My OnStep Astrophotography Setup (Vixen SXD, Canon T4i/650D, Celestron C8)
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
- This is a video showing my OnStep setup, all together.
The heart of it is the Vixen SXD mount, with the two motors replaced by NEMA 11 steppers, which have 18:1 gear boxes.
There is a small perfboard inside the mount with RJ45 sockets for the two axes, and a 3.5mm socket for the Hall Effect PEC sensor (A3144).
The controller is the STM32 that I designed with Dave Schwartz's help.
The optical tube is a Celestron C8 with the extra coating, a 0.63X reducer, and a dew shield connected to a simple dimmer switch.
The camera is a plain Canon T4i/650D.
The camera and the controller are connected to an old laptop that runs Xubuntu 18.04 LTS with KStars and INDI. NoMachine is used for remote access.
Not shown is the Smart Hand Controller (SHC).
After focusing using a Bahtinov mask (see my other video on that), the setup is totally operated from indoors. Therefore cold and mosquitoes are not a concern, after the initial setup.
You have put a lot of work into your project. I can not wait to see the result. Good work my brother.
There are few comet videos on my channel, taken using this setup.
You can see pictures taken using the same mount here.
www.flickr.com/photos/11381732@N08/sets/72157683118306836/
The older ones were taken with a different mount though.
Please could you tell me more about the MP method for Polar Alignment using the Alt-Az bolts? I use DARV, but it would be great to know more about this.
The MP method was basically a command in OnStep that did not have a user interface at the time I made this video . Now it is in the Android App, and called "Refine PA". It is described under the Control page on the wiki.
How does DARV perform by the way? Write me an email if it is more than a few lines.
@@khalid_ba i'll email you khalid. I am the guy with the HEQ5 PRO and CNCV3 build.
I have a C8 and am considering this mount. What guide scope are you using at the 2032mm focal length. You have two weights (?): do you have counterweight capacity to load up that C8? thnx. I use an orion 60mm 240 focal length guide scope but am migrating to OAG for that long focal length. Nice backyard setup.
The C8 can go on the SXD with only one weight (the larger one), with or without the guide scope. The weight is almost at the end of the shaft.
My guide scope is an 80mm made in China one. It is too heavy though, because of the long show that it goes on.
Should be fine with the 60mm since it won't be as heavy.
Trying astrophotography at 2032 mm will probably not work, first because it is a very long focal length and the pixel scale will be very fine, and hence all the errors are amplified. Second, because it will be a very dim F/10, and you need longer and longer exposures to compensate for the f/ratio.
Let me know how the OAG works out for you. I have been thinking of trying one, but hesitating to do so.
Khalid Baheyeldin Thanks for that info. As an aside I have a great photo of M51 using my C8 w 6 minute subs w/ a Canon. I knew little about what I was doing at the time. . That was PA’ing with only the polar scope and several 3 star alignments. My Orion guided fine and my current mount is inferior to the Vixen. The OAG is highly tedious. I’ll need the Vixen to prove this will actually work. Guide stars being dim IS A PROBLEM but I might have made a break thru today. One has to plan sessions in Stellarium to insure a good guide star is there. I’m worried about this; not convinced I could shoot just anything in the sky for lack of stars. I am certainly thinking about going back to a guide scope. Some flexure potential is better then not working at all. But it’s a work in progress
@@wanderingquestions7501 That is my worry about OAGs as well: dim stars.
As for M51, objects near the celestial pole are always easier and more forgiving. Not the case as your go near the celestial equator.
Is your mount running OnStep as well, or stock Vixen firmware?
Is Onstep has better performance then AstroEQ? (I'm interested in control via app/wifi and I just burning my mega2560 of my AstroEQ)
"Better performance" is a very wide and loose term. What I can say is that OnStep has more functionality and flexibility than AstroEQ, and can be adapted to many mounts, not just the EQ5 and EQ6 like AstroEQ.
It is better to ask question on the OnStep Mailing List
groups.io/g/onstep
@@khalid_ba Thanks you I have in the group for a while, and I have a question on USB TTL module can I use CH340 instead of CP2102 (much cheaper)?
@@lapitlapinee422 The CH340 module should work, if you use your own perfboard. But if you use the PCB, make sure that the pins are compatible.
@@lapitlapinee422 You only connect TX, RX and GND to the STM32 PCB. Do NOT connect 5V or 3.3V, otherwise, you will burn components.
U need to print urself a case
I already did that.