That
is already my fallback position, not guiding at all.. “Less is more”..
“Don’t chase the seeing”.. Doing I like planetary imaging and
working slowly to longer and longer exposures is the plan, as I have tweaked
things all I can.. Now I need guide logs to see what worked and what didn’t..
I
would be pretty pleased with 60 second guiding..
I
would be darn near the happiest person alive to have most images useable at 5
minutes though..
I
might be close to 60 seconds unguided now, as my PA *was* about 1 minute off
and the mount has not been moved.. Since the scope was desaddled and replaced,
I am sure it’ll need touching up.. My RA guiding seems darn good already,
so there is hope..
Yep,
I paid for SharpCap Pro..
I
am very ready to try all I have learned in the last 2 months of being mostly
off and reading everything I want to know about guiding theory but was afraid
to ask.. I just need the WX to cooperate.. It is messing with me now, listing
the evenings when I don’t have to work the next day as cloudy.. WAAA..
?
“Imaging
– So simple even Derek can do it!” *will* be a slogan someday.. And
Y’All will be to blame.. :-))
?
Derek
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2020
9:18 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io]
Thread pitch..
?
Derek here's what i'm thinking
with the cmos cameras you have, you can employ more?of a planetary
approach to imaging DSOs and not sweat the guiding.?
just make sure to nail your polar alignment (although i'm a longtime
polemaster user, i've come to really like the polar assist in sharpcap 3.2 and
it's super inexpensive too), and shoot maybe 30 second exposures. you can go as
low as 15 secs.?
that way guiding will be less of or no issue for you. i'm a little
concerned you are headed down a guiding path that is already pretty rough, and
it sounds like it's going to get rougher :)
the major downside is you just end up with a ton of data. I've seen
folks doing these short exposures on faint objects and when done right it's
really spectacular
?
Previously I have been doing planets
with the ASI178 OSC and IR band with the ASI120 Mono on the 130mm Raptor.. I
bought the QHY178M Cool for various single band planetary imaging and higher
resolution..
?
This is where I am heading..
Imaging scope..
130mm Raptor (f/7=910mm) w/ an ASI
178 OSC or the new QHY178 Cool Mono.. Both are 2.4um Pixels.. Around 0.5”
per pixel..
Guide Scope..
80mm Nighthawk (f/6=480mm) w/ an ASI
120 Mono w/ 3.75um Pixels.. Around 1.6” per pixel..
?
I may Barlow the guidescope, but not
right off the bat as I know I am asking a lot A) as a beginner, B) with a
separate guidescope, and C) at these image scales, but hope springs eternal!
?
Derek
?
?
?
?
Derek with which
camera are you doing imaging now?
?
--
|
Derek here's what i'm thinking
with the cmos cameras you have, you can employ more?of a planetary approach to imaging DSOs and not sweat the guiding.?
just make sure to nail your polar alignment (although i'm a longtime polemaster user, i've come to really like the polar assist in sharpcap 3.2 and it's super inexpensive too), and shoot maybe 30 second exposures. you can go as low as 15 secs.?
that way guiding will be less of or no issue for you. i'm a little concerned you are headed down a guiding path that is already pretty rough, and it sounds like it's going to get rougher :)
the major downside is you just end up with a ton of data. I've seen folks doing these short exposures on faint objects and when done right it's really spectacular
just a thought....
Brian
Previously
I have been doing planets with the ASI178 OSC and IR band with the ASI120 Mono
on the 130mm Raptor.. I bought the QHY178M Cool for various single band
planetary imaging and higher resolution..
?
This
is where I am heading..
Imaging
scope..
130mm
Raptor (f/7=910mm) w/ an ASI 178 OSC or the new QHY178 Cool Mono.. Both are
2.4um Pixels.. Around 0.5” per pixel..
Guide
Scope..
80mm
Nighthawk (f/6=480mm) w/ an ASI 120 Mono w/ 3.75um Pixels.. Around 1.6”
per pixel..
?
I
may Barlow the guidescope, but not right off the bat as I know I am asking a
lot A) as a beginner, B) with a separate guidescope, and C) at these image
scales, but hope springs eternal!
?
Derek
?
?
?
?
Derek with which camera are you doing imaging now?
?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Re: Owner of new Losmandy GM811G with Gemini II
If you have any prior knowledge of
other mounts or approaches, i'd recommend forgetting those techniques: many
times the assumption that "this mount must work the same as my other mount"
leads to a lot of problems
***
HA!
