Starstructure/Servocat/Nexus Astro images since 5/12-24
Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
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Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
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Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
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Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
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Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
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Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
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Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
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Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
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Full res, equipment and acquisition details:
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NGC 3945: 204x13s (44 minutes).
Not uploaded anywhere, but same equipment as all of the above which is the following:
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Camera:
Nikon D5300 DSLR (IMX193 sensor, same as QHY 247C Cooled Astrocam)?
Fullwell 39k
Read noise @ ISO 1600: 2.05e
QE: 55%
Pixelsize: 3.92
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System:
Starstructure/Lockwood 30" f/3.4 (f/3.6 with cc)
Stellarcat ServoCat (gear ratios set carefully with test in manual)
Nexus DSC Pro
ZWO EAF
Explore Scientific HR Coma Corrector
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Controlled remotely using the latest Meade Generic driver in NINA.?
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/Gabriel
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Huge thanks Mickey, i really appreciate your feedback! I agree that the Silver Silver is a gem in the sky!
Thank you, good to hear this...i have been trying to get things right in processing.
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Sounds good, just ask away if you wonder anything
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/Gabriel
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Gabriel, I just sent you a direct email.?
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Gary Myers
StellarCAT
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I love this image and this target. The Silver Silver is one of my favorite galaxies to image. Yours is a most excellent image. Great color and detail. From the good images you have shown me this is one of your best, meaning as good or better than I have seen. I believe your post processing skills are improving greatly.
Keep up the good work and keep moving forward. Also I am reviewing your email about using NINA and may have questions soon.
Thanks again
Mickey
I had a bit of luck before the clouds rolled in yesterday evening:
35 min on NGC 891:
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The funny thing is, when i began imaging the seeing was a disaster at like 6 arc seconds, so i decided to pack up but
for fun just took a test exposure to the south west, all of a sudden it was down to 3 arc seconds so it looks like the house
is creating some local seeing here despite it being well insulated and it was -10 C? yesterday, no hot roof from a summer day or anything...
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3 arc seconds in Florida is probably horrible but for this location it's not bad :)
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Hi Bill, thanks for the email. Problem solved now!
/Gabriel
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I had a bit of luck before the clouds rolled in yesterday evening:
35 min on NGC 891:
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?
The funny thing is, when i began imaging the seeing was a disaster at like 6 arc seconds, so i decided to pack up but
for fun just took a test exposure to the south west, all of a sudden it was down to 3 arc seconds so it looks like the house
is creating some local seeing here despite it being well insulated and it was -10 C? yesterday, no hot roof from a summer day or anything...
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3 arc seconds in Florida is probably horrible but for this location it's not bad :)
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toggle quoted message
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On Jan 26, 2025, at 4:24?PM, Gabriel Wiklund via groups.io <gabriel.wiklundholeshot@...> wrote:
? Thank you Mickey. At least good times are ahead as long as the Astro Gods remove the clouds :)
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/Gabriel
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Thank you Mickey. At least good times are ahead as long as the Astro Gods remove the clouds :)
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/Gabriel
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Beautiful cigar galaxy Gabriel.? Thanks for the detailed info. I will try not I ever get a chance to image. Still haven't tried the new firmware ?.?
Mickey?
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Show quoted text
On Jan 26, 2025, at 4:09?PM, Gabriel Wiklund via groups.io <gabriel.wiklundholeshot@...> wrote:
? [Edited Message Follows]
Hello Mickey,
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I was waiting for your response lol!
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Anyway: (not the same email since things have changed since then)
I have not used PHD2 but NINA has a Direct Guider for dithering so it should be able to dither directly with the Meade Generic driver. Nothing i have tried since field rotation has worked as excellent dither for me but i guess that changes when using a field rotator.
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Here is the rough NINA walk through i created in response to your email back then.. i am not a tutorial guy but i at least it's something. Sorry for doing this on my smartphone:
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If you have any specific questions i am happy to answer them.
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In infrastructure mode with a virtual serial port and the correct IP adress + the latest Meade Generic driver it's just a question of choosing the Meade Generic driver in the NINA mount drop down list and everything just works.
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This is how i use NINA:
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1. Mount pointing at 0.00 and 63.00 (i have put marks on the groundboard and altitude bearings), or you could just point at Polaris or NCP.
2. Inside the house i press play on my automated 2-star alignment sequence, after that is done it goes back to 0.00 63.00.
This is how the sequence looks: <2star.png> ?
Then i choose the target in NINAS framing wizard, press slew (not slew and center). Then after the mount has stopped moving
i hit solve and sync. Then slew again, it always puts the object in the middle or almost in the middle, so from here instead of jumping back and forth i just do the last fine centering with NINAS scope control (like a virtual handpad).?
