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>>>
You said you wouldn't use Guide Assistant, but I am not sure why
because there's no guide camera and therefore no ability to run any sort of guiding or ga while imaging :)
I too would be interested to see "RMS" for each of several exposures for reference/comparison to guided performance.
Maybe from PEMPro? Does PHD2 give you another way to do this? You said you wouldn't use Guide Assistant, but I am not sure why...
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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I too would be interested to see "RMS" for each of several exposures for reference/comparison to guided performance.
Maybe from PEMPro? Does PHD2 give you another way to do this? You said you wouldn't use Guide Assistant, but I am not sure why...
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One more with some additional details
this is 1 hour (12x300sec) Ha filter on portion of IC1871 soul nebula - full frame, a little dbe and stretching in PI:
The analysis shows really solid median fwhm and eccentricity - basically nice tight round stars
here's the interesting part: this is stacked but not registered frames, which show field movement over time (it's unguided so this is all mount) - crop at 100%
even closer crop?@ 300%
this curious movement shows the mount had two different phases of drift, punctuated in the middle by an automated focuser run
1. wow how much the focuser run moves the frame! (I think - could be wrong here) 2. interesting how the shape of movement changes from a sinusoidal wave to a straight-ish line? maybe? some fainter stars on far right show something slightly different
On Sat, Feb 1, 2020 at 9:07 PM Brian Valente < bvalente@...> wrote: I have been experimenting with optimizing unguided performance with my G11 and wanted to share an example of what's possible right now.?
Most importantly, this is unguided and at a pretty good focal length. My G11 was purchased around 2010 and has been steadily updated through the years. I think it's pretty much what you'd get if you bought it today, except it's pretty banged up lol
the target is webo 1, a tiny planetary nebula on the fringe of the heart nebula.?
this is a single 300 second frame (Ha filter) scope is ES165?@844mm focal length, i think it's at f5.6? i have to check the reducer specs camera is SX trius pro 694, no cooling (camera issues with cooler) unguided exposure no PEC
the important stuff on the exposure fwhm 1.914 eccentricity 0.5140 (roughly, star eccentricity?of 0.5 is considered round to the human eye)
I hope i used settings that represented a good test (I used the Ha filter because otherwise my luminance or other broadband filter would blow out due to bortle 9 skies)? ?
i've attached a JPG to this email, it's an unimpressive target but the star profiles show the performance (it's not cut off: i'm aiming for the edge of the nebula where webo 1 resides)
the link to the raw fits is here if you want to pixel peep
this was one of the best frames, and of course image quality varied quite a bit
Observations:
Polar alignment and tightening the alt/az knobs seem to be really critical, far more than I anticipated. I used sharpcap 3.2 for polar alignment (ended up measured at 14") and replaced the stock bolts with #8 hardened hex head bolts (nuts for the az), and tightened them carefully using a crescent wrench.?
I also took care to balance the mount in both ra and dec (using spring loaded worms, so no weight bias) and another important thing was not to overtighten the clutches: only as much as needed to stop the axis moving
I don't think this says I can image unguided all the time just yet. there are still a fair number of frames that show some star elongation, enough that i can see it at 200% magnification. I'm not sure if it's polar alignment or other, so i'm still experimenting
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Brian,
LOL that is what my saved from the dumpster Meade LX200 classic 10" f/6.3 OTA looked like at the eyepiece the first time I looked through it, I was very sad. It was basically free but looked like there was a reason.??
--
Chip Louie - Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware
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A dolly would not work for me because of a step up/down getting to my location.
And the proximity of the pool. One wheel off and the rig takes a dive.
That would be some deep dew!
--
SonnyE
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Don't recall. The video itself is a mere 6 seconds.
But the images were shot with my dicey G3 camera.
But the pattern appears to be similar.
--
SonnyE
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yeah looks like pretty typical drift and PE
how much time elapsed on that video?
Way back when....