Amen to THAT!
?
Welcome
Ronald..
?
Derek
?
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2020
7:24 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io]
Owner of new Losmandy GM811G with Gemini II
?
Hi Ronald
There are many helpful people here, so if/when you have specific
questions, this is a great resource
The closest thing right now to step-by-step instructions are the
included Losmandy documentation, and the website?
Try to go slowly and accomplish one thing at a time. Such as setup,
balancing, basic understanding of gemini 2 to slew, goto, etc. then move on to
imaging
If you have any prior knowledge of other mounts or approaches, i'd
recommend forgetting those techniques: many times the assumption that
"this mount must work the same as my other mount" leads to a lot of
problems
?
On Sat, Jan 4, 2020 at 7:18 PM Ronald Lewis <vtpoet@...> wrote:
I recently purchased a new Losmandy
GM811G and would appreciate as much help as possible to aid in my understanding
of its operation, as well as that of the Gemini II.?
?
My main telescopes are 1) an
18” Classic Obsession with AN and ServoCat, 2) a Lunt LS152THa solar
telescope, and 3) a Vixen ED81SWT APO. I plan to use scopes #2 & #3 with
the Losmandy for visual and astrophotography.
?
?
As Founder & President of the
Green Mountain Astronomers (Vermont),
I need to get up to speed as quickly as possible for our 2020 season, which as
usual will have approximately two dozen Public/Community Outreach Programs. Our
membership and inner circle looks to me to play a key role at our events, and
as such, I can’t have equipment or software problems based on my lack of
know-how thru inexperience. As you are well aware, there are few
instructor’s manuals, per se, for astronomy gear, but help by fellow
users and study provides for valuable replacement. Please allow me to get
involved with your user’s group(s) as needed. Thank you, fellow
astronomers/observers!
--
|
Previously
I have been doing planets with the ASI178 OSC and IR band with the ASI120 Mono
on the 130mm Raptor.. I bought the QHY178M Cool for various single band
planetary imaging and higher resolution..
?
This
is where I am heading..
Imaging
scope..
130mm
Raptor (f/7=910mm) w/ an ASI 178 OSC or the new QHY178 Cool Mono.. Both are
2.4um Pixels.. Around 0.5” per pixel..
Guide
Scope..
80mm
Nighthawk (f/6=480mm) w/ an ASI 120 Mono w/ 3.75um Pixels.. Around 1.6”
per pixel..
?
I
may Barlow the guidescope, but not right off the bat as I know I am asking a
lot A) as a beginner, B) with a separate guidescope, and C) at these image
scales, but hope springs eternal!
?
Derek
?
?
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
|
Re: Owner of new Losmandy GM811G with Gemini II
Hi Ronald
welcome aboard!?
There are many helpful people here, so if/when you have specific questions, this is a great resource
The closest thing right now to step-by-step instructions are the included Losmandy documentation, and the website?
Try to go slowly and accomplish one thing at a time. Such as setup, balancing, basic understanding of gemini 2 to slew, goto, etc. then move on to imaging
If you have any prior knowledge of other mounts or approaches, i'd recommend forgetting those techniques: many times the assumption that "this mount must work the same as my other mount" leads to a lot of problems
Brian
On Sat, Jan 4, 2020 at 7:18 PM Ronald Lewis < vtpoet@...> wrote: I recently purchased a new Losmandy GM811G and would appreciate as much help as possible to aid in my understanding of its operation, as well as that of the Gemini II.?
?
My main telescopes are 1) an 18” Classic Obsession with AN and ServoCat, 2) a Lunt LS152THa solar telescope, and 3) a Vixen ED81SWT APO. I plan to use scopes #2 & #3 with the Losmandy for visual and astrophotography.
?
?
As Founder & President of the Green Mountain Astronomers (Vermont), I need to get up to speed as quickly as possible for our 2020 season, which as usual will have approximately two dozen Public/Community Outreach Programs. Our membership and inner circle looks to me to play a key role at our events, and as such, I can’t have equipment or software problems based on my lack of know-how thru inexperience. As you are well aware, there are few instructor’s manuals, per se, for astronomy gear, but help by fellow users and study provides for valuable replacement. Please allow me to get involved with your user’s group(s) as needed. Thank you, fellow astronomers/observers!
