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Originally Posted by DavidTrap
Adam,
I have had similar queries about the calculated focal length being different from what is written on the scope. From what I undersand, the software gets the pixel size from the driver for your camera (read that bit in the help file). I presume it then calculates the focal length backwards from that using the pixel size and position of stars on the image. My 2000mm SCT is 2222mm according to plate solving from Maxim.
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I am using my QHY5 guider to provide the image - do you know whether these use the FITS format that maxim can read, or is it something else. Also - is there a way of using my DSLR to provide the image to solve - because my guidscope and imaging scope are not perfectly aligned, and I am not using guide rings - they are both in fixed rings, so it will be a bit of a challenge to get them perfectly lined up.
The amount of "reduction" your reducer provides is dependant on the distance between the reducer and the imaging plane. Small changes can have significant effects on that reduction and hence the effective focal length.
Under the observatory button on Maxim there is a catalogue and sky view - apparently you can overlay your image onto that sky view. I guess it might help with composition of shots.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidTrap
Other cool thing about having plate solving working is coming back to an image on a subsequent night. You take an image, plate solve that and sync your mount. Then you open up a previous image, plate solve it and tell your mount to "goto" the centre of that image. Now you can shoot the same field of view night after night. The plate solve also gives you an "angle" in case you've rotated the camera for composition - therefore you can match that angle again on subsequent nights.
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Now THAT is cool - I am going to try that!
Adam