Correct.? As my mount is older and doesn't have levels, I've always done exactly as in Scott's video on the YouTube channel.
Keith
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It sounds like I need to verify that I am on due north, use the levels on both RA and Dec to get in CWD position, then do a Cold Start before first GOTO bright star.
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Re: How to track ISS with new Leve 6
You can leave it on for other uses. This does increase the load on Gemini since it also makes all Gemini status requests real-time. Normally Gemini.NET asks Gemini for status every few seconds. With variable tracking, this is not sufficient when chasing fast moving satellites. Depending on the software you use, Gemini might be asked for updates as frequently as every few milliseconds.
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Re: How to track ISS with new Leve 6
Once you enable Variable MoveAxis Rate in Gemini Telescope Setup to use with SkyTrack, can you leave that enabled all the time for typical Visual or Astrophotography or do you need to enable only when using the features in SkyTrack and then disable for other uses?
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Palomar Globular Cluster Catalog
All,
I just uploaded a new Gemini catalog in the "Files" section, "User_Catalog_submissions", "English", "Palomar Globulars" for those interested in these faint clusters.? I tested this catalog on my L6, G2 and seemed to work fine (I originally used this on my old G1 unit). I can see the catalog on both the Main Unit and the Hand Controller.? Follow the instructions on the G2 website on how to load new catalogs.? Instructions for updating the HC to see the new catalog, go to (from the website) Gemini 2>Updating Gemini Firmware>Adding Catalogs to the Hand Controller.? ?Very easy and straightforward.
Chris N
Cedar, MN
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Thank you, Brian. That's very helpful to know. Keep up the great work. I'm starting to get more comfortable with the Level 6 update.
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Re: Level 6 Upgrade for Gemini 2 using Linux
Nice, thanks for?the update
I have successfully upgraded to L6, using the Upgrade Kit, and a borrowed old PC running Windows 10. Instructions were very well written and easy to follow. Had no issues. I am planning on holding onto the upgrade kit, since now I have a known good PIC programmer, and you never know if you'll need to do this again! And, I'll have the upgrade kit if someone else in the area needs it.
Looking forward to getting the Gemini back on the mount, going through the setup again, and seeing what this beast will do now!
-- Brian?
Brian Valente astronomy portfolio?? nature portfolio? other astronomy??
--
Brian
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Re: Level 6 Upgrade for Gemini 2 using Linux
I have successfully upgraded to L6, using the Upgrade Kit, and a borrowed old PC running Windows 10. Instructions were very well written and easy to follow. Had no issues. I am planning on holding onto the upgrade kit, since now I have a known good PIC programmer, and you never know if you'll need to do this again! And, I'll have the upgrade kit if someone else in the area needs it.
Looking forward to getting the Gemini back on the mount, going through the setup again, and seeing what this beast will do now!
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Re: Installing the Gemini II Retrofit Kit on an AZ8
Hi Robert,
Any word on how the Gemini 2 works on the AZ8.
Thanks,
John Desbiens
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Hi Nathan
>>>When I'm doing a modeling from a cold start I would center two or three stars in the East and when I try to model a star in the West the hand unit resets and it's as though I'm starting all over again.
yes that's how it works. Sky modeling is actually two separate models: one in the east, one in the west. So your first slew on the opposite sky is going to be as though you did not model at all (because you only modeled the east: not the west).
However, persevere! You should do at least one point on the west side (aka 3+1 sky model) so your Gemini model can then account for polar misalignment. super helpful
Brian
On Sat, Jul 1, 2023 at 8:30?AM nathantwong via <nathantwong= [email protected]> wrote: When I'm doing a modeling from a cold start I would center two or three stars in the East and when I try to model a star in the West the hand unit resets and it's as though I'm starting all over again. It would do the same if I went from West to East. What I've ended up doing is just centering two or three stars on either the East or West but not both. It seems to do an okay job because the goto puts my target within my eyepiece FOV.
-- Brian?
Brian Valente astronomy portfolio?? nature portfolio? other astronomy??
--
Brian
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When I'm doing a modeling from a cold start I would center two or three stars in the East and when I try to model a star in the West the hand unit resets and it's as though I'm starting all over again. It would do the same if I went from West to East. What I've ended up doing is just centering two or three stars on either the East or West but not both. It seems to do an okay job because the goto puts my target within my eyepiece FOV.
The "steps" in the motor are very drastic and abrupt when slewing. I'd press the HC button a little and the star would "pop" to the next digital step.?
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Re: How to track ISS with new Leve 6
Sorry, has anyone imaged comet E1 Atlas in Ursa Minor?? We have had nothing but smoke and rain here in MD.
