Make the Scheduler aware of the type of object it is attempting to capture, and in the case of a comet, asteroid, satellite, etc, have its procedure periodically realign the mount when the coordinates of the object move away from a customizable percentage of the field of view.

-Eric

Periodically align or set tracking rate appropriate for such an object? Though not all mounts have custom tracking rates.

Yes probably many mounts would not be able to track such objects, certainly not by setting custom rates.

Eventually it might be possible to *guide* on the target if we use the guide scope to run the alignment, then specify the object as guide "star". But difficult to achieve automatically.

If the target trajectory is known, however, it is possible to periodically check if it moved too close to the border of the view, and stop guiding, realign to proper coordinates, even future coordinates to optimize capture time, restart guiding.

-Eric

My losmandy Mount is supposedly capable of this, but the Gemini controller is not set up to do it. I tried satellite tracking once and it seems it needs the “leap frog” method. This is not all that unlike what you are proposing. It would be really nice to track at the comet’s or satellite’s rate though.

An example of workflow from Dave Eagle (@DaveEagle45) www.star-gazing.co.uk/WebPage/imaging-mo...rter-exposures-rule/


-Eric