Quote:
Originally Posted by Camelopardalis
Cindi, I wouldn't bother with such a complex app just yet, most of the software you need to get going is free or relatively inexpensive.
What guide camera did you buy? Many guide cams, being sensitive, also double up as decent planetary cameras 
A C11 on a CGEM DX is quite a setup to begin with...the real key to imaging is polar alignment. You want to nail your polar alignment good enough so that you don't get any drift in Dec. Every mount "drifts" in RA, and that's what you want the auto guider to correct, ideally. There's also periodic error to consider...
Oh and while you're getting started, you might find a reducer useful...not just because of the reduced focal length but because of the faster f/stop, which keeps the required exposure times down. |
I ended up getting the Lodestar x2 - could not find anyone to say anything bad about it! I have been getting the low down in the beginners chat forum regarding autoguiding and polar alignment, as I know it is all going to be crucial at my focal length. I see a lot of people talking about reducers (or have used them in the details of the photos they post) - I don't know anything about them - maybe something else I need to look in to