?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Owner of new Losmandy GM811G with Gemini II
I recently purchased a new Losmandy GM811G and would appreciate as much help as possible to aid in my understanding of its operation, as well as that of the Gemini II.?
?
My main telescopes are 1) an 18” Classic Obsession with AN and ServoCat, 2) a Lunt LS152THa solar telescope, and 3) a Vixen ED81SWT APO. I plan to use scopes #2 & #3 with the Losmandy for visual and astrophotography.
?
?
As Founder & President of the Green Mountain Astronomers (Vermont), I need to get up to speed as quickly as possible for our 2020 season, which as usual will have approximately two dozen Public/Community Outreach Programs. Our membership and inner circle looks to me to play a key role at our events, and as such, I can’t have equipment or software problems based on my lack of know-how thru inexperience. As you are well aware, there are few instructor’s manuals, per se, for astronomy gear, but help by fellow users and study provides for valuable replacement. Please allow me to get involved with your user’s group(s) as needed. Thank you, fellow astronomers/observers!
?
|
Derek with which camera are you doing imaging now?
Are
you talking about making a guide scope that is not intended on being “adjustable”
point at the same spot as the main scope, where I might have to shim or file or
generally fiddle with the mounting of the guidescope to collimate it?? Yep, I
may have to do that, though it is more likely that if my setup now exhibits
flexure, then I will either A) go to an OAG w/ new filter wheel and filters, or
B) give up on the idea of guiding at all..
As soon as “imaging” becomes “difficult”,
I wont be doing it anymore, as I never wanted to image because I don’t
want to “do the work”.. I started planetary imaging because it
requires no guiding.. That has worked perfectly for me (and my perfect optics
help a great deal with that!) as the processing I do is very simple –
taking just a few mouse clicks and doing it identical for all the different
planets I have imaged.. Therefore it doesn’t take any work.. I can
uncover the scope, take multiple videos of multiple planets, stack and process
the results, and be in bed at a reasonable hour for work the next day..
MY NEW GOAL is simply to do “More”,
but the targets require longer exposures and guiding.. If the Weather would
cooperate, I would be out imaging Venus (as soon as the Sun set), then Neptune,
and Uranus.. My next thought, like it has been for many months now, is “NOW
WHAT??” Small DSO’s, such as small planetaries, seem like what I
should be able to do.. Double Stars.. Stuff the scope is already setup for..
Additionally, this makes / leaves my setup
modular.. I can just pull out a camera and drop in an ocular and I wont have to
reengineer the entire setup (for instance), but it does remain to be seen if it
works at all.. I acquired the three ring guidexcope setup because SOMEONE in
this group – who shall remain nameless - said how great it worked.. Now
that I have it, everyone is telling me “No!”, and the person I was
emulating uses a different method now too.. :-// It *is* all assembled,
aligned, and ready to test out if and when the weather falls in line.. If it
doesn’t work as I want it to, switching boats in the middle of the rapids
will be exciting..
?
Derek
?
?
Hi Ya, Derek,
As a side note here, I suffered along for a time with my guide scope and my
Main telescope being "close" but missing the target.
I finally decided enough was enough, and centered Polaris in my main tube. Then
tweaked and adjusted my Guide Scope camera's picture in PHD2 to be centered
with the aim of the Main Tube.
I've done a few tweaking's along the way, but they run very close to being
parallel.
It has made running alignments much easier than using "Kentucky
Windage". Just a matter of taking some time for dialing in your two
scopes.
Even if you are Guided Visual.
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Are
you talking about making a guide scope that is not intended on being “adjustable”
point at the same spot as the main scope, where I might have to shim or file or
generally fiddle with the mounting of the guidescope to collimate it?? Yep, I
may have to do that, though it is more likely that if my setup now exhibits
flexure, then I will either A) go to an OAG w/ new filter wheel and filters, or
B) give up on the idea of guiding at all..
As soon as “imaging” becomes “difficult”,
I wont be doing it anymore, as I never wanted to image because I don’t
want to “do the work”.. I started planetary imaging because it
requires no guiding.. That has worked perfectly for me (and my perfect optics
help a great deal with that!) as the processing I do is very simple –
taking just a few mouse clicks and doing it identical for all the different
planets I have imaged.. Therefore it doesn’t take any work.. I can
uncover the scope, take multiple videos of multiple planets, stack and process
the results, and be in bed at a reasonable hour for work the next day..
