Who just ordered an AP1600GTO...?

[strongmanmike]

:question:

Well.....I do love my brilliant ol' NJP but I finally decided I need to move into this century :lol: aaaand I always wanted one of these babies (http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/mounts/1600gto/1600gto), sooooo somehow I got the permission :eyepop: ....:D Can't wait to see it in the flesh...I am sure it will blow my eyeballs out of their sockets...

:cool: :thumbsup:

I do like to stick with working systems though, new ones always scare me :scared2:

Mike

[RickS]

Nice one, Mikey! My last mount purchase was a Star Adventurer :shrug:

[strongmanmike]

A similar $ outlay..? :question:

:rofl:......:eyepop:

[Marke]

Thats great news you wont regret it they are bullet proof . My next upgrade will be a 1100 or 1600 as I already have bar , counterweights etc that can just swap between Mach1 and the bigger mounts. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Yeah, they are my expectations too Mark :thumbsup: and now I will be operating at 50% of mount load capacity rather then 150% :)

Mike

[Marke]

Good excuse to add more equipment now :P

[strongmanmike]

You must be a mind reader Mark? :evil:

Mike

[Atmos]

Do you plan on mounting an array of FSQs on the top?

[multiweb]

Beast of the mount. Thing of beauty. I'd like to have an AP mount one day as well to mount the C11 permanently when I have an obs. They're so well designed and engineered.

[strongmanmike]

He he that would be nice..but no, just leaves the gate open for another bit of grovelling in the future :P :lol:



Yeah, the PMEII scares me :scared::lol:..I am more comfortable with the look and mechanics of the AP :) :love: and I went without the absolute encoder option, figured that with better than +/- 2.5" raw periodic error anyway and much lower after PEC and not needing arc sec pointing etc for what I do, it seemed like many $1000's worth of overkill..?

Mike

[Marke]

Its simpler to use than the PM mount and not fussed with being out of balance or anything like that. Encoders are good if imaging remote but all I ever do is just slew , plate solve and sync it will then be spot on the rest of the night. PE is a non issue as well with pec you will be around +- 1

[Slawomir]

Fantastic news and congratulations Mike! Really happy for you. Our small and friendly community will now eagerly anticipate unboxing photos and reading your report. Happy days!

[strongmanmike]

Yeah...complete with obligatory glass of cold beer prop :P

Mike

[xelasnave]

Good on you Mike.
You deserve to use something so wonderful.
Alex

[codemonkey]

Awesome, Mike!

[Logieberra]

Congrats mike! I love mine - any Absolute Encoders planned?

[blink138]

there's an ap 1600 in the classifieds mike?
pat

[strongmanmike]

No Logan, they really make the mount too expensive....:shrug:



Just too expensive Pat, that mount has the absolute encoders, the cost was already a wife worrying amount :help:

Mike

[Logieberra]

True that. I will get them, one day...

[strongmanmike]

I figured these mounts and its predecessors, have given faithful and very accurate service without AE's for a long time, so why did I need them and at the significant extra cost? :question:

[Atmos]

Having gone from an EQ6 to a mount with absolute encoders I’d say they’re absolutely amazing ;)

[strongmanmike]

Well maybe... but raising the mount price to $30K..?....Hmmm?..maybe not :eyepop: ;)

[multiweb]

I have to ask, what's the fun if you don't have to twist your neck to get your eyeball close enough to the finder through all the USB cables in the way and use averted vision to figure out by how far you've missed? :evil:

[Marke]

Ah you poor g11 owner no cable issues with AP all thru mount :D;)

[Logieberra]

When I read Roland’s explanation of the benefits, I’m sold. I just can’t afford them ATM. For me, the encoders as an “option” future proofs these AP mounts. At least that’s what I tell myself... I’m not sure that you can user/home install encoders in the equivalents (e.g. ME2). A trip back to Colorado perhaps?

[DJT]

Congrats on the choice of mount, Mike. You are going to love it. Enjoy!

[lazjen]

From what I have read that is the case.

Congrats on the new mount Mike. When does it actually get into your hands?

[Peter Ward]

AP make sublime pieces of kit.....the AP 1600 addition to Mike’s system will make it a humble $60k or so ensemble ;)

The dark side is just too powerful :lol:

[strongmanmike]

Same here Logan, it was a big decision but I decided, along with the desire for some of the new electronic capabilities of the modern non AE mount, the NJP really needed some relief from the mule like expectations I had her under :eyepop: :P ... and the extra $'s for the AE's was just too far to reach but who knows, as you suggest, some time down the track maybe :shrug: :sadeyes:



Cheers Dave, hope you're right :thumbsup:



Thanks Chris, OPT had 1600's without AE in stock, so hopefully the back ordered items will be in soon so perhaps end of the month or early Dec? :prey:

Mike

[Slawomir]

Congratulations once again Mike.

Is the APCC Pro included with the mount? I think it would be quite useful in a permanent obsy.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Suavi :thumbsup:

Not sure about apcc, good question :question:...better find out :)

Mike

[codemonkey]

I'd recommend getting APCC. I had a pier collision the other night after SGP malfunctioned which would have been prevented had I actually enabled APCC's tracking limits. Not sure if that's included with the pro or standard version though (I have pro).

You get a 30% discount on APCC if you buy it within a short window after your mount purchase... I chose to buy the pro version as I figured I'd get the best out of my mount with it and when you're spending that kind of money on the hardware it didn't make sense to me to cheap out on the software.

[strongmanmike]

It's all a bit new and I don't have her yet but, yes Lee I think I will get it...:question:

Mike

[Marke]

I've had APCC some time now just regular version . I think the main difference is the pro allows for multi point modeling as I can do horizon and pier limits with my version.

[Slawomir]

From the AP website:

Features of APCC Pro:
-All of the features of APCC Standard.
-Dual-model pointing and tracking rate correction even with the telescope in the counterweight UP position.
-Supports THUM temperature reading sensors.
-Includes a separate application to acquire Pointing/Tracking model data (APPM).
-Camera options: Maxim, Sequence Generator Pro, ASCOM camera and SkyX Image Linking camera Add-on (APPM)
-Plate solving choices: PinPoint, Sequence Generator Pro (tested with PlateSolveX), SkyX Plate Solving Note: these programs must be purchased separately.(APPM)

[DavidTrap]

Congrats Mike

The AP 1100 mounts at the school obs have been fantastic.

DT

[DJT]

Hi MikeJust on telescope limits, if you chose the handset option you can set safe limits from there without buying software. Same applies for setting horizons. Not sure what you plan to do for telescope control but you will have a couple of options at least.
Time to download the mount manual and if needed the keyboard one. Makes for a good read.
Enjoy

[strongmanmike]

Cheers David, yes I got the hand control as I figured that would be able to do most things I needed anyway and then I would connect it to my planetarium/sky map software STAR Atlas pro. or get another program like the The Sky etc..?

Good idea about downloading the manuals :thumbsup:

Mike

[Marke]

It works very well with THesky X Mike and the camera addon does a good job with closed loop slew / plate solve as well :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

I'll probably just keep using STAR Atlas.Pro for pointing and Astroart for camera control, at least initially...changing the mount seems scary enough for the moment :scared:...I'll leave changing the software (that I have been using for 12 and 15 years respectively :lol:) for another time... :question: :)

Mike

[DaveNZ]

Thant's great news Mike. Cant wait for your first report on the mount.

Not sure if my other half would approve on me spending that sort of coin on a mount let alone absolute encoders :-)

Dave

[stevous67]

Hey Mike,

This is wonderful news! The mechanical aspect of these mounts is just first class with minimal maintenance requirements. Performance will be terrific, but just watch out for new driver releases and only move if there is a good reason to upgrade, like a relevant fix or new feature that's pertinent.

The AP control is so good, and does what it is instructed to do. It will be just magical.

Congratulations :thumbsup:

Regards
Steve

[strongmanmike]

I'm lookng forward getting her, bit exciting waiting for new toys :D

Do you use APCC WITH your AP900?

Mike

[Geoff45]

Good purchase Mike. Hard to go wrong with an AP.

[gregbradley]

Just read tis. Congrats Mike. AP1600 GTO woohooo. That's what I have my CDK mounted on.

Very ruggedly built.

I use a power supply I got from Jaycar so it gets enough grunt.

Quite easy to use. Its probably a bit more accurate in tracking than my PME but relatively similar.


Are you getting the latest control box? Is this a new mount or a 2nd hand?


I could upgrade my control unit for around at one stage US$1100 and I think that allowed a home position which is the main thing I would want I miss from the PME. A home position is very handy.


I also use the AP timer and also a free little program that monitors the mount and won't let it hit the pole. If it does hit the pole it simply shuts the motor off.


I run the AP1600 through the Sky X and have a PE curve I made using Pempro (very easy to upload). Its a very rugged piece of gear that is even more rugged than the PME. The shaft for example is 1.5 inches thick as opposed to 1 inch thick of the PME or something similar.


It will carry your gear with you standing on it and it will still give under 3 arc seconds tracking!!!! The motors are very strong.

Closed loop slews are handy. What that is is the scope slews to where the object should be then takes a photo and plate solves it and in one correction you have the object in the middle of the image. Saves a lot of time.

Using Sky X will probably be a big time saver long term. You just have to get used to the setting up of Tpoint (I find TPoint the best polar alignment tool so far, a bit awkward to setup but once it works its reliable).

The mount comes preloaded with a PE curve. That's also handy.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Greg

Yes she is a new baby :D

My NJP tracks pretty incredibly raw and autoguides like a laser (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/163975596/original) , as you know, so I am not reeeeally expecting any amazing improvement in that department, although perhaps with PEC now I will be able to see some improvement in raw tracking? It is just the greater load carrying capacity, to give the NJP a break and allow future upgrades in equipment plus the modern fang dangle computerised based options that attracted me...aaaand just to have an AP mount :P ...will have to mount the StarfireEDF on her just for a photo :D :)

Mike

[DJT]

Mate, you are likely to go blind ...AP P?!#.. nothing better.

[RickS]

Planning for a ginormous scope one day, eh Mikey? :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

He he yeah who knows..? :D

Be good to be able to load on something like you are commissioning at the moment and perhaps also the Starfire..?.. although I was thinking of putting that on the NJP and having a separate system setup outside the dome :question:..aaah too many telescopes!...see? I wanna have as many scopes as you do but just not spread all over the World :D :lol:

Mike

[RickS]

What a strange idea :shrug: :lol:

[strongmanmike]

I think I may be heading towards something like this in the future...AG12 + Starfire 152EDF + FSQ106EDX4 (maybe throw a camera lens based system on there too..?) ....probably finally too much for the poor'ol NJP me thinks :question: :lol:

Mike

[multiweb]

:eyepop:

[RickS]

Nice! Balance might be interesting...

[strongmanmike]

Meah, should be pretty close to what I have now really, but rather than this collection of galvanized bars, ankle weights and washers (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/166437751/original) held together with gaffa tape...I'd use a telescope :D This setup (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/166437748/original) is quite well balanced BTW.

[strongmanmike]

It's on its waaaaaay :cool: :D:D:D :prey:

[Slawomir]

Happy days, and even happier nights ahead!

[LewisM]

If there is no photo of you clean and jerking it Mike, it didn't happen.

[strongmanmike]

Hope so Suavi and ha ha ha...you're on Lewis...I think 🤔

[Slawomir]

Has the baby landed in Oz yet?

[strongmanmike]

Yep, in Botany, expected delivery Wednesday this week :prey: :cool:

Mike

[LewisM]

I'm hijacking the truck at Goulburn and diverting it here..

[Marke]

Thats awesome mate cant wait to see it up and running :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Slawomir]

Fantastic news Mike. This will surely be amongst the best xmas gifts materialising this year and on this planet :thumbsup:

[Logieberra]

That's one hell of a mounting platter!

[Slawomir]

Almost scared to ask...got any updates Mike?

[strongmanmike]

Well...4 of the 5 boxes have arrived over the past week, in two deliveries, the last box however, containing the counterweight shaft and Dec top plate, seems to have gone amiss though :doh: :sadeyes: I have UPS and OPT on to it so hopefully a happy ending :prey:

But...seesh, while I fully expected it...seeing it in the flesh, this mount is an absolute beast :eyepop: and the photos don't do this characteristic justice. A beautiful piece of engineering too though :love:...a slight element of intimidation is present...and it's a hefty bugger :help:

Lots of fun (frustrating..?) times ahead getting this up and running I can tell :)

I showed my wife and she rolled her eyes looked at me and said.."So...?..that's a 3 week trip around Europe for us both?".....:lol:....:sadeyes:.... :scared:

Mike

[marc4darkskies]

Sorry to hear that Mike! :( Hope it arrives soon. You should have bought a PMEII - it comes in only 2 boxes!! :wink2:



Don't worry mate - don't feel guilty - a budget 3 week trip around Europe would set you back at least an AP1600 WITH encoders plus misc other critical accessories.

