Anyone considering replacing your Telrad with a PiFinder?

Imagine adding plate solving on your DOB for push-to goto.

Richard

开云体育

I saw that, but for push to I think youre better off using a Nexus II and an iPad ( or Android tablet) with Sky Safari. Simpler IMHO

--
Mark Bungart
15" Obsession #643 / Swayze mirror
Grove City, Ohio

Hi Richard,
I recently added an astrophoto setup (newton 200F5 EQ6R) to my UC22 and classic15. I run the astrophoto setup with NINA and a mele quieter computer controled? over wifi with remote desktop from my tablet and I was asking myself: "it would be nice to have platesolve on my UC22 directly linked to my servocat". Pifinder sits between this full control including goto and the classic AN/SC tandem. Using it with AN/SC it could help you to align without using a cross haired eyepiece and complete a goto with a better "spiral search". That's a good idea anyway and it costs much less that my configuration if you include the pointing scope and camera that would be necessary to let it work.

Clear skies,?
贵谤é诲é谤颈肠?
UC22 #1 :-)

Hi Richard
I've just had a ScopeDog eFinder plus drives installed on my 15" Classic.? These work in conjunction with a Nexus Pro with WiFi and Sky Safari, plus the original 8192 encoders.? The ScopeDog is based on a Raspberry Pi and nestles in the base unit quite snuggly. The camera we used for the eFinder is one I already had - a ZWO ASI120 MC.? Early days yet as I've only had the chance to test it just the once since installation.but I'm delighted!

Even more interesting, for me anyway, in an email to me from Richard Sutherland (the PiFinder creator? I found him on PiFinder.io) says:
Thank you for reaching out! Currently the PiFinder can provide position information to SkySafari by acting as a telescope mount, but SkySafari can only connect to one at a time and can't talk to both the Argo and PiFinder together.
We are currently working on integrating GoTo systems with the PiFinder, starting with OnStep and then moving on to ServoCat.
In this configuration the PiFinder would?replace the Argo and talk directly to the Goto system providing several significant advantages:
? ? ?Automatic (or pentialy no) multi-star alignment. The PiFinder will be able to move the scope to various points in the sky and feed back the exact RA/DEC for alignment automatically.
? ? ?Continuous pointing correction/suncs. After each go-to move, the PiFinder will detect any errors, issue corrective slew commands and sync the GoTo system to refine it's pointing model.
? ? ?Use of the nice PiFinder UI for catalog search, charet location, etc.
? ? ?Fully integrate with SkySafari.
This is already in testing with OnStep, so I think ServoCat won't be far behind. Since this is an open software project, it's not always easy to pin down exact feature release dates, but, I'm hoping most of the GoTo integration work will be done by the end of this year.

To me, this sounds interesting. The only thing is will their catalogs and data be as robust as Argo?
I'm waiting patiently to see. Right now, I have SkySafari 7 Pro along with SkiFi 3 and I'm enjoying using it wirelessly for visual observing.
Steve

Steve,

If Richard S. and the open-source contributors can get ServoCAT interfaced and still support both ASCOM (to report it's position) and the ServoCAT driver (to drive the scope) it won't matter as Stellarium has up to 400K objects.

So just have your object database in the Planetarium and use PiFinder to take care of the accurate slewing without needing encoders or 2-star alignment.

My problem is that my fov will likely not have enough stars in some areas of the sky for plate solving.? For example M1 takes up half of my small fov.?

Richard

Hi Richard.
What equipment are you using that you get a small fov?
I have a 31mm Nagler with an apparent fov of 82 degrees.
Also a 21, 13 and 6 ethos with an apparent fov of 100 degrees.
We just finished getting up and running wirelessly using SkySafari 7 Pro to give the Gotto commands to the telescope.
I still have issues trying to get Argo to connect to my PC computer. Obvious USER ERROR! but that's another story for another time.
Who knows what Richard S and his geeky crew (and I use the term only with great admiration!) will conjure up over the next few months. Only time will tell.
I await patiently (usually not my style).
Hopefully whatever they concoct, will help give you some answers.
Hope springs eternal.
Steve

hi Richard.
Duh, me!? Your small fov is your camera fov??
I really haven't been bitten by the photo bug (yet).
So pardon me for not understanding your true dilemma.?
Steve

Steve,

I have an 18” UC obsession DOB. ?I use a Mallincam DS287c camera which reminds me of an 8mm eyepiece FOV.

I am totally hooked on astro photos. ?And remote control observing on my big screen TV wirelessly from my recliner using Stellarium to slew, focus, change filters. ?

Ah Ha! You're Richard from the ServoCat Group!
GREAT mosaic of the Witches Broom. I've been mesmerized for days admiring it.
Someday, if I get bitten by the astrophoto bug, I'll circle back to you for advice.
Right now I'm just enjoying actually doing GoTos and they show up in my eyepiece and observing them under low and high power.
I have great respect for your accomplishments and appreciate you sharing them.
Steve