MY NEW GOAL is simply to do “More”,
but the targets require longer exposures and guiding.. If the Weather would
cooperate, I would be out imaging Venus (as soon as the Sun set), then Neptune,
and Uranus.. My next thought, like it has been for many months now, is “NOW
WHAT??” Small DSO’s, such as small planetaries, seem like what I
should be able to do.. Double Stars.. Stuff the scope is already setup for..
Additionally, this makes / leaves my setup
modular.. I can just pull out a camera and drop in an ocular and I wont have to
reengineer the entire setup (for instance), but it does remain to be seen if it
works at all.. I acquired the three ring guidexcope setup because SOMEONE in
this group – who shall remain nameless - said how great it worked.. Now
that I have it, everyone is telling me “No!”, and the person I was
emulating uses a different method now too.. :-// It *is* all assembled,
aligned, and ready to test out if and when the weather falls in line.. If it
doesn’t work as I want it to, switching boats in the middle of the rapids
will be exciting..
?
Derek
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of sonnyedmonds@...
Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2020
12:35 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io]
Thread pitch..
?
Hi Ya, Derek,
As a side note here, I suffered along for a time with my guide scope and my
Main telescope being "close" but missing the target.
I finally decided enough was enough, and centered Polaris in my main tube. Then
tweaked and adjusted my Guide Scope camera's picture in PHD2 to be centered
with the aim of the Main Tube.
I've done a few tweaking's along the way, but they run very close to being
parallel.
It has made running alignments much easier than using "Kentucky
Windage". Just a matter of taking some time for dialing in your two
scopes.
Even if you are Guided Visual.
|
Hi Ya, Derek,
As a side note here, I suffered along for a time with my guide scope and my Main telescope being "close" but missing the target.
I finally decided enough was enough, and centered Polaris in my main tube. Then tweaked and adjusted my Guide Scope camera's picture in PHD2 to be centered with the aim of the Main Tube.
I've done a few tweaking's along the way, but they run very close to being parallel.
It has made running alignments much easier than using "Kentucky Windage". Just a matter of taking some time for dialing in your two scopes.
Even if you are Guided Visual.
|
Re: Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
I have no idea. I'm so new here I don't even have my new mount yet.
Given that, I used to periodically do a "Factory Reset" on my defunct mount when it would get wonky tracking and guiding.
I hadn't needed (or felt needed) to do that in a while. So I probably hit on a setting I had bumbled, and accidentally fixed my stupidity.
But point being, doing a Factory Reset can get you back to Box Stock. Trouble is all the tuning you did goes away too, in most cases.
|
Re: Almost a new owner....
Not dismissing it, Paul, But I tend to evolve slowly.
I do see where INDI has a weather station based in UNO, and that really interests me to replace my existing station.
I've been on Wundermap??for a while now and my Anemometer is locked up.
But building replacements that are UNO based interests me. Especially during the daytime when there is only one star to observe. LOL.
My telescope focuser is home made with UNO and software written by TeckyDave in GB. Works great!
So I got my feet wet in UNO with that. I made a few modifications to mine, like 12 volt motors.
I began trying to make a filter wheel driver, but stopped. I don't use my filters that much.
But you may find my fingerprints at the INDI site. ;^)
|
|
|
Re: Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
If you are using the app, there is a checkbox on the bottom left of one of the panels (might be the Telescope entry panel, or the Advanced panel).? The checkbox is for sending the UTC time from the PC's clock to the Gemini's time counter each time you connect.
There is a button to set UTC immediately also.? ?You might try those options to see if your trouble is corrected.
It's also worth double checking your settings for latitude, longitude, and elevation. Those settings are in Degrees, Minutes, Seconds, even though the delimiter is a dot "." that seems like it should be a decimal?point.? It is instead the European delimiter that is a comma in US usage.??
?If entering time using the handset, this is the instruction from the Gemini1 manual:
Gemini1 time and date UTC format
UTC Date/Time
The "UTC Date/Time" menu item is where you set Gemini's real time clock (RTC).
Upon executing "UTC Date/Time" the UTC date and time display freezes but the RTC continues to keep time.