PS: Looks beautiful!!

[Slawomir]

Hi Mike,

Thank you for the update, hopefully the last box will be delivered shortly.

The mount looks beautiful, a lifetime investment, unlike fleeting 3 weeks in Europe he he. BTW, I spent most of my life in Europe and IMO it is not that awesome as they make it look in ads - Australia is heaps better :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

He he thanks Marcus...I woke up during the night and the realisation that there was this dream mount, standing like a bastion of astronomical craftsmanship, on the table in the spare room..compelled me to get up and have a look, I managed to refrain from hugging her though :P..not obsessed at all...:nerd:



That's kinda what I said to her (..back, as she walked out of the room :P) Slaws....buuuuut it fell on deaf ears....:lol:

Mike

[lazjen]

All you need to do Mike is get it up and running, automate it all AND then go on a trip to Europe. Best of both worlds then. :)

[gregbradley]

Looks awesome. Its a great piece of gear. Roland Christen is the genius in this industry.

That'll set you up for years and years. That NJP though has served you incredibly well.

Greg.

[Kunama]

Tell Angie that this will take you around the visible Universe for years to come... then duck and run..... Fast.... and put in a few sidesteps.... :rofl:

[marc4darkskies]

Unacceptable!!!! When you get the last box I expect mount hugging and silly face photos galore :lol:

[Atmos]

Why isn’t there any photos of you dead lifting that magnificent beast?

[LewisM]

She may tie it around his waist and drop him in Lake Burley Griffin...

[strongmanmike]

This thing is heavy man :eyepop: and the polar assembly sits on the altitude adjuster and relies on the great mass and gravity to keep it stable, so gaining a hand hold to lift it overhead without the thing unhinging would be well a little crazy, so my assesment is I don't think I will try to press it overhead afterall Lewis :doh: :screwy:...wimp I know..but could be an expensive accident for an ageing has-been....:lol:

Mike :P

[LewisM]

Put it back in it's box and lift it...

[SimmoW]

Nice and hefty looking Mike! Pity it's not RED 😂

[Retrograde]

Beautiful - a work of art. :painting:

[strongmanmike]

Well, it's certainly a little frustrating without the missing bits, I can't really do much. OPT has filed a lost package claim so I will have to be patient now ...but hey, in the meantime I have been getting to know her better :P. I think this photo of us embracing conveys the scale and size of this beautiful beast of a mount. For comparison, I am 184cm tall and weigh 135kg...can certainly understand how it can handle a 20" RC! :D

Mike

[raymo]

Until the rest arrives you could attach a strap to it, and do your daily
deadlift exercises with it.:)
raymo

[Atmos]

It looks like my DDM60 could fit inside the RA axis :lol:

[sharpiel]

That sure is one BIG MoFo!

Big mount too...

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[strongmanmike]

She's a big bustardo huh guys? (the mount not me ;))

Holding this baby is like a dream come true, I never thought I'd ever have one :prey2:... I now believe in God :prey:......ok, well, maybe not :question: but this must be close to how people feel who do I recon :lol:

Mike

[LewisM]

Sheesh Mike, don't drop it - it'll crash through the floorboards onto the neighbours head 5 floors below.

[strongmanmike]

Don't worry I was on a similar line of thinking, not that the mount would get through the concrete slab but that I would take a big chunk out of my wifes new floorboards! :scared: :lol:

MIke

[strongmanmike]

Sadly there is no sign of the missing box with UPS :sadeyes:

After me working it out and proposing it as a possible scenario, OPT have discovered that yes, they left the dec top plate out when repacking my shipment to include the extra bits I had ordered - DOH! The counterweight shaft is still in the UPS ether and Astrophysics currently have no 22" shafts in stock, so it will be a few more weeks while they make me one - double DOH! :sad:

So, it will sadly be more waiting and mild torture, staring, everyday, at this beautiful white creature, resting idly on a table... sigh....ho hum...

So I have decided I am going to use the time to disassemble my whole rig and pull my NJP apart and re-grease her and wash my AG12 mirrors....:)

It has been rather frustrating and annoying of course but I have to say, although OPT contributed to part of the problem, they have been in regular contact and are doing everything possible to rectify it and I have total faith that this will end well....just have to be patient.

Mike

[Atmos]

It is certainly inconvenient what’s happened but everyone makes mistakes. It’s not so much this mistakes that matter but how they’re dealt with and it seems like they’re being dealt with well :thumbsup:

[Slawomir]

Thank you Mike for the update - I was wondering how things have been developing for you. Shame about the delay - the Universe is testing your patience for sure! It's a great idea to focus on the existing rig while waiting for the last bits :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

I tell's ya guys...t'is pretty amazing having an AP1600GTO just sitting there looking magnificent, getting the occasional turn of an axis or gentle pat or hug as I walk past :P :lol:...the novelty is slowly wearing off though :confuse3: :rolleyes:

Mike

[Marke]

Thats a pain to find out they forgot to pack a part thankfully tho you are dealing with 2 good companies and really AP service is second to none .

[John K]

"So I have decided I am going to use the time to disassemble my whole rig and pull my NJP apart and re-grease her and wash my AG12 mirrors...."


G'day Mike - Congrats on the new rig!!

Nothing like spare time to do chores whilst your dream about using the new gear. Frustrating I know, but look at the bright side. Your AG scope and NJP mount will be much happier with you!

Look forward to more updates and pics.

Clear skies.

John K.

[Atmos]

I remember the feeling of upgrading from the EQ6 to DDM60 and just seeing the improvement in subs quality right off the bat.
It’ll be less extreme for you considering how well your NJP currently performs though. Still nice to see such a beast around the house but it’ll look even better installed in an Observatory ;)

[strongmanmike]

Agreed Mark, they have been on my case so it will happen, I have faith :prey: :lol:



Yeah, I'm being a bit lazy John, trying to prod my self into getting out there and pulling everything apart...It'll be a bit of a big job, especially in this hot weather.. and then carting everything home in the car and storing and working on everything in an apartment will be a bit tight... :question: Once I start I am sure it will progress steadily, going to send the Proline back for a good clean, re-gas and service too, may as well, then it will be like new :)



Cheers Col, yeah I can't imagine the guiding accuracy will be any better but who knows..? Be good if it was :thumbsup:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Went out to the observatory today, only 32degC today so thought I'd better get the big job done, that I have been putting off in all this heat over the last few weeks, and out of the way, before the expected 38 - 40C tomorrow and Sat then rain on Sun and Mon of the long weekend...

