SanDiegoPaul
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/22/05
Posts: 1344
Loc: San Diego
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I am using a Meade Lx200-R (10") and an SBIG ST2000xm camera (built in guide chip). I can connect to The Sky 6 Pro just fine & I use it to guide the scope and it's a great planetarium program.
The docs say when you're guiding in CCDsoft, that TheSky 6 will automatically input the DEC measurement of the object in the field required under AutoGuiding. But that never has worked for me and I wonder why?
If I manually input a number it stays, & the software remembers that number next time I use the program. But never is there a number put in automatically by The Sky.
My issue is that frequently I get 'INVALID MOTION IN X-AXIS' when doing a guide calibration. More often than not it's in Y not X, but the same message. I mess with calibration settings, and sometimes set the time to as long as 10 seconds to get the msg to go away. Then it autoguides fine.
But with the next target, if in a different area of the night sky, I have to mess with the settings all over again for this to work. The non-descript messages saying things like 'invalid motion in x-axis' drive me nuts! Sometimes if the timing is too short, it will say that the star did not move enough, and to increase the time used. That's fine because it tells me what to do. But the more common error, as mentioned above, does not provide a fix.
Thanks - suggestions greatly appreciated. (This is also posted on the SBIG forums)
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Meade 10" Lx200-R with Mitty Evolution Wedge
Moonlight SCT Focuser
Stellarvue Raptor 90 Triplet
SBIG ST2000 XM Imager
SBIG ST402ME CCD Guider
Canon Digital Rebel DSLR
Meade DSI-c CCD Guide Cam
Please visit my gallery!
http://www.pbase.com/sandiegopaul/
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Ozy
Vendor - Starizona
Reged: 06/15/07
Posts: 803
Loc: Goodyear, AZ
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I get this issue too if I try to calibrate the guider when the scope is close to zenith. I usually calibrate on a star at around 45 degrees. I have no idea why.. it just seems to calibrate without error.
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Cuttin' Edge Observatory
Used Finderscope - Canon Elan - Kodachrome 200
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Deskman
super member
Reged: 09/22/06
Posts: 145
Loc: Devon, UK
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Hi Paul,
Not sure if this is any help at all, but I had terrible trouble trying to autiguide usually getting the same message as you.
Can't swear to it, but my problems suddenly disappeared and all works fine now - I'd been playing around with so many things I can't be certain - but:
In CCDSoft, on the autoguide Tab, there is a setting "Reverse X". How is that set for you? For me, clearing it is I think responsible for solving all my issues.
Worth giving it a go - setting or clearing it.
You never know, it may help.... 
Brian
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12" Meade RCX 400
SBIG ST-L 6303E + AO-L
MOAG-A + SBIG Remote Guider
Astro Physics 27TVPH 2.7" Telecompressor
Astrodon 2" Tru-Balance E-Series LRGB Filters
Skywatcher Equinox 80ED 80mm refractor
Canon EOS 450D (unmodded...for now)
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SanDiegoPaul
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/22/05
Posts: 1344
Loc: San Diego
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Thanks I'll give it a shot.
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Meade 10" Lx200-R with Mitty Evolution Wedge
Moonlight SCT Focuser
Stellarvue Raptor 90 Triplet
SBIG ST2000 XM Imager
SBIG ST402ME CCD Guider
Canon Digital Rebel DSLR
Meade DSI-c CCD Guide Cam
Please visit my gallery!
http://www.pbase.com/sandiegopaul/
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Locoweed
sage
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 204
Loc: Ft. Davis Texas
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You probably don't want to hear this, but IMHO using Maxim makes things so much easier than dealing with CCDSOFT.
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HunterofPhotons
sage
Reged: 04/26/08
Posts: 266
Loc: Rhode Island, USA
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Quote:
Hi Paul,.....In CCDSoft, on the autoguide Tab, there is a setting "Reverse X". How is that set for you? For me, clearing it is I think responsible for solving all my issues....
Brian
If you are calibrating your guider on a star in the east, this box should be unchecked. After a meridian flip there is no need to recalibrate the guider, just check the box before you start guiding again. This corrects the parameter that needs to be reversed after a flip.
Works like a charm.
dan
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SanDiegoPaul
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/22/05
Posts: 1344
Loc: San Diego
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Quote:
You probably don't want to hear this, but IMHO using Maxim makes things so much easier than dealing with CCDSOFT.
Thanks but I haven't figured it out yet! I have Maxim 5 and just can't get a good workflow going. I do like processing files with it though; makes things simpler.
But imaging & guiding is a whole new ballgame to learn and I am not there yet. I do wish to learn that process in Maxim 5 though, this Lunar Cycle. In fact I am going to set up at my home this afternoon and Lord willing won't get clouded out tonight.
