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Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head.
开云体育Derek i think you and i approach technology in this specific context differently *** I don’ think so.. ? Losmandy catches flack for gemini not being "easy to use" and this is one of those areas that causes people grief. *** And yet you advocate newbie’s plate solve?? ? ??? I *will* give you that most people who acquire a G11 (or similar) are people who already know how to put a specific object on a camera chip.. or should.. and are looking to get better via climbing the AP learning curve.. (and yes, I am on only the slightest of inclines starting my way up..).. But I will continue to believe that anyone threatening to give up out of frustration – not uncommon on these groups - is *ABSOLUTELY* making it harder than it needs to be, usually involving adding extra technology – such as plate solving – before they have mastered the mount in the first place.. ?This is exactly what I did and I wish to stop anyone else from doing it.. Maybe I have the wrong impression.. Namely that there are several people trying to learn how to use their mounts before they get them.. Maybe I haven’t progressed ahead of at least a few people like I think I have and therefore should shut the hell up.. But when I see subject lines such as this one, or “Frustrated”, or “Giving Up”, I do believe that what works for me will work for them, making them happier, and much less likely to complain that a Gemini equipped Losmandy is not easy to use.. ? My experience and what I wanted to convey is that the old school star alignment is not a prerequisite for astrophotography with today's capabilities, specifically plate solving. it's great to know it, but by no means is it necessary imo and it's what is your plan b for when anything breaks *** Exactly.. And what will your plan B actually be when the technology fails? What I am talking about *IS* plan B, and IMHO needs extra attention to prevent frustration for those unprepared to face it.. ? if you can't control your mount and plate solve, chances are you won't be able to guide it, won't be able to dither, etc. the best of modern AP imo really does involve all that stuff.? *** Exactly.. “If you can’t control your mount”.. Period.. End of thought.. ? I agree completely with all that you say, *eventually*, but absolutely not for the person who just unwrapped their Losmandy mount 6 hours ago.. I would have done exactly zip if I relied on plate solving.. Hell, I just got guiding to work.. ? Derek ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2020 1:41 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head. ? Derek i think you and i approach technology in this specific context differently, and that's okay. that's why there's chocolate and vanilla right? ? My experience and what I wanted to convey is that the old school star alignment is not a prerequisite for astrophotography with today's capabilities, specifically plate solving. it's great to know it, but by no means is it necessary imo. I learned via star hopping, alignments, etc. but knowing what I know now, and i were starting today, i would skip that and go straight to plate solving. once that is working there is little value to knowing about multi-star alignment. It's like saying we should start photography by developing film. there's little value to knowing paper grades, pushing film stock etc. when digital has completely different processes.? ? Yes it's one more thing to go wrong, but we're talking astrophotography, so you're already dragging out a computer, camera, usb cables, etc. it's only one small thing in addition to the multitude of things that could go wrong. If we're already riding the AP technology train. one more passenger isn't going to bring it to a screeching halt. The key to me is not if stuff will break, it's what is your plan b for when anything breaks. if you can't control your mount and plate solve, chances are you won't be able to guide it, won't be able to dither, etc. the best of modern AP imo really does involve all that stuff.? ? i appreciate what you are advocating, and I'm not against it at all. i also want to make sure newbies know that you don't have to learn this about losmandy mounts to have accurate gotos. Losmandy catches flack for gemini not being "easy to use" and this is one of those areas that causes people grief. ? On Mon, Feb 3, 2020 at 1:10 PM Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...> wrote:
? -- Brian? ? ? ? Brian Valente portfolio |
