'd suggest you look at getting a new taper bearing and main baearings for the RA as well.  But the RA/DEC worm ones we're about £20 and knocked +-8 off my PE.

Chris
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Fay on Jun 27, 2008, 18:37:14
Chris,

did you have to open two instances? Are you imaging with it as well?

fay
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 28, 2008, 09:53:48
Hi,

Yes I did, but be warned guiding with AA is not for the faint hearted, you need to be able to calculate the scope speed manually there is no good calibration routine.

If you give me the focal length of the scope and why you will be using to guide with I'll try to work out what the telescope speed numbers should be, then I will need the guide rate the mount it set at.

Chris
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Mike on Jun 28, 2008, 10:55:46
Quote from: Space Dog on Jun 27, 2008, 18:16:37I'd suggest you look at getting a new taper bearing and main bearings for the RA as well.

Yeah i'd like to just get a complete new set as

a) My ones have been bashed about to buggery
b) The standard EQ6 bearings are naff anyway
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Fay on Jun 28, 2008, 11:08:57
Thanks, Chris.
I have just checked that Maxim will accept my GPUSB etc, & it all seems to work ok, so I will try that. I am thinking that Astroart will only work with a LXUSB Shoestring.

I feel I have to have a backup as I have that trouble with PHD, with it freezing up.

Fay
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 30, 2008, 10:08:24
Apart from the RA & DEC, all my bearings are standard, and I've not re-greased them :-)
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Mike on Jun 30, 2008, 10:26:51
Yeah but you didn't need to wack them with a long pole and a rubebr mallet to get them out  :o
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Fay on Jun 30, 2008, 10:32:47
Chris, can you hurry up & go away to Wales, so we can get some clear skies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 30, 2008, 10:45:14
Going early tomorrow, so it should be clear tonight because I will have to be in bed early.
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: RobertM on Jun 30, 2008, 17:10:41
Thanks Chris, I'll set my stuff up for tonight in anticipation ;)
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Fay on Jun 30, 2008, 17:12:44
Robert I am already set up!
Title: Re: Astro Art guiding
Post by: Mac on Jun 30, 2008, 18:49:14
Chris must be in bed already,

Its clear skies here,

yipieeee :lol: