MichiP

To include third party software will also mean for ASA to be responsible for any problem which may occur with this software and this means more time and the need of more employees and this will raise the price for ASA products. I think buying an ASA Mount means to know what you want to do and what you need to get things done as you expect it before you buy it. So you need to calculate all the extras, like PC, different Software etc. you need make the work which you want to do and then you should make your decision if which mount you buy. Michael

Hello, On December 7th, we had luck and no clouds are visible at 5 am. So we made shot of Lovejoy. For a bigger Version click on the image. Telescope: TS 80mm f/6 FPL-53 Triplet SuperApo Camera: Canon 6D Mount: ASA DDM 85XL Exposure: 6 x 200s

Hi Mark, thank you for your answer. I have contacted SBIG, but they are on holidays till January 6th. I made a 60 hour run with the SBIG and it seems that it is working very well, but before I continue, I will wait for the support answer Did you made some comparisons between scaled darks and temperature fitting darks in Pixinsight? Regards, Michael

Hello, I’m currently using a SBIG ST-9 XE from a colleague. It’s very nice and extremely sensitive CCD. Currently we have bad weather so I decided to produce masterdarks for most used time and CCD temperatures. My first set took about 28 hours to complete all sub frames. So I’m not sure it is a problem for the CCD to keep it running for several days to make several other sets for other temperatures. How many sub exposures for one masterdark should be done become a very good masterdark? I’m currently doing 25 frames sub exposures for each master. Is this enough/too much or less? Best regards, Michael

Hello, it's just a guess, but check the following things: Location coordinates in Autoslew and the star chart eg. the sky, which you are using check your clock on the PC and you star chart check if there are limits set in your start chart Perhaps one of these things will have some influence on your mount. Regards, Michael

Der Schwerpunkt muss immer passen bzw. das Teleskop muss genau ausbalaciert sein. Solange das Teleskop in jeder Position auch ohne eingeschaltenen Motoren stehen bleibt, sollte es passen. Ob die Teleskope dabei übereinander oder nebeneinander montiert werden ist egal. Bei einer Montage übereinander verlagert sich lediglich der Schwerpunkt nach außen. Gurnsätzlich ist es besser wenn der Schwerpunkt näher an der Montierung ist, aber wie gesagt es macht für die Montierung bei diesen Gewicht noch keinen Unterschied. Grüße, Michael

Hallo Robert, ich würde vorschlagen die Teleskope nebeneinander zu montieren um die Hebelwirkung und Belastung für die Teleskope zu reduzieren. Die DDM 85 wird kein Problem mit den Teleskopen haben, egal wie du sie montierst. CS, Michael

Hi Gerald, is it necesarry to insert a information into Autoslew or is it enough to click on the comet when using The Sky? Regards, Michael

Hello, thank you for your suggestions. I'll perform the next pointingfile in that way. Just have to wait for better weather. Can't wait to start again making long exposure images after serveral years of building the observatory and solving thousands of problems. @Bernhards, thank you for the hint. I never realizied the values in the bottom line. Best regards, Michael

Hello, a few weeks ago, I decided to update Autoslew from version 5.0.3 to actual 5.1.x I made a complete new pointing file with Autoslew and The Sky by doing this steps: start/add Pointingfile move telescope to a known star in The sky centering the star in the ocular and press sync in The Sky GoTo different stars, each centered and after each star pressing the check in Autoslew, no sync in The Sky. Stop pointing file calculate and save When I slew to a new object, the will not be centered in the middle. Before I did the update, I had a perfect pointing and the objects are always nearly perfect centered. I'm using a Celestron C14 which had no mirror lock when I was using the old version of AutoSlew. Installed a mirror lock now and changed some components so eliminate possible tube flex. So now the pointing should over the complete horizon nearly perfect. I should mention that I made the pointing file only on the east sky, but in the past it worked very well. Longest unguided full length exposure was 45 minutes Does anybody see what I'm doing wrong? There are some upcoming questions. When I click on "Start/add Pointingfile" I always get this info box by Autoslew. I get this message also when I have synced a star in The Sky and it makes no difference if I click on "set new Home position" in Autoslew. Do you sync a star before starting the pointing file? Do you move from east to the west sky and proced there the pointing file? I know I should use Sequenz and MLPT but before I start with this, I need solve some trouble with Maxim DL, so just on step after after the other Best regards, Michael