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One last question, when running calibration assistant, is there any reason to measure backlash?
Steve
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PS?
in general, it's suggested to run the latest PHD dev release (as per their website and from my experience as well)
On Fri, Jun 30, 2023 at 9:30?AM Brian Valente via <bvalente= [email protected]> wrote: Hi Steve
Dev releases are here (they are also available through the PHD download page, but it's not super obvious unless you read the top)
On Fri, Jun 30, 2023 at 9:29?AM Steve Elmore via <gizmo_s67= [email protected]> wrote: Thanks Brian.? I Thought I did a calibration.? I will do it again.? As for the latest.? I am running 2.6.11.? But I don't see a "dev 6 release."? Where or what is "dev 6 release"?
Now all I need is clear skies tonight!
Steve
--
Brian?
Brian Valente astronomy portfolio?? nature portfolio? other astronomy??
--
Brian
-- Brian?
Brian Valente astronomy portfolio?? nature portfolio? other astronomy??
--
Brian
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Hi Steve
Dev releases are here (they are also available through the PHD download page, but it's not super obvious unless you read the top)
On Fri, Jun 30, 2023 at 9:29?AM Steve Elmore via <gizmo_s67= [email protected]> wrote: Thanks Brian.? I Thought I did a calibration.? I will do it again.? As for the latest.? I am running 2.6.11.? But I don't see a "dev 6 release."? Where or what is "dev 6 release"?
Now all I need is clear skies tonight!
Steve
-- Brian?
Brian Valente astronomy portfolio?? nature portfolio? other astronomy??
--
Brian
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Thanks Brian.? I Thought I did a calibration.? I will do it again.? As for the latest.? I am running 2.6.11.? But I don't see a "dev 6 release."? Where or what is "dev 6 release"?
Now all I need is clear skies tonight!
Steve
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Re: How to track ISS with new Leve 6
Jim
As you may know we added a bunch of support for satellite and NEO tracking with variable moveaxis rate
I think the best way to get into satellite tracking/imaging is use SkyTrack, which does have tutorials to walk you through how to configure your scope. You will need to enable the variable moveaxis rate (under telescope?settings in GTDN) and use the mount calibration wizards in SkyTrack
Just curious, has anyone tried to track ISS with the new firmware upgrade?? If not, any suggestion how you use the "user define" to track, is there a tutorial or is it pretty easy to figure out?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente astronomy portfolio?? nature portfolio? other astronomy??
--
Brian
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Re: How to track ISS with new Leve 6
Watching to see others experiences...Now that I have upgraded to L6 I plan to use SkyTrack software to track ISS. I have downloaded and played around with it for planning purposes and was waiting for L6 changes to give it a try in anger under the stars.
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How to track ISS with new Leve 6
Just curious, has anyone tried to track ISS with the new firmware upgrade?? If not, any suggestion how you use the "user define" to track, is there a tutorial or is it pretty easy to figure out?
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Hi Steve
What's happening with your calibrations?
I don't see any calibration runs, and in one guidelog the calibration was from back in May.
It would be a good idea to recalibrate from a baseline standpoint (slew to meridian/celestial equator), recalibrate from there and address any calibration errors you may run into.?
I also suggest updating to the latest 2.6.11 dev 6 release and use the new calibration assistant, which can help guide you through?the process
Brian
On Fri, Jun 30, 2023 at 7:48?AM Steve Elmore via <gizmo_s67= [email protected]> wrote: First night out I ran into two problems, three if you count hazy skies.? Hand controller stopped working.? I would unplug and plug it back in and it would work again.? I did have a virtual HC open on PC.? This happened about 3 times and did not reoccur the second night.? I also had the DEC motor stall warning.? This happened about 3 times than I slightly loosened the spring load and it did not reoccur.? Guiding the first night was OK, +/- 1" in between clouds.
The real problem I have was the second night of guiding.?? It was still hazy, but I would guide on bright stars.? First I spent some time doing PA.? I spent too much time trying polar drift alignment with PHD2.? I didn't like it.? I did go back to regular drift alignment and PA looked good.? I did start with Polemaster, but it never seems as exact as doing a drift alignment.? My guiding was a disaster.? The Dec was a giant sinusoidal wave.? I tried resetting to default values and ran Guide Assistant multiple times and tried backing off on the aggressiveness on Dec guiding.? I changed to guide Dec in North only and the oscillation stopped.? Dec stayed fairly flat, but was shifted about 10" above zero with essentially no guiding.? How do I get the Dec guiding to work properly?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente astronomy portfolio?? nature portfolio? other astronomy??
--
Brian
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Paul Kanevsky
Brian Hiatt
LKO
scottinharwood
Steve Elmore
Jim Potts