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Hi Tim
Thanks for the feedback.
No, I don't use a flip-mirror. It is always a bit of a hassle getting the planet in the CCD, but with the routine I use now it's pretty predictable so the hassle is lessened.
Firstly, I use the eyepiece, focus the planet, and put the planet in the centre of the eyepiece.
Then I swap to the 5x powermate with the filterwheel + DMK. With all that extra weight, I know that it moves the scope a bit, always in the same direction (makes the planet go up).
Also, with the focus point still at the eyepiece focus, the planet is way out of focus for the CCD - which is good. Because being out of focus it creates a bit blob which can be seen when the planet is just outside the field of view.
So yeh, the combination of those things makes it predictable where the planet will be, and I just sort of lift the scope back to where it was with the eyepiece until I see the out of focus blob and then use the hand controller to slowly move the planet until it's in the field of view when I let go of the scope.
Then I focus for the CCD.
Hope that helps.
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