Was a big bloody job dismantling everything and packing most of it in the car and then unloading it all in 5 trips from the basement carpark into our apartment..phew! :scared: I unbolted but left the steel pier and counterweights out at the observatory and I will pick'em up when I take it to the machine shop for some work to adapt the AP pier adapter to it, drill out the gym weight plates and modify the scope rings....with sweat pissing off me after the dismantling job (by myself) inside the hot observatory, just lifting the steel pier off the long (7" high (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/156841254/original)) bolts was difficult, kept slipping but I channelled a bit of my old self and got it done grrrr! :D Our spare room is full of an observatory now :lol:

Seeing the NJP mount side by side with the AP1600 was a revelation, the NJP is a solid and not small, accurate piece of kit but sheesh!..that AP1600 looks like a monster, a refined modern digital monster...but a monster :eyepop:

I received the 1600 dec top plate from OPT (that they had misplaced during packing) but I have to wait for AP to do their next run of 22" counterweight shafts :doh: so in the meantime I will get everything modified and drilled, milled and mated together and after nearly 9 years of flawless service I am sending off the FLI ProLine for a clean room service, checkup and regas :thumbsup:

I am missing imaging...this is the longest I have gone without taking an image (over 3 months and counting so far) in my 16 years of CCD imaging :lol: ....:sadeyes:

Mike

[Slawomir]

Glad to hear you got the plate Mike - only one last bit remains...

I must admit I habitually skipped the part of your post about your suffering ;) , but the photo showing both mounts is great - NJP looks like a toy in comparison to the 1600!

Sorry about the break in imaging Mike. I also await the end of wet season, so in the meantime I am taking my tinnie out as often as I can... :fishing:

Thank you for keeping us posted :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Yeah, I am being surprisingly patient, I must say...my wife is quite amazed that I haven't gone completely batty...and so am I :lol:...fishing huh?...now that'd keep a deprived imager nicely occupied :D :thumbsup:

Mike

[Logieberra]

Big Mike,
I’ve got a spare (short) 1600GTO CW shaft and weights that you can borrow until the goods arrive, if needed. Definitely enough for some FSQ action...

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Logan, I have PM'd you :)

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Still no counterweight shaft... grrrrrrr :mad2:...the sight of this baby sitting on the bench in our spare room is starting to be not funny JAN!! :scared:

...just venting :P

[multiweb]

Not much to do astro wise with the dust and clouds anyway. Can you use some of the NJP counter weights meanwhile, work out something?

[strongmanmike]

Yeah true, last night looked like Beijing here in Canberra :eyepop:

By the time I organise anything the damn shaft will probably arrive :rolleyes: :lol:

I still have one other part to arrive from OPT anyway, before I can adapt the AG12 to the dovetail plate on the mount.

Mike

[strongmanmike]

I pulled the Starfire out today, although our apartment is nice and dry, I do this two or three times a year for a couple of days, with the caps off, to give it some UV exposure. to prevent mould.

While I had her out I took the opportunity to do an astro porn shot (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/168826906/original) :P

She will eventually become my second ring, setup on the NJP mount and pedestal pier (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/94059384/original) again...

Mike
still waiting on the AP1600GTO counterweight shaft and bottom dovetail for the AG12..... :sadeyes:

[gregbradley]

Wow, you are patient. How long have you had your AP1600 now?

AP152 hmmm arrr nice.

Have you sent your PL16803 off for service yet? I have to send mine now - its been on my list to do for a while now.

I am refractorless at the moment - its bugging me a bit. I was thinking of another FSQ106 but done 2 of those.

Eyeing off a CFF105 F6 as he seems to be the new Roland Christen. Seeing Suavi's images just cements it.

In the meantime some widefield lens type imaging will do but it won't last too long!

Greg.

[RobF]

Mmm, astro porn. More please :P ;) :lol:

[Slawomir]

Some fantastic rig Mike :eyepop:

I hope you will be very soon collecting top quality cosmic data again :thumbsup:

Greg - you are too kind but thank you for such nice feedback. I'm eagerly awaiting winter to hopefully do one or two as deep images as my 4" allows. It might be worthwhile checking with Catalin, but I think the 105mm CFF can handle up to KAI 11000 with its dedicated 3.2" field flattener that threads directly to 3.2" FTF. I may be wrong, but there is only one 4" that can properly accommodate KAF16803, and it is the FSQ106 - an ultimate 4" astrograph.

I would love one day to upgrade my camera to something with KAF16200, as this sensor would definitely be a very nice match with my CFF in terms of speed, field of view and sampling.

Sorry Mike, I got sidetracked.

[strongmanmike]

A while...since mid December :sadeyes:



Yeah she is a beauty huh? :evil2:



Yes it should be back soon :thumbsup:



Not sure how anything in its class could really be any better than a Tak FSQ106 :shrug:, other than perhaps being lighter..? :question:..but ya never know :)



Ha ha, one day I will have a scope that needs a crane (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlTwRNtnvaw) to get it inside my observatory :D :prey:



Thanks I hope so...and no worries Suavi, sometimes the side track is more interesting than the HWY anyway :P I look forward to seeing your deep projects, IMO you produced the best Helix image of all I saw this season, (and one of the best of all time really) magical :thumbsup:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

THANK GOD! :eyepop:....the new counterweight shaft (and mounting dovetail) arrived today.....:rolleyes: :prey2:

Now the fun starts...putting it all together :D

Mike

[Slawomir]

Fantastic news Mike! :jump: I am really happy for you! :2thumbs: And I am also somehow selfishly happy for me and other astro geeks :party2: , as we all, without a doubt, look forward to seeing some more your inspiring images of DSOs :cool:

[strongmanmike]

:love2: :cheers:

[strongmanmike]

Like everything with this mount, the counterweight shaft is also a beast :thumbsup: The rings and dovetails for the AG12 and FSQ all fitted :)

Now I just need to modify the AP flat surface adaptor plate to mate the mounts rotating top plate to my pier and shorten my pier by 125mm....and I am away :D

The refreshed and pampered FLI Proline will ship back to me tomorrow so should have that in a week.

...getting there

Mike

[Atmos]

Everything is arriving at once!

She certainly is a beast. Have you named her?

[strongmanmike]

Big Bertha (https://www.britannica.com/technology/Big-Bertha-weapon) perhaps :question:

:D

[h0ughy]

Well two weeks until next new moon...... ;)

[strongmanmike]

Yes, well that would be good, but that might be pushing it though...:question:..perhaps the following one? :)

Mike

[multiweb]

That's interesting. Never thought of that as to prevent mold. So you just open them up or point them to the light outside as well? I wonder if the UV torch they use in forensic would do the same job shinning them down the tube.

