Crater101
17-02-2025, 07:46 AM
Morning All;
Ever have one of those nights when you think…. “What the…?”
Last night I thought to get some data on the Jewel Box (NGC4755). Setup was good, seeing good, and I was trying to get some images before the moon washed everything out. Selected the target, told the mount to slew…and it pointed almost in the opposite direction to where it should have! As near as I could judge, it was pointing up exactly 180 degrees from where it should.
Hmmm…
I started with the basics. GPS coordinates were spot on, and those displayed in the handset matched those in the software. Time, date, etc. all good, and I’ve got the latest versions of the software. I closed everything down, turned everything off, got everything up and running again – with the same result.
I think it was Albert Einstein who said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So I closed everything down, cleared the caches, shut the laptop off and waited about 15 minutes before getting up and running again. You guessed it, same result.
The mount is a little iOptron CEM26, running though the iOptron Commander software. Mount was level, balanced, etc., and I’ve never had this issue before. Laptop was the same one I’ve always used, and with all the usual updates. I couldn’t find any software conflicts.
For what it’s worth, other equipment was a WO Flourostar 91 (with thanks to Leo G for helping me to solve the backfocus issue) with ASI 183MC, WO Uniguide scope with ASI 120MM. All gear that I’ve run before with no conflict or issues.
Any hints, tips, or suggestions?
EDIT: Forgot to add that I'd checked the GPS co-ords on a separate device to make sure the mount knew where it was.
Ever have one of those nights when you think…. “What the…?”
Last night I thought to get some data on the Jewel Box (NGC4755). Setup was good, seeing good, and I was trying to get some images before the moon washed everything out. Selected the target, told the mount to slew…and it pointed almost in the opposite direction to where it should have! As near as I could judge, it was pointing up exactly 180 degrees from where it should.
Hmmm…
I started with the basics. GPS coordinates were spot on, and those displayed in the handset matched those in the software. Time, date, etc. all good, and I’ve got the latest versions of the software. I closed everything down, turned everything off, got everything up and running again – with the same result.
I think it was Albert Einstein who said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So I closed everything down, cleared the caches, shut the laptop off and waited about 15 minutes before getting up and running again. You guessed it, same result.
The mount is a little iOptron CEM26, running though the iOptron Commander software. Mount was level, balanced, etc., and I’ve never had this issue before. Laptop was the same one I’ve always used, and with all the usual updates. I couldn’t find any software conflicts.
For what it’s worth, other equipment was a WO Flourostar 91 (with thanks to Leo G for helping me to solve the backfocus issue) with ASI 183MC, WO Uniguide scope with ASI 120MM. All gear that I’ve run before with no conflict or issues.
Any hints, tips, or suggestions?
EDIT: Forgot to add that I'd checked the GPS co-ords on a separate device to make sure the mount knew where it was.