Progress on NGC1097

[topheart]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Thanks guys for the comments.





Without doubt Tim, the use of the AOX has made a significant difference to data collection. I have enjoyed the transition from traditional guiding to AO guiding. I did have to make some changes to the guide parameters to suit my system but that was not very hard. It was really a night of experimentation. The guide speeds have been moderate compared to what is achievable but the detail levels are leaps above what I was getting from traditional guiding. That said, seeing plays a very big part in that equation. I don't believe an AO should be seen as a panacea to correct for bad seeing. In fact whilst it will help to maintain good star shapes in poor seeing it cannot correct for the bad seeing in my opinion. My site gets poor seeing when there is a northerly wind current. The guide star can be seen quite blurred and dancing around madly. Stars will be round but larger than normal. The AO cannot compensate fast enough to keep the guide star in the dithered position. Detail will have a resultant blurring from normal seeing conditions. In good seeing the AOX really works a treat. So if your site does not have consistent average to good seeing, then I doubt you would see the results you might be after. You would need to make an assessment of your seeing at your site I suppose.

Thanks very much Paul, your recent images are a testament to your committment to excellence and your command of the new setup with the AO guiding.

Yes, I am going back to AO guiding - I used it when I had a STL11000 a few years ago, then I had to use traditional guiding at the 4.7m focal length with the FLI gear (which I will put up for sale once FLI has serviced it). Our Savannah Skies Site usually gives FWHM's of around 1.5 to 2.5, so I hope to see a pickup when I get the AOX SBIG combo going. I am swapping out gear at this stage as we are now mostly out of action in the wet season phase for the next 3 months or so.

Do you know if they have sorted out the glitches in Maxim with the AOX now??

Cheers,
Tim

[Paul Haese]

Thanks Rolf and Martin, I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

Originally Posted by topheart

Thanks very much Paul, your recent images are a testament to your committment to excellence and your command of the new setup with the AO guiding.

Yes, I am going back to AO guiding - I used it when I had a STL11000 a few years ago, then I had to use traditional guiding at the 4.7m focal length with the FLI gear (which I will put up for sale once FLI has serviced it). Our Savannah Skies Site usually gives FWHM's of around 1.5 to 2.5, so I hope to see a pickup when I get the AOX SBIG combo going. I am swapping out gear at this stage as we are now mostly out of action in the wet season phase for the next 3 months or so.

Do you know if they have sorted out the glitches in Maxim with the AOX now??

Cheers,
Tim

Tim those FWHM figures should give you excellent results with an AOX. I don't know what the last generation of AO they produced was like but I am totally sold on this generation. The biggest issue is to ensure your bump value works with your gear and that your traditional guiding is superb, but you would have known that from previous use.

As yet there is still an issue with the Maxim and AOX in automation (using a command programme) for some only. I am unfortunately one of the some. Lots of people are using SkyX and AOX successfully without issue. Maxim and the AOX on its own works perfectly, but that does not give me unattended imaging. For me the problem is essentially, that each time the mount moves to focus or meridian flip the very first sub after that is not guided with the AOX as it says there is guide star fade. All other subs after that are guided normally. If you are watching this happen, all you need do is click on the stop guiding button and restart. Maxim will reacquire darks and then go off guiding. As long as the mount has not wandered in that time frame you will have a perfectly guided image. That is usually within the first 7-10 seconds for me. After that the frame is lost. I have asked Doug George this morning what is happening with it, but Adam is busy with other issues at present. So for now it is in the mill but no resolution. Still a few bum subs and a heap of sharp subs is better than a heap of slightly blurred subs in my opinion.

If you are lucky you will not be affected. Though it has affected several different command programmes so far and oddly not every user. Just a very few.

[topheart]

Hi Paul,
Thanks very much for the information regarding the AOX. It is appreciated very much.
Cheers,
Tim