The display of date and time from left to right reads as follows:? "yymm.dd hh:mm:ss"? ? (yy = year, mm = month, dd = day, hh = hour, mm = minutes, ss = seconds). ________ I get my UTC time here:
So if the UTC showed ?2019, Nov 20, 06:15:25 am? you'd enter in the Gemini
1911.20 06:15:25 Other conditions:
Midnight 12:00 am hour = 00 For time after noon like 2pm = 14:00? enter like
1911.20 14:15:25
Hope this info helps! Michael
You should AFAIK be setting UTC date/time. Not local. ? ? I am setting local date and Time is GMT -6 + 3 min. For my location. It is still correct in my Gemini HC. Sent from my Galaxy Tab A -------- Original message -------- Date: 1/2/20 6:17 PM (GMT-06:00) Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error: Are you setting local date, or UTC date?? Could this be the problem as they usually differ by a day.. At least in the evening in North America.. ? Derek ? ? You have a Gemini-2.... so I can't say. If this were a Gemini-1, I'd suggest the Epson RTC chip may be defective.? I have bought extras if those chips, though I know of no Gemini-1 actually suffering time-keeping loss. However, I do not know what chip keeps the time in the Gemini-2.? I don't own one yet.? If Losmandy won't replace your unit, and the trouble persists, I'd be willing to take a look at it. ? On Thu, Jan 2, 2020, 12:55 PM Brian Valente <bvalente@...> wrote: This is more of an FYI since it doesn't directly?relate to the gemini time settings, but I have started using Dimension 4 time sync on my computer that continuously updates the time every 30 minutes or so (user configurable) to ensure the clock on the PC is as accurate as possible. it syncs across multiple time servers and runs in the background. oh and it's free :) When i then sync the mount to the PC time, i know it's accurate ? Brian, I will check this out tonight when I get home and see if my Gemini still has the correct time. My tracking the New Years eve was as good as my polar alignment. I left the mount to sit for 30 min. And it was just a little off where I left it. I am too new at this to really help though. Clear Skies? Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone. -------- Original message -------- Date: 1/2/20 10:02 AM (GMT-06:00) Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error: how are you setting the date?? ? Lo all,
I seem to be having a problem with the Gemini 2 on my Titan keeping the date up to date.? The time is remaining correct, but it lags behind on the date, I have had to go in and update the date every time I go to use it during December.? I know you might be thinking "battery" but it has been replaced as of the first incident, and is showing 3.10 volts in the web interface.? Once I update and set the date the targeting works good, so it seems to just be Gemini is not keeping up on the date.? I have tried both turning the mount fully off as well as leaving it on in the observatory, seems to make no difference.
Also just this last session I began to have a tracking error when going to the Moon, the mount would got to fine then take off @ about 8X "tracking" the Moon.? Yea zip!!!? there went the Moon!? In manually switching the tracking with the HC to SideReal it goes back to tracking at the SideReal rate without an issue...? Kind of weird, I'd think if the tracking was going to be messed up it would be messed up at any of the different rates not just lunar.? I think I will try a factory reset next outing and see if anything changes, but any thoughts in the mean time??!
Thanks & CS!
Mark
--
--
|
Re: Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
You should AFAIK be setting UTC date/time. Not local. ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Deric Caselli
Sent: 03 January 2020 00:37
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:? I am setting local date and Time is GMT -6 + 3 min. For my location. It is still correct in my Gemini HC. Sent from my Galaxy Tab A -------- Original message -------- From: Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...> Date: 1/2/20 6:17 PM (GMT-06:00) Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error: Are you setting local date, or UTC date?? Could this be the problem as they usually differ by a day.. At least in the evening in North America.. ? Derek ? ? You have a Gemini-2.... so I can't say. If this were a Gemini-1, I'd suggest the Epson RTC chip may be defective.? I have bought extras if those chips, though I know of no Gemini-1 actually suffering time-keeping loss. However, I do not know what chip keeps the time in the Gemini-2.? I don't own one yet.? If Losmandy won't replace your unit, and the trouble persists, I'd be willing to take a look at it. ? On Thu, Jan 2, 2020, 12:55 PM Brian Valente <bvalente@...> wrote: This is more of an FYI since it doesn't directly?relate to the gemini time settings, but I have started using Dimension 4 time sync on my computer that continuously updates the time every 30 minutes or so (user configurable) to ensure the clock on the PC is as accurate as possible. it syncs across multiple time servers and runs in the background. oh and it's free :) When i then sync the mount to the PC time, i know it's accurate ? Brian, I will check this out tonight when I get home and see if my Gemini still has the correct time. My tracking the New Years eve was as good as my polar alignment. I left the mount to sit for 30 min. And it was just a little off where I left it. I am too new at this to really help though. Clear Skies? Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone. -------- Original message -------- Date: 1/2/20 10:02 AM (GMT-06:00) Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error: how are you setting the date?? ? Lo all,
I seem to be having a problem with the Gemini 2 on my Titan keeping the date up to date.? The time is remaining correct, but it lags behind on the date, I have had to go in and update the date every time I go to use it during December.? I know you might be thinking "battery" but it has been replaced as of the first incident, and is showing 3.10 volts in the web interface.? Once I update and set the date the targeting works good, so it seems to just be Gemini is not keeping up on the date.? I have tried both turning the mount fully off as well as leaving it on in the observatory, seems to make no difference.
