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

K9RX - Gary All Messages By This Member #7178 Mike,? ? Glad things worked out... the beep you mentioned might have been the enter for the alignment star. If you have issues with power interruption write to me direct at : amateurk9rx at gmail com and we'll go from there.? ? did you take that pic of 6946? That's a great image. If so I'd love to know the details. ? Gary? ?
Mike Greenhill-Hooper All Messages By This Member #7179 ? ? Hi, Yes I took this image of NGC6946 with the Obsession 500mm f/4 and ASI294MMPro camera and LRGB filters earlier this week. I used SharpCap's Live stacking feature to capture 4x5min stacked images (exposure 2s, 150 per stack, gain 450, T=0C) for each filter, with dark and flat subtraction. I have developed a spreadsheet that tells me how much I need to manually rotate my camera as a function of time from the start of the first image capture to compensate for field rotation. Total imaging time was just 80 minutes. The final separate LRGB images were aligned, stacked and treated with Affinity Photo (LRGB composition macro). ?I also used GraXpert to remove gradients in the final image. I have used this method quite a lot over the last 3 years mainly to image galaxies.? It is a bit tedious but it works. ? As long as any power interruptions (if that is what they are?) don't interfere with what I'm doing then I will just carry on.? If I do encounter problems I will get in touch. ? Regards, Mike ?
Mickey Huffman All Messages By This Member #7182 开云体育 Hello Mike, as for the field rotation. Optec has the Pyxis LE rotator which now has a beta derotator program. Myself and a few others have and are using it. It works, long story short. It is available from Optec.? Mickey? ? toggle quoted message Show quoted text On Sep 26, 2024, at 10:35?AM, Mike Greenhill-Hooper via groups.io <sally.greenhill@...> wrote: ? ? ? Hi, Yes I took this image of NGC6946 with the Obsession 500mm f/4 and ASI294MMPro camera and LRGB filters earlier this week. I used SharpCap's Live stacking feature to capture 4x5min stacked images (exposure 2s, 150 per stack, gain 450, T=0C) for each filter, with dark and flat subtraction. I have developed a spreadsheet that tells me how much I need to manually rotate my camera as a function of time from the start of the first image capture to compensate for field rotation. Total imaging time was just 80 minutes. The final separate LRGB images were aligned, stacked and treated with Affinity Photo (LRGB composition macro). ?I also used GraXpert to remove gradients in the final image. I have used this method quite a lot over the last 3 years mainly to image galaxies.? It is a bit tedious but it works. ? As long as any power interruptions (if that is what they are?) don't interfere with what I'm doing then I will just carry on.? If I do encounter problems I will get in touch. ? Regards, Mike ?
K9RX - Gary All Messages By This Member #7183 Wow.... you manually rotated the camera? Interesting. But it is a great image! Very nicely done including the post processing.? ? What a number of guys are doing, including myself starting this summer, is to take images where rotation isn't an issue (or if it happens faster to take shorter ones). So just about anywhere in the sky 10 secs is good. As I'm sure you know it can be much longer say to the east or west. A technique that is also used is referred to as Lucky imaging. Because the cameras are soooo sensitive AND have extremely low read noise one can take very short exposures w/o jeopardizing the S/N, then stack (I too use LiveStack in SharpCap).? ? With lucky imaging the goal is to capture images when the seeing happens to have settled down - i.e. you get lucky. To accomplish this you use time frames that are 3 seconds or lower (the longer it is - the less likely the seeing is stable for that period of time). Then use the "Filter FWHM" to filter out the ones that are above a certain level. If you have some patience you can adjust it so that you filter out maybe 20 - 25% of the images only keep the better ones.? ? As Mickey points out there is a field rotator available as well. I couldn't use it because I'm already at shorter tube lengths and adding more backfocus to the camera would mean i'd have to shorten them even more. I'm fine just doing short exposures.? ? Gary?
Mike Greenhill-Hooper All Messages By This Member #7185 Hi Gary & Mickey, thanks for your great suggestions. I had thought of a field rotator, but was concerned about a couple of things, first how the rotator communicates with the telescope to know coordinates so that it can make necessary corrections, secondly the back focus - I don't really want to start shortening my truss poles (I fear I might make a mistake and then be stuck with a telescope that I either can't focus or with collimation problems and third the price of the rotator that seems quite high. I use a laptop but with this telescope it only controls the camera, I have no connection to the ServoCat.? I have another scope (triplet APO) that sits on a SkyWatcher mount and this is connected to my laptop which controls guiding and GOTO via Cartes du Ciel and APT with ASCOM connection / drivers. I have not looked into controlling my Obsession with my laptop, probably it is possible with planetarium software (like Stellarium), maybe you know how to do this? Perhaps there are posts already on this forum that covers this subject? ? Regards, Mike ? ? ?
K9RX - Gary All Messages By This Member #7186 Yes - full control of the scope from a PC program. And more capability being worked on as I type this. Several on here have been doing it for years now and getting fantastic image results. And we're now just getting up to speed.? ? You can peruse the threads here.... and/or write to me direct and I'll answer any questions I can. I'm very new to it all but have had some success doing remote imaging using my 12.5" Obsession f5 and a MallinCam DS10cTEC (294 image sensor only with no amp glow).? ? g.
Mike Greenhill-Hooper All Messages By This Member #7318 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). ? Here is a link to some of my images posted on the British Astronomical Association website gallery: ? ? 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. ? 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?