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Then i run my Sequence which looks like this:
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It took a while to dial in a bulletproof autofocus routine with the 30" but i have found the right settings, 3 exposures per focus point and using the 15 brightest stars i think was the most important settings.
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The reason i solve and sync every 75 exposures is so that Nexus is updated on exactly where it is pointing for the correct drive rates, not sure if this makes any difference, just an idea i had.
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I don?t use center after drift anymore since it can get stuck jumping back and forth trying to center if the accuracy is set to below 2.5 arc minutes.
Having the the correct gear ratios set goes a loong way so i don?t mind re-centering now and again, one night i did not have to re-center for 2.5 hours.
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Here is my latest image:
Edit: Not latest image, but latest stack of an already uploaded image!
Best Regards
Gabriel
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Hello Mickey,
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I was waiting for your response lol!
?
Anyway: (not the same email since things have changed since then)
I have not used PHD2 but NINA has a Direct Guider for dithering so it should be able to dither directly with the Meade Generic driver. Nothing i have tried since field rotation has worked as excellent dither for me but i guess that changes when using a field rotator.
?
Here is the rough NINA walk through i created in response to your email back then.. i am not a tutorial guy but i at least it's something. Sorry for doing this on my smartphone:
?
If you have any specific questions i am happy to answer them.
?
In infrastructure mode with a virtual serial port and the correct IP adress + the latest Meade Generic driver it's just a question of choosing the Meade Generic driver in the NINA mount drop down list and everything just works.
?
This is how i use NINA:
?
1. Mount pointing at 0.00 and 63.00 (i have put marks on the groundboard and altitude bearings), or you could just point at Polaris or NCP.
2. Inside the house i press play on my automated 2-star alignment sequence, after that is done it goes back to 0.00 63.00.
This is how the sequence looks:  ?
Then i choose the target in NINAS framing wizard, press slew (not slew and center). Then after the mount has stopped moving
i hit solve and sync. Then slew again, it always puts the object in the middle or almost in the middle, so from here instead of jumping back and forth i just do the last fine centering with NINAS scope control (like a virtual handpad).?
?
Then i run my Sequence which looks like this:
?
It took a while to dial in a bulletproof autofocus routine with the 30" but i have found the right settings, 3 exposures per focus point and using the 15 brightest stars i think was the most important settings.
?
The reason i solve and sync every 75 exposures is so that Nexus is updated on exactly where it is pointing for the correct drive rates, not sure if this makes any difference, just an idea i had.
?
I don?t use center after drift anymore since it can get stuck jumping back and forth trying to center if the accuracy is set to below 2.5 arc minutes.
Having the the correct gear ratios set goes a loong way so i don?t mind re-centering now and again, one night i did not have to re-center for 2.5 hours.
?
Here is my latest image:
Edit: Not latest image, but latest stack of an already uploaded image!
Best Regards
Gabriel
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Hello Gabriel, I sent this awhile back to you directly, I expect I got the email address wrong.
Mickey
Michael "Mickey" Huffman? To:gabriel.wiklundholeshot@...
Thu, Jan 9 at 6:52 PM
Hello Gabriel and Happy New Year, I hope you are well and your imaging is moving forward.?
I have not been imaging and have not yet had a chance to try the new firmware. My wife's recovery from hip replacement surgery has gone slow though she is doing well and then on December 31st I contracted the flu bug. I am finally well but the weather has been terrible and terrible for imaging.
I have a question statement, didn't you say you were using PHD2 with NINA and the Nexus? Aren't you connecting through Sharpcap for PHD2,? I may be wrong about the PHD2. Are you able to dither or do you just stop the run and start again.? If you are using NINA and Nexus would you mind repeating your steps to me on how you accomplish this feat.?
I know you gave me the answer but I have misplaced that email and forgot, LOL.
Anyway thanks for the help.
Mickey
I was thinking of replacing my laptop in the observatory but I can't find the CD to install the Servocat Sky program on the "new" laptop, is there a way to download the software without a CD?
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Best regards
Gabriel?
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Re: Local SYNC activated or not ?
Thanks Gary !
It is what I was thinking.
It' a big scope (36") and I thus have to go to the SC main unit to see the status of the LED.
Not a big deal, but is it possible to change the handpad yellow LED ??
I ask this because I have some skilled electonicians guys at work that may be able to weld a new LED AS SOON AS it's not a too small machined welded LED....
I didn't bring the handpad from observatory so can't open to show them.
Does anyone has a picture of inlet of hand pad to see the type of LED and how it is welded ?
Thanks !
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Hi Gabriel. I will respond by email.
BC
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Re: Local SYNC activated or not ?
AutoLOCK (and thus Local Sync) are both on - the led on your handpad isn't working. You'll need to refer to the front of the ServoCAT for confirmation. Note it works reliably (the sync function) so if you push it for 1/4 second or so you can rest assured it is on (or off if it was on).?
