10 replies to this topic

[dave85374]

I went out to a star party tonight and the first thing that came up on my ASIAIR Pro was that I needed to update my software, so I did.  The result was terrible,  All my stars came out like bubbles.  I was out last night for a couple of hours and no problem, and I was out last Sunday for almost 3 hours with no problem.  The only difference in the three nights was the software update.  Has anyone had such a problem?

 

Posting one photo to show the problem I had.  Photo reduced in size to meet site requirements.  You will have to click on the photo to see the problem.  The stars look like bubbles from a bubble machine.  Photo is M46 only 6 8 second shots with a gain of 100.  I had the same problem with M102 & M42 so I packed up and went home for a nice scotch.

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Edited by dave85374, Yesterday, 12:26 AM.

[mojtabacazi]

I went out to a star party tonight and the first thing that came up on my ASIAIR Pro was that I needed to update my software, so I did. The result was terrible, All my stars came out like bubbles. I was out last night for a couple of hours and no problem, and I was out last Sunday for almost 3 hours with no problem. The only difference in the three nights was the software update. Has anyone had such a problem?

Posting one photo to show the problem I had. Photo reduced in size to meet site requirements. You will have to click on the photo to see the problem. The stars look like bubbles from a bubble machine. Photo is M46 only 6 8 second shots with a gain of 100. I had the same problem with M102 & M42 so I packed up and went home for a nice scotch.

What scope is this? Have you checked collimation ? This is an optical issue not software. (Assuming this isn’t a joke )

[Tfer]

Focus is off, and your collimation is out. 

Edited by Tfer, Yesterday, 07:33 AM.

[alphatripleplus]

I agree with the comments that the image problems are to do with the optics, not the software update. In addition, it looks like you might have some sensor tilt, as the stars in one of the corners are more heavily distorted vs the other corners. What scope set-up were your using?

[steveincolo]

Since you drove to a star party, I'd guess that the Hyperstar got knocked out of collimation, or the collimation screws loosened.

[dave85374]

Using my normal stock Celestron Evolution 8 with HyperStar 8, ASIAIR Pro, ASI533mc Pro, & Bahtinov mask.  No guide scope involved.  As normal, I used a Bahtinov mask to start the evening and only had to slightly move the manual focus knob from where it was the night before then put the mask away.  Sirius which I used for focusing with the mask looked normal but then I had the Mask on the scope.

 

The distance traveled to the site was 25 miles with HyperStar & camera removed so the scope will go into my Celestron padded caring case.  The road is smooth divided highway.  No fast stops, or bumps anywhere along the way.  No screws on the HS were loose when I attached it to the scope.  Can't really see how the scope could be out of collimation on such a short trip.

 

In the photo I posted, the stars look like bubbles, but NGC2438 in the photo looks normal.

 

Looks like the first thing I will do is get out my eyepieces and look at a star to see if the scope shows any collimation problem without the camera stuff in the way.  Now need another decent night to try that.

 

Thanks for the comments. 

[steveincolo]

Using my normal stock Celestron Evolution 8 with HyperStar 8, ASIAIR Pro, ASI533mc Pro, & Bahtinov mask.  No guide scope involved.  As normal, I used a Bahtinov mask to start the evening and only had to slightly move the manual focus knob from where it was the night before then put the mask away.  Sirius which I used for focusing with the mask looked normal but then I had the Mask on the scope.

 

The distance traveled to the site was 25 miles with HyperStar & camera removed so the scope will go into my Celestron padded caring case.  The road is smooth divided highway.  No fast stops, or bumps anywhere along the way.  No screws on the HS were loose when I attached it to the scope.  Can't really see how the scope could be out of collimation on such a short trip.

 

In the photo I posted, the stars look like bubbles, but NGC2438 in the photo looks normal.

 

Looks like the first thing I will do is get out my eyepieces and look at a star to see if the scope shows any collimation problem without the camera stuff in the way.  Now need another decent night to try that.

 

Thanks for the comments. 

The eyepiece won't work, because you'll be replacing the Hyperstar with the secondary.  The two have completely separate collimation adjustments.  It's definitely the Hyperstar, no matter how smooth the ride (and it's definitely not the ASIAir software update). When you removed it from the OTA and replaced it, it went out of collimation.  It could be that you didn't tighten it fully when screwing it in to the corrector.  The Hyperstar is very sensitive to collimation errors.

 

Note that this happened with objects that couldn't be at the zenith (e.g. M42), so it's not star trailing from field rotation.

Edited by steveincolo, Yesterday, 10:50 AM.

[dave85374]

Hi Steve.  I realize that collimation could be on the telescope or the HyperStar so I thought I would check the telescope first as that would be the easiest and the HS & camera are not off the scope now.  If that is OK then I would do the second check and remove the secondary and attach the HS & camera and shoot something.  If that is still bad then contact Starizona in Tucson.

[steveincolo]

Hi Steve.  I realize that collimation could be on the telescope or the HyperStar so I thought I would check the telescope first as that would be the easiest and the HS & camera are not off the scope now.  If that is OK then I would do the second check and remove the secondary and attach the HS & camera and shoot something.  If that is still bad then contact Starizona in Tucson.

I don’t think the eyepiece view will tell you anything very useful.  It’s very unlikely that the corrector plate or primary (which are the optical components that are common to the two systems) are the problem.  Remember that the only thing that changed is that you took the Hyperstar off and put it back on.  That wouldn’t affect the other components.  

Edited by steveincolo, Yesterday, 11:47 AM.

[steveincolo]

I just noticed this post, which has excellent advice on installing the Hyperstar. 

[dave85374]

I have been using the HyperStar for about 20 months now and have never had a problem before the other night.  Will test it again on the next clear night and if I have the same problem I will call Starizona.

 

I told the guys on the site Steve sent me to how to make darks, dark flats, and flats with the 294 which should help they were not doing it properly or at least the way I always did it.