Guide Scope Polar Alignment
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:18 pm
Up until last night, I've been doing my Polar Alignment with my Main telescope and imaging camera (Atik Infinity OSC).
But a discussion with another brought up doing Polar Alignment using the Guide Scope and Guiding Camera, which was appealing to me being as I have a newer ASI 290 MM Mini guide camera. And have had some very refreshing results guiding with it.
So Last night I set Sharpcap to use the 290 as the PA camera.
It was a little bumpy at first, not unusual for me, but Sharpcap did accept the newer camera and I just randomly chose a 2 second exposure for the ASI 290 MM Mini to work with. My Infinity wanted a 4 second exposure and was always a bit iffy even at that. I did sharpen up the guide scopes focus (Helical Focuser) as I could see a lot of room for improvement to what I'd been using. And past experience with my Infinity had taught me sharp focus was best.
At first it had a little trouble solving, but I'm sure that was me, and not Sharpcap.
My first solve left me at step 2 (or3) and was not accomplishing a solve. I decided to do a restart, and my telescope was at it's 90° setting from the previous attempt. I decided to go ahead anyway and hoped I would wind up back at starting position, Counter Weight Down, at the finish of the Polar Alignment.
It worked, and it worked Admirably, ending at CWD. I achieved a better Polar Alignment, much faster, than I have ever experienced. Even though Sharpcap gives me it's "Excellent" at 00-00-20, I'm a fiddler. So I always see how close I can get to 00-00-00 on both Alt and Az. I love tickling the dragons tail that way.
The ASI camera was responding very well to minute adjustments, and Sharpcap let me get to an Az: 00-00-02 by Alt: 00-00-00 reading. As is typical for me, there is some minor atmospheric disturbances that will tend to make the finals bob a bit, but typically stay within single digits. I saw the 00-00-02 go to a maximum of 00-00-09, but was lower typically on subsequent image solves.
I admit to being a tinkerer and always trying for the ridiculous when it isn't needed, but to me it is fun. My conclusion after this first single excursion using my Guiding system to do my Polar Alignment is that I shall continue to always do my PA this way.
Because I am one to dismantle my equipment each night to bring it indoors, I start every night with a fresh Polar Alignment, then a new modeling before beginning my evening imaging.
I do suppose I have one question:
I'm wondering if I reduce the exposure time of the ASI 290 camera, how low can I go to speed up the solving without causing it to stumble?
Or is that something I will need to find by trial and error?
In closing, I find Sharpcap to be The Bee's Knees and has easily shot my ability to image DSO Nebulae to an entirely new level.
Thank You Mr. Robin Glover.
Sonny Edmonds
California, USA
But a discussion with another brought up doing Polar Alignment using the Guide Scope and Guiding Camera, which was appealing to me being as I have a newer ASI 290 MM Mini guide camera. And have had some very refreshing results guiding with it.
So Last night I set Sharpcap to use the 290 as the PA camera.
It was a little bumpy at first, not unusual for me, but Sharpcap did accept the newer camera and I just randomly chose a 2 second exposure for the ASI 290 MM Mini to work with. My Infinity wanted a 4 second exposure and was always a bit iffy even at that. I did sharpen up the guide scopes focus (Helical Focuser) as I could see a lot of room for improvement to what I'd been using. And past experience with my Infinity had taught me sharp focus was best.
At first it had a little trouble solving, but I'm sure that was me, and not Sharpcap.
My first solve left me at step 2 (or3) and was not accomplishing a solve. I decided to do a restart, and my telescope was at it's 90° setting from the previous attempt. I decided to go ahead anyway and hoped I would wind up back at starting position, Counter Weight Down, at the finish of the Polar Alignment.
It worked, and it worked Admirably, ending at CWD. I achieved a better Polar Alignment, much faster, than I have ever experienced. Even though Sharpcap gives me it's "Excellent" at 00-00-20, I'm a fiddler. So I always see how close I can get to 00-00-00 on both Alt and Az. I love tickling the dragons tail that way.
The ASI camera was responding very well to minute adjustments, and Sharpcap let me get to an Az: 00-00-02 by Alt: 00-00-00 reading. As is typical for me, there is some minor atmospheric disturbances that will tend to make the finals bob a bit, but typically stay within single digits. I saw the 00-00-02 go to a maximum of 00-00-09, but was lower typically on subsequent image solves.
I admit to being a tinkerer and always trying for the ridiculous when it isn't needed, but to me it is fun. My conclusion after this first single excursion using my Guiding system to do my Polar Alignment is that I shall continue to always do my PA this way.
Because I am one to dismantle my equipment each night to bring it indoors, I start every night with a fresh Polar Alignment, then a new modeling before beginning my evening imaging.
I do suppose I have one question:
I'm wondering if I reduce the exposure time of the ASI 290 camera, how low can I go to speed up the solving without causing it to stumble?
Or is that something I will need to find by trial and error?
In closing, I find Sharpcap to be The Bee's Knees and has easily shot my ability to image DSO Nebulae to an entirely new level.
Thank You Mr. Robin Glover.
Sonny Edmonds
California, USA