Polar Alignment through Celestron's StarSense AutoGuider and CPWI
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- Опубликовано: 10 окт 2023
- This is how to polar align your Celestron rig and align the StarSense Autoguider using the tools within CPWI (Celestron and PlaneWave Instruments) Telescope Control Software.
Other videos concerning the StarSense AutoGuider:
Enhancing the Celestron 11" EdgeHD with the Starsense Autoguider
• Enhancing the Celestro...
Testing the Celestron StarSense Autoguider
• Testing the Celestron ...
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#astrophotography, #TBAIC, #celestron, #HyperStar
I'm blown away by these photos. Great video! SSAG is now on my shopping list!
Thank you, Mike.
SSAG is great but it is a bit pricey, but worth it.
Hello Patrick, I am very grateful for those videos, they are very well done and the content is well explained. I agree with you on the need for Celestron to speed up the driver update for total integration with external capture image software's, like N.I.N.A or SharCap 4.1 among others. It would be like the cherry on top of the cake. 🍰Greetings from Wimauma, Florida. 😀
Thank you for watching my video.
Yes, I certainly will welcome Celestron to hurry up with the driver update. The SSAG works fine but you have to babysit it if you plan to change targets. I guess NINA spoiled me
Thank you.
Excellent video, glad you included the polar alignment feature, the Celestron Software demo video passed up doing the polar alignment. Also your comment on the additional UV IR filter! Thank you again, Bob.
Thank you, Robert.
That UV/IR cut filter just screws into the lens cover of the SSAG and aids in better tracking
Good morning, what brand of filter are you using? Thank you again, Bob.@@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy
@@robertasher738 ... The UV/IR cut is a Baader. The filter within the HyperStar reducer was the Optolong L-eNhanced. Both filters are 2" in size.
Pat, thanks again for the info, I've got a Baader UV/IR cut filter on order. Have you had any dew problems on the filter being right at the end of the SSAG?@@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy
@@robertasher738 ... no issues yet, even though I have the dew strop over the sensor lens. I guess there is enough transfer of heat to keep the filter dew-free. I do plan to move the strap forward toward the filter.
Nice video. Thx.
FYI, I think around 11:33 in your video you mentioned getting a UV/IR cut filter for SSAG. But, I think Celestron recommends a IR pass filter, not a cut filter.
Keep up the great videos.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for watching my video. I had an extra UV/IR cut filter so I attached that to the SSAG and it improved the tracking. However, due to your comment, I went ahead and ordered a IR pass filter. I will try that out once it arrive and the next possible clear night ... We are headed into a prolong wet period.
Clear skies
@@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy I look forward to hearing your IR Pass filter experience. When I tried, it didn’t seem to help. I wondered if the SSAG may need to be refocused with the IR pass on, but I was pressed for time and didn’t try it. With regard to using UV/IR cut filter, it kinda makes sense it might make star images a bit less fuzzy. I may have to try that too. 👍
Hello Patrick, your three reviews of the new SSAG are great reviews and very interesting. You explain everything very well. Also your photos in your webpage. are impressive. Only a question: I have the CGX-L also with RASA-11 and the AP155 f7 refractor. I would like to ask you if in your opinion the guidance with SSAG is better than the usual external guidance / or OAG with PHD2. A greeting from Barcelona. Jesús.
Hi Jesús,
I would think an OAG would give some compition to the SSAG. For me, the SSAG is giving me better tracking/guiding than the traditional guide scope via PHD2. I never was able to get beyond 180 seconds. Now I am cleaning guiding at 300 seconds.
Thank you for watching my videos all the way from Barcelona. We are almost at the same latitude. I am at 32N
Excellent video! One question please ... does the dew shield interfere with the StarSense AutoGuider (SSAG) field-of-view as you have both installed in the video? I am considering adding the Celestron aluminum dew shield to my Celestron 8" SCT and include the Celestron SSAG on the standard mount as depicted on your RASA. Thank you for the time you put into producing your very informative videos!
Thank you, Kerry.
I've had no visual issues with the dew shield with the view of the SSAG. The shield, on the other hand will not seat properly on my Celestron 11". I need to attach a couple of strips of duct tape to keep it centered.
Hey Patrick. I purchased the SSAG because of one of your videos. I have the Nexstar EVO 8. I am glad to see it working so well for you. I have had nothing but problems with mine. If I take a 30 second picture the stars are streaked and blurry. Forget about a 5 minute exposer! I have been in touch with Celestron and even sent my mount in TWICE because I thought the mount was the problem. Basically the mount has been rebuilt. I have seen on other forums that people are having the same problems as me. Obviously a major firmware update needs to be addressed. With all that said, I like the way you set everything up with NINA. For me NINA is still a little confusing. Do you have a video of how you setup everything with CPWI and the SSAG in NINA? Also what IR filter did you purchase for the SSAG. I purchased one and when I put it on SSAG won't work at all. THANK YOU!
Hi Darby,
Hmmm ...
Tell me what is your mount?
I assume you have everything connected properly and your rig is properly polar aligned.
