SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Been PMing back and forth with Stepping Beyond, and working on connecting the inside computer, to the outside laptop.

I use Stellarium, SB tells me.
Well, OK, I have that. I just didn't realize what I had. So I began working with it and discovering the connect-ability it has with the NexStar controller.
A few YouTube viewings and I'm getting into it. A couple more and I am controlling the mount from my desk computer.
Humm, how can I get this to work so I don't sit out in the cold???

Teamview 10, SB tells me... Quick search. Gottcha!
Now, I love the cutting edge technology, it's great. But it can be a Royal PITA, too.
So one step back is fine with me. Get the stability. Let somebody else play the guinea pig.
So I got the V10.0.47484
Humm, Ahumm... Pretty soon I have the laptop, controlling the mount. And finally with a mock alignment, it is actually pointing the scope at objects I can step out and see, like the Moon this morning, or the Sun.
So my day was kind of broken up with different Grandpa duties, but I persevered, and tonight I am taking images from here inside warm and cozy remotely operating the telescope out in the backyard.
It's not without wants at the moment, like fine focusing, and working out some small inconveniences.
But I've made some light-year steps in the last few days with Stepping Beyonds pointers.

I shot a few odds and ends trying things out, then dove in with abandon. Helix Nebula with a 600s shot, ah, who cares? My tush is nice and warm inside. I just ground out a 1000s shot for the heck of it.
Nothing presentable, I don't think. But I can see them, save them, and operate the laptop and mount wirelessly from here inside.
These all were remotely shot, using Stellarium and Teamview 10 to control and to file transfer the exported jpg's.
(I am impressed with the transfer speed of these jpg's.)

Yep... sitting warm and cozy. :)
(Did I mention that I'm easily amused?) ;) :lol:

600s Helix Nebula attempt

(Download)

1000s Helix Nebula attempt

(Download)

22s Orion Nebula

(Download)

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

The only issue I have with Stellarium is the lack of Telescope Hub support without downloading and installing the Stellariumscope plugin. The hub function basically allows multiple programs to communicate with the mount without having to close or disconnect from one program to gain access with another.<---Very convenient.

You can also google Stellarium Extra Nebula images v3 to add more referenced catalog images to Stellarium's database.

I love the turkey shape of Orion, an HDR subject if I ever seen one. With your Helix images, I am guessing that your errors are in the Dec Axis. Which is probably the mount fighting itself, maybe only push from one direction or lower the aggressiveness to limit the majority of this error. Mine has done this before and when I could not fix it with tweaking the settings, a simple resetting of PHD2 settings cured it. IDK why but on occasion I have had my profile go wonky and requires a resetting and redoing everything over again from the defaults.

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

Looks like your mount was shivering&#128540;

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

Nice little shot of Orion.
Caught one of the geo stationary satellites as well.
Hemm.. was it cold in California?
As Europa said, you have the shivers. It may have been balance as well. I sometimes have to tweak my balance to eliminate oval stars and I sometimes see the swan effect as I call it when I get the balance slightly off.
Something to think about.
To Paraphrase Dory from Finding Nemo..
Just keep shooting, just keep shooting..
:thumbup:

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

Hi Sonny, this happened to me too and once I "Reset" to default, like Matthew, tracking worked fine.
Nice shot of Orion.
Craig

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

For Sonny..

There he sits warm and cozy
With his cheeks a little bit Rosy.
From the drinks he has within,
He points and giggles and grins and grins..

Watching as the gears spin and twirl,
It makes his vision begin to swirl.
Off to bed he bellows loud,
I'll post my pictures on the cloud!

;)

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I believe that is built in to the current versions. I'm running V 0.13.2 and it has a plug in built into it for a buncha mounts to pick from.
But so far between it and that TeamViewer 10 program, things have been working very well.
For example: Right now I have my desk computer (this one) connected to the laptop, running Stellarium, with 3 cameras working as well out of the USB port extender I have plugged into the laptop.
In real life, I would likely not be using the eyepiece camera because it is foe solar system viewing, not deep space.
But I wanted to load up the programs and run them (2nd day today) tracking the Sun.



Here again, in this version in the configuration set-up is a plugin called Bright Novae which I think may be the one you are referring to.
It also has an automatic update from Internet sources that can be chosen. (I like these auto update wizards)
So, fat, dumb, and happy, I've been bumbling along in ignorant bliss with this wireless control and transfer for the whole enchilada.




Yeah, I dunno. Seems like that's the way the Orion Nebula appears here in the eyepiece. I've been wondering about turning the viewing/imaging box to "right it" to the horizon. But I come back to being able to turn the image in processing if desired anyway.
I'm more interested in doing a focusing method now. Stepping up the automation. I'm still thinking about that currently.
I love shooting/viewing the Orion Nebula... apparently. :mrgreen:

My set-up wasn't the bestest the other night. More of a set in place with my brick feet, check Polar, align and go. I was more interested it testing the control than imaging.
:lol: I bet that's why I got turkeys instead of plus signs on the Helix Nebula. :roll:

I was just so stoked I could sit inside, and run the mount out back, via WiFi... :-o :shock: :-D

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Maybe.
But I wasn't. :-P

Yeah, it was more of a plop and go set up. I was testing the two computers talking to each other.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Yep, it can get cold here. Down to 34 degrees the other night.
But that was a quick plop and run. So I bet the level was off a bit from my "norm".
I just wanted to see how it would go.
Now that I have a couple of days of testing behind me, and some quirks figured out (like all cameras working via USB) I'm ready for a better test. :twisted:

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Thank You Craig. I know how you like pictures.
I'm just really glad to have made such headway with the control of the mount without sitting out there miserable.
The later versions of Stellarium are pretty surprising. They're like chocked full of nuts.
Close to a no brainer. If not for that, I'm sure I couldn't use it. :lol:

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

Yes I do love photos no matter what they are. Can the WiFi work without the TeamViewer 10 program???
Craig

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

Well yes mine too is the current version and yes it will connect to my mount and be able to control it, but if I want Maxim or SGP to also be able to control the mount, without having to disconnect from starvation, for example to automatically center on an object by computing how far off the pointing model is then adjusting before beginning the run of subs. It's a great little plugin which will also allow for the control of multiple scopes simultaneously.

Hope that explains my thinking a bit better. It's kinda like looking through a smokey haze as of lately, Lmmfao.
Matthew

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

A better example is having PHD and stellarium connected at the same time.

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

PHD and stellarium run the scope and what runs the WiFi???
Craig