Also just this last session I began to have a tracking error when going to the Moon, the mount would got to fine then take off @ about 8X "tracking" the Moon.? Yea zip!!!? there went the Moon!? In manually switching the tracking with the HC to SideReal it goes back to tracking at the SideReal rate without an issue...? Kind of weird, I'd think if the tracking was going to be messed up it would be messed up at any of the different rates not just lunar.? I think I will try a factory reset next outing and see if anything changes, but any thoughts in the mean time??!
Thanks & CS!
Mark
--
--
|
Re: Almost a new owner....
Sonny,
Neither was I until I realised what it could do.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Thank You Paul. I'm not a Raspberry pie user, but appreciate your reply. Thanks!
Thank You for the short list, Chip.
Looks like the only thing for me to add is the Gemini ASCOM driver (maybe. It may already be onboard)
All the rest I have and have been using. Except the ASCOM controller.
I would imagine the ASCOM handset (virtual) will just need getting use to for me. But shouldn't be any problem.
This shift to a Losmandy Mount may be much smoother than I imagined.
|
Re: G11 survival kit - Oldham Coupler
Derek:
The couplers that Losmandy sells are TinyMite, made by Renbrandt.
Keith
|
Re: Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
I used our moon as a test for visual tracking New Years eve ( It allways amazes me with a 12mm eyepiece it looks like you are looking out of Apollo 11's window) it tracked fine, even after 30 min.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message --------
From: Deric Caselli <JethroStCyr@...>
Date: 1/2/20 6:37 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
I am setting local date and Time is GMT -6 + 3 min. For my location. It is still correct in my Gemini HC.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
-------- Original message --------
From: Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...>
Date: 1/2/20 6:17 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
Are you setting local date, or UTC date?? Could this be the problem as they usually differ by a day..
At least in the evening in North America..
?
Derek
?
?
You have a Gemini-2.... so I can't say.
If this were a Gemini-1, I'd suggest the Epson RTC chip may be defective.? I have bought extras if those chips, though I know of no Gemini-1 actually suffering time-keeping
loss.
However, I do not know what chip keeps the time in the Gemini-2.? I don't own one yet.? If Losmandy won't replace your unit, and the trouble persists, I'd be willing to
take a look at it.
?
On Thu, Jan 2, 2020, 12:55 PM Brian Valente <bvalente@...> wrote:
This is more of an FYI since it doesn't directly?relate to the gemini time settings, but I have started using Dimension 4 time sync on my computer that continuously updates
the time every 30 minutes or so (user configurable) to ensure the clock on the PC is as accurate as possible. it syncs across multiple time servers and runs in the background. oh and it's free :) When i then sync the mount to the PC time, i know it's accurate
?
Brian, I will check this out tonight when I get home and see if my Gemini still has the correct time. My tracking the New Years eve was as good as my polar alignment.
I left the mount to sit for 30 min. And it was just a little off where I left it. I am too new at this to really help though. Clear Skies?
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
Date: 1/2/20 10:02 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
how are you setting the date??
?
Lo all,
I seem to be having a problem with the Gemini 2 on my Titan keeping the date up to date.? The time is remaining correct, but it lags behind on the date, I have had to go in and update the date every time I go to use it during December.? I know you might be
thinking "battery" but it has been replaced as of the first incident, and is showing 3.10 volts in the web interface.? Once I update and set the date the targeting works good, so it seems to just be Gemini is not keeping up on the date.? I have tried both
turning the mount fully off as well as leaving it on in the observatory, seems to make no difference.
