Looking to buy a G11 Gemini 1. Is there anything specific I should look for in an older mount? Thanks
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Looking to buy a G11 Gemini 1. ? Is there anything specific I should look for in an older mount? ?Thanks
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Re: Formatted. Now I'm really messed up, I think.
Hi Sonny,?
( Paul K: please see my question below about the correctness of the tiny arrow icon? upload/download?behavior in the Model? operation.)
You are not alone (only I am!).
I have seen similar nutty behavior too from my Gemini1.? I then park at CWD and cold boot.? I have no knowledge of the software inside, though I wish I did, so I can't fathom what exactly is driving the Gemini to behave like.. evil twins sometimes.?
I do suspect a bad model, though.? And it's easy to check the quality of the model.? Next time my system goes haywire, I'll look?into it.??
To examine the model, open Gemini.net, then go to the Setup/Advanced page, and look at Model Parameters.? [You might need to use the Download from Gemini to the PC to see them.? (See if the From Gemini and To Gemini little arrow button? ?works properly ... I'm not sure: it's a question I've been meaning to ask Paul K!).? For sure the big Apply button on the bottom right of that page does send your PC data from Gemini.net to the Gemini unit.?
Anyway look at the numbers in the model.? A good model those numbers will be small.? A bad model one more of the values will be large.? ?Thus means the Gemini has not computer a good model...maybe you selected the wrong bright star for alignment...or your polar alignment is out if whack.? Anyway if your model params are flaky, your GoTos will be flaky too.
Be sure too that the checkbox in that panel top right (says "Synch performs Additional Align") is Un-checked after you make your model (complete after 3 stars East +3 stars West).? More stars should make a better model, but instead this software seems to go haywire with too many Align points.??
[This is also why the EQMOD system, written by amateurs for the Synta EQ6 mount,? interpolates between 3 stars in a triangle.? When you align that system to N stars like as many as you want, it only looks for your target at the region between 3 stars.? It does not try to model the entire sky.? It does not go crazy with a lot if alignment stars, because it only uses (up to) any 3 of them.? {It used to go crazy if you align to the same star twice with different close positions!} ]
Good luck to you and me too...
Michael
Last night I had clear skies, but glare from the moon's first quarter, and my wonderful neighbors Light Pollution.
Not to be deterred, I forged ahead with my very fresh re-flashed and reloaded Gemini 2 and GM811G mount.
I was pleased to find the mount behaving very well, and after the first star in my model building the rest came in fine.
The weren't centered, but I never expect them to be. That's what Center, and Align do, teach the Gemini 2 where things are currently.
So I went through a 3 West, and a 3 East model building. Focusing. And all the prep work to get things up and running.
Things were looking good! The Mount and Gemini 2 were doing well. Until it did a 180 on me.... 8^0 !
And it got crazier as the evening wore on. Sending the to Park, Counterweight Down, resulted in my telescope seemingly perfectly parked, but 180¡ã from Polaris and the NCP.
I laughed at it's antics. Then observed it slewing as if that was the correct park position, but came close to harness wrap up.
So I started in again, at square zero. And wound up packing things in much earlier than expected because I was not making headway.
Since my mount, with it's fresh install of core software can perform Modeling I don't have any reasons yet to suspect the Gemini 2 of being wonky. So my idea today is to clean up and clean out the many programs I've been testing in my little mount computer. I'm thinking I have some irregularities coming from it, and affecting the Gemini 2's performance and making it confuse Down ¨‹, for Up ¡ø.
Life is a laugh a minute at the Sleepy Dog Observatory.
If anybody has any ideas, I'm all ears.
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SonnyE
(I suggest viewed in full screen)
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Re: Formatted. Now I'm really messed up, I think.
Last night I had clear skies, but glare from the moon's first quarter, and my wonderful neighbors Light Pollution.
Not to be deterred, I forged ahead with my very fresh re-flashed and reloaded Gemini 2 and GM811G mount.
I was pleased to find the mount behaving very well, and after the first star in my model building the rest came in fine.
The weren't centered, but I never expect them to be. That's what Center, and Align do, teach the Gemini 2 where things are currently.
So I went through a 3 West, and a 3 East model building. Focusing. And all the prep work to get things up and running.
Things were looking good! The Mount and Gemini 2 were doing well. Until it did a 180 on me.... 8^0 !
And it got crazier as the evening wore on. Sending the to Park, Counterweight Down, resulted in my telescope seemingly perfectly parked, but 180¡ã from Polaris and the NCP.
I laughed at it's antics. Then observed it slewing as if that was the correct park position, but came close to harness wrap up.
So I started in again, at square zero. And wound up packing things in much earlier than expected because I was not making headway.
Since my mount, with it's fresh install of core software can perform Modeling I don't have any reasons yet to suspect the Gemini 2 of being wonky. So my idea today is to clean up and clean out the many programs I've been testing in my little mount computer. I'm thinking I have some irregularities coming from it, and affecting the Gemini 2's performance and making it confuse Down ¨‹, for Up ¡ø.
Life is a laugh a minute at the Sleepy Dog Observatory.
If anybody has any ideas, I'm all ears.
--
SonnyE
(I suggest viewed in full screen)
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Welcome Abner, HAPPY SKIES Deric
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
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-------- Original message --------
From: abnersadik96@...
Date: 4/30/20 10:44 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io] Saying Hello
Hello everyone, new to the group and I'm excited about this group's content.
I hope everyone is staying safe.
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Hi Abner!
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SonnyE
(I suggest viewed in full screen)
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Re: REPLAY LINK: Zoom mtg using microRouter for Gemini connect
I was watching, but no web cam on my home office computer. OK, so I'm a hermit.