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g.
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Re: Local SYNC activated or not ?
On Sat, Jan 25, 2025 at 06:06 PM, Raphael Guinamard wrote:
Dear all, dear Gary,
I was at observatory last night and tested again my yellow Led problem.
I was pretty sure last time that when I pressed the local synch on my hand pad no yellow led lit on Handpad nor main unit, but yesterday it behaved differentely.
But maybe I was too tired...
Yesterday when I Press the local synch, the yellow led local synch on main unit turn on (and the red aux also), but the yellow led on the hand pad didn't turned on.
See the video enclosed.
I believe my yellow LED on hand pad is damaged, no ?
Is there a way to test it ? (like on a car when you put your key in, all the led turn on)
Thanks for reply
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Sorry, it seems the .mov video can't be seen on the group
Here is a .MP4 video.
Rapha?l
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I was thinking of replacing my laptop in the observatory but I can't find the CD to install the Servocat Sky program on the "new" laptop, is there a way to download the software without a CD?
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Best regards
Gabriel?
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Re: Local SYNC activated or not ?
Dear all, dear Gary,
I was at observatory last night and tested again my yellow Led problem.
I was pretty sure last time that when I pressed the local synch on my hand pad no yellow led lit on Handpad nor main unit, but yesterday it behaved differentely.
But maybe I was too tired...
Yesterday when I Press the local synch, the yellow led local synch on main unit turn on (and the red aux also), but the yellow led on the hand pad didn't turned on.
See the video enclosed.
I believe my yellow LED on hand pad is damaged, no ?
Is there a way to test it ? (like on a car when you put your key in, all the led turn on)
Thanks for reply
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Re: Local SYNC activated or not ?
Raphael,
The wireless HC - well both the wired and the WL - get their led signals FROM the ServoCAT. Thus it will not 'work' stand alone.?
g.
------ Original Message ------
Date 1/18/2025 4:19:25 PM
Subject Re: [ServoCAT] Local SYNC activated or not ?
Hello Gary
Yes I had exactly the same conclusion as yours : if the red aux light turned on => I was in autolock, so local synch had been activated => the 2 yellow LED on Handpad and on main unit SHOULD have been on. But they were not.
I don't know what happened
I will recheck next time at observatory, as I was tired at end of observation.?
I brought the handpad at home (far away from observatory),and today I turned it on, pushed the guide slow button to make sure I was on guide speed, then pushed the local synch button. The yellow LED didn't turned on neither.
But maybe this is normal as the handpad was not connected to the servocat main unit ?
Am I correct ? could anyone test this on its own handpad to check if the yellow local synch LED turned on -or not- when NOT connected to main unit ?
Regards
Rapha?l
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Re: Local SYNC activated or not ?
Hello Gary
Yes I had exactly the same conclusion as yours : if the red aux light turned on => I was in autolock, so local synch had been activated => the 2 yellow LED on Handpad and on main unit SHOULD have been on. But they were not.
I don't know what happened
I will recheck next time at observatory, as I was tired at end of observation.?
I brought the handpad at home (far away from observatory),and today I turned it on, pushed the guide slow button to make sure I was on guide speed, then pushed the local synch button. The yellow LED didn't turned on neither.
But maybe this is normal as the handpad was not connected to the servocat main unit ?
Am I correct ? could anyone test this on its own handpad to check if the yellow local synch LED turned on -or not- when NOT connected to main unit ?
Regards
Rapha?l
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Re: Local SYNC activated or not ?
Raphael,
Good day sir.?
Ok ... so if the red AUX light came on then you were in AutoLOCK mode... and to be in AL mode you had to be in Local Sync mode. So the yellow SYNC led on the HC should be on as well as the SYNC led on the front of the ServoCAT. I'd check it again.?
g.
------ Original Message ------
Date 1/18/2025 1:03:54 PM
Subject [ServoCAT] Local SYNC activated or not ?
Dear all,?
I was not using the local sync function but after reading manual I believe it is quite powerfull to find faint objects.
So yesterday at end of observation I tried to activate it on M42 with the idea to find the horse head just after.
The Aux switch was up. I'm quite sure I was in guide mode, but not 100% sure.
When I pressed for approx 1 s the Local Sync on my (wireless) Handpad, the yellow led didn't turned on.
The Yellow LED sync on panel of main unit didn't turned on neither, BUT the? Left-most RED marked "AUX" LED turned on.
So it seems something happen....
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I pressed again the Local Sync on my (wireless) Handpad, the? RED "AUX" then turned off. Both yellow led on HC and main panel still off.
Any idea what's happening ?
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I have a version3 (updated from version 2 a few month ago)
Thanks for reply
Rpha?l
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Gabriel Wiklund