Also just this last session I began to have a tracking error when going to the Moon, the mount would got to fine then take off @ about 8X "tracking" the Moon.? Yea zip!!!? there went the Moon!? In manually switching the tracking with the HC to SideReal it goes
back to tracking at the SideReal rate without an issue...? Kind of weird, I'd think if the tracking was going to be messed up it would be messed up at any of the different rates not just lunar.? I think I will try a factory reset next outing and see if anything
changes, but any thoughts in the mean time??!
Thanks & CS!
Mark
--
--
|
Re: Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
I am setting local date and Time is GMT -6 + 3 min. For my location. It is still correct in my Gemini HC.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message --------
From: Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...>
Date: 1/2/20 6:17 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
Are you setting local date, or UTC date?? Could this be the problem as they usually differ by a day..
At least in the evening in North America..
?
Derek
?
?
You have a Gemini-2.... so I can't say.
If this were a Gemini-1, I'd suggest the Epson RTC chip may be defective.? I have bought extras if those chips, though I know of no Gemini-1 actually suffering time-keeping
loss.
However, I do not know what chip keeps the time in the Gemini-2.? I don't own one yet.? If Losmandy won't replace your unit, and the trouble persists, I'd be willing to
take a look at it.
?
On Thu, Jan 2, 2020, 12:55 PM Brian Valente <bvalente@...> wrote:
This is more of an FYI since it doesn't directly?relate to the gemini time settings, but I have started using Dimension 4 time sync on my computer that continuously updates
the time every 30 minutes or so (user configurable) to ensure the clock on the PC is as accurate as possible. it syncs across multiple time servers and runs in the background. oh and it's free :) When i then sync the mount to the PC time, i know it's accurate
?
Brian, I will check this out tonight when I get home and see if my Gemini still has the correct time. My tracking the New Years eve was as good as my polar alignment.
I left the mount to sit for 30 min. And it was just a little off where I left it. I am too new at this to really help though. Clear Skies?
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
Date: 1/2/20 10:02 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
how are you setting the date??
?
Lo all,
I seem to be having a problem with the Gemini 2 on my Titan keeping the date up to date.? The time is remaining correct, but it lags behind on the date, I have had to go in and update the date every time I go to use it during December.? I know you might be
thinking "battery" but it has been replaced as of the first incident, and is showing 3.10 volts in the web interface.? Once I update and set the date the targeting works good, so it seems to just be Gemini is not keeping up on the date.? I have tried both
turning the mount fully off as well as leaving it on in the observatory, seems to make no difference.
Also just this last session I began to have a tracking error when going to the Moon, the mount would got to fine then take off @ about 8X "tracking" the Moon.? Yea zip!!!? there went the Moon!? In manually switching the tracking with the HC to SideReal it goes
back to tracking at the SideReal rate without an issue...? Kind of weird, I'd think if the tracking was going to be messed up it would be messed up at any of the different rates not just lunar.? I think I will try a factory reset next outing and see if anything
changes, but any thoughts in the mean time??!
Thanks & CS!
Mark
--
--
|
Re: Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
Are
you setting local date, or UTC date?? Could this be the problem as they usually
differ by a day.. At least in the evening in North America..
?
Derek
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Michael Herman
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2020
2:41 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io]
Not keeping date up to date; + lunar tracking speed error:
?
You have a Gemini-2.... so I can't say.
If this were a Gemini-1, I'd suggest the Epson RTC chip may be
defective.? I have bought extras if those chips, though I know of no
Gemini-1 actually suffering time-keeping loss.
However, I do not know what chip keeps the time in the Gemini-2.?
I don't own one yet.? If Losmandy won't replace your unit, and the trouble
persists, I'd be willing to take a look at it.
?
On Thu, Jan 2, 2020, 12:55 PM Brian Valente
<bvalente@...> wrote:
This is more of an FYI since it doesn't directly?relate to the
gemini time settings, but I have started using Dimension 4 time sync on my
computer that continuously updates the time every 30 minutes or so (user
configurable) to ensure the clock on the PC is as accurate as possible. it
syncs across multiple time servers and runs in the background. oh and it's free
:) When i then sync the mount to the PC time, i know it's accurate
?
Brian, I will check this out tonight when I get home and see if my
Gemini still has the correct time. My tracking the New Years eve was as good as
my polar alignment. I left the mount to sit for 30 min. And it was just a
little off where I left it. I am too new at this to really help though. Clear
Skies?