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开云体育well I think we do see it differently J ? (qualifying this whole discussion is regarding astrophotography and not visual) ? I get that plate solving hasn’t work for you and you are more comfortable with traditional alignment. I get that you wish you hadn’t jumped into plate solve first, and it sounds like you think it’s more complicated than regular model building ? This is where I think we see it differently. I think plate solving is way easier than model building. I’ve done both plenty of times and my own experience is it’s easier. It’s also more accurate, has better failover (via blindsolvign) and more repeatable across targets and nights. ? ? I also have helped many astrophotographers (2,3 dozen so far?) for whom plate solving is much more intuitive than multi-star alignment. That’s not always the case, but it’s more often than not. Astrophotographers I talk to lately who are stepping up to Losmandy are more computer savvy than they are astronomy savvy, and plate solve seems a lot more natural to them than figuring out this star alignment thing. Plate solve technology has also gotten a lot better and easier to use so it’s easier than it used to be. (for example I didn’t even realize sharpcap used platesolve for polar align until I saw a message saying “plate solved” (I guess it uses astrotortilla, and it’s wicked fast)) ? ? I have seen more people frustrated building a model in gemini with alignments than I have people figuring out plate solve. Maybe it’s a generational thing, I don’t know. I grew up on alignment so I’m comfortable with either. ? ? If you are doing astrophotography and have a camera hooked up to your scope, and if you can take a picture and have it show up with the stars more or less in focus, you can plate solve. ? I want to just mention again that using plate solve to achieve repeatable, accurate gotos to within a few pixels does not require you to know anything about how gemini models, how to do multi-star alignments, two models in the night sky, etc. to get accurate gotos. I can’t say that for alignment ? ? I agree with you that plate solve should not be at the top of the stack once you get your mount. I think Losmandy could do a better job with some step-by-step videos on going from box to functioning mount. But when it comes to the point where someone is model building (qualified that we’re talking ap here, not visual) plate solve for me is the preferred and easier route ? ? >>> Exactly.. “If you can’t control your mount”.. Period.. End of thought.. ? If you can’t do that, it doesn’t matter if you can build a model via alignment or not. you will be sitting there with a camera and a telescope and not be able to take quality pictures either. that’s my point: if all your stuff is working, plate solve will work. If it plate solve isn’t working, chances are nothing else is working either so it won’t matter how accurate is your goto. ? ? Again, happy to help you in any way I can to get you up and running on plate solve using any of the handful of solvers available (several are free too!). ? Thanks ? Brian ? portfolio https://www.brianvalentephotography.com/ ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Derek C Breit
Sent: Monday, February 3, 2020 3:15 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head. ? Derek i think you and i approach technology in this specific context differently *** I don’ think so.. ? Losmandy catches flack for gemini not being "easy to use" and this is one of those areas that causes people grief. *** And yet you advocate newbie’s plate solve?? ? ??? I *will* give you that most people who acquire a G11 (or similar) are people who already know how to put a specific object on a camera chip.. or should.. and are looking to get better via climbing the AP learning curve.. (and yes, I am on only the slightest of inclines starting my way up..).. But I will continue to believe that anyone threatening to give up out of frustration – not uncommon on these groups - is *ABSOLUTELY* making it harder than it needs to be, usually involving adding extra technology – such as plate solving – before they have mastered the mount in the first place.. ?This is exactly what I did and I wish to stop anyone else from doing it.. Maybe I have the wrong impression.. Namely that there are several people trying to learn how to use their mounts before they get them.. Maybe I haven’t progressed ahead of at least a few people like I think I have and therefore should shut the hell up.. But when I see subject lines such as this one, or “Frustrated”, or “Giving Up”, I do believe that what works for me will work for them, making them happier, and much less likely to complain that a Gemini equipped Losmandy is not easy to use.. ? My experience and what I wanted to convey is that the old school star alignment is not a prerequisite for astrophotography with today's capabilities, specifically plate solving. it's great to know it, but by no