Track mode synscan

[Brycepj (Peter)]

hi everyone
can anybody provide me with advice using synscan in tracking mode. Using a 6mm plossl in a 2x Barlow I wish to keep the image central in the view finder. The tracking mode has settings from 1-9 with 9 being the fastest and I am using the sidereal tracking mode what is the best speed people have used. if it's not possible what magification is best to match the speed to keep the image central.
Also have 10mm 15mm plossl as well as 2" 25mm
thanks
Peter

Orion XTG 10" Goto dob
Olympus DPI 10 x 50

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Peter,
Tracking only has the Sidereal rate, Lunar/Solar.....
The 1-9 you mention is for the Guiding rate.

[Amaranthus (Barry)]

Sounds like he is talking about the slew rate. I think 1 is approximately sidereal, 2 is 4x, etc. Rate 9 is 800x.

[raymo]

Hi Peter, Before answering your question I recommend that you go to the Skywatcher website and download and print out the Synscan user manual; it is 43 pages long, and contains all you need to know. With a 65
cent plastic binding strip it can be made into a handy booklet of A4 size.
The motor drive speeds 1 to 9 have nothing to do with tracking; they
are for major or minor movements of the scope using the manual
control buttons. You can go into the tracking mode directly, avoiding
the star alignment process, or alternatively, when alignment is complete, and you press enter, the scope will automatically start tracking. The
magnification you are using is irrelevant.
raymo

[Brycepj (Peter)]

thanks guys for the info Raymo I will read the manual and try to be a little bit clearer in my questions. It's more to do with how do I keep Saturn in the centre of the FOV. just waiting for another clear night to try things out again. still learning but having fun
regards peter

[astro744]

Originally Posted by Brycepj

It's more to do with how do I keep Saturn in the centre of the FOV.

Originally Posted by Brycepj

Using a 6mm plossl in a 2x Barlow I wish to keep the image central in the view finder.

At such high power unless accurately polar aligned your are going to get north/south drift. Can you confirm in which direction drift is in? If drift is east/west then sidereal tracking is either too fast or too slow for whatever reason. Check 'scope balance.

[raymo]

Even a perfectly aligned high end equatorial mount would struggle to keep a target centred for long periods at high magnifications like the approx. 400x that you were using. It would need little taps on the
appropriate motor button from time to time. At least your scope is motorised; trying to nudge a Dob by hand at 400x is tough.
raymo

[Amaranthus (Barry)]

Based on his signature I assume Peter is using a dob: "Orion XTG 10" Goto dob" so he'll be talking about moving his scope in alt-az directions using the hand controller. Given this, the goto tracking should keep it reasonably centred, and if you put the slew rate to 2, you can occasionally use the motors to nudge it back to a central view.

[Brycepj (Peter)]

Thanks Guys for the advice, yes Amaranthus (Barry) you are correct. Had another run at this the other night.Not sure if it's just me but undertook the two star alignment and asked it to find Saturn which it did (not centred but that will be another thread) I found that it will track better in this fashion rather than skipping the alignment process and moving to tracking mode.
in terms of the drift it runs from NNW to SSE ( or 10 to 4) scope is on a slight downward slope is it worth having the scope perfectly level??? Still lots to learn

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Peter,
The mount itself doesn't need to be perfectly levelled, but the polar axis should be well aligned with the south celestial pole......

[Amaranthus (Barry)]

Ken, it's an alt-az Dob, not an EQ.

Peter, I think if you get a decent star align then it will definitely help with your planetary tracking. On my SE alt-az mount, I can successfully hold Saturn on my small NexImage 5 chip, or 4 mm eyepiece, for a few minutes.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Whoooooops. Missed that one!

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Peter,
I use an illuminated 12mm reticle eyepiece for the two star alignment.
As per the manual I make the last movements Right and Up.
Pick stars not too close to each other or Zenith.

And I find it will keep Saturn in the eyepiece for over an hour.

When I do want to nudge, I have the slew rate set to 4.

(Oh, and despite the protestors, I believe levelling the base helps -IMHO)

[Brycepj (Peter)]

Ken, Alan and Barry
thanks for your help will apply what you have advised.
Also please check my other thread regarding red dot finders and telrad I value your opinions
regards
peter