Focusing software - AstroGab2024-03-29T15:18:16Zhttp://astrogab.ning.com/forum/topics/focusing-software?id=6354305%3ATopic%3A4463&feed=yes&xn_auth=noFLI-DF2 + FocusMax, Optec TCF…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-02-25:6354305:Comment:98022011-02-25T01:06:38.890ZLars Hansenhttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/LarsHansen
FLI-DF2 + FocusMax, Optec TCF-S + FocusMax, My favourite FLI-PDF (so far)
FLI-DF2 + FocusMax, Optec TCF-S + FocusMax, My favourite FLI-PDF (so far) I'm imaging with a DSLR and h…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-02-24:6354305:Comment:96462011-02-24T19:12:39.105ZRuss Ruggleshttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/RussRuggles
I'm imaging with a DSLR and have recently purchased a nifty little program called BackyardEOS. With it you can use the FWHM feature or use a Bahtinov mask or both. This program uses the Live view feature of your camera and enhances it so you can even see faint stars plus you can zoom in 5X or 10X for even a better look. At $24 and a free 30 day trail IMHO it's worth the money.<br />
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It's also loaded with a lot of other features like Image Capture, Drift Alignment, PDH dithering, and the list goes…
I'm imaging with a DSLR and have recently purchased a nifty little program called BackyardEOS. With it you can use the FWHM feature or use a Bahtinov mask or both. This program uses the Live view feature of your camera and enhances it so you can even see faint stars plus you can zoom in 5X or 10X for even a better look. At $24 and a free 30 day trail IMHO it's worth the money.<br />
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It's also loaded with a lot of other features like Image Capture, Drift Alignment, PDH dithering, and the list goes on.<br />
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Here's a link if you're interested.<br />
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Russ<br />
<a href="http://backyardeos.binaryrivers.com" target="_blank">http://backyardeos.binaryrivers.com</a> Indeed it is. The Rumblepad 2…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-01-31:6354305:Comment:45402011-01-31T19:58:19.000ZJeff McFarlinhttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/JeffMcFarlin
Indeed it is. The Rumblepad 2 wireless is natively supported in NexRemote.<br />
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It's pretty cool. At outreach events I can do a neat trick. I can slew to 'next target' or whatever it is, can't remember exactly, haven't done it in 6 months, from 25' away and the mount miraculously slews right to it, and everyone's like 'ooohhh, ahhhh, how did you do that?' when Jupiter or whatever pops right in the eyepiece.<br />
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Every command you can do within NexRemote you can do on the gamepad. Except enter numbers,…
Indeed it is. The Rumblepad 2 wireless is natively supported in NexRemote.<br />
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It's pretty cool. At outreach events I can do a neat trick. I can slew to 'next target' or whatever it is, can't remember exactly, haven't done it in 6 months, from 25' away and the mount miraculously slews right to it, and everyone's like 'ooohhh, ahhhh, how did you do that?' when Jupiter or whatever pops right in the eyepiece.<br />
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Every command you can do within NexRemote you can do on the gamepad. Except enter numbers, altho maybe there's a way to do that, too. Either way, my fingers stay warm.<br />
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Jeff Jeff, that sounds like a pret…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-01-31:6354305:Comment:45392011-01-31T19:16:13.000ZMarc Bastihttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/MarcBasti
Jeff, that sounds like a pretty cool setup. Had a question; when using the wireless gamepad is that going through NexRemote? If so, does NexR recognize the gamepad on it's own? Thanks, Marc
Jeff, that sounds like a pretty cool setup. Had a question; when using the wireless gamepad is that going through NexRemote? If so, does NexR recognize the gamepad on it's own? Thanks, Marc There's a great Yahoo group f…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-01-31:6354305:Comment:45382011-01-31T18:49:56.000ZJeff McFarlinhttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/JeffMcFarlin
There's a great Yahoo group for FMax and some super helpful people there. I've had all my questions answered promptly. If you do opt for a MoonLite, the owner (Ron) will answer emails in a few hours usually. Really helpful guy. And what a gorgeous product. The anodizing/paint is so smooth and clean.<br />
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<a href="http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FMaxUG/" target="_blank">http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FMaxUG/</a><br />
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Jeff
There's a great Yahoo group for FMax and some super helpful people there. I've had all my questions answered promptly. If you do opt for a MoonLite, the owner (Ron) will answer emails in a few hours usually. Really helpful guy. And what a gorgeous product. The anodizing/paint is so smooth and clean.<br />
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<a href="http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FMaxUG/" target="_blank">http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FMaxUG/</a><br />
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Jeff yeah that sounds unreal, focu…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-01-31:6354305:Comment:45372011-01-31T18:30:29.000ZCharles Dunlophttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/CharlesDunlop
yeah that sounds unreal, focusing before each color sub. That'd be ideal really. Definitely the best way to get the most out of your optics.<br />
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You've got me fired up to get this Jeff.