Be sure to click the GUIDE button in the SSAG tab in CPWI. Also, be sure you have the latest firmware loaded. To use Celestron firmware manager (CFM) you must have JAVA running on your computer. (You can download Java on the java website)
The other night, I was capturing the Hamburger Galaxy (NGC 3628) with the 11" EdgeHD scope at f/7 and was getting 300 second subframes with perfectly round stars.
I am making a new video about that and CPWI, SSAG, CFM. I hope to have that posted soon.
I have the Evolution AZ mount for the Evolution Nexstar 8. It is all connect correctly. Hopefully when Celestron gets around to sending me a RMA number they can diagnose the problem and repair it or send me a new one. I want to take 10 minute images too!!!😀@@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy
Hi Pat. Have you considered getting a SkyShed pod? They seem really interesting and can withstand some pretty serious storms, even hurricanes!
Hi Mike,
Well, I did give it some thought but have no plans at the moment in getting one.
In a next video -- try the settings guiding arguments and let's see if it changes anything. I'm just wondering if guiding can be tightened or ect
I'll look into that, butit is reconmended not to change the default settings. You can do it but as of now, I am pleased with the results I am getting.
The thing is when I'm using a C8 and especially a C11. The guiding must be somehow fine tuned. I'll be trying to adjust the setting for a better result as I'm getting now not a sharp picture and no round stars. I'm just being careful not to do anything that may hurt the auto guider or confuse myself. So I'm doing research.
Have you had any issues with the polar alignment not working? I can do the Auto Alignment with my CGX & StarSense, but if I try the Polar alignment my mount slews to its limits and eventually gets stuck stuck there. I have to power cycle the mount then reconnect everything through CPWI and re-do the alignment process. Even after all of that the Polar Alignment feature doesn't work.
Hi Tyler,
I did have some trouble when polar aligning at first, until I tried diff. You can try 2 different approaches.
1) Try the PA with the scope in the home position ... that is, point to the north celestial pole
2) Point the scope ast far west as possible while you can still see the stars. It needs about 50 degrees of the sky to calibrate the alignment. If you don't give it enough, it will cross the meridian and get hung up.
Also make sure the scope is somewhat close to polar alignmen and level.
I hope this helps
@@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy Appreciate the advice. Tried what you suggested without any luck. I'm just going to assume there's a bug in my software somewhere. Sucks, but I'm still getting decent tracking so it's not too big of deal. Just unfortunate.
Thanks for your well done videos and clear explanations. I'm moving to an Edge HD 8 from refractors. I currently use NINA and phd2 for my imaging. I have seen a couple of comments scattered around that suggest that when I use CPWI and the Starsense autoguider I should use a computer that does not have phd2 because NINA will try to launch phd2 even if it is not activated, and it conflicts with the CPWI guiding. Do you have any experience with this, or thoughts on this? Is it a real problem, or just a potential one? Do I need to uninstall phd2 before using Starsense autoguiding? Thank you again.
And I forgot to mention, I'm mounting my Edge HD 8 on a CGX mount
Hello "SailDoc",
Do not delete PHD2. You can just tell NINA not to load it. When I use the Celestron rig and the StarSense Autoguider, the selection in NINA for the Autoguider is to not choose PHD2 but instead to select "Direct Guider". Also, in CPWI under the StarSense menu, I unselect Precision guiding and Meridian flip, as I let NINA do that work for me, otherwise, NINA will fight with CPWI. But make sure you do have the top 2 selections selected ... Start guiding and Guiding always on. I am not sure what PHD2 selection does but I keep it selected.
I hope this helps
Celestron recommends an IR pass filter and you said you used an UV/IR cut filter at approximately 11:24, which is it?
I don't think it matters. Perhaps a question for the fine folks at Celestron. But, that UV/IR cut filter is doing the job ... better guiding
@@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy I humbly suggest you try the IR pass filter. Compared to the UV/IR cut filter, if you look at the SSAG live view, you will notice much more contrast with the IR pass filter. I think in light polluted skies this may be beneficial and offer better tracking. If you are in dark skies there probably isn't much difference.
Novice. I just purchased a C11with CGX mount. I was thinking of buying ASIAIR pro with 120mm but most recommend an $800 finder scope. Add the cost of Asiairpro and your over $1400. Is the Celestron auto guider the best option @ $799? Should I also buy celestron focus motor $249 vs the zwo auto focuser? Apologize for questions, this is my 1st serious telescope.
Hi Bob,
I don't think the ASIair will work with Celestron equipment. Also, I strongly suggest buying the celestron focus motor. I also suggest using either a laptop or a mini computer to connect to the rig. Celestron's CPWI telescope control is great (and free). Also, you might want to use NINA for total control of the rig.
When you perform the PA, DO NOT USE YOUR SLEW CONTROLS to move to the zero values on the graph. You need to manually move the scope using the adjustment knobs on the mount
@@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy I was going to buy the Focus motor and the starsense autoguider or starsense. I think the star sense for $400 just identifies the target vs autoguider that track it.i hope that's correct?
@@bionicbob1285 ... The Autoguider only aligns the telescope ... the StarSense AutoGuider aligns the scope and will plate solve the designated target with extreme accuracy and then will track it with great guiding.