means is it necessary imo and it's what is your plan b for when anything breaks *** Exactly.. And what will your plan B actually be when the technology fails? What I am talking about *IS* plan B, and IMHO needs extra attention to prevent frustration for those unprepared to face it.. ? if you can't control your mount and plate solve, chances are you won't be able to guide it, won't be able to dither, etc. the best of modern AP imo really does involve all that stuff.? *** Exactly.. “If you can’t control your mount”.. Period.. End of thought.. ? I agree completely with all that you say, *eventually*, but absolutely not for the person who just unwrapped their Losmandy mount 6 hours ago.. I would have done exactly zip if I relied on plate solving.. Hell, I just got guiding to work.. ? Derek ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente ? Derek i think you and i approach technology in this specific context differently, and that's okay. that's why there's chocolate and vanilla right? ? My experience and what I wanted to convey is that the old school star alignment is not a prerequisite for astrophotography with today's capabilities, specifically plate solving. it's great to know it, but by no means is it necessary imo. I learned via star hopping, alignments, etc. but knowing what I know now, and i were starting today, i would skip that and go straight to plate solving. once that is working there is little value to knowing about multi-star alignment. It's like saying we should start photography by developing film. there's little value to knowing paper grades, pushing film stock etc. when digital has completely different processes.? ? Yes it's one more thing to go wrong, but we're talking astrophotography, so you're already dragging out a computer, camera, usb cables, etc. it's only one small thing in addition to the multitude of things that could go wrong. If we're already riding the AP technology train. one more passenger isn't going to bring it to a screeching halt. The key to me is not if stuff will break, it's what is your plan b for when anything breaks. if you can't control your mount and plate solve, chances are you won't be able to guide it, won't be able to dither, etc. the best of modern AP imo really does involve all that stuff.? ? i appreciate what you are advocating, and I'm not against it at all. i also want to make sure newbies know that you don't have to learn this about losmandy mounts to have accurate gotos. Losmandy catches flack for gemini not being "easy to use" and this is one of those areas that causes people grief. ? On Mon, Feb 3, 2020 at 1:10 PM Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...> wrote:
? -- Brian? ? ? ? Brian Valente portfolio |
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Hi Brian,
I'm trying SharpCap 3.2, with a side order of Astro Tortilla. Supposedly they work together. But only if you have a mount and camera....? I have a bergillian pictures. I'll go play at that link you provided. Thanks! -- SonnyE Well, that certainly worked Brian. Now then, um... what do I do with it?? Can that image be loaded into SharpCap or Astro Tortilla? Sorry, trying to learn. I'm not worthy.... :^{ |
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yeah sharpcap is definitely about "live shooting" - i think it expects you are trying to solve images that are coming off the camera (at least as the default settings) On Mon, Feb 3, 2020 at 6:10 PM Sonny Edmonds <sonnyedmonds@...> wrote:
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Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
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nice! clean plate solve too, from the looks of it On Mon, Feb 3, 2020 at 6:27 PM Sonny Edmonds <sonnyedmonds@...> wrote: Ahhhhah! --
Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
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?Deric Caselli
Feb 3???
Derek and Brian, I dont know really why this has worked for me. I set my tripod pointed North by compass, then used the polar scope ( I can't see the other polar alignment stars most of the time) so I just centered Polaris right in the center of the line convergence in the polar scope? then aligned on bright star. I had very clear skies last night and the only clear skies for the next week, so you know were I was for the Superbowl LOL...When I went to GoTo the mount was right on target it tracked the Moon perfectly (visual) for more than two hours, waiting for Orion and M42 to crest the tree line, then to Sirus to do a collimation on my SCT. I spent the rest of the night star hopping. The GoTo fuction worked just fine.? What I am not sure is, I think Gemini remembers from use to use and I guess it keeps learning or I have just been lucky. Happy skies
?
?
?