Richard All Messages By This Member #7319 开云体育 Mike, I have the ServoCAT - Argo Navis driving my UC18. ?I loaded the ASCOM driver for ServoCAT and have been remotely observing inside my house. ?The key for my system was mounting a NUC type PC (Eagle 4S) on the telescope to run all the software and I remotely log in with MS Remote Desktop. ?Stellarium running on the NUC slews to the target. ?I added a focus motor for remote focus (from Primalucelab). ?I built a remote control filter strip motor system to change filters. ?Some folks on this site have figured out how to avoid a 2 star alignment for truly remote control and plate solve. ?Plate solving is on my todo list. Richard toggle quoted message Show quoted text From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Mike Greenhill-Hooper via groups.io <sally.greenhill@...> Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 8:50:52 AM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> 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). ? Here is a link to some of my images posted on the British Astronomical Association website gallery: ? ? 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. ? 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?
K9RX - Gary All Messages By This Member #7320 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 toggle quoted message Show quoted text ------ Original Message ------ From "Mike Greenhill-Hooper via groups.io" <sally.greenhill@...> To [email protected] 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). ? Here is a link to some of my images posted on the British Astronomical Association website gallery: ? ? 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. ? 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?
Mike Greenhill-Hooper All Messages By This Member #7327 Hi Richard and Gary, thanks very much for your quick and positive responses on this.? I probably will just start by using my laptop not the hub mini-PC you use (sorry for the non technical terms). I use the ASCOM platform and EQMOD driver for my SkyWatcher mount (via CdC), so am reasonably familiar with this approach.? What I would like to confirm is the use of the USB cable that plugs into the PC USB socket on my ServoCat to connect my laptop to the ServoCat and run the planetarium program from the laptop. This cable was supplied I thought for just updating mount parameters through the ServoCat Sky program.? Can it be used for mount control as well?? I don't want to cause any damage. Also do I leave alone the existing connection to AN (DSC socket on the ServoCat) and have the AN running as well or not? ? I have tried to find discussion threads with all the info I need, but still have these questions.? Are there any video tutorials on all of this? ? I'm impressed with the amount of automation that is becoming possible. I have an Astrocrumb filter slide and have to manually push and pull to change the filter. I do need to modernize my methods, however, on step at a time, I think! ? Kind regards, Mike ?
Richard All Messages By This Member #7328 Mike, ? The USB port on the ServoCAT gives Stellarium access to Argo Navis--a clever type of serial data pass thru that Gary designed. ? Stellarium will place a target style marker overlay on top of the star map showing you where the telescope is currently pointing. ? Stellarium is a bit of a computer asset hog, but wow, I sure do enjoy using it. ? I broke a Toshiba laptop when I was using it outside as the telescope control.? It was well below freezing outside and I brought it inside my humid house.? ?To replace the laptop, I purchased the Eagle4S (no display) which has a bunch of customized telescope specific features:? a small telescope (5 degrees fov) for a built in SQL meter, power switching, temperature-controlled dew heater power jacks, a bunch of USB ports, a Thunderbolt 4 port, a GPS, a weather station (humidity, pressure, and temperature) and some cool queries that let you harvest all that data, power monitoring (needed if you use a battery to power your rig). ? I just attached an ACME threaded rod and stepper motor to the Astrocrumb strip to move the strip to the desired filter.? I think there is a better design to put a pin wheel style gear on the system to make it like the old style dot matrix printers and I am going to make a version 2.0 later this year.? I do enjoy changing filters from my recliner!? I also programmed my focus motor to change with each filter. ? If you can slew, focus and change filters remotely you have a mostly remote system.? In the future, I plan to add the ability to avoid the 2 star alignment and auto power up of the rig and I could place my rig up in an unattended remote location. ? Richard
K9RX - Gary All Messages By This Member #7329 Mike,? At the moment and for the foreseeable future a DSC will need to be connected and have to have been aligned before you can do a PC Planetarium connection. The DSC is what has the knowledge of the Universe.? The PC USB is used for all PC communications as spelled out in the user manual that is on the CD that ships with the system. The setup is trivial. There are at the moment I believe 2 ASCOM drivers. The original, created by Peter Eschman, is available and is the most commonly used one. The other is in alpha testing if I'm not mistaken.? Gary? toggle quoted message Show quoted text ------ Original Message ------ From "Mike Greenhill-Hooper via groups.io" <sally.greenhill@...> To [email protected] Date 1/9/2025 10:45:03 AM Subject Re: [ServoCAT] SOLVED: Re: Problem tracking with ArgoNavis and ServoCat on my 20" f/4 Hi Richard and Gary, thanks very much for your quick and positive responses on this.? I probably will just start by using my laptop not the hub mini-PC you use (sorry for the non technical terms). I use the ASCOM platform and EQMOD driver for my SkyWatcher mount (via CdC), so am reasonably familiar with this approach.? What I would like to confirm is the use of the USB cable that plugs into the PC USB socket on my ServoCat to connect my laptop to the ServoCat and run the planetarium program from the laptop. This cable was supplied I thought for just updating mount parameters through the ServoCat Sky program.? Can it be used for mount control as well?? I don't want to cause any damage. Also do I leave alone the existing connection to AN (DSC socket on the ServoCat) and have the AN running as well or not? ? I have tried to find discussion threads with all the info I need, but still have these questions.? Are there any video tutorials on all of this? ? I'm impressed with the amount of automation that is becoming possible. I have an Astrocrumb filter slide and have to manually push and pull to change the filter. I do need to modernize my methods, however, on step at a time, I think! ? Kind regards, Mike ?
Mike Greenhill-Hooper All Messages By This Member #7330 Hi Richard, Gary, thanks for this additional info. Regards, Mike ?

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