[Shano592]

I don't know if it would have the sheer UV bang that the sun gives for free!

It's a good thought though... I have a tiny fluorescent tube-type that is used for curing the glue when replacing phone screens. Oh, and the 36W black lights for the large Fluoro bayonets...

[strongmanmike]

Yeah take all the caps off, place the scope in as dust free environment as possible, that sunlight enters (spare room), point the objective in the general direction of where sunlight enters the room but ensure that the sun can't move into a position where it could possibly be even partially focused in anyway by the objective or finder scope and leave it for 2 or 3 days, easy :)

Mike

[RB]

Yep, I do that a couple of times a year with my TAK's and Canon lenses.
Like Mike said, make sure the sun can't hit them directly.
And I also have some UV Fluro's from Jaycar that I leave on at night in the scope room.
This also supplements the days I expose them to the sun.

:thumbsup:

Might as well, it's the only light they see nowdays.

:lol:

RB

[multiweb]

:lol::lol::lol:

Might start doing solar imaging like Mark.

[RB]

Kill two birds with the one stone.

:lol:

[Wilso]

The UV lights as RB use must work as the construction industry also uses them to kill bugs in ear muff storage lockers as well.
On 24/7 days a week!

[RB]

I hear ya Darren.

:lol:

[Marke]

No mould :D:thumbsup:

[Slawomir]

Speaking of mold on a lens, I'm wondering how effective is exposing a refractor to indirect sunlight.

From a quick search on the web, it seems that UV-C is the most effective in eliminating mold and mold spores. Since UV-C is within 100-280nm range, hardly any UV-C will pass though a triplet's lens cell. For example, 10mm of FPL-53 allows only 4% of light with 280nm wavelength to pass though, and it seems than anything shorter than 280nm is fully absorbed by only 10mm of this type of glass. Therefore some mold growing at the back of the lens, or even in between glass elements (unless we deal with an oil-spaced lens) will probably survive such sunbath. Or is there an error in my reasoning?

Here in NQ we probably have some of the most humid conditions in Australia (with the exception of Darwin), and so far keeping about 0.5kg of desiccant in the telescope's case and recharging every 2 or so months have kept mold at bay during the wet season when the telescope is not being used. I may invest in a cabinet dehumidifier one day.

[strongmanmike]

Picked up and put in place, the shortened and modified pier, all ready to take the AP1600GTO.

I also had some gym weight plates modified to fit the AP counterweight shaft, complete with custom brass locking mechanisms.

...getting there... :)

Mike

[Slawomir]

A neat way to save a couple of hundred $ with custom counterweights :thumbsup:

The launching of newly equipped observatory must be just around the corner :thumbsup:

[Atmos]

It just wouldn't be a Strongman setup without weights :lol:

[Marke]

But the AP weights are so shiny :P

[multiweb]

So the new mount goes in your obs and you keep the NJP/Starfire for the field?

[strongmanmike]

Thanks guys :hi: yes Marc, gunna refurb the NJP mount next (re grease etc)..

In the meantime, spent today connecting, adjusting and cleaning everything ready to mount in the observatory in the next couple'a days :)

After 5 years the primary mirror was definitely due a clean, as was the front lens of the Wynn corrector but the secondary mirror was clean enough, so I left it :thumbsup:

I pulled all the imaging rigs, cameras, filter wheels etc. apart and cleaned and dusted and reassembled, reset back focuses... finally found a nice somewhat stubborn dust speck on the SXV CCD chamber window that had been plaguing my images and wreaking havoc with my flats for the last couple'a years :scared::scared::scared:...after some careful rubbing with a cotton bud ..it is now GONE!!!! :2thumbs:...how it got there and stuck so fast, I have no idea..??? :rolleyes:

Should get it all mounted and polar aligned in the next few days :prey::prey::prey:...that was all pretty hard work actually...time for a :drink:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Taaa daaaa! :D captured the whole journey today, from apartment to dark sky site setup and balancing :P I thought long and hard about routing the cables through the mount during setup but for ease of rectification and changing cables etc I decided not to at this stage :question:...once it is all up and working 100% I may reconsider and redo..? :)

Tomorrow will be electronic commissioning/sussing out operations :question: and testing, then hopefully polar alignment and again hopefully...FIRST LIGHT soon after that :prey2: :party:

Mike

[Slawomir]

It's awesome that everything is finally coming nicely together. I can see your mount already gathered a bit of dust from waiting...but that is irrelevant anymore - looks like the mount is a very nice match to the 12" + 4" :thumbsup:

Good luck tomorrow Mike and we look forward to admiring the results of the first light :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Yeah, we have a bit of construction going on around us, apartment buildings, light rail etc...so the dust levels in the fringe CBD area are a little greater than usual :rolleyes:...I dusted it last thing before leaving the observatory :)

I think the last photo of the assembled rig shows the bulk of the mount nicely and when you see it in person it is obvious why, if it had to, it can go up to a 20" RC.

Collimation of the Newt and cable routing tomorrow :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Yes I think it could handle a 20 inch RC. It throws my CDK17 around like its an FSQ.

Greg.

[Slawomir]

I can clearly see that the idea of upgrading 12" Newtonian to a 20" RC has already firmly established itself in the subconscious part of the psyche :help: ;)

[strongmanmike]

Ha ha ha They're on to me (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnsJqxEMZYw) :D

Mind you, I don't think the 2.3m Sirius dome would go anywhere near fitting a 20" in it, today I realised there are a couple of spots around the dome that the FLI filter wheel cables, right up on top of the scope, juuust scrape the dome perimeter :eyepop: ...who would'a thought...:confused2:..plus, at times, it is clear that I will have to duck under the counterweight shaft, and/or scope, in the dark now, rather than shuffled around it..(or lose lots of weight :P)

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Fiiiinally got out last night to test the new rig properly :rolleyes:

After an hours delay because nothing would turn on and eventually discovering that my extension cord had failed (I mean what are the chances??:rolleyes:) and after scampering back and forth in the dark through my hosts garage 120m away and an aborted replacement turned out to be a 15amp cord :rofl:....:sadeyes: I finally found a crappy looking daisy chained cable in their garage that would reach from my shed to the observatory....:scared:..and plugged all the routed cables in..here we go..

After polar aligning using the neat new AP right angle polar scope (while comfortably seated! yaay!) and simply using my knowledge of the location of the SCP... I got both camera systems up and running and apart from verifying all my cabling was correct and both cameras and guiders were back online, I was fiiiinally able to test the tracking and guiding quality and dithering and general mount responsiveness.