It's gonna be another (at least) month before San Diego is clear all night even though the weather is indeed warming up. It's typically clouded over by 11P and when it don't get dark until 9 that's a problem!
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Meade 10" Lx200-R with Mitty Evolution Wedge
Moonlight SCT Focuser
Stellarvue Raptor 90 Triplet
SBIG ST2000 XM Imager
SBIG ST402ME CCD Guider
Canon Digital Rebel DSLR
Meade DSI-c CCD Guide Cam
Please visit my gallery!
http://www.pbase.com/sandiegopaul/
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Ozy
Vendor - Starizona
Reged: 06/15/07
Posts: 803
Loc: Goodyear, AZ
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Quote:
You probably don't want to hear this, but IMHO using Maxim makes things so much easier than dealing with CCDSOFT.
Maxim is so lagged its painful. The interface pauses and jerks while the camera is downloading making frame and focusing a pain. CCDSoft does not do this. Also CCDSoft is a much "lighter" application. I don't need any of the processing features in MaxIm and wish I could just buy the acquisition portion of the program to use with ACP. Unfortunately, that isn't possible.
MaxIm's GUI is better, when its not pausing, lagging, or jerky, and I'm not using a slow computer either. I've seen this on every computer I've used Maxim on.
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Cuttin' Edge Observatory
Used Finderscope - Canon Elan - Kodachrome 200
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SanDiegoPaul
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/22/05
Posts: 1344
Loc: San Diego
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Quote:
Quote:
You probably don't want to hear this, but IMHO using Maxim makes things so much easier than dealing with CCDSOFT.
Maxim is so lagged its painful. The interface pauses and jerks while the camera is downloading making frame and focusing a pain. CCDSoft does not do this. Also CCDSoft is a much "lighter" application. I don't need any of the processing features in MaxIm and wish I could just buy the acquisition portion of the program to use with ACP. Unfortunately, that isn't possible.
MaxIm's GUI is better, when its not pausing, lagging, or jerky, and I'm not using a slow computer either. I've seen this on every computer I've used Maxim on.
OZY you are spot-on. I love the responsiveness of CCDsoft and that's why it remains my primary. I've had Maxim for months now and never spent the time learning it because of all the reasons you mentioned.
But for image processing, it takes a LOT of the steps out of things, compared to CCDsoft. 
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Meade 10" Lx200-R with Mitty Evolution Wedge
Moonlight SCT Focuser
Stellarvue Raptor 90 Triplet
SBIG ST2000 XM Imager
SBIG ST402ME CCD Guider
Canon Digital Rebel DSLR
Meade DSI-c CCD Guide Cam
Please visit my gallery!
http://www.pbase.com/sandiegopaul/
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blueman
Vendor Blue Sky Accessories
Reged: 07/20/07
Posts: 1435
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I too tried MaximDL and did not like it. Guiding was not good and the interface just did not do it for me.
CCDSoft on the other hand, was easy and slick and all worked just fine.
Blueman
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14.5" Starmaster with ServoCat and Argo Navis
AT 8" RC
TV NP101 f/5.4 APO Telvue .8 Focal Reducer
WO 80mm f/6 APO Televue .8 focal reducer
SBig ST2000xm with CFW-9 filter wheel
Astrodon Gen2 filters RGBL
Baader HA,O-III, H-Beta, S-II Filters
Losmandy G-11 Gemini Auto-guided
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wb9sat
sage
Reged: 06/16/09
Posts: 328
Loc: Eagar, Arizona USA
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Probably the best autoguiding, SBIG camera control, temperature control and image processing software for the money is Nebulosity.
Bill
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Bill Logan
Logan Observatory
Eagar, Arizona, USSA
Elevation: 7,400 feet (2,600 meters) ASL
NexStar 11 GPS on Milburn wedge
Permanent steel pier
12' x 12' Roll-off-roof
WO ZS-66ED refractor
Meade DSI Pro II monochrome
Meade DSI II OSC
Orion 7nm Narrowband filters
73 de WB9SAT
[url=http://loganobservatory.shutterfly.com[/url]
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NewAstronomer
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 3020
Loc: Scranton, PA U.S.A
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Hello Bill Logan, thread hi jack in progess, I noticed you are using GIMP for post processing. You wouldn't happen to have any tutorials/tip/tricks/techniques would you ? I used it for awhile over a year or two ago, and have been wondering if other could share some knowledge.
PM me if you could ?
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Chris
279mm f/10 C11 SCT
250mm f/4.8 GSO Dob
70mm f/6 SV70ED
Atlas EQ-G + EQMOD
SVP Intelliscope & ST-4 Autoguide Mod
Vixen Portamount on the way!
