63 replies to this topic

[JeffreyC]

 

Newbie take away: - Shows me things I didn't even know existed, but I wish it would stop wiggling when I'm trying to focus.

A pencil double-sided taped or glued to a spring-type paper clip gives you a pretty light touch fine focus adjustment.  You may have to temporarily unclip for large focus changes when swapping out some eyepieces.

 

[Nightskyman]

I don’t understand the purpose of using the “figure 8” or other methods to orient the phones “compass “ when orientation is actually accomplished by plate solving ?

[RobertMaples]

I don’t understand the purpose of using the “figure 8” or other methods to orient the phones “compass “ when orientation is actually accomplished by plate solving ?

When you are moving the telescope, the app uses the phone's accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass to track it's movement and when you stop it plate solves to get a more accurate location.  The more accurately it tracks the movement, the more accurate the app is before plate solving and the quicker it plate solves, making for a smoother all around experience.

[Nightskyman]

Makes sense but wouldn’t it have to be done while in the StarSense app? From past experience, if I did that in an app, then exited the app, and immediately went back in it would need to be done again even though I had just done it the first time a few minutes prior. And because I had to be in the app for it to work, again, wouldn’t you need to be in the StarSense app then as well?

[drago6817]

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A pencil double-sided taped or glued to a spring-type paper clip gives you a pretty light touch fine focus adjustment.  You may have to temporarily unclip for large focus changes when swapping out some eyepieces.

This is brilliant! Thank you! I'm going to try it out asap.

[Danny Linguini]

I don’t understand the purpose of using the “figure 8” or other methods to orient the phones “compass “ when orientation is actually accomplished by plate solving ?

That’s what the phone’s compass (or app that uses the compass) usually asks you to do when it thinks the compass needs recalibrating. I think plate solving is a combination of recognizing the star patterns it’s looking at with the phone’s geographic location and it’s compass direction. 

[Sky_LO]

You shouldn't have to move the scope all that slowly.   

 

The starsense unit  WILL lose its position, but just slightly.   

While you are moving the phone's gyroscope and compass are in charge. 

Those are never all that accurate.      

 

Once you are done moving to your next object, you let go of the scope.

and once it is still it will take a photo and "plate solve" 

which compares the photo it just took to photos (plates) in its library of star and object positions. 

 

It should then 'recalcujlate" and the screen will show where the target is so you can nudge the scope into position. 

It shouldn't be that far off.   

 

Hope this helps. 

-Lauren   

Edited by Sky_LO, 21 February 2023 - 11:38 PM.

[Danny Linguini]

You shouldn't have to move the scope all that slowly.   

 

The starsense unit  WILL lose its position, but just slightly.   

While you are moving the phone's gyroscope and compass are in charge. 

Those are never all that accurate.      

 

Once you are done moving to your next object, you let go of the scope.

and once it is still it will take a photo and "plate solve" 

which compares the photo it just took to photos (plates) in its library of star and object positions. 

 

It should then 'recalcujlate" and the screen will show where the target is so you can nudge the scope into position. 

It shouldn't be that far off.   

 

Hope this helps. 

-Lauren   

This, as long as where you move the scope to still has a clear view of enough stars for it to plate solve. One night (out of only three so far) was a bit too hazy, and the app was having a hard time finding its bearings after moving the scope too quickly and/or too far to a target. But the other two nights, as long as I took the time to align it well from the start, every target I went after was dead on. It’s quite impressive in action. 

[rhetfield]

Makes sense but wouldn’t it have to be done while in the StarSense app? From past experience, if I did that in an app, then exited the app, and immediately went back in it would need to be done again even though I had just done it the first time a few minutes prior. And because I had to be in the app for it to work, again, wouldn’t you need to be in the StarSense app then as well?

No, it has nothing to do with the star sense app.  It is all about the phone being able to know what direction it is facing.  If the phone is confused, it will report the wrong information to the app.

[Nightskyman]

So do you have to do this figure 8 to your phone each time before using Starsense?

[Danny Linguini]

So do you have to do this figure 8 to your phone each time before using Starsense?

I have never had to recalibrate the compass in my iPhone for StarSense, SkySafari or Stellarium. My iPad, on the other hand, is another story. Luckily I only use StarSense on my phone. 

[Sky_LO]

Agree, you don't need to recalibrate your compass.   I never have.  Normal movements will calibrate it. 

 

-Lauren

[Tony Flanders]

Agree, you don't need to recalibrate your compass.   I never have.

Phone compasses vary wildly in quality. IPhones seem to have good ones. The one on my Pixel 3a is better than nothing, but only a little better.

[rhetfield]

So do you have to do this figure 8 to your phone each time before using Starsense?

You do not have to do it every time.  Just when the phone does not point in the right direction.  Some phones are better than others.  Generally the phone will display a notification if it thinks that it is not working right.  Some phones hate being around metal.  I haven't tried with the current phone, but the compass on the last one would not work if near my metal OTA.  Phone sensors are not very high precision to begin with, which is why the camera and plate solving are used.  The plate solving is dependent on the quality of the camera and it's ability to see in the dark.  Iphones are good at it, but few androids are optimized for seeing in the dark.  Android cameras and sensors are hit or miss due to the wide variety of manufacturers and price points.