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
____________________________ For visual use this is pretty much the way it is SUPPOSED to work!? As I have posted many times before, enter correct date, time, GPS coordinates, level tripod, point RA axis at NCP, peek through polar scope (with previously centered reticle) and put Polaris in crosshairs, use level to set counterweight down and square DEC 90 degrees to RA using setting circles. Pro-tip #1, use a modest power crosshair eyepiece in the main telescope for Gemini alignment.? Pro-tip #2 use the same eyepiece when doing syncs and additional alignments.? Pro-tip #3 if your diagonal is crap and trust me if you don't have a recently purchased, undamaged AP, Baader or TV diagonal it is very likely crap and needs to be tested for alignment. If it is bad adjust it if possible, if not toss it and buy a good diagonal. Bad diagonals out of alignment are one of the three reasons that in Japan people observe straight through sans diagonal of any sort.? I like the scary expensive Baader BBHS coated Sitall mirror diagonals, they are the best mirror diagonals on the market and Baader knows it, the rule of the dielectric mirror diagonals is over. The only reason AP and TV are not using silver is that they didn't invent it and they will not pay a license fee to use the name or technology.? At this point the Gemini is powered up and unless your Losmandy is on a permanent pier or you left it out all night and used Gemini to park the mount at CW down position before powering down the Gemini do a cold start. The rest is just like you discovered and it works perfectly.? -- Chip Louie - Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware |
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?Bad diagonals out of alignment are one of the three reasons that in Japan people observe straight through sans diagonal of any sort.? i was unaware of the advanced japanese observing techniques! On Tue, Feb 4, 2020 at 8:51 AM Chip Louie <chiplouie@...> wrote:
--
Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
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开云体育Thank you Chip, I think you and Edggie from Cloudy Nights, have cost me the most money. LOL... But you have not disappointed me yet.all recommendations have been spot on. I do appreciate it, your efforts to stear me in the right direction. HAPPY SKIES.
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
From: Chip Louie <chiplouie@...>
Date: 2/4/20 10:51 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head.
?Deric Caselli
Feb 3???
Derek and Brian, I dont know really why this has worked for me. I set my tripod pointed North by compass, then used the polar scope ( I can't see the other polar alignment stars most of the time) so I just centered Polaris right in the center of the line
convergence in the polar scope? then aligned on bright star. I had very clear skies last night and the only clear skies for the next week, so you know were I was for the Superbowl LOL...When I went to GoTo the mount was right on target it tracked the Moon
perfectly (visual) for more than two hours, waiting for Orion and M42 to crest the tree line, then to Sirus to do a collimation on my SCT. I spent the rest of the night star hopping. The GoTo fuction worked just fine.? What I am not sure is, I think Gemini
remembers from use to use and I guess it keeps learning or I have just been lucky. Happy skies
?
?
?
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
____________________________ For visual use this is pretty much the way it is SUPPOSED to work!? As I have posted many times before, enter correct date, time, GPS coordinates, level tripod, point RA axis at NCP, peek through polar scope (with previously centered reticle) and put Polaris in crosshairs, use level to set counterweight down and square DEC 90 degrees to RA using setting circles. Pro-tip #1, use a modest power crosshair eyepiece in the main telescope for Gemini alignment.? Pro-tip #2 use the same eyepiece when doing syncs and additional alignments.? Pro-tip #3 if your is crap and trust me if you don't have a recently purchased, undamaged AP, Baader or TV diagonal it is very likely crap and needs to be tested for alignment. If it is bad adjust it if possible, if not toss it and buy a good diagonal. Bad diagonals out of alignment are one of the three reasons that in Japan people observe straight through sans diagonal of any sort.? I like the scary expensive Baader BBHS coated Sitall mirror diagonals, they are the best mirror diaonals on the market and Baader knows it, the rule of the dielectric mirror diagonals is over. The only reason AP and TV are not using silver is that they didn't invent it and they will not pay a license fee to use the name or technology.? At this point the Gemini is powered up and unless your Losmandy is on a permanent pier or you left it out all night and used Gemini to park the mount at CW down position before powering down the Gemini do a cold start. The rest is just like you discovered and it works perfectly.? -- Chip Louie - Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware |
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Sonny Edmonds
nice! clean plate solve too, from the looks of it
Show quoted text ? --
-- Brian?
Thank You Brian! Not sure what I am looking at though. What does the partial circle mean? Sorry i'm as dense as an Oak Trunk.? No doubt this is all a lot easier in real life. With a real working mount and live camera's. And a student with a brain.... LOL! Trying to grasp this Plate Solving. SonnyE |
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开云体育Chip, the Baader BBHS diagonal's price is not too scary expensive at around $500.00. I am using a William Optic now and it is Okay. WTH I do need another diagonal any way I will give it a try. Thank you HAPPY SKIES
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
From: Chip Louie <chiplouie@...>
Date: 2/4/20 10:51 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head.
?Deric Caselli
Feb 3???