yeah that sounds unreal, focusing before each color sub. That'd be ideal really. Definitely the best way to get the most out of your optics.<br />
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You've got me fired up to get this Jeff. For me personally, as I'm not…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-01-31:6354305:Comment:45362011-01-31T17:49:14.000ZJeff McFarlinhttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/JeffMcFarlin
For me personally, as I'm not in an observatory yet and I don't have oodles of time to image, and as the weather here in D.C. just plain old *sucks*, I normally focus once or twice per evening now tops. I'll swing over to a suitable star (Mag 5 I believe, but honestly it's been a while so I forget, it's all in my notes), focus and swing back to my target.<br />
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BUT - FocusMax is the cats meow. I know of lots of people who run completely automated with it, either via ASCOM scripting or ACP, etc. And…
For me personally, as I'm not in an observatory yet and I don't have oodles of time to image, and as the weather here in D.C. just plain old *sucks*, I normally focus once or twice per evening now tops. I'll swing over to a suitable star (Mag 5 I believe, but honestly it's been a while so I forget, it's all in my notes), focus and swing back to my target.<br />
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BUT - FocusMax is the cats meow. I know of lots of people who run completely automated with it, either via ASCOM scripting or ACP, etc. And they do temperature compensation to make up for changes in the OTA, etc. There's a thermometer in the focuser.<br />
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ACP: <a href="http://acp.dc3.com/index2.html" target="_blank">http://acp.dc3.com/index2.html</a><br />
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So, one might just fire off an ACP program - I watched Warren Keller do this online while we did an ad hoc tutoring session. He lives here on the east coast, but has a monster setup in New Mexico that he remote controls. He would shoot 5 red lights, then slew to a suitable star and focus with FMax, return to target, plate solve, shoot 5 blue light frames, etc. All automated.<br />
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FMax can get pretty complicated. You can do all sorts of stuff with it. But the basics work flawlessly, and if you have a good focuser (MoonLite, Feathertouch), it's a great combo.<br />
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Jeff that's pretty classic setup t…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-01-31:6354305:Comment:45302011-01-31T16:55:24.000ZCharles Dunlophttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/CharlesDunlop
that's pretty classic setup there Jeff. I like it!!! Talk about improvising to put your telescope where you want it.<br />
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In your imaging software does the software refocus every once in a while or just int he beginning of your session?
that's pretty classic setup there Jeff. I like it!!! Talk about improvising to put your telescope where you want it.<br />
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In your imaging software does the software refocus every once in a while or just int he beginning of your session? Yea - what I do is use two la…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-01-31:6354305:Comment:45292011-01-31T14:42:52.000ZJeff McFarlinhttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/JeffMcFarlin
Yea - what I do is use two laptops, I create an ad hoc wireless network and remote control the imaging laptop with the other (which has a larger screen) via wireless with Remote Desktop or RealVNC. I've since replaced my imaging laptop with a Toshiba Netbook:<br />
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<a href="http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/mini-notebook/NB300" target="_blank">http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/mini-notebook/NB300</a><br />
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I can get about 7 hours off the provided battery on this thing. I love it. I have a…
Yea - what I do is use two laptops, I create an ad hoc wireless network and remote control the imaging laptop with the other (which has a larger screen) via wireless with Remote Desktop or RealVNC. I've since replaced my imaging laptop with a Toshiba Netbook:<br />
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<a href="http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/mini-notebook/NB300" target="_blank">http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/mini-notebook/NB300</a><br />
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I can get about 7 hours off the provided battery on this thing. I love it. I have a little home for it, so the screen doesn't shine on anything, and it's kept out of the weather, the Lapdome junior:<br />
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<a href="http://www.lapdome.com/products.html" target="_blank">http://www.lapdome.com/products.html</a><br />
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I use two 75 amp hour marine batteries wired in parallel for 150AH total. I have a 400W inverter atop them and 3 outlet DC outlet. I've been able to keep two laptops (after their batteries die) and all my gear running off this for over 24 hours straight:<br />
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<a href="http://www.silvren.com/misc/batteries.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.silvren.com/misc/batteries.jpg</a><br />
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So I run NexRemote on the imaging laptop, and I have a wireless gamepad attached via USB:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Cordless-Rumblepad-Vibration-Feedback/dp/B0002XJBGE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296484636&sr=8-1" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Cordless-Rumblepad-Vibration-Feedback/dp/B0002XJBGE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296484636&sr=8-1</a><br />
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With that I can slew the scope wirelessly around via gamepad (or NexRemote, but the gamepad is much more accurate). It also is great for alignments. I never have to touch the hand controller or computer.<br />
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I image in a dark field 20 miles from my house, so during the cold I sit in my truck with the heat on and I can do everything from inside it, slew the scope, focus, control the camera/filter wheel, etc. My driveway is just too light polluted.<br />
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Jeff Im sold. In two weeks im gett…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-01-31:6354305:Comment:45222011-01-31T09:04:10.000ZCharles Dunlophttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/CharlesDunlop
Im sold. In two weeks im getting one of these for my refractor. Like how you use nexremote on your laptop, forgot that softare exists, much easier than the hand remote.
Im sold. In two weeks im getting one of these for my refractor. Like how you use nexremote on your laptop, forgot that softare exists, much easier than the hand remote.