First go at auto-guiding with Q-Guider

[multiweb]

Hi all, last night turned out to be a real relief in Sydney after the clouds cleared up. Couldn't wait to try my new Orion ED80 and Q-Guider with PHD. I got the mount roughly polar aligned. :whistle: Actually I just took it out and matched the legs marks on the ground as close as possible. Too excited to get underway.

Started PHD and turned to M42. Did a couple of shots 10x1min no darks with Pentax *istD (noise reduction on ISO400) and guided through my main scope (Nexstar 130 SLT). The Orion ED80 has better optics I think and a very wide fov at prime focus so I cropped the pics a little.

Then I turned to Eta Carina. Couldn't really find it a first so I shot a couple in the dark until my batteries run out and I got only one shot of it 1x 2min ISO400.

Having never tried auto-guiding before I couldn't believe how easy it makes the whole process. Never going back. I've got some round stars now... Yay!:D

[tornado33]

Yep, excellent tracking there, its all working great.
Scott

[Tamtarn]

Looks like the guiding is working a treat Scott :thumbsup: Great to see another ist user doing deep sky

Scott to neutralize the background on Eta. Before doing any processing on the sub - go into the Levels palette and click on the centre grey eyedropper at the bottom then place the eyedropper on a corner of clear dark sky in the image - click - and levels will adjust to a neutral colour background - then click OK.

Having said that I have found it sometimes doesn't work well on every image. But give it a try anyway! :)

Barb

[Zuts]

Hi,

The tracking looks great, now you just need to go a little longer and stack more subs.

I think auto guiding is great. Everything else in Astro photography is hard and when i first started auto guiding i thought it would be difficult as well. I was amazed at how easy it was to connect up PHD and my DSI and get great results first time out.

If only focusing was as easy :(

Good Luck

Paul

[multiweb]

Hi Barb, the name's Marc :hi:
Thanks for the tip. So what program is it in? You mean picking in photoshop.
The picture of eta is just one sub. I didn't do any processing on it but just push the red channel. Other than that it's straight out of the camera.

[Tamtarn]

Sorry about that Marc. My excuse is we were up til 4.30am this morning so I only had about 4 hrs sleep :lol:

Yes the dropper is in PS in Adjustments-Levels

[multiweb]

Yeah I know how you feel. :zzz:Great tip. Just did it on another couple of older shots as well and it worked a treat. Thanks again. :thumbsup:

[rogerg]

Great news that you've got the autoguiding going so easily Marc :thumbsup: I've had two nights of attempts with my Losmandy and Q Guider, no success yet but progress has been made.

[multiweb]

Q-Guider -> USB -> laptop [PHD] -> USB -> (serial to RS232 custom made cable) -> Gemini RS232 port. Works for me so far.
In PHD I use Ascom for telescope with the gemini driver and CCD Lab Q-Guider for the camera. Later on I'll look into getting the Q-Guider plugged directly into the Gemini (if need be - so far it feeds the info fast enough).

[pvelez]

Good stuff Mark. Its a buzz when it all comes together easily

I just got PHD going on my LXD75 and it works a treat - 5 minute subs no problems

Pete

[multiweb]

So true. This hobby is so demanding financialy and timewise that when it works you're almost enclined to say "Thank you!". Makes you forget all the bad nights and problems (sort of ;))