Derek and Brian, I dont know really why this has worked for me. I set my tripod pointed North by compass, then used the polar scope ( I can't see the other polar alignment stars most of the time) so I just centered Polaris right in the center of the line
convergence in the polar scope? then aligned on bright star. I had very clear skies last night and the only clear skies for the next week, so you know were I was for the Superbowl LOL...When I went to GoTo the mount was right on target it tracked the Moon
perfectly (visual) for more than two hours, waiting for Orion and M42 to crest the tree line, then to Sirus to do a collimation on my SCT. I spent the rest of the night star hopping. The GoTo fuction worked just fine.? What I am not sure is, I think Gemini
remembers from use to use and I guess it keeps learning or I have just been lucky. Happy skies
?
?
?
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
____________________________ For visual use this is pretty much the way it is SUPPOSED to work!? As I have posted many times before, enter correct date, time, GPS coordinates, level tripod, point RA axis at NCP, peek through polar scope (with previously centered reticle) and put Polaris in crosshairs, use level to set counterweight down and square DEC 90 degrees to RA using setting circles. Pro-tip #1, use a modest power crosshair eyepiece in the main telescope for Gemini alignment.? Pro-tip #2 use the same eyepiece when doing syncs and additional alignments.? Pro-tip #3 if your is crap and trust me if you don't have a recently purchased, undamaged AP, Baader or TV diagonal it is very likely crap and needs to be tested for alignment. If it is bad adjust it if possible, if not toss it and buy a good diagonal. Bad diagonals out of alignment are one of the three reasons that in Japan people observe straight through sans diagonal of any sort.? I like the scary expensive Baader BBHS coated Sitall mirror diagonals, they are the best mirror diaonals on the market and Baader knows it, the rule of the dielectric mirror diagonals is over. The only reason AP and TV are not using silver is that they didn't invent it and they will not pay a license fee to use the name or technology.? At this point the Gemini is powered up and unless your Losmandy is on a permanent pier or you left it out all night and used Gemini to park the mount at CW down position before powering down the Gemini do a cold start. The rest is just like you discovered and it works perfectly.? -- Chip Louie - Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware |
||
开云体育Chip, I read William A Paolini's, review of Baaders BBHS coated Sitall diagonal on C.N. pretty impressive. I guess one of these will be on my list. " your costing me alot"... LOL. It's all good. HAPPY SKIES
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
-------- Original message --------
From: Deric Caselli <JethroStCyr@...>
Date: 2/4/20 1:16 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head.
Thank you Chip, I think you and Edggie from Cloudy Nights, have cost me the most money. LOL... But you have not disappointed me yet.all recommendations have been spot on. I do appreciate it, your efforts to stear me in the right direction. HAPPY SKIES.
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
From: Chip Louie <chiplouie@...>
Date: 2/4/20 10:51 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head.
?Deric Caselli
Feb 3???
Derek and Brian, I dont know really why this has worked for me. I set my tripod pointed North by compass, then used the polar scope ( I can't see the other polar alignment stars most of the time) so I just centered Polaris right in the center of the line
convergence in the polar scope? then aligned on bright star. I had very clear skies last night and the only clear skies for the next week, so you know were I was for the Superbowl LOL...When I went to GoTo the mount was right on target it tracked the Moon
perfectly (visual) for more than two hours, waiting for Orion and M42 to crest the tree line, then to Sirus to do a collimation on my SCT. I spent the rest of the night star hopping. The GoTo fuction worked just fine.? What I am not sure is, I think Gemini
remembers from use to use and I guess it keeps learning or I have just been lucky. Happy skies
?
?
?
