M51

[+Derbyshire Dave]

I'd been having horrendous problems with dust bunnies, so after a real clean and test of each filter in my flat panel.

 

Thought a new guide calibration was in order too, so did that on PHD2 using the guiding wizard, and it took AN HOUR to do it. No idea why. 179 small steps north and south, never seen that before. Can ill afford the loss of an hour at this time of year.

 

Just used last night to do a quick check on the C8 using the whirlpool galaxy. Only 20 minutes each on RGB filter, 30 minutes on the luminance. No bunnies, hoorah, but what to do tonight? Move on or get more data?

 

 

 

[Bob Dobber]

In my (admittedly limited) experience, M51 is a very forgiving target that seems to give up its secrets without too much persuasion. Whether this time of year with zero actual dark and precious little half-dark is the best time to be tackling a full-on broadband galaxy? Who knows! I stick to narrowband until we start seeing some darkness again, personally...

[Bottletopburly]

Nice one Dave , you may have backlash in dec I had similar issues phd2 and was calibrating north in 42 steps , I tweaked the dec worm screw and that sorted it now down to 9 steps they say on phd2 you should have at least 8 steps usually I would take 12-14 steps used the guiding new calibration assistant and calibrated at normal times , have a look at the calibration chart showing the plots of dec/Ra see if the look square to each other , maybe the heat having an effect on the mount .

[+Derbyshire Dave]

4 hours ago, Bottletopburly said:

Nice one Dave , you may have backlash in dec I had similar issues phd2 and was calibrating north in 42 steps , I tweaked the dec worm screw and that sorted it now down to 9 steps they say on phd2 you should have at least 8 steps usually I would take 12-14 steps used the guiding new calibration assistant and calibrated at normal times , have a look at the calibration chart showing the plots of dec/Ra see if the look square to each other , maybe the heat having an effect on the mount .

That's interesting. Thanks Dave.

[Bottletopburly]

I used calibration assist the other night I put in -10 below celestial equator I need to look at it better see if I missed any setting but I always calibrate at that position anyway using the Apt shortcut to send to that position 

[+Derbyshire Dave]

6 hours ago, Bottletopburly said:

I used calibration assist the other night I put in -10 below celestial equator I need to look at it better see if I missed any setting but I always calibrate at that position anyway using the Apt shortcut to send to that position 

I've never usd calibration assist. I calibrate with the mount arm horizontal, and the dec axis just above the horizontal position, having moved further down first, then slowly back up to remove backlash