I did get a GL i-net Mango router on the way. It's apparently on a slow boat from China.
So looking forward to catching up.
I was on the Chat part of Zoom.
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SonnyE
(I suggest viewed in full screen)
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Hello everyone, new to the group and I'm excited about this group's content.
I hope everyone is staying safe.
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Re: CN-212 f/12.4 QHY9 mono on G11 guided with SX Lodestar
On Fri, May 1, 2020 at 07:54 AM, marc@... wrote:
Pretty sure there would be a fair bit of aussies in this group sharing pics from downunder.?
Sadly I am quite restricted these days to do imaging nor could I take images like that but I sure can appreciate them!? Well done Mark. ? -- Brendan
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Re: CN-212 f/12.4 QHY9 mono on G11 guided with SX Lodestar
Thanks guys.?
No doubt we're spoilt for choice down under. The center of the milkyway passes at the zenith in winter where I live but imaging in summer is now near impossible with the high night time temperatures which is a shame because that's when Orion and Monoceros are higher in our northern sky.
You can see the eta carina nebula naked eye under dark skies and easily in even a small refractor. It's circumpolar so never sets like the two magellanic clouds. Visually you won't see any colours but you'll clearly see the keyhole and the top ridge nebulosity. These colours are not?real. It's narrowband.
I saw the homunculus clearly in a 21inch F/4 once as it's quite bright. It's over exposed in the photo.
Pretty sure there would be a fair bit of aussies in this group sharing pics from downunder. I'll post some more and an RGB widefield with real colors.
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Re: G11 dismantling and cleaning
I've nearly completed what I set out to do, which was to dismantle the altitude/azimuth mechanism. It did need cleaning. One of the needle bearings has started to free up after the RA axis has been in solvent for a day.
To dismantle, you first have to remove the grub screw from one the azimuth adjustment knobs. Then unscrew the knob (it doesn't pull off) and completely unscrew the threaded rod from the other end. You can then just lift out the brass block. On the underside of the equatorial mount is a single bolt holding a circular plate in place. Remove this and prise off the plate. Quite difficult if the grease is hard. You can then separate the top plate containing the spirit levels and RA axis. Again difficult because the grease was hard.
I wasn't able to remove the brass rod that the RA axis pivots about, but was able to clean up the altitude threaded rod with an old toothbrush and solvent. Most of the parts have now be degreased and ready for reassembly when the bearings are free.
When I started to take the RA axis apart, I did discover that I was missing a washer: Clutch knob, wavy washer, aluminium spacer, thrust bearing, washer ¡etc. There should have been another washer between the spacer and bearing. Will have to get another.
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Re: CN-212 f/12.4 QHY9 mono on G11 guided with SX Lodestar
On Thu, Apr 30, 2020 at 09:41 AM, Michael Herman wrote:
Now my wife wants to visit Australia...she probably thinks she can see that overhead!
?
Michael?
Just go with it Michael, just go with it... LOL! ? -- SonnyE (I suggest viewed in full screen)
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Thanks again, Carl.? I've been using a stylus, not my finger.? Tried the finger, too, and that did not help on the Ent button.
Re: stopping, I did not have time to go into park.? Had to stop the tracking immediately to prevent any damage.? I'm pretty sure the manual says to just hit any key on the pad.? Have to check that and see if it does the trick.
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Re: CN-212 f/12.4 QHY9 mono on G11 guided with SX Lodestar
Hi Marc,
Just shared that with my family.? They want to know "are those colors really there?". Of course we astro photo lovers never ask that!!!
Thanks for that beautiful image!
Now my wife wants to visit Australia...she probably thinks she can see that overhead!
Michael?
Keyhole HST palette Sii Ha Oiii?from Sydney west.
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Re: CN-212 f/12.4 QHY9 mono on G11 guided with SX Lodestar
well done!
I agree i am envious of your southern sky targets?
I hope more people will post?their images for inspiration here
Keyhole HST palette Sii Ha Oiii?from Sydney west.
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Re: CN-212 f/12.4 QHY9 mono on G11 guided with SX Lodestar
Really nice color pallet.? I am running out of targets up here in the North.? Wish I had your southern sky targets! Mearl in Virginia
On Thu, Apr 30, 2020 at 07:46 AM, marc@... wrote:
Keyhole HST palette Sii Ha Oiii?from Sydney west.
Wonderful !
Nice job !
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Re: CN-212 f/12.4 QHY9 mono on G11 guided with SX Lodestar
On Thu, Apr 30, 2020 at 07:46 AM, marc@... wrote:
Keyhole HST palette Sii Ha Oiii?from Sydney west.
Wonderful ! Nice job !
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Re: CN-212 f/12.4 QHY9 mono on G11 guided with SX Lodestar
Pretty as a Picture!
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SonnyE
(I suggest viewed in full screen)
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CN-212 f/12.4 QHY9 mono on G11 guided with SX Lodestar
Keyhole HST palette Sii Ha Oiii?from Sydney west.
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Re: Formatted. Now I'm really messed up, I think.
On Sun, Apr 26, 2020 at 02:47 PM, Teddy Wang wrote:
Try this site and restore your software in both the Gemini 2 and the HC.
Hope it helps,
Please stay safe and healthy,
Chao
Thank You, Teddy! That certainly did the trick once I found a way to Ethernet my mount and computer together. Seems to me there should be a USB alternative, since many use USB for computer hook up. ? -- SonnyE (I suggest viewed in full screen)
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Tim Kimbler
Michael Herman
Mearl Balmer