[Paul Haese]

Hi all,

I have an EM400 that I am trying to tame with auto guiding. It tracks fine unguided and I have taken images up to 15 minutes with near perfect stars.

When guiding near the celestial equator I get elongated stars.

I use PHD to guide with. I have tried a variety of aggression setting and still even with 5% aggression get slightly elongated stars.

It could be differential flexure but I get nice tight stars when guiding on targets such as Eta Carina.

PHD calibrates fine.

I have tried upping the guide speed but have been told to down it to 0.5. I have tried it at 0.7 once but that did not seem to make much difference.

I use a side by side system by ADM with a Tak TSA102 and ED80 (guide scope). DMK guide camera, but I have just bought an Orion Starshoot autoguider.

What settings do other users have in a) their hand paddle b) guiding programs?

I am taking all sorts of info in and have not discounted anyone's thoughts so far. I want to get this sorted out as it is most frustrating.

I want to thank JohnG and Strongmanmike for their help so far to narrow down a few issues. However there are some chaps here who have EM400's or the NJP and I would like to hear their thoughts.

Thank you.