Hi Hector, an open truss is only limiting the the effect of wind wind for tube flex but it does not eliminate. The question is, does it make sense to start an imaging session at such stormy weather where tube flex produced by wind gusts will take effect? Regrads, Michael

Hi Ian, My C14 has also installed fans, therefore I was looking around the web to find some information when to use them. What I can clearly say is, don't use them on full speed while you are imaging. Most people seem to use fans to cool down the mirror to the surrounding temperature. While imaging, it's difficult to decide how to use them. There are several planet photographer who are saying that it's much better to keep the fans running slow to improve tube seeing and to become a better resolution. I think this may take effect when you are imaging planets, but not on long exposures. I would recommend to keep them running slow while imaging, so the mirror will faster adapt the surrounding temperature, especially when the temperature are falling faster due to cold front. Michael PS: Happy Birthday

Hi Mark, I made a test on my Notebook to see if Autoslew will work on Win 8. I only made a simulation run but it worked as on win 7. There is no reason why it shoulnd work with the scope. Best regards, Mike

Hello, thank you all for your adivices I was at my observatory yesterday, but after the visitors left us, the sky decided to become completly cloudy So I only installed the new Autoslew version and made the settings as recommend. So I'm waiting for better weather Best regards, Michael

Hi Dani, I know but there are tow reasons why I need Maxim to center the star. First, I have to do a new polar alighnment and second, I'm using a C14 without mirror lock, so after bigger slews, sometimes it's necesarry to move the star into the right position of the CCD. For the standard imageing process, I will use PinPoint and Sequence Best regards, Michael

Hello, for tomorrow night, I have planned to install the new Autoslew. The version I'm currently running is a very old one, 5.0 so I need to make new pointing files. I'd like to use an SBIG ST-9 XE for centering the stars just by clicking at the image in Maxim DL. Can somebody explain me what settings I have to do in maxim DL to make this funktion work? Last time when I was trying to get this feature run, I spend several hours but it doesn't work. Would be great if anybody has time for a description. Thank you! Best regards, Michael

Hi, althought the condition were horrible, we cloudy and humid weather, I tried to catch the comet ISON in the moring of 23.08.13 Telescope: Celestron C14 /f11 CCD: SBIG ST-9 XE Mount: ASA DDM 85 XL Filter: Luminanz 10 x 30 Seconds Darks: Yes Flats: No Bias: No Due to twilight and missing flats, dust can also be seen on the image. Best regards, Michael

Hello, that is an very interesting solution. Does ist also work when you connect your CCD? While I was looking for the icron range extender, I found this wireless solution too http://www.bellequip.at/icron/wireless_usb_20_extender/wiranger_icron_wireless_usb_20_extender.htm has anybody tested this to connect with the ASA DDMs and CCDs? Regards, Michael

Hi Thomas, very nice image. Had you not written that it has been taken with a Canon 500D, I would belive that it has been done with a CCD The noise signal ratio is very good. I'm just missing a litte bit more blue in the images. It's a litte to brown, but this is a matter of personal taste. Best regards, Michael

Hi Dave, wow, great image!!! Thank you for sharing all the detailed information about the imaging process. Regards, Mike

Hello, thank you for the reply. I think I found the problem, I have no possibility to choose a ascom telescope. But I don't have the lastest version installed and bique is telling me that my subscription is out dated They ear money with updates? To solve bugs you have to pay extra, thats bad customer support. Best regards, Michael

Hello, It seems that I'm doing something wrong. I'm trying to connect Sky X Prof. with Autoslew to control my DDM 85 but I'm not able to get in run. I had it run bevore I made a new setup, more than a year ago. Could somebody be so kind to give me a short manual what I have to do? Best regards, Michael

Hi Lukas, I'm using a webcam to check visual if the mount has been parked correctly. But this is just for a visual check, not for remote use. Best regards, Michael

Hi Matts, very nice image What are the exposure time of each chanel? Regards, Michael

Hi Adam, fun? are you kidding? That's great! Regards, Michael