DBK 21AU04
Olympus e-500 DSLR
Meade DSI-C
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Rick J
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/01/08
Posts: 1128
Loc: Mantrap Lake, MN
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A few points not mentioned.
Be sure you have auto dark enabled for the guider, otherwise noise can cause the failure to calibrate. Also a star of about the same brightness or greater moving into the FOV on a calibrate move will do the same as will underexposure.
With my Paramount I never check the reverse x box unless not doing so would move the guide star out of the FOV or too near an edge when in calibrate mode.
If the camera isn't rotated or removed the calibration is good and need never be done again. My camera is removed only about once every 6 months for cleaning filters of a few dust mots. So I calibrate only once every 6 months. Be sure to calibrate the imager as well as then you can center an object with one mouse click.
The declination won't appear in the box until you take a guider image, then it should appear. I've never had to enter it but at first I didn't realize I had to take an image to make it appear.
When taking color using the color menu you do not have to turn on AutoSave. But if you use take image then you must turn that on. Thus I usually use the color menu even if taking a mono image as I'm otherwise prone to forgetting to turn autosave on. Of course you still must set the directory.
With my Paramount no guide cable is needed. At one time I saw someone offer a plugin that would do the same with LX200 mounts. Not having that mount I never saved the link. If it works would be a nice addition. Anyone know if this is still available or if it even worked? Works great with the Paramount.
I always guide with the guide chip binned 3x3. Never had a problem though I usually only guide when taking subs longer than 10 minutes. Paramount and Tpoint handle the tracking 90% of the time.
Rick
Edited by Rick J (07/03/09 09:57 PM)
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zoran
member
Reged: 06/09/06
Posts: 189
Loc: Zagreb, Croatia
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Hello!
I also use CCDSoft and internal ST2000XM chip for self-guiding. In 90% of cases "invalid motion in X or Y axes" means that you have another star of the similar brightness as the one CCDSoft uses for the calibration in the FOV of the guider chip. For calibration CCDsoft always picks the brightest star in the guider FOV. If there is another star of the similar brightness in the same FOV, or such star enters guider chip FOV during the calibration you will get "Invalid motion" message, because CCDSoft loses track of the calibration star. Unfortunately the only parameter CCDSoft uses for tracking calibration star is its brightness, it doesn't check for star patterns or something else. The remedy is to find a star field with one star that is brighter than the rest of the stars in the vicinity and use it for calibration.
Regards,
Zoran
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WO Zenithstar 105ED
SBIG ST2000XM + CFW10
Losmandy GM8
Celestron Celestar 8
http://www.astrobeli.info
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SanDiegoPaul
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/22/05
Posts: 1344
Loc: San Diego
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Quote:
Hello!
I also use CCDSoft and internal ST2000XM chip for self-guiding. In 90% of cases "invalid motion in X or Y axes" means that you have another star of the similar brightness as the one CCDSoft uses for the calibration in the FOV of the guider chip. For calibration CCDsoft always picks the brightest star in the guider FOV. If there is another star of the similar brightness in the same FOV, or such star enters guider chip FOV during the calibration you will get "Invalid motion" message, because CCDSoft loses track of the calibration star. Unfortunately the only parameter CCDSoft uses for tracking calibration star is its brightness, it doesn't check for star patterns or something else. The remedy is to find a star field with one star that is brighter than the rest of the stars in the vicinity and use it for calibration.
Regards,
Zoran
Thank you Zoran for that. My method though, is to click on the star I wish to use for guiding. It flashes a square around the star that I choose. Are you saying that it will still get confused with a similar star, even after I have actually CHOSEN the one I want to guide with?
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Meade 10" Lx200-R with Mitty Evolution Wedge
Moonlight SCT Focuser
Stellarvue Raptor 90 Triplet
SBIG ST2000 XM Imager
SBIG ST402ME CCD Guider
Canon Digital Rebel DSLR
Meade DSI-c CCD Guide Cam
Please visit my gallery!
http://www.pbase.com/sandiegopaul/
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zoran
member
Reged: 06/09/06
Posts: 189
Loc: Zagreb, Croatia
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Hello Paul,
You can select guiding star but not the star for the calibration. Calibration star CCDSoft picks automatically and it is the brightest star in the guider FOV. Of course, you can click on the star, but for calibration purposes CCDSoft just ignores your selection. Normally you get "Invalid motion" messages only during the calibration process and that's where CCDSoft gets confused. Once you've done the calibration for the night you can select your own guiding star (which will generally not be the one CCDSoft used for the calibration) and no confusion is possible during the guiding.