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
____________________________ For visual use this is pretty much the way it is SUPPOSED to work!? As I have posted many times before, enter correct date, time, GPS coordinates, level tripod, point RA axis at NCP, peek through polar scope (with previously centered reticle) and put Polaris in crosshairs, use level to set counterweight down and square DEC 90 degrees to RA using setting circles. Pro-tip #1, use a modest power crosshair eyepiece in the main telescope for Gemini alignment.? Pro-tip #2 use the same eyepiece when doing syncs and additional alignments.? Pro-tip #3 if your is crap and trust me if you don't have a recently purchased, undamaged AP, Baader or TV diagonal it is very likely crap and needs to be tested for alignment. If it is bad adjust it if possible, if not toss it and buy a good diagonal. Bad diagonals out of alignment are one of the three reasons that in Japan people observe straight through sans diagonal of any sort.? I like the scary expensive Baader BBHS coated Sitall mirror diagonals, they are the best mirror diaonals on the market and Baader knows it, the rule of the dielectric mirror diagonals is over. The only reason AP and TV are not using silver is that they didn't invent it and they will not pay a license fee to use the name or technology.? At this point the Gemini is powered up and unless your Losmandy is on a permanent pier or you left it out all night and used Gemini to park the mount at CW down position before powering down the Gemini do a cold start. The rest is just like you discovered and it works perfectly.? -- Chip Louie - Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware |
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Sonny,
I'm going to jump on Brian's posts and go with plate solving. When I first started out with my mount I used the hand controller and synced with a couple of stars on each side of the pier. It works well and is simple and is accurate. After getting comfortable with the hand controller I needed to learn something new so up next was plate solving. My experiences were as follows. APT - uses Platesolve2 and All Sky Plate Solver? - Both require some setup, finding FOV, downloading appropriate files, etc... a bit complicated but work well when you finally get it going, but change when you change your scope (Hard) Stellarmate - uses astrometry.net (local and online) - pretty simple to setup, have to download appropriate files, but generally easy to use and astrometry.net is like Google for the sky, it uses magic to figure out where your scope is pointed and almost always works (Medium) SGP - uses multiple solvers but I wanted to try what everyone was talking about, ASTAP. With ASTAP you download the program, and a single database like file and instant magic. Click one button in SGP and it solves and syncs with your planetarium software I think the new stellarmate can use ASTAP as well but haven't tried it. You can download it and try it with some images in standalone mode as well (easy) Bottom line: Start with the hand controller and get comfortable, but I bet within 3 months you will find a program you like that works with ASTAP and not look back. Haven't even had my hand controller plugged into my mount since about October and building a model is a 10 second solve and sync at the beginning of the night. Les |
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开云体育The one thing I was worried about the mirror being slivered was, silver will tarnish, It looks like Badder has figured? and solved this issue.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
-------- Original message --------
From: Deric Caselli <JethroStCyr@...>
Date: 2/4/20 9:11 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head.
Chip, I read William A Paolini's, review of Baaders BBHS coated Sitall diagonal on C.N. pretty impressive. I guess one of these will be on my list. " your costing me alot"... LOL. It's all good. HAPPY SKIES
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
-------- Original message --------
From: Deric Caselli <JethroStCyr@...>
Date: 2/4/20 1:16 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head.
Thank you Chip, I think you and Edggie from Cloudy Nights, have cost me the most money. LOL... But you have not disappointed me yet.all recommendations have been spot on. I do appreciate it, your efforts to stear me in the right direction. HAPPY SKIES.
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
From: Chip Louie <chiplouie@...>
Date: 2/4/20 10:51 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head.
?Deric Caselli
Feb 3???
Derek and Brian, I dont know really why this has worked for me. I set my tripod pointed North by compass, then used the polar scope ( I can't see the other polar alignment stars most of the time) so I just centered Polaris right in the center of the line
convergence in the polar scope? then aligned on bright star. I had very clear skies last night and the only clear skies for the next week, so you know were I was for the Superbowl LOL...When I went to GoTo the mount was right on target it tracked the Moon
perfectly (visual) for more than two hours, waiting for Orion and M42 to crest the tree line, then to Sirus to do a collimation on my SCT. I spent the rest of the night star hopping. The GoTo fuction worked just fine.? What I am not sure is, I think Gemini
remembers from use to use and I guess it keeps learning or I have just been lucky. Happy skies
?
?
?