Coming from the amazing NJP I wasn't expecting any ground breaking improvements. I am happy to say though that while the the basic sidereal tracking quality was similar, the responsiveness of the big AP1600 is markedly better, dither moves of 3 pixels between subs took generally around 10sec or so to recentre and start, previously the NJP would take up to 30 or 40sec or sometime more to get back on target

I centered a focus star near the zenith just east of the meridian, through the AG12, on a retical and watched, it took about 10min to move off the crosshairs, so the PA scope and my knowledge of the SCP location, works pretty well :D Any periodic error was not decernable above last nights seeing (which was not very good)

The collimation of the AG12 (using CATSEYE tools) was good and after its trip back to FLI for a clean room service, the big 16803 chip was now clean and free of the previous, small amount but annoying icing in one corner.

Unfortunately I am having issues with getting gotos to work properly...clearly I have not setup some parameters properly but it was approaching 2am so I decided to pack up and work this out another night...

All in all happy that the main use of this system ie imaging, will be of high quality :thumbsup:

Mike

[Marke]

Mike regarding goto if initializing with hand controller plugged in check your time setting in both controller and pc are the same.
Other tip is send it to home 4 position and use a spirit lvl to check both axis are spot on level as well. After that I do a goto then plate sovle and Recal/Sync
and good to go.

[strongmanmike]

Actually I am only using the handbox at the moment :face:, I think I will need to start an initialisation from scratch :question: I tried adjusting the time from 12hr clock to 24hr time and I have the time zone offset at 10hrs and daylight savings..? after that I couldn't even move the mount..? :question:

Mike

[Marke]

Check the actual time in the hc is right regardless of DST once you have a pc hooked up it will be much easier. You may just have done a sync at the wrong time so mount not sure where it is. If you start from Park4 everything horizontal then a goto you can center star using the HC and then do a sync and that should fix it .

[strongmanmike]

Hmm? yes you are probably right Mark. I had started from park 3 position when the mount was turned on, arbitrarily moved the mount around using the HB while aligning the three scopes and checking out the tracking, guiding, dithering etc Then as I was using Acrux to align the scopes, I just synced on that then did a goto, which was waaay off. I then goto'd back to Acrux which it did bang on and then changed the time in the handbox from 12hr to 24hr and then re synched on Acrux and goto'd again, this time the goto was a little closer but still way off. I turned the HB off and back on and then couldn't move the mount and it wasn't tracking...?

It was late and I was tired so left it for another night to work out :P

Mike

[Atmos]

Glad to hear that it’s stepping closer to first light with the new AP :D

[Marke]

Sounds like it got a bit confused . Pk4 is good because you can stick a spirit lvl on the axis RA/DEC and see if its off and then lvl and goto will be very close its a good quick check.

[gregbradley]

I use Sky X and Tpoint.

Once you've setup TPoint correctly it takes about 30 minutes to create a decent model and its accurate polar alignment routine gets the mount almost perfectly polar aligned.

Then with Tpoint active all the gotos are very accurate. Its also handy to have this setup because you can do an accurate slew to the target and the mount will do a plate solve and then move the object dead centre of the image.

Saves time nudging the object bit by bit to centre.

If you are not using the Sky X then this isn't much help.

Doesn't the latest AP control system have a Home Position? With a PME the first thing you do is Home it and now the mount "knows" where it is.

Greg.

[Slawomir]

Woohoo! It's great to hear the mount tracks well and responds quicker than the old trusty NJP :thumbsup:

Once I was fiddling with settings and the mount lost its orientation; manually orientating the mount to a known park position and re-initiating the mount from this position fixed it right away.

I like controlling my Mach-1 with APCC Pro - like Sky-X it seamlessly creates pointing models - saves time when chasing faint DSOs for sure.

Having said that, AP's ASCOM driver is probably perfectly sufficient for most imagers to control the mount with any popular Astro software.

What was that thing you said you control your mount with? Hand controller? Need to google that...;)

[DJT]

Hi Mike

Glad to see if this is up and running.
Setting time and doing the first time setup has some specific steps and will work fine with the handset alone.


Best bet is to go back to initialising the scope for the first time after manually putting the mount into your preferred park position and checking with a spirit level. I use 2 or 4 depending on which site I am at, so I that know both axis are level.


If you are just using the handset at this point, make sure the connection option on the handset is set to N. (See page 12 of the manual)


First though, check page 10 of the manual, setting up.


Whenever you are changing anything to do with time on a location you need to press goto on the handset to save. The amount of times I forgot to do that is unreal. And preferably make these changes in a parked position.


You wrote that you changed time setting to 24 hour clock then tried slewing to an object and it was still out. You would have had to hit goto to save the change, then power down the mount wait a bit then bring it back up and provided you didn’t move the mount after powering down, resume from park or if you did move it, nominate the park position you are resuming from via the new setup option.


Once you have that time setup all done, then goto a star of choice and synch once you have adjusted with the handset.


If you are driving using a PC and still want the HC connected which I do as well, make sure you select Y in the connecton option once you are happy that your setup is right


And then do it all again when daylight savings kicks in ;-)




Enjoy

[strongmanmike]

Thanks for that Dave :thumbsup:

I have printed off what you said and will refer to it, along with the manuals :thumbsup:

The NJP with FS2 controller was as simple as turn on, manually point scope at a star, tell FS2 what star it is and viola! Nothing else....no location, date, time, park positions, turn on, turn off, blah blah blah :lol:

Mike

[Slawomir]

You can do it Mike :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

I don't recall a complicated setup.

I just turn mine on and its good to go no need to sync on a star once setup.

I am using Sky X. Perhaps its simpler. Location, time is already setup in Sky X.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

:lol:...yeah I know...I'll get there :thumbsup:



Of course, once all setup it sounds like it will be a breeze each night...just the initial setup sees me with some anxiety :P, Hence why I am initially going full handbox control only, like a souped up version of what I had... but I am sure I'll work it all out...

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Well...got it all working :thumbsup:...more details to come plus hopefully a nice image :D Took 6 months but better late than never....

Mike

[Slawomir]

Great news Mike. Looking forward to seeing new nice images :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Good one Mike.

Looking forward to the first light.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

After having pulled everything apart for cleaning and then reassembling all the imaging gear up on the AP1600GTO and collimating the AG12 (using Catseye tools), then becoming familiar with the operation of the new mount, it was time for testing the collimation, tracking and guiding.

