Josch

Hi, any news about the present and beta software versionsß Whne will the new versions (now in beta test) be releasedß What has and will be changed as the info on the ASA website is outdated. I am using V5.1.1.2 without problems remotely. Veriosn 5.1.1.6 is on the ASA website but no info what is changed compared to V5.1.1.2. Regards, Josch

Hi. I am running a remote observatory under pristine and clear skies. At such a place power usage is an issue as the power is home (solar panel) made. I usually sleep during observations and several times in nearly 3 y of operation power was cut, but so far nothing happened to the scope or mount neither PC. I am pretty sure that also power was cut during slewing as my mount slews really a lot during the night (500-1000 times), so it is pretty high probability that during a slew the power was off. The only problem after such a power failure is that the mount has lost its position and you need to do a manual homefind. Luckily after a while this is not really an issue using a webcam. I am very happy with the DDM85 although there have been many problems, but for my work only a direct drive mount is able to perform. Regards, josch

HI, there is a bright supernova in M74 for the moment. Last night it was at about magnitude 12.55 in V (green) band. Attached is an image showing the SN (only 2x45 s exposure) and a graph with the light curve acquired so far and observed remotely. I am using a DDM85 with a 16" ODK f/6.8 and FLI ML16803 with filterwheel. I observe remotely variable stars from a pristine site on about 320 nights a year. I do 500-800 images a night of about 20 stars, hence my DDM85 is a real workhorse. I am very happy about the direct drive technology. Regards, Josch

Interesting that it says when clicking the link to Tivoli under information about the remote site and mount the Fornax 51 can track 500mm without guider. The other links on the Tivoli site to other observatories seem to be dead as well, at least for the moment. Josch

Sorry madea mistake as I actually was not on the uppermost level. I do not like fora. Josch

Hi ASA, where have the older threads gone to? There was a thread concerning polar alignmnet in the Southern Hemisphere. It seems to be gone! Only recent threads after July 2013 are accessible from the main page. Josch

Hi Philipp, is the new version of Sequence already released? Is it version 9, which can be downloaded from the website? Unfortunately the manual is for Version 4. Maybe it needs some updating. Regards, Josch

Hi Tom, synching a star is only neded once or if you loose position (which sometimes happens). All other times you could start directly from park position. If CCDAutopilot is only recognizing one Park positon (and probably PARK1, like e.g. CCDCOmmnader) then just use Park1 as your park position. I have no problems with CCDC or ACP to go to Park 1 after a session is finished. I am not using CCDAP as it is too clumpsy for my application CCDC is much simpler and easier to adapt in my case. Josch

Hi, I use a remote site very far away from home. I only use homefind when mount was switched off or if e.g. there was a problem with power cuts or otherwise. I have PARK 2 close to homefind position. So when the mount is in Park 1 position and was switched off, I switche it on and start AS. This makes an magnetic angle find. This does not always give good results and I sometimes have to redo this angle find as it does not find the direction of movement. If a good angle is found, then I select PARK2 and slew to it. Then I do a homefrind. As I did once a set new homeposition, I do not need to sync a star after the homefind. You only need to do that once and afterwards do a set new homeposition. From then on a homefind should work without synching a star. Then I can start the session. If the mount at end of session is parked and next night no problem observed then I do not do a homefind and start immediately from park position. I normally do a plate solve for the first star instead using Pinpoint (LE) within MAXIM and CCDCommander. I am running my remote site since 2 years and as said in the beginning only when problems occur, I do need a homefind. Most of the time I start from park immediately the session. And I have 300+ clear nights. Regards, Josch

Thanks Mark for this update. Will try to follow your recipe. Josch

Hi Ian, did you in the meantime had a chance to polar align your mount? Josch

Hi Cristina, I would recommend using Sequence as it is very simple to make new pointing files with as many stars you want either automatically distributed by the software or manually by you. You could start with your present configuration and do a new file with Sequence and use it from now on as replacement. I am not sure if you can add stars to a pointing file in a region of the sky you formerly ignored. Anyway Sequence is the way to go for pointing. The only drawback is that you need pinpoint, but that also makes it very powerful. Worth the investment into Pinpoint. REgards, Josch

Hi, I am using a remote setup. I hardly do a homefind. Only when there was a problem at forehand. When you have done a homefind once, synched on a centered star and done a set new homeposition then you should be fine and no need for homefind any more. After parking the mount and either keep the power one or switch off power and on again when you restart (unfortunately with magnetic angle find, which could go wrong), you should be able to immediately start from the parkposition to your first object. I sometimes do a platesolve for the first object, but then no more. I run my remote observatory since nearly 2 years in this way. SHould work for you too. Each night a homefind is not practical. I use CDCommander for automatic positioning and do about 500-800 images a night of various variable stars. I sleep during the operation. Regards, Josch

Hi, I am also having a scope in the Southern Hemisphere. Since you are setting up a new mount and scope, did you encounter problems to use the polar finding routine in Autoslew? Did it work? or what software did you use. Which version of AS do you use? Regards, Josch