LX90 8" & AudioStar

[On the edge]

Hi I'm new to IIS just got my new equipment for Xmas and was wondering if i need a tracking program like PHD2 or similar if I have auto tracking on my AudioStar.

Mick

[iborg]

Hi Mick

I also have an LX90, it tracks the stars, moon etc on its own, no problem.

I think programs such as PHD2 are for when using a guide camera to keep very accurate tracking for long exposure astrophotography.

Have fun

Philip

[casstony]

Welcome to IIS Mick :)
The likely cause of your problem is that you've made an error in the initial setup and alignment of your LX90. Have you followed the manual regarding input of location, time, date (or allowed the GPS a minute or two to work if it has GPS) and subsequent 2 star alignment?

If you have to input a date make sure it's in the correct format (eg. month, day, year or day, month year). If there's a setting for daylight savings time on/off make sure that's correct.

On rare occasions scopes can be dead on arrival and need warranty work.

If you really get stuck there's bound to be someone from Hobart who can give you a hand. Like most things these scopes are a piece of cake to operate once you know how.

[barx1963]

Mick
The issue is the difference between "tracking" and "guiding". Although similar, there are differences. Tracking simply means that to scope will automatically move to compensate for the earths rotation so an object stays in the field of view. For visual use this is all that is needed.
Even the best made mounts will experience some error in their tracking however, which is where guiding comes in. Guiding usually involves a second camera running thought another scope mounted with the main scope ( or operating on an "off axis guider" which uses a part of the field of the main scope) to track a star near the objects. It sends adjustments to the mount so that the tracking is made more accurate. This is helpful with long exposure images to ensure that the images are as accurate as possible. It is not usually needed for visual use.
PHD is a program that operates with a guide camera to interface between the camera and the mount.

Hope the above is clear enough!!

Malcolm

[jenchris]

One obvious anomoly is the setup says point the scope north and horizontal.
But even so far South, thats what you do.
It will then after priming from your handbox with date etc go looking for a couple of stars. Use the finder cross hairs to centre the view and off you jolly well go.
My scope was able to keep objects cenred indefinitely.
Tip.... do NOTuse rechargeable batteries the total voltage is too low.
Get a 12 volt cable ... Jaycar have them on the shelf and use a mower battery or mobility scooter battery to power it for a week at a time.
C cells are way too expensive.

[On the edge]

Thanks a lot guys that clarifies the two, guiding and tracking .
I definitely want to do astrophotography in depth a little later on which will take time, money & patience but in the short term i'll have to get a good guide scope and secondary camera to practice!
Again many thanks.
Mick

[AndrewJ]

Gday Jen/others



Meade use that terminology ( level/Nth) to make it simple for most people who are unfamiliar with the sky to understand.
When you point the scope north and level, what you are really doing is pointing the scope to Alt = Az = 0 ;)
It then uses this as a preliminary datum for doing a dead reckoning slew to the first align star.

Andrew

[BarneyMaroon]

When I tried auto-align with my LX90, I found it very hard to know what stars it had chosen for it's align. Their claim that only one would be bright in the region it slewed too was not in my experience true. (I don't have GPS, but that should not matter). It also does not give you the name of star that it is expecting you to find.

Two star align is much more robust. Find out which bright stars are up and about (and fairly far apart) using online software, or a planisphere. And use these as your goto stars (you nominate Sirius for example). You also will learn about the locations of the bright stars in the sky.

[AndrewJ]

Gday Tony

Thats cos Meade defaults to the position that you dont know anything.
There is a menu setting where you can tell the system to tell you the name of the star, vs the generic "centre brightest".
Set that, and the system will give you the real name
( IIRC hitting "?" when it asks you to centre brightest will also force it to list the real name of the selected star )

Andrew

[jenchris]

Don't forget that if you want to do ap with the meade you'll need a wedge

[BarneyMaroon]

Cool. Thanks Andrew. Next clear night (not many in Brisbane atm).

Tony