This is a simple 7 X 5min of Luminace (https://pbase.com/image/169044418) (no flats or darks) using the SXVRH694 through the 1120mm F3.8 Newtonian = 0.83"/pix

The seeing was quite ordinary but all looks reasonably ok..? Some minor star wonkyness is evident, mainly top left and lower right, so a slight collimation tweek may be necessary..?

The tracking is good and the guiding excellent and the dither moves and recentering are very quick, sharp and responsive.

Gotos were a little off, but objects were at least landing somewhere in the 38' X 30' chip field and mostly in the central 50% including large crossing the meridian goto's. I have only polar aligned using the polar scope and my knowledge of the location of the SCP, so a PA tweak would likely improve things.

It was great being able to park the scope and turn it off and then when turned back on, it is ready to start pointing at stuff, no alignment star required, that's cool.

All in all it feels like a more modern, stronger, faster slewing and more responsive improvement on the NJP mount.

I have not routed the cables through the mount but I really probably should, as I have to watch where they are dragging during gotos to avoid them catching on anything or running out of length, which is restricting my northern sky access somewhat at the moment.

After having given me valuable hands free phone instructions/help last Sunday night, Logan Tudor (Logieberra on IIS), came over on WEdnesday night to help me sus out how to get the big beast of a mount to work properly... but as it happened I managed to work it out before he arrived. It was nice to finally meet him though and we had a great night non the less, thanks Logan :thumbsup:.

Mike

[Logieberra]

Nice shot Mike! Did a re-cal on that part of the sky (eg a bright, known star) help any with subsequent faint fuzzy finding? I’m with you on the “park” thing. It was a bit confusing for me at first having come from an SB mount with homing sensors. Nil issue now though. It just works. I think the 1600 will work in beautifully with your no-fuss workflow. Happy days :)

[strongmanmike]

I had recaled in virgo, on M104 (should really use a star I know) and a subsequent goto to CenA put it close to centre, then after an hour or so of imaging and fiddling, I did a goto to the Bug nebula and it was very close to centre too :thumbsup:

I am sure some PA fiddling will improve things but for what I do, ie normally no more than one target a night, it should be quite adequate.

Mike

[gregbradley]

Not sure when using the hand controller only but when using the Sky X and the AP driver there is a box you need to check to activate the PEC.

Your AP1600 should come with a factory preloaded PEC curve that should be very accurate.

Not sure if you need to check that on with the handbox or if its automatically turned on.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Hi Greg, yep turned that on in the handbox :) haven't done a before and after comparison but I didn't notice any obvious improvement in guiding..?

Mike

[gregbradley]

Its been a while since I did mine using PemPro but the resulting PEC curve was pretty much a sine wave.

Without it PE was already very small. I think it was something like 3 arc secs. Perhaps even less. With PEC that goes down to about 1 arc sec which is essentially pretty perfect. I get round stars at 3 metres on a 6 micron sensor and 10 minute exposures. That's with a Sky X TPoint model accurate polar alignment which is also essentially perfect.

If my tracking is off its Polar alignment not the mount. Soils can shift with different weather. Accidentally walking into the mount and bumping it hard can also throw it off so every now and then (like once a year) it may need a new TPoint model and accurate polar alignment. If I get round stars at 3 metres I of course do nothing.

I find its similar in performance to the Bisque PME, perhaps a tad better but hard to notice. Both do the job really well. The AP images past the meridian without a meridian flip so long as you won't hit the pier. The PME stops once you are in the region of the meridian.

Greg.

[Slawomir]

The almighty Centaurus looks very good Mike :thumbsup:

You must be very happy now entering astrophotographers nirvana on Earth ;)

I know I mentioned that already, but when you will get comfortable with controlling your mount with a laptop, I think APCC Pro might be a useful investment. Even with a simple pointing model that takes 20 or so minutes to build with my slow to plate solve laptop, pointing accuracy across the sky improves dramatically as targets land to within a few pixels.

[codemonkey]

Most recent version of APCC has supposedly made some improvements and bug fixes regarding the pointing/tracking models, but I haven't upgraded yet. I'm going to try that today.

My experience to date is that it helps with pointing but I've seen variable results with tracking. I still need plate solving though because it's definitely not been dead-centering targets for me. I think it very much depends on the repeatability of errors though, and since I'm using a newt and Suavi is using a nice rigid refractor, he may have better luck there.

[gregbradley]

One of the best features of TPoint is the accurate polar alignment. Its easy to use, fast and super accurate. Its the best polar alignments I have ever achieved and once you get your camera plate solving (a bit daunting at first)
it is easy.

Also the Sky X has a slew where it uses plate solving to get the object dead centre of the camera. It does not take long either. That can save a lot of time
positioning the object.

Greg.

[codemonkey]

I bought TSX + camera plugin not all that long ago, and got a trial of T-point. The polar advanced alignment routine was pretty awesome, telling you what adjustments to make to minimize total drift (as opposed to dec). Unfortunately with an AP mount you can't use it for tracking, only pointing within TSX so it limits its usefulness.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks my IIS buddies :love2: appreciate all the useful feedback :thumbsup:

While I will start to utilise more of the capabilities of this mount over time, to be honest I don't really care if I don't have perfect PA or pointing, it is really not a big issue when imaging one target over 3 nights, particularly given we rarely want the target sitting in the middle of the frame anyway for the final image, so we move the scope to frame it :) Once framed, I will just re-calibrate on that object, so the goto the next time goes straight to it with the exact framing :D....or at least I imagine that's how it would work :question:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Are you sure? I see a checkbox to activate tracking in T Point when TPoint is being run.

Anyway if not it does not matter as the mount doesn't need it.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

That may be fine at a certain focal length. But at 3 metres or even really 1260mm a poor polar alignment starts giving elongated stars.

At least in my setups they do.

Too bad we are so far apart as a night with my laptop there could show how it all works very quickly. Its not hard to learn really but I agree take on a bit more at a time rather than all in one hit.

Greg.

[codemonkey]

I could be wrong, please correct me if I am. I believe protrack is the software which does the actual tracking correction, and according to its docs, it requires:

A Paramount MX, Paramount ME, Paramount ME II, or MKS Series Software
Bisque Telescope Control System (Bisque TCS).
2. TheSkyX Professional Edition.
3. TPoint Add On.
4. A telescope with a fixed mirror. (The random motion caused by mirror flop
can make precision tracking nearly impossible.)
5. An extensive set of TPoint modeling data (50 to 200 stars or more
recommended).

