drift aligning using a CCD camera

[AlexN]

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Yep Paul, an article would be wonderful.

I use StarTarg, but have just downloaded and run K3. The drift tool looks promising and I'm keen to give it a go. I always have a problem with StarTarg when asked to find the northern side of the scope by "flashing a red light from the north". Silly way to write instructions from one of the best in the instruction-writing game IMHO. What if you're using an SCT with diagonal, or a straight-through refractor?

[Matty P (Matt)]

Looking forward to the article.

I was just wondering if it is possible to use K3CCD with a DMK?

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Matty P

I was just wondering if it is possible to use K3CCD with a DMK?

Yes you can Matty.

[RobF (Rob)]

Yeah - I wish I'd watched more closely what you were up to with K3CCDtools at Cambroon last weekend now too Paul.

Do you have to sort out the camera angle before you start minimising RA and Dec drifts?

(joins the crowd chanting "Article Article Article")

[Matty P (Matt)]

Originally Posted by RB

Yes you can Matty.

Thanks. Will definitely give it a go.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Originally Posted by RobF

Yeah - I wish I'd watched more closely what you were up to with K3CCDtools at Cambroon last weekend now too Paul.

Do you have to sort out the camera angle before you start minimising RA and Dec drifts?

(joins the crowd chanting "Article Article Article")

Yes I do set the camera angle Rob. K3 will do it for you but you have to either turn the mount off or set it to terrestrial tracking. I find it easier to just make sure the camera is oriented correctly to DEC in the first place. It's easy enough to do by centering your star, turning on the reticle and making sure the star moves parallel to the vertical stadia of the reticle and when I press the up button the star moves up and down when I press the down button. Once its parallel to the DEC and RA the camera angle is 0.

[RobF (Rob)]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

Yes I do set the camera angle Rob. K3 will do it for you but you have to either turn the mount off or set it to terrestrial tracking. I find it easier to just make sure the camera is oriented correctly to DEC in the first place. It's easy enough to do by centering your star, turning on the reticle and making sure the star moves parallel to the vertical stadia of the reticle and when I press the up button the star moves up and down when I press the down button. Once its parallel to the DEC and RA the camera angle is 0.

Aha - thanks Paul. Spent a couple of hours playing with K3 and Metaguide last night shooting through cloud cover. Was wondering this morning how X and Y could be converted/calibrated to RA/Dec and then realised they won't until you cal in software (angle) or rotate the cam.

Would be out there now too if it wasn't for those blasted clouds....
.

[netwolf]

Darn it just found out that K3CCD does not support the Qhy5 yet. Why did i ever sell the toucam, i new it would come in handy one day and I would regret it. I would still like to see the Article Paul, might have to push the author of K3CCD along to add Qhy5 to the list. Right behind my request to add IIDC Firewire camera support.

[gbeal]

Good idea Fahim, I have often longed to use the QHY5 for lunar and or planetary with K3, so maybe we should lobby him.
I will right now.
Gary

[Tandum (Robin)]

I have trialed this one and it works ok. It presents you with circles on the laptop screen and you move the alignment star between the reference points using the mounts adjustment points to get alignment.

ie: it shows you how much change is required. Free trial only. and I used it with the DSI.