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
____________________________ For visual use this is pretty much the way it is SUPPOSED to work!? As I have posted many times before, enter correct date, time, GPS coordinates, level tripod, point RA axis at NCP, peek through polar scope (with previously centered reticle) and put Polaris in crosshairs, use level to set counterweight down and square DEC 90 degrees to RA using setting circles. Pro-tip #1, use a modest power crosshair eyepiece in the main telescope for Gemini alignment.? Pro-tip #2 use the same eyepiece when doing syncs and additional alignments.? Pro-tip #3 if your is crap and trust me if you don't have a recently purchased, undamaged AP, Baader or TV diagonal it is very likely crap and needs to be tested for alignment. If it is bad adjust it if possible, if not toss it and buy a good diagonal. Bad diagonals out of alignment are one of the three reasons that in Japan people observe straight through sans diagonal of any sort.? I like the scary expensive Baader BBHS coated Sitall mirror diagonals, they are the best mirror diaonals on the market and Baader knows it, the rule of the dielectric mirror diagonals is over. The only reason AP and TV are not using silver is that they didn't invent it and they will not pay a license fee to use the name or technology.? At this point the Gemini is powered up and unless your Losmandy is on a permanent pier or you left it out all night and used Gemini to park the mount at CW down position before powering down the Gemini do a cold start. The rest is just like you discovered and it works perfectly.? -- Chip Louie - Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware |
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Sonny Edmonds
Thanks Les!
I'll be working it after I get a mount and get familiar with it. Should be a lot faster than when I started out. (hope, hope) Still wallowing through your acronyms. , and . is really thick and gooey. I'm a really simple guy. I break things down into very basic, then learn it my way. I tend to tear apart 12 cylinder words and terms. And if you were to analyze me, you would see I'm not apt to pay for things. $99 for SGP? Not likely. Not until something has completely proven to me I really, really, really need it. Tangibles, like a mount, or a telescope. I can study those and decide. There are too many things available for FREE to utilize. I'm not cheap, but I do have to find worth before I let the moths out of my wallet. LOL! ;^) -- SonnyE |
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?$99 for SGP? Not likely.? wow. this is easily the best investment i made for astrophotography.? The amount of sleep i gained back plus including virtually every tool you will need, it's an astonishing?bargain imo for comparison, the remote observatory i'm configuring now dropped probably $3k for nearly the same capabilities, but with some added (and missing from SGP) capabilities for remote observatories.? three years ago we were all begging for something under $500 that was 1/4 the capabilities of SGP maybe instead of stainless weights that are $130 more than the stock losmandy weight, take $99 and apply it to SGP, then take the other $31 and buy your wife/girlfriend/dog/cat something nice, because when you roll this out it's gonna be so good, they will never see you again haha On Wed, Feb 5, 2020 at 9:49 AM Sonny Edmonds <sonnyedmonds@...> wrote: Thanks Les! --
Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
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开云体育I am about to start a new thread with this thought as a theme.. Hold that thought as it might not be until the end of the day.. ? Derek ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sonny Edmonds
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2020 9:49 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head. ? Thanks Les! |
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开云体育Scratch that previous post of mine.. I’ll go figure it out myself instead.. ? Derek ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Valente
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2020 10:03 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head. ? >>> ?$99 for SGP? Not likely.? ? wow. this is easily the best investment i made for astrophotography.? ? The amount of sleep i gained back plus including virtually every tool you will need, it's an astonishing?bargain imo ? for comparison, the remote observatory i'm configuring now dropped probably $3k for nearly the same capabilities, but with some added (and missing from SGP) capabilities for remote observatories.? ? three years ago we were all begging for something under $500 that was 1/4 the capabilities of SGP ? maybe instead of stainless weights that are $130 more than the stock losmandy weight, take $99 and apply it to SGP, then take the other $31 and buy your wife/girlfriend/dog/cat something nice, because when you roll this out it's gonna be so good, they will never see you again haha ? ? ? On Wed, Feb 5, 2020 at 9:49 AM Sonny Edmonds <sonnyedmonds@...> wrote:
? -- Brian? ? ? ? Brian Valente portfolio |
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-------- Original message --------
From: Sonny Edmonds <sonnyedmonds@...>
Date: 2/5/20 11:10 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Almost a new owner.... Getting it through my thick head.
Learning moment Deric.
-- SonnyE |
Chip Louie