[gregbradley]

It definitely will activate, whether its affecting the tracking its hard to say. Its not like it makes a huge difference. I did find with the PMX that Protrack did seem to improve tracking a bit. Protrack seems a bit of a gimmick to be honest.
Tpoint modelling for PA is amazing though. For gotos as well. But I doubt those claims of being able to use Protrack only without autoguiding and getting great results. I would be happy to be wrong there.

My experience is even high end mounts require PA to be spot on or eggy stars start to annoy you. PA needs to be checked as soon as star shapes start to go off. A wet season, drought etc can perhaps shift slabs a tad. Bumping the mount walking into it in the dark etc all can throw things off.

With Tpoint though a perfect polar alignment takes me 30 minutes or less.

Greg.

[codemonkey]

Interesting. Pretty misleading if the software appears to enable you to do it but it's doing nothing.

Agree though, TP for PA is awesome. I may well buy the TP plugin at some point just for that, but it is pretty expensive for that... given my gear is permanently mounted I'm hoping I can just not align it again until I'm forced to take it down for some reason though and thus hold onto my money for a while.

[Atmos]

I used to use TSX extensively for T-Point models and polar alignment and I agree with Lee, ProTrack only works with SB mounts. From memory when I tried to use ProTrack it used to come up with a warning letting you know that it won't work unless a Paramount is connected. T-Point did make a big difference with pointing a few years ago when I was using an EQ6.

[gregbradley]

I wonder if because I am using an AP Ascom driver in Sky X that it may work.
I'd say the main thing would be to enable direct guiding which AP equivalent is pulse guide. I suspect they are the same thing. Perhaps with that setup it may work??
Next time I am using my AP1600 I'll activate Protrack tracking and see if it makes any difference.



Greg.

[Logieberra]

I use the APV2 ASCOM driver and SkyX with my 1600. I use Tpoint for pointing but never Protrack... happy to be corrected though - bonus!

[strongmanmike]

I don't get this Greg?...if you have pretty close PA (perhaps not perfect) there will be a slow drift over time of the star but the off axis autoguiding adjusts for this, as well as for any periodic error in the system throughout a sub ...so, how do you get eggy stars?

My NJP had close but not perfect PA and produced round stars just as the AP now seems to do as well :shrug:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Perhaps the difference between 1260mm and 3 metres.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Yeah I know but it is image scale not focal length that counts, so I operate at 0.83"/pix so pretty fine and as fine as many other much longer focal length systems using bigger pixels...?

I get it if your PA was a fair way off but not within 2-3 arc min..?

Mike

[gregbradley]

Ah yes good point. I guess the PA had shifted a fair way off. The stars weren't that bad either just not good enough.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Assuming you have ruled out collimation and image plain tilt, I think gear backlash and guide corrections, that are too aggressive, are more likely to be the cause of eggy stars than slightly out PA..?

Mike

[gregbradley]

Next time its an issue I'll check that. I am using 6 second exposures and tuned the aggressiveness, usually its low as you say these are accurate mounts and too aggressive corrections just chase the seeing.

I think I have the aggressiveness around .6 with 6 second guide exposures. I have used 9 if the guide stars are dim and it does not seem to make a lot of difference to the guide errors.

Greg.

[Slawomir]

Just thinking out loud - I feel that when PA is out field rotation could show up more readily rather than uniformly elongated stars across the frame?

The crowd is awaiting the next image Mike :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Yes well guided subs with imperfect PA would be affected by field rotation but if the PA is close I don't think you would notice it once all subs are aligned and combined :thumbsup:
Unless the PA was waaay off.

Ok ok soon ;) :thumbsup:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Went out last night to tweak away with the collimation of the AG12...aaaand in the dark managed to make it worse :rolleyes: :scared: :lol:....so getting late and being a work night, I though aaaaah stuff it, I WANNA IMAGE! and switched to the trusty FSQ106EDX4-FLI combo. Man, this rig just works :prey2:! great responsive goto after park and silky responsive centering, dithering and autoguiding (as good as or better than the NJP) :thumbsup:. The extra size, speed, responsiveness and beefyness of the AP1600 over the NJP was palpable :) The below flatline guide graph looked like this all night.

New image soon :D

Mike

[Slawomir]

How boring, everything is working well and quality data flows in...just kidding - great that you are well and truly back in the saddle and again rescuing ancient messengers from distant worlds by letting them safely land on your camera's CCD.

[strongmanmike]

Sorry, just had to share :)....tonight the AP1600GTO is guiding consistently with average guide errors as low as +/- 0.18 arc sec :eyepop:...as a person who cut their astrophotography teeth doing back breaking, blinding, eye ball watering guiding, staring through a guide scope...this is just amazing! :thumbsup:

Back to it :D

Mike

[Marke]

That's awesome Mike great to hear a lot to be said for plain precision engineering ��

[strongmanmike]

I was not expecting I would be able to say this... but.. I think the AP1600GTO guides even better than the NJP mount :eyepop: and that is amazing, not totally surprising but happy it's the case :thumbsup:

It has been stuck on ave errors of +/- 0.04pix (+/- 0.2 arc sec) for the last 2 hours....

Mike

[DJT]

Noice..it’s a glee moment, when you finally twig that the effort you put into something is delivering as hoped. Currently bouncing up and down on my obsy chair having nailed Collimation..back to it 😉

[strongmanmike]

Indeed Dave :) and well done on the collimation :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Superb Mike.

Now the mount and tracking fall into the background unnoticed and reliable and you can concentrate on imaging without finding trash data the next day.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Indeed Greg :thumbsup: Although I enjoyed that state of affairs already, with the NJP of course, most multi night image runs had no bad subs :thumbsup: It is just nice to see that I have a nice surprise in a further improvment in guiding quality that was already fantastic, Im very happy :)

Now to keep imaging, last night was a perfect run :thumbsup:

Mike
attached is the best guide star centroid plot I have ever seen, it was like this most of the night, that's 0.2 arc sec average errors over the whole night, no PEC and just PA via the AP right angle polar scope :eyepop:

[Slawomir]

With such guiding there is little or no reason to ever wish for encoders 👍

What guiding software are you using Mike?

[strongmanmike]

Hi Sous vide 😁 I use Astroart5 on the observatory computer to control cameras, filterwheels and guiding.

Mike

[Atmos]

Looks like you’re guiding on a hot pixel there Mike :lol:

[Slawomir]

That’s funny - but I prefer fast cooking on a hot bbq :P

Will check Astroart - thank you :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Yeah just about :lol:



There is an Astroart7 now but I haven't tried it, Astroart5 does everything I need at the observatory so I haven't bothered to upgrade but I do use Astroart6 at home for processing.

Mike