Meridian Flip Tutorial | ZWO AM5 + ASIAir
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- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2024
- The "Meridian" is an imaginary line that goes directly overhead from North to South. A "Meridian Flip" is where your mount will automatically rotate your camera and telescope once the object you are photographing crosses the meridian. Without the meridian flip, your telescope and camera would go below horizontal, and continue to rotate towards the ground. It's possible that the camera could run into a tripod leg, or even the ground, if the mount keeps rotating all night long. Therefore, most Go-To Mounts have automated Meridian Flips, although you may need to configure it in your image acquisition software.
For those with the ZWO AM5 Mount, it's important to know that it will automatically stop rotating once the object you are photographing reaches the meridian. The mount is smart enough to know that if it rotates any further, it's entering the "danger zone". This can be problematic though, if you fall asleep and didn't have the meridian flip enabled. Since the mount is no longer tracking, all of your photos will be blurry.
For more information, check out my Deep Space Course on howtube:
www.howtube.com/series/eUVHB9fI
00:00 - Understanding the Meridian
02:04 - ASIAir Meridian Test
04:14 - Meridian Flip Settings
06:03 - AM5 Special Note
07:02 - Outro
Peter, you make great videos - Very Helpful
Perfect timing as I've been having these issues with sadr and have been going crazy trying to figure it out. Thanks and clear skies
You mean "vertical", right?
Very helpful, Peter! Nothing to do but watch videos about it at this stage since I'm still waiting for my AM5. 🙄 I'll put in a plug here for your Deep Space Course (and the others you have) -- they are fantastic, and incredible values. They've helped me tremendously throughout my astro journey so far. Look forward to more videos on RUclips! Thanks again.
Hi Peter, please take a look at the updated AM5 user manual. ZWO recommends NOT to put AA+ on the side of AM5 due to cable snags and antenna bending.
Thank you, Peter! I’m about to get my first computerized equatorial mount, and have been worried about this. Coincidently my first target is going to be the NA nebula, so this video will be crucial. Thanks again!
As someone with a star tracker waiting for my am5 to arrive, this is perfect timing. Thanks!!!
Thanks Peter. I like the idea of testing the meridian flip using the sky atlas in order to confirm that the tripod legs or cabling doesn’t interfere before starting your imaging session. Great advice! Dr B from Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦
Very clear but a bit confused over 'horizontal' and 'vertical' position.
Yes, that is indeed inconsistent. What he means to say is that you might get into trouble when the declination axis is horizontal (counterweight out tot he side, same position as when balancing your telescope and counterweight) and the telescope is close to vertical.
One of your best. Short and very sweet.
Super clear explanation, as always - thanks Peter. I also have an AM5 and Asiair and was imaging Horsehead last night using Live rather than Autorun. It seemed to try a MF but failed (I wasn't watching it, but no harm done) so I completed it manually and got another couple of hours in. Having seen this video I'll continue imaging tonight with Autorun and hopefully control the flip better. I just hope I can get the camera angle right so that I can stack last night's subs with tonight's.
I was wondering what constant beeping noise was once the meredian was reached on the AM5, very helpful as always, thank you!
Very very clear and helpful video!!!
Thank you, very helpful information!
Thanks Peter. Your awesome.
Nicely explained, thank you
Great tip
Definitely need to check the power cables. For an unknown reason, I had a power loss during last night's flip. I couldn't find the cuplrit but ultimately had to restart everything. As in, go back to PA and start again. That was a lot of wasted time especially when the power loss occured a second time. Still don't know which cable that was!!!!
Good review. What ever happened to all that great gear you got. Thought there was a Rasa 8 in there as well
Enjoyed this video. One question. What happens when the meridian flip occurs during the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse? I plan on being in Texas and according to Stellarium the flip occurs about 20 minutes before totality. Auto run cannot recalibrate because it’s the sun…no stars. According to your video on ASIAir Solar you gave up trying, preview, focus, and autorun and just do Video. Has that workflow changed? Got a pier and a Meade Solar max II 60 so hope I can start on east side of mount at noon and track to 3 pm with out a flip. 3 hours at 15° @ hour 45° scope turn. Thanks.
During goto tonight for object close to Meridian ( west side) of pier I received warning meridian flip failed. Sequence would not start. Not sure how to get go to to go to the east side of the pier.
Question about editing,do you think Lightroom can as good a job as PS if not why
Just another reason to like fork mounts.
I have the AM5 and I've configured meridian flip using my ASIAir+ following the procedure you've identified. However, if I connect the AM5 handcontroller and connect to my AM5 using the ASI Mount app I note that there is an option for Meridian Flip in that app. Should this be turned on or should it be turned off?
If you're using the Air+ you don't need to use the ASI Mount app or hand controller at all, it's redundant. Just stick to the Air and you can do everything you need in there. The ASI Mount app and hand controller are more for visual observing
How do you show the meridian in Stellarium ? Do you need the pro version ?
Nope, just hit the semicolon button and it'll display the meridian
I purchased CGEM instead of Harmonic mount. Very bad decision
Is there a way to turn off meridian flip with an iOptron GEM45 mount, Celestron 9.25-inch SCT and Asiair Plus? In the past I never did a meridian flip as this is not required with Astro-Physics mounts guiding through the meridian in one direction. I never hit the tripod because I planned ahead. It is very annoying to have a meridian flip when doing planetary work with short exposures where I want to guide through the meridian. My GOTO with my current system does not work because of the environment (trees) that does not allow me to polar align.