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Servocat Sky program

 

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?
 

Hi Gabriel. I will respond by email.
BC
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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?
From:finman42@...
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


On Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 01:22:29 AM EST, Gabriel Wiklund via groups.io <gabriel.wiklundholeshot@...> wrote:


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?
?
Best regards
Gabriel?
 
Edited

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:
?
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.
?
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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¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

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?


On Jan 26, 2025, at 4:09?PM, Gabriel Wiklund via groups.io <gabriel.wiklundholeshot@...> wrote:

?

[Edited Message Follows]

Hello Mickey,
?
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:
<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).?
?
Then i run my Sequence which looks like this:

<nina2.png>
?
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
?
?
 

Thank you Mickey. At least good times are ahead as long as the Astro Gods remove the clouds :)
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/Gabriel
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

lol yes sir :)

On Jan 26, 2025, at 4:24?PM, Gabriel Wiklund via groups.io <gabriel.wiklundholeshot@...> wrote:

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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
 

I had a bit of luck before the clouds rolled in yesterday evening:

35 min on NGC 891:
?
?
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...
?
3 arc seconds in Florida is probably horrible but for this location it's not bad :)
 

Hi Bill, thanks for the email. Problem solved now!
/Gabriel
 

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

On Monday, January 27, 2025 at 06:16:56 AM EST, Gabriel Wiklund via groups.io <gabriel.wiklundholeshot@...> wrote:


I had a bit of luck before the clouds rolled in yesterday evening:

35 min on NGC 891:
?
?
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...
?
3 arc seconds in Florida is probably horrible but for this location it's not bad :)
 

Gabriel, I just sent you a direct email.?
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Gary Myers
StellarCAT
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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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