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
Date: 1/2/20 10:02 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Not keeping date up to date; + lunar
tracking speed error:
how are you setting the date??
?
Lo all,
I seem to be having a problem with the Gemini 2 on my Titan keeping the date up
to date.? The time is remaining correct, but it lags behind on the date, I
have had to go in and update the date every time I go to use it during
December.? I know you might be thinking "battery" but it has
been replaced as of the first incident, and is showing 3.10 volts in the web
interface.? Once I update and set the date the targeting works good, so it
seems to just be Gemini is not keeping up on the date.? I have tried both
turning the mount fully off as well as leaving it on in the observatory, seems
to make no difference.
Also just this last session I began to have a tracking error when going to the
Moon, the mount would got to fine then take off @ about 8X "tracking"
the Moon.? Yea zip!!!? there went the Moon!? In manually
switching the tracking with the HC to SideReal it goes back to tracking at the
SideReal rate without an issue...? Kind of weird, I'd think if the
tracking was going to be messed up it would be messed up at any of the
different rates not just lunar.? I think I will try a factory reset next
outing and see if anything changes, but any thoughts in the mean time??!
Thanks & CS!
Mark
--
--
|
Yes,
that’s my guidescope.. I am aware it may not work, but it better because
if I have to go to an off axis guider, I would have to also replace my filter
wheel and filters too.. None of them are the “thin” variety and I
cannot reach focus in the Raptor..
The
goal is to mount my ADM Laser Finder.. My camera chips are small and sometimes
an object lands outside the FOV, so I just reach up and switch on the laser and
I can see which way I need to move.. I also *really* want the two scopes to be
on the same object so I can easily swap cameras, so I don’t want a
clamshell..
??? But
it may not work at all.. First I have to make it guide at all.. On my Dec axis,
the PHD Guiding assistant shows a LARGE time lag when I switch directions AND
all the data points it shows on that window are double points.. I am aware of
all the different ways to deal with the Dec.. Guide in one direction only.. Don’t
guide in Dec at all, etc.. Just got to try it and address the issues as they
appear.. I am not very hopeful it’ll work, and certainly not the way I
want it to, as I am not doing wide field with a large chip..
??? We
shall see..
?
Derek
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2020
3:35 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io]
Thread pitch..
?
Well now I’m
curious on what you plan to do with this plate
?
I avoid rings like
the plague for anything but a finder scope because they are so prone to flexure
and movement through the night that for me they really make for poor guiding.
If that is your guidescope and you are adding more stuff to those rings? Sounds
like trouble brewing.
?
You might consider
more of a clamshell type of mount for your guidescope? Prime luce has something
like that I used on my tak sky90 and it holds everything really nicely
?
Brian
?
?
Maybe,
though I don’t think the Losmandy adapter will fit there so I think it
has to go in a different set of holes.. If you look at the guidescope rings,
the image shows 4 sets of adjustment screws.. It is also drilled to use only
three sets.. So there are seven adjustment holes that are all the same size..
Once the rail is on, I would be attaching the adapter.. The adapter is the same
as the base of the guidescope rings.. i.e. remove the rings and what is left is
the adapter..
?
Probably
will have to use the “side” holes.. Let’s see if I can attach
an image in this group.. The empty “side” holes are easily seen..
?
Derek
?
?
Derek where do you want to add a rail - on top of the guidescope rings?
?
Besides,
why do you care about the thread if you are unwilling to remove one?
***
Because I want to put more bolts
into the existing “extra holes” to add a Vixen rail.. But yes, I
will try your suggestion and remove one from the middle ring.. If my focuser
and extension tubes are tight, it should stay put.. Nice idea, Thanks!
?
Derek
?
?
Derek,
?
Remove
just one screw, noting the tension with a precise instrument – the human
hand.
Then
take it to a DIY or Ace store as suggested by one of our other friends. When
you get back to the mount insert that one screw in the ring and tension it as
much as you had before.
?
Since
the other two screws in that ring (not to mention the three in the other ring)
weren’t changed the boresight (to use the proper artillery term) of the
guidescope won’t have changed significantly.
?
The
difference in boresight alignment (main vs. guidescope) will be trivial, unless
you are trying to keep things within arc seconds. I know of no reason worry
about that unless you are shooting very long exposures with poor polar
alignment.
?
Besides,
why do you care about the thread if you are unwilling to remove one?
?
Mark
Christensen
--
|
Michael Herman
David C. Partridge