Collimation - calling software developers

[NightCal]

I've recently started collimating my LX200 using a webcam. It's miles easier to turn the alignment knobs whilst looking at a screen than through an eyepiece. However, it strikes me that a bit of computer assistance would make this job even easier.
1) You keep having to re-centre the out of focus image on the scope after each adjustment. Wouldn't it be great if an autoguiding algorithim did this for you.
2) Wouldn't it be great if the software indicated to you which knobs to adjust, and in what direction?
3) Wouldn't it be great if the software showed you how far out you were and when you had the collimation perfect?
Come on guy and gals, can someone write this or has it already been done?

[matt]

That would be some popular software.

Although, it's great to learn how to do this visually/webcam

[bojan]

I agree with Matt... It is important people KNOW what they are doing and why... Besides, it is really easy to understand procedure.
For those who can not do it without computer assistance, it might be perhaps a better idea to give it to someone else to do it for them...
B

[NightCal]

The user would still need to know why it's important to collimate else they wouldn't feel the need to collimate their scope.

I'm envisaging software that shows you what to do and helps you do it more easily and, most importantly, accurately; the software couldn't actually collimate the scope for you for you! (although may it could if you had an Meade RCX ...)

It would be like software that helps you with focussing (such as QCFocus). It doesn't focus the scope, but it does help you achieve focus more quickly and (under the right conditions) to attain sharper focus.

[davidpretorius]

bird and i have discussed this a while ago and I reckon it will take the form or the active cooling unit on the newts with stepper motors on the collimation screws. these steppers would be driven by reading the diffraction rings and adjusting accordingly.

might be a bit of a pain with sct, as i assume you collimate at the front.

but yes, you could auto guide and collimate based on feedback form the camera image.

Paul Haese over on SCP is also talking of some software to help control all the systems for 18" sdm wilst imaging jupiter.

We will be playing with ideas at the wartnook jupiter camp in june

watch this space over the next 12 months.....

[jase]

If you're serious about computer assisted collimation, get yourself a copy of CCDInspector. I download a trial version... very impressive.

http://www.ccdware.com/products/ccdinspector/

[davidpretorius]

downloading now

[AndrewJ]

The following software may cover about 70% of yr reqmts
http://www.astrogeeks.com/Bliss/MetaGuide/
It doesnt tell you which knobs to turn, but it does stack and process images to get a better profile of the actual airy disk shape/distortion, and it also tracks/centres the scope during collimation, ( as long as you chg the collimation slowly enough to keep the star centroid on yr chip )

Andrew

[jase]

Thats the advantage of CCD inspector. No need to keep the same star on the chip. Collimation calculations are done on more than one star. :)

[davidpretorius]

thanks, once the clouds have disappeared, i will try it out

[netwolf]

Wow interesting looking software from CCDWare, Thanks.

[AndrewJ]

Too true, but ya gets what ya pay for.
Free vs US150
I can handle only working with one star for free
( Though i still prefer true eyeballometry and bicycle spokes )

Andrew