It's very short, but quite graphic
--
SonnyE
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Way back when....
It's very short, but quite graphic.
I've observed the correction PHD2 does, but never actually recorded them.
As I matured with my AVX, I only got better and better results. To the point my AVX stayed set up for years in the same place.
--
SonnyE
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Here's another 100% crop example of a different night 34x300sec, so nearly 3 hours (that's the m81 core there)
same settings as previous
Hi Brian,
Your results look great!
We are curious, have you by chance been monitoring your tracking results with PHD2 while capturing those images?
As everyone has stated, the proof is in the photos, but It would be great to see what the tracking data is in relation to the image results.
We are also struggling to get guiding optimized, and are interested to see what the guiding assistant reports while capturing successful quality images.
Thanks,
Nat
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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HI Nat
If you are working on improving guiding, I recommend going over to the PHD forums and posting your results and questions there (I help out there as well)??
there's no guide camera, so unfortunately no PHD tracking. Although that did occur to me, so i might set that up for next time. I probably wouldn't use guiding assistant, but it would be interesting to see unguided results over time in a PHD style graph
However I may have something for you - i stacked (but not registered) one night of 22x300sec (approx 2 hours) and at 100% it looks like this:
i think what this shows is drift, plus a bit of periodic error, and I think i had a small random direct-mount dither as well
(this is a crop)
Hi Brian,
Your results look great!
We are curious, have you by chance been monitoring your tracking results with PHD2 while capturing those images?
As everyone has stated, the proof is in the photos, but It would be great to see what the tracking data is in relation to the image results.
We are also struggling to get guiding optimized, and are interested to see what the guiding assistant reports while capturing successful quality images.
Thanks,
Nat
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Hi Brian,
Your results look great!
We are curious, have you by chance been monitoring your tracking results with PHD2 while capturing those images?
As everyone has stated, the proof is in the photos, but It would be great to see what the tracking data is in relation to the image results.
We are also struggling to get guiding optimized, and are interested to see what the guiding assistant reports while capturing successful quality images.
Thanks,
Nat
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LOL..
I would imagine, as in I just did, my wheely bar would end up on blocks and the
tires would be gone.. :-))
?
Derek
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill G
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2020
6:17 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io]
G11 performance unguided
?
My Losmandy mount is on a JMI Wheely Bar with the 10" pneumatic
tires, needed if you plan to roll it over anything but paved surfaces. The
Wheely Bar/ tripod stay out and covered. If the weather is good the mount stays
on the tripod, covered with a heater inside to keep it dry. The optics never
stay out unless I am at the eyepiece.
-------- Original message --------
From: Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...>
Date: 2/5/20 9:05 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] G11 performance unguided
JMI..
I would want one if / when we ever have to move, as I wouldn¡¯t be able to move
to anywhere other than a bad neighborhood.. And there is NO WAY I am leaving my
stuff out..
?
Derek
?
?
Wheeled dollies work well. The mount doesn¡¯t stay on the wheels when
you get to your new spot. Each wheel has a small screw jack to lift it off the
wheels and also help with uneven ground. Becomes virtually as stable as the
mount without it unless u need anti vibration pads. ??
I adapt the same nuts n
bolts to other brand piers. Can¡¯t remember the name of the popular brand but
they are always on astromart and other sites used. They are quite expensive for
what they are made of. angle iron, wrought iron, inexpensive wheels with the
nuts n bolts!
?
|
My Losmandy mount is on a JMI Wheely Bar with the 10" pneumatic tires, needed if you plan to roll it over anything but paved surfaces. The Wheely Bar/ tripod stay out and covered. If the weather is good the mount stays on the tripod, covered with a heater inside
to keep it dry. The optics never stay out unless I am at the eyepiece.
BG
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message --------
From: Derek C Breit <breit_ideas@...>
Date: 2/5/20 9:05 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] G11 performance unguided
JMI.. I would want one if / when we ever have to move, as I wouldn¡¯t be able to move to anywhere other
than a bad neighborhood.. And there is NO WAY I am leaving my stuff out..
