Hi,
A friend uses a sequence of steps using SGPro and gets very good results.
His steps are;
Load up the list, with coordinates from DSO-Browser(dot)com, into SGPro.
Set the parameters for all objects, either separately or the same for images.
Start the sequence up and SGPro will 1) Slew to, 2) plate solve, 3) center
if needed, 4) grab a guide star, 5) take 12 x 300 second images, 6) stop the
guide star.
Then repeat step 3; 1-6 for the next object of the list.
I have different hardware for the mount than he does, and would like confirmation from experts that my parts and pieces would work.
Main Camera; Canon 60Da (appears to be supported by SGPro).
Guide Camera; Orion Starshoot Autoguider (likely supported by SGPro).
Mount; Alt-Az using ServoCAT and Argo Navis (unknown to be supported by SGPro).
Main Scope; 36"f4.5 with ParaCorr.
Main Camera True Field of View (TFOV); 10.8’ x 16.2’
Guide Scope; Either 60mmf5, or, 8"f10.
My current setup uses TheSkyX (TSX) to direct ServoCAT (SC) and Argo Navis (AN) for goto’s, but Closed Loop Slew (CLS) feature is problematic with TSX software and CLS settings.
My questions are;
Can SGPRo integrate with SC and AN for goto’s and plate-solving/slew?
SGPro can operate the 60Da but Software Bisque has recommended the UCAC4 catalog due to my very limited TFOV, so can SGPro use UCAC4 instead of UCAC3 in PlateSolve2 (I have the UCAC4 catalog on disks)?
Does SGPro use Phd2 for guide star acquisition and tracking?
Have I missed anything?
Thanks, Steven
You have so many software layers involved, you may never be able to figure how to get every thing configured. Trying to image with an alt-azimuth mount will be problematical, at best.
Bottom line, no matter what your are told, in the end you will have to download the free version of SGP, study the Help file carefully and then experiment - a lot.
With all due respect to the SGP developers, if you are already using your system successfully with TSX, perhaps you should just get the TSX camera add-on and go from there.
Thanks.
The goal for this system imaging is to removing some layers, i.e. not use TSX. I have the TSX camera add-on and it is not configurable to be of use, and, I want to see a better plate-solved slew than TSX’s ‘closed loop slew’ which is problematic.
I want to script to a system that can handle a camera and guide and the other things mentioned in the first post. The pro’s use, almost exclusively, alt-az scopes for imaging. If someone can comment that it does indeed work with Servo-CAT and Argo (and bypass TSX), that is useful information.
Thanks.
The most important requirement for SGP working with ServoCAT would be a good ASCOM-Driver for your system. Google tells me, there is one available, so, there are chances.
Then, there is the question of guiding: Yes, SGP uses PHD2 for guiding (not exclusively). But I have no idea how PHD2 behaves when using an alt/az mount. I can imagine that the calibration might be difficult. You would also certainly need a field derotator. This would introduce a supplementary problem for the guiding software. You might want to ask the PHD2 people about alt/az.
That was also my idea when reading your original post. Big, professional telescopes are mostly alt/az so why not. I would suggest, you should get the test version of SGP and go for it. It has a 45 days test period and can be extended to 90 days. Would be nice if you would come back and describe your experience.