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INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

SEP multistar guiding

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Replied by Magnus on topic SEP multistar guiding

Just to mention.... I'm testing something that I would guess would be named 'continuous east heavy balancing', and so far it's looking kind of nice.
So I will not conclude anything before I get my new guidecam in the post, as I'm on the Obsolete Orion SSAG, and It's suffering some crashes.

So the east heavy balancing is to balance the mount or counterweight, witch ever is on the east side of pier, to be heavier. This way the gears on the mount always pushes on the scope. This reduces backlash balancing issues.
This is of course not possible on a remote setup if you are imaging on both sides of the meridian.

So the 'continuous east heavy balancing' is done by first balancing scope and counterweight neutral. Then attaching a rope / paracord or similar to the RA axis, and then letting it hang down on the east side of the pier making sure it does not touch the ground or get snagged while going the full "end to end" movement of the RA axis. Then add a continuous east heavy weight. I'm testing with a 1.25 kg weight. This is not like adding a 1.25 kg weight to the scope as the weight is added close to the axis, but it is enough to balance the scope and or counterweight to the east.

I guess this is a very DIY hardware hack and does not sound very 'pro', but it's not looking to bad at this moment :)
Proud owner of Observatory 17b - A remote Linux observatory.
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Build thread @ SGL: Starting summers observatory project
3 years 6 months ago #60058

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Replied by Dean on topic SEP multistar guiding

Magnus, would you mind posting a picture(s) of your hack ?
3 years 6 months ago #60060

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Replied by Magnus on topic SEP multistar guiding

Shure.... This is so rudimentary that it might look like a joke, but all good prototypes starts with duct tape ;)

It looks wors than it is, but the scope is now just past the meridian in park position. So this is with the weight at it's lowest point.

There is also a corregated electrical tube so the weight can clear the az knobs without binding.

If there will be a v1, then it would be a lot nicer, this is more of an v0.0.1 :)



Proud owner of Observatory 17b - A remote Linux observatory.
Website: Observatory 17b
Build thread @ SGL: Starting summers observatory project
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3 years 6 months ago #60063
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Replied by Dean on topic SEP multistar guiding

ahhhh, I get it now, thanks. The hose makes sense.
3 years 6 months ago #60064

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Replied by Magnus on topic SEP multistar guiding

Just wanted to update my findings here.

i have been guiding with my new asi 120mm-s (usb3) togheter with my asi 1600mm-c imaging cam. It's just a great mix! Drivers is working great, I have no bugs that can bodge a imaging session now, so that's great.

I hav been using SEP Multistar, sometimes binning 2x. Also with my East heavy balancing mod, AND I went for the 2 second exposure as mentioned previous.

This year I was able to guide at the Elephant's trunk nebula when it past the worst place for the scope to balance (the zenith) with good result.
I also had some guiding sessions with both RA RMS and DA RMS < 1 trough-out the session. Not as great as Stephane's first images in this thread (RA and DA RMS < 0.5!), but still very nice :) At the moment every clear sky night is imaging night, so hope to ceep up the pace!







Proud owner of Observatory 17b - A remote Linux observatory.
Website: Observatory 17b
Build thread @ SGL: Starting summers observatory project
3 years 3 months ago #63814
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