?
Derek
?
?
Wheeled dollies work well. The mount doesn¡¯t stay on the wheels when you get to your new spot. Each wheel has a small screw jack to lift it off the wheels and also help
with uneven ground. Becomes virtually as stable as the mount without it unless u need anti vibration pads. ??
I adapt the same nuts n bolts to other brand piers. Can¡¯t remember the name of the popular brand but they are always on astromart and other
sites used. They are quite expensive for what they are made of. angle iron, wrought iron, inexpensive wheels with the nuts n bolts!
?
|
JMI..
I would want one if / when we ever have to move, as I wouldn¡¯t be able to move
to anywhere other than a bad neighborhood.. And there is NO WAY I am leaving my
stuff out..
?
Derek
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ross Elkins
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2020
4:18 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io]
G11 performance unguided
?
Wheeled dollies work well. The mount doesn¡¯t stay on the wheels when
you get to your new spot. Each wheel has a small screw jack to lift it off the
wheels and also help with uneven ground. Becomes virtually as stable as the
mount without it unless u need anti vibration pads. ??
I adapt the same nuts n
bolts to other brand piers. Can¡¯t remember the name of the popular brand but
they are always on astromart and other sites used. They are quite expensive for
what they are made of. angle iron, wrought iron, inexpensive wheels with the
nuts n bolts!
?
|
Wasn¡¯t saying it would be interesting to everyone ;D responding to Brian¡¯s question above since I¡¯ve got one. And of course, a roll off roof or a pier would be awesome, but my best spot on the property is my driveway so not practical for anything else.?
The Scope Buggy does have bolts you can screw down into soil for stabilizing. That said, i haven¡¯t tried imaging this way and stability is just fine on driveway with lightweight tripod.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
A wheeled mount is not interesting to me.
A pier, and a RoR, or a RoS would be.
But to each his own.
--
SonnyE
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Wheeled dollies work well. The mount doesn¡¯t stay on the wheels when you get to your new spot. Each wheel has a small screw jack to lift it off the wheels and also help with uneven ground. Becomes virtually as stable as the mount without it unless u need anti vibration pads. ?? I adapt the same nuts n bolts to other brand piers. Can¡¯t remember the name of the popular brand but they are always on astromart and other sites used. They are quite expensive for what they are made of. angle iron, wrought iron, inexpensive wheels with the nuts n bolts! Ross Elkins 415-235-7727 v/txt
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A wheeled mount is not interesting to me.
A pier, and a RoR, or a RoS would be.
But to each his own.
--
SonnyE
|
My assumption is that actually operating on the trailer wouldn¡¯t be great performance but i have used a Scope Buggy purely for transport around the house (with bungees to secure to trailer) and then i would remove, place on circles
i mark on driveway to get close polar alignment / consistent level.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Me too..
?
Derek
?
?
A wheeled tripod wouldn¡¯t work in my situation, but if my driveway didn¡¯t have so many trees around I would be very interested in such a thing. ?It would have to be
completely stable in the down-and-locked configuration, to be a good AP platform. Either raise the wheels or lower a solid foot; just locking the wheels in position won¡¯t be good enough.?
On 5 Feb 2020, at 12:37, Brian Valente <bvalente@...> wrote:
?
slightly related to this,?
what would you think of a wheel-based rollout tripod? anyone else?
something like a tripod or a pier with some fat wheels, roll it out of your garage or wherever, then it locks and levels into place
curious if anyone uses something like this, or how interesting would that be
?
On Wed, Feb 5, 2020 at 12:08 PM Ross A <me@...> wrote:
Not sure if this factors into anyone's decision between the available mounts, but a key driver in me choosing the GM811 is that I got it with the lightweight
tripod, have had pretty awesome?guiding and I have to lug the thing out into the driveway every night I want to shoot. So the lighter weight for both the dec axis + the tripod makes it much easier to move regularly.