Regards,
Zoran
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WO Zenithstar 105ED
SBIG ST2000XM + CFW10
Losmandy GM8
Celestron Celestar 8
http://www.astrobeli.info
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SanDiegoPaul
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/22/05
Posts: 1344
Loc: San Diego
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THANK YOU! So it chooses it OWN calibration star, but I choose MY OWN guide star. Got IT!
I greatly appreciate your reply.
Paul in San Diego
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Meade 10" Lx200-R with Mitty Evolution Wedge
Moonlight SCT Focuser
Stellarvue Raptor 90 Triplet
SBIG ST2000 XM Imager
SBIG ST402ME CCD Guider
Canon Digital Rebel DSLR
Meade DSI-c CCD Guide Cam
Please visit my gallery!
http://www.pbase.com/sandiegopaul/
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Joe F Gafford
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/15/06
Posts: 518
Loc: Denver, Colorado, US
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Paul, also if you use the color wheel, check the the guide star after the calibration with the blue filter selected. If it dims considerably or disappears, it is a red star. Sometimes other stars in the field will show brighter than that star with the luminance filter. Click the Auto button. The square will flash around the brightest star in the field. Do this with the blue filter selected. This will also prevent the "Guide star too dim" message during guiding when filters are switched.
I then click the autoguide button and have it autoguide with the blue filter still selected while I check the exposures in the Color tab or Take Image tab and the destination and filename prefix in the Autosave tab. Then I start the light exposures.
Focus of main image and calibration of guide star, Luminance filter.
Final selection of guide star and start autoguiding, Blue filter. Allow it to center the guide star before starting exposures. Allow 15 seconds of delay to recenter the guide star between exposures in the Color or Take Image tab do to the long downloading time, especially if you binned 1x1.
Joe.
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JMI 18" f4.5 Newtonian, split ring mount
10" f4.5 Newtonian on GEM (was a DS-10 once upon a time)
50 and 110 mm Mamiya RZ lenses with homemade adapter
ST-2000XM camera
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Dan G
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/27/06
Posts: 1761
Loc: Minisink, NY, USA
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Quote:
Paul, also if you use the color wheel, check the the guide star after the calibration with the blue filter selected. If it dims considerably or disappears, it is a red star. Sometimes other stars in the field will show brighter than that star with the luminance filter. Click the Auto button. The square will flash around the brightest star in the field. Do this with the blue filter selected. This will also prevent the "Guide star too dim" message during guiding when filters are switched.
I then click the autoguide button and have it autoguide with the blue filter still selected while I check the exposures in the Color tab or Take Image tab and the destination and filename prefix in the Autosave tab. Then I start the light exposures.
Focus of main image and calibration of guide star, Luminance filter.
Final selection of guide star and start autoguiding, Blue filter. Allow it to center the guide star before starting exposures. Allow 15 seconds of delay to recenter the guide star between exposures in the Color or Take Image tab do to the long downloading time, especially if you binned 1x1.
Joe.
Joe -
This is a great lesson regardless of the guiding SW one uses. Took me a while before I understood the need to do this. Nothing worse than losing an entire night's worth of B images due to this issue. Thanks for bringing it up.
Dan in NY
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TV 76, Vixen VC200L, TV NP-127is
EM-200, NJP
ML 8300, ST-402
Tranquility Base Observatory aka "The Shed" by non-tranquil members of the house
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SanDiegoPaul
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/22/05
Posts: 1344
Loc: San Diego
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Quote:
Paul, also if you use the color wheel, check the the guide star after the calibration with the blue filter selected. If it dims considerably or disappears, it is a red star. Sometimes other stars in the field will show brighter than that star with the luminance filter. Click the Auto button. The square will flash around the brightest star in the field. Do this with the blue filter selected. This will also prevent the "Guide star too dim" message during guiding when filters are switched.
I then click the autoguide button and have it autoguide with the blue filter still selected while I check the exposures in the Color tab or Take Image tab and the destination and filename prefix in the Autosave tab. Then I start the light exposures.
Focus of main image and calibration of guide star, Luminance filter.
Final selection of guide star and start autoguiding, Blue filter. Allow it to center the guide star before starting exposures. Allow 15 seconds of delay to recenter the guide star between exposures in the Color or Take Image tab do to the long downloading time, especially if you binned 1x1.
Joe.
Joe that's a bunch of great info there. Thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive reply! Wow the learning curve here never seems to end! 
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Meade 10" Lx200-R with Mitty Evolution Wedge
Moonlight SCT Focuser
Stellarvue Raptor 90 Triplet
SBIG ST2000 XM Imager
SBIG ST402ME CCD Guider
Canon Digital Rebel DSLR
Meade DSI-c CCD Guide Cam
Please visit my gallery!
http://www.pbase.com/sandiegopaul/
|
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