I got started in astrophotography about 6 months ago. I purchased the ASIAIR Mini a couple of weeks ago. This little device has increased my enjoyment level in this hobby 100%. The user interface is so intuitive and easy to learn. I now am spending more time imaging and less time setting up hardware and fiddling with software.
Thanks for the video. Very good description of PA. I got very good at PA with my Sirius mount and could do 3-minute exposures unguided. When I wanted to guide and get longer exposures, I tried a PC but hated staring into a bright monitor. So I got the ASIAir Pro and love it. Never knew what plate solving meant until the AAP. Now, I never use the polar scope or a finder. If I want to do visual, I just designate the guide scope as the Main and replace the main scope camera with a diagonal.What a treat!
Which electronic assisted polar alignment is most accurate? Not sure if anyone has done a thorough comparison but anecdotally? Thanks for the video. I like the tip about extending the exposure time in ASIAIR PA. I was doing it wrong with the NB filter in place. Doh!
Thanks, Simon. Have you ever used a long focal length telescope on the AM5 and the ASI Air would not poplar align? I tried to polar align while using the Sky-Watcher Skymax 127, 1500mm, and the ASI Air returned the error message that there were not enough stars available to properly polar align. I never get that error using much shorter focal lengths such as 250mm and 430mm. Next time I am going try PA and plate solve with the 250mm, then switch to the Skymax. Thanks!
you might find that the field of view is smaller than 0.3 degrees in that case it would fail ... have a look at astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/ and you can calculate the field of view for your scope and camera
@@TeamAstroworkz Thank you for the reply, Simon! Under field of view calculator in Imaging Mode, I input the scope and camera combination, selected a target and the calculator returned 0.19° x 0.14° for the field of view. So, based on what you are telling me, that is the reason for the failure. Do you see any flaws in my plan to PA with a smaller scope and camera (such as my guide scope/camera), then switch to the 1500mm scope and ASI 224 to plate solve, and then slew to my intended target?
Good video! But just saying - the ASIAir is also kind of a computer. So if you have NINA on a MiniPC like the Quieter or an ASIAir results in the same - a mini device on your scope and a device with a screen needed to contol it....
if you like messing with polar scopes on your hands and knees you're welcome to ... ASIAIR is certainly more accurate and here in the southern hemisphere a polar scope is a lesson in frustration - I don't own a polar scope for good reason :) Any electronic means ... sharpcap ... Ipolar...ASIAIR are all far better and easier methods than messing with a polar scope IMHO
I got started in astrophotography about 6 months ago. I purchased the ASIAIR Mini a couple of weeks ago. This little device has increased my enjoyment level in this hobby 100%. The user interface is so intuitive and easy to learn. I now am spending more time imaging and less time setting up hardware and fiddling with software.
Well done tutorial. Thank you.
no probs - glad it helped!
Thanks for the video. Very good description of PA. I got very good at PA with my Sirius mount and could do 3-minute exposures unguided. When I wanted to guide and get longer exposures, I tried a PC but hated staring into a bright monitor. So I got the ASIAir Pro and love it. Never knew what plate solving meant until the AAP. Now, I never use the polar scope or a finder. If I want to do visual, I just designate the guide scope as the Main and replace the main scope camera with a diagonal.What a treat!
platesolving is up there with sliced bread :)
Thanks Simon . Another very helpful presentation
thanks Trevor :) appreciate the feedback :)
Which electronic assisted polar alignment is most accurate? Not sure if anyone has done a thorough comparison but anecdotally? Thanks for the video. I like the tip about extending the exposure time in ASIAIR PA. I was doing it wrong with the NB filter in place. Doh!
Great video Simon. Using the asiair plus and the AM5 polar alignment has never been faster usually under 5 min.
I usually don't have much of a problem on the AM5 either ... I have PA'd it far too many times during testing LOL
Thanks, Simon. Have you ever used a long focal length telescope on the AM5 and the ASI Air would not poplar align? I tried to polar align while using the Sky-Watcher Skymax 127, 1500mm, and the ASI Air returned the error message that there were not enough stars available to properly polar align. I never get that error using much shorter focal lengths such as 250mm and 430mm. Next time I am going try PA and plate solve with the 250mm, then switch to the Skymax. Thanks!
you might find that the field of view is smaller than 0.3 degrees in that case it would fail ... have a look at astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/ and you can calculate the field of view for your scope and camera
@@TeamAstroworkz Thank you for the reply, Simon! Under field of view calculator in Imaging Mode, I input the scope and camera combination, selected a target and the calculator returned 0.19° x 0.14° for the field of view. So, based on what you are telling me, that is the reason for the failure.
Do you see any flaws in my plan to PA with a smaller scope and camera (such as my guide scope/camera), then switch to the 1500mm scope and ASI 224 to plate solve, and then slew to my intended target?
Good video! But just saying - the ASIAir is also kind of a computer. So if you have NINA on a MiniPC like the Quieter or an ASIAir results in the same - a mini device on your scope and a device with a screen needed to contol it....
and on top of it you are not limited to use zwo hardware
Is the ASIair the alignment master? NO. If you are using a mount with a polar scope, use it. It is much faster.
if you like messing with polar scopes on your hands and knees you're welcome to ... ASIAIR is certainly more accurate and here in the southern hemisphere a polar scope is a lesson in frustration - I don't own a polar scope for good reason :) Any electronic means ... sharpcap ... Ipolar...ASIAIR are all far better and easier methods than messing with a polar scope IMHO