I still plan on sending in to get the spring-loaded upgrade, but it sounds like this is standard now for new mounts.
When considering the model the G811 is too close in price to the G11, but I can and will acquire a GM8 at some point for a grab and go rig. I just don't
see the need for that hybrid.the G11Titan also makes sense but the RA is a beast. And more mount than I probably ever need if that is possible LOL...?
Sent from my Boost Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
Date: 2/5/20 12:27 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] G11 performance unguided
>>> One of my questions that I must see to answer is: GM811GHD, or G11G?
why would you consider the GM8 over the G11?
?
Oh, I can understand not having a "store front". They machine and sell. Nothing would get done if they stopped for every Tom, Dick, and Harry, and a
mirad of senseless questions. Most are answered right in the videos.
I'll do my fondling in private. LOL! Not on the showroom floor. I abhor someone picking something up and messing with it.
But somebody at the door willing to pay $4,000 for a product should be appealing to them. Bring out the boxes, pay, load, and go. No shipping.
One of my questions that I must see to answer is: GM811GHD, or G11G? I'm going to put a fly on the mount, figuratively speaking.
I'm waiting for a call back after Scott gets in. She thinks they can accommodate me on an ASAP basis.
--?
SonnyE
--?
--?
?
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toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Les Niles
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2020
2:31 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io]
G11 performance unguided
?
A wheeled tripod wouldn¡¯t work in my situation, but if my driveway
didn¡¯t have so many trees around I would be very interested in such a thing.
?It would have to be completely stable in the down-and-locked
configuration, to be a good AP platform. Either raise the wheels or lower a
solid foot; just locking the wheels in position won¡¯t be good enough.?
On 5 Feb 2020, at 12:37, Brian Valente <bvalente@...> wrote:
?
slightly related to this,?
what would you think of a wheel-based rollout tripod?
anyone else?
something like a tripod or a pier with some fat wheels,
roll it out of your garage or wherever, then it locks and levels into place
curious if anyone uses something like this, or how interesting
would that be
?
On Wed, Feb 5, 2020 at 12:08 PM Ross A <me@...> wrote:
Not sure if this factors into anyone's decision between
the available mounts, but a key driver in me choosing the GM811 is that I got
it with the lightweight tripod, have had pretty awesome?guiding and I have
to lug the thing out into the driveway every night I want to shoot. So the
lighter weight for both the dec axis + the tripod makes it much easier to move
regularly.
I still plan on sending in to get the spring-loaded
upgrade, but it sounds like this is standard now for new mounts.
When considering the model the G811 is too close in
price to the G11, but I can and will acquire a GM8 at some point for a grab and
go rig. I just don't see the need for that hybrid.the G11Titan also makes sense
but the RA is a beast. And more mount than I probably ever need if that is
possible LOL...?
Sent from my Boost
Mobile Phone.
-------- Original message --------
Date: 2/5/20 12:27 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] G11 performance
unguided
>>> One of my questions that I must see to
answer is: GM811GHD, or G11G?
why would you consider the GM8 over the G11?
?
Oh, I can understand not having a "store
front". They machine and sell. Nothing would get done if they stopped for
every Tom, Dick, and Harry, and a mirad of senseless questions. Most are
answered right in the videos.
I'll do my fondling in private. LOL! Not on the showroom floor. I abhor someone
picking something up and messing with it.
But somebody at the door willing to pay $4,000 for a product should be
appealing to them. Bring out the boxes, pay, load, and go. No shipping.
One of my questions that I must see to answer is: GM811GHD, or G11G? I'm going
to put a fly on the mount, figuratively speaking.
I'm waiting for a call back after Scott gets in. She thinks they can
accommodate me on an ASAP basis.
--?
SonnyE
--?
--?
?
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Chip Louie
Ross Abel
Ross Elkins