Problem plate solving 6" SCT Stellarmate

[Cliff]

Hi all,

Not sure this belongs here but l feel I am still a beginner.

I have a AZEQ6 mount and Meade 6" SCT and have started using it remotely in my Villa's 'yard' with Stellarmate on a RPI3B . Watching the moon and jupiter and its moons last night from a warm room. Bliss!
Mostly working ok bar a few problems. But Plate-solving for aligning and deepsky objects is very unreliable best results from a ASI120MM-S camera but still hit and miss.

Had it working quite well on a smaller 80mm Refractor.Guessing the 120MM isn't sensitive enough or something with the SCT. Any camera suggestions?

Thinking of adding a guidescope and i could use that to platesolve perhaps?

Appreciate any feedback or suggestions
Cliff

[Merlin66]

Exactly which software are you using for plate solving?
(I've just gone through a very very lengthy exercise to get a "great, fast" plate solve to work for me "GOTO/Solve/Sync/GOTO)
The image scale, FOV and pixel size seem to be critical parameters.


EDIT: Ahhh I see that Stellarmate does your plate solving.......

[Merlin66]

Cliff,
As I have my imaging camera tied up on C11 f10 with the spectroscope I have no choice to use an eFinder.
This is a 60/227 fl with the ol' DMK51. Gives a FOV 106 x 79 arcsec.

This provides (now!) a great image to plate solve (I use AstroArt) - in less than 3 sec.

[Cliff]

Thanks Ken,
I was thinking of adding a 50 or 60mm guidescope with the ASI-120MM-S which could double as a efinder.
Might be a good option as my seeing conditions supposedly Bortle 6 I think worse , probably don't help much.
Yes I use Stellarmate or Indigosky not sure how the platesolving compares with others. I like the remote wireless option. I use a Macbook Pro on the other side.

Love a C11 but not in my present location in a Villa!

Appreciate the suggestion
Cliff