SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Mostly because of your acquisition method! It has single handedly taken me to a new level.
I'm working hard at testing it on this moving target.
(I never was one to take the easy route.)

And there are 99 places to enter RA/DEC settings in the hand controller. For periodical targets, I could see that as a real benefit.
Do you have a 'Library' of settings? Or is it just better to do them as needed?
(Seems to me the RA and Dec are changing as the earth moves. So I don't understand why the 99 entries.)

Like I was posting to Brian M, I use Stellarium as a object and slewing program. And when I get the RA and Dec coordinates, and input them in Stellarium's search window, it takes the telescope right to those.
Last night the comets head was almost dead centered under the cross hairs in Orion Camera Studio on the first image. So what is above was a single test image, then a sequence run of 25. (Minus 4 at the end that were beyond the mounts capability.)
The greatest accuracy ever for me and my mount. But that accuracy has a repeatable history. So It works amazingly well.

So it's your fault I'm doing this well...

(And Thank You very much!)

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

I never noticed there are 99 places to enter RA/Dec settings. I guess I've always thought one was more than adequate. I've never used more than one at a time...

bwa

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I'm sure I could never keep track.
I probably couldn't remember 3, let alone 99 entries.
Next time you are of a mind to, and in that menu item, use the up or down buttons (6 or 9). It is quite puzzling to me.
99 - RA/DEC quick links. After we input them....

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

You took the toughness out of it Sonny, great job.
Craig

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Thank You, Craig!

I'm in a rut. I keep chasing the same comets tail....
But it's fun.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I did an acid test last night/this morning.
I was shooting the same comet (bare with me) and was coming to the meridian flip zone. So I wanted to test the program.
Today with only noise filtering to get rid of the 'Rainbow Sprinkles', which only turns them into white dust anyway, I made these Pre-flip/Post-flip gif's.
It pretty much nails how accurate the method of entering the RA and Dec settings is.
I'm sold on it. It nailed it going from Pre to Post.
All images pointed downward (4 O'clock) are pre-meridian flip. All images pointed upward (10 O'clock) are post-meridian flip. (Image GIF 1)
In order to accomplish the flip on the meridian I had to resort to making the mount go to Home position, then slew back to the last RA/DEC coordinates. And restarting PHD2. Once it was guiding I started imaging again.
I set the camera program to do a sequence again, and went to bed. I didn't want to sit up any longer waiting for an image. My figuring is there is always the delete key, and format to bury bad evidence.
Image GIF 2 is Pre as shot, and Post Rotated 180 degrees, combined in the GIF generator. You can see the small jump midway.

I made a gif that goes in a circle. I did upload it, but it runs on it's own.
I removed it because after viewing it, I feel car-sick.
I think I'll go barf now...

Maybe the Gubberment could use it to interrogate terrorists....

Pre-heading DN-RT; Post-heading UP-LT

(Download)

Pre w/Post rotated to show accuracy.

(Download)

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

That's pretty neat! In all the years I've been imaging I've never done a meridian flip in the same imaging session...

bwa

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I've done meridian flips on an object, but never with this sort of accuracy on any.
Funny thing was, I forced it to do the flip by going to home position, then slewing back in Stellarium.
Then started the camera doing a 25 image sequence and went to bed.
I didn't even wait to see the first image after the flip. (Talk about a blind test...)

Oh, and using the Auto-select for the guide star in PHD2. (I've almost always done it that way)

It sure took me long enough to get my dumb butt this far. But I sure like it.

I got clouded out last night on a new target, the Cocoon Galaxy. Tough object for my gear. Apparently tiny.
I'm PMing you some tif files to play with on a rainy day.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140918.html

Any suggestions as to why I am not getting dead centered objects?
One night Comet Johnson was dead centered, but the others it lands off a smidgen.
No physical adjustments to the mount from day to day. (other than possibly some temperature swings affecting the mounts location)
Not complaining at all, just musing.

Mr. Wide-Eyed Wonder-er....

tif file, turns red in conversion from fit. ???

(Download)

jpg file, does not turn red. 400s single, no processing or adjustments.

(Download)

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

My various mounts never exactly center a target from night to night. I simply attribute it to play/backlash in the mount. I'm quite happy if the selected target is in the field-of-view (and then I tweak the RA/Dec to center it)! I guess I could install plate solving software and get super alignment on the target but I prefer the KISS principle...

I did download your Cocoon TIF files and will play with them a bit.

bwa

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

Holy moly quacamole batman.
That is really frickin nice.
I only get shots like this when the comet is about to hit the earth.
Really nice job Sonny.
Jim the windy pilot today.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

This is an indication of the day ahead. Shot at about 5:30am. Sun just starting to the hit the Foothills. At least four rain storms spawning over the mountains. Creek is full flood mode from two days of rain.

We've already had 5-6 downpours since this panorama was shot!

Nice to have your subs to play with...

bwa

Three image panorama

(Download)

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Beautiful shot, Brian!

You know the old saying, "Red in the morning, Sailor take warning."

I guess that's the price for living in a Post Card.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Thanks Jim!

windy? Did you have bean burritos again?
Is it chili weather again?

I'm of the age where I never trust a fart anymore.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Well, I shouldn't complain.
It is plumb amazing the accuracy we get anyway, without me whining for dead center.
I have yet to have plate solving work for me. I figured it was most likely that guy in the mirror again.

There are better files in your inbox. Well, different ones. Better would be if I had a real Astro camera....