2nd June 2007

ant — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:42:34

Decided that it was time to get off my arse and get the scopes set up after dark (if you can say that this time of year).

Thought that I should try to mount both scopes, the Apo and Achro, side by side. Use the F/11 as a guide scope with the webcam, using the K3ccd on screen reticle to guide by.

Then I could use the remote capture software that comes with the canon to get the camera to take x number of shots at 30 seconds each.

Should have been really simple.

Things rarely are...

The evening started off fairly well, polar aligned the scope (well thought I did). Connected all the wires up and aligned both scopes. Focused the 300D on the Apo, this was the end of things going well. It appeared that I didin't have the Canon software installed on the laptop - used to have, very strange, very annoying. Had to reinstall all the Canon software including the drivers.

Then tried to get the camera to start taking images (not of anything inparticular at this point), kept getting an error message saying that the camera had cancelled the request. It wasn't a god damn request...! Never did solve that one. It's on the list for a cosy evening in when I won't be annoyed at wasting a clear night!!!

Onto the webcam, had a nice bright star in the FOV, dead centre. Changed the EP over with the webcam and tried to focus. No luck... added the extension tbe in still no luck... added the diagonal in and still no luck... afer about 30 minutes of checking wires and checking to make sure taht the webcam was working etc gave up!!! Another job for during he day I suspect.

At this point decided to forget the wires. Just find something nice to look at and take some images... Found my way to M13 (MUST GET A FINDER), took an image at ISO800 30 seconds and guess what , the image was trailed. I hd screwed up the polar alignment. Now I have a peice of software called polarfinder. Won't have thisa problem again.

Nice FOV, framing needs work - need more frames for stacking but apart from that really happy!

Managed to get everything all packed away before losing my temper

ant - Blogs Feed

2nd June 2007