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Re: SOLVED: Re: Problem tracking with ArgoNavis and ServoCat on my 20" f/4

 

Mike,

Indeed you can "control" the scope using Stellarium or Sky Safari (also Cartes du Ciel). Control here meaning you can see where the scope is pointed and you can do a GOTO to an object you select. Note in Sky Safari they are using the latest version of planetarium coms (from ServoCAT/AN) which includes a much higher resolution in both directions. I don't think Stellarium has implemented that (and in their defense I don't remember them ever being asked to do so). The ASCOM driver, I don't believe, has been updated to include this higher resolution mode either.?

It does not allow for plate solving. It is being done - Mickey does it I know and I believe Alex does as well. It does require that a DSC, specifically either the Argo Navis or the Nexus, is in use.?

There are behind the scenes efforts on adding to and improving these capabilities.?

Nice work! I'm doing 1 - 12 second subs, mainly and usually 2-3 seconds to limit the impact of seeing (Lucky Imaging). I unfortunately didn't get 'in to' AP until after I sold the business and moved to a 55+ community here in Richmond VA. Then realized after I started working on it and helping out Bill (the new owner, BBAstro) ... that I can't do it well because I have no backyard to leave a rig setup. I'm working on trying to resolve that as well. I'm also working on adding a guide camera with ST4 capability to try to keep a rough centering of the images due to mount error/user error during alignment.?

Gary Myers


------ Original Message ------
From "Mike Greenhill-Hooper via groups.io" <sally.greenhill@...>
Date 1/8/2025 8:50:52 AM
Subject Re: [ServoCAT] SOLVED: Re: Problem tracking with ArgoNavis and ServoCat on my 20" f/4

Hi,
everything is working ok for me at present (20" f/4 classic Obsession, Paracorr field flatenner with ServoCat and ArgoNavis) and as I explained before I use SharpCap Pro's live stacking feature (2s exposures, ASI294MMPro camera gain 450, T=0C, 4x150 calibrated stacked frames per LRGB filter).? I also use the same set up to take lunar and planetary pictures with an ASI224MC camera and various TeleVue barlows (videos captured with SharpCap).
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Here is a link to some of my images posted on the British Astronomical Association website gallery:
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However, I am still interested in finding out if it is possible yet to control my scope from my laptop using a program like Stellarium or Cartes du Ciel (or Sky Safari, or other planetarium program).? It's not essential but it might be more convenient than just using the AN control pad.? Also, separately, I use for my SkyWatcher mount and triplet refractor a program called APT (astrophotography tool) that has plate solving incorporated which I find very useful.? Usually I can visually spot the target through the eyepiece of my Obsession after a GOTO and get it centered, but again if plate solving could be used to finesse the alignment and centering and confirm that I do indeed have the object that would be great.
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So my question is with the current state of developments can either of these things be done, and if so is there any available documentation that would guide me on how to achieve this?
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