18 replies to this topic

[Stonius]

I'm curious at having a go at this. I have a Gemini 2 L6, which can receive satellite tracking commands via ASCOM.

 

So what are the options for software to make it track, say the ISS?

 

Markus

[Bubblehead_Mike]

This made me start some google-ing. Looks like there's https://www.heavenscape.com/faq.html  I'm researching it now. Looks promising.

[kgb]

You can try SkyTrack (heavenscape.com). I've been meaning to check this app out, but haven't had the chance. Cuiv the lazy geek did a video on it a few years ago. https://youtu.be/CM6zQ3XL_m0.

[davidmalanick]

I'm curious at having a go at this. I have a Gemini 2 L6, which can receive satellite tracking commands via ASCOM.

 

So what are the options for software to make it track, say the ISS?

 

Markus

SkyTrack. Then go to the GroupsIO for Losmandy, https://groups.io/g/...dy_users/topics and ask what settings people are using. There are some little settings that need to be set. First In Gemini you need to enable variable moveaxis rate and calibrate the Gemini within Sky Track. Second you need to calibrate the moveaxis within SkyTrack. Set tracking rate update frequency 1500ms.

[Stonius]

SkyTrack. Then go to the GroupsIO for Losmandy, https://groups.io/g/...dy_users/topics and ask what settings people are using. There are some little settings that need to be set. First In Gemini you need to enable variable moveaxis rate and calibrate the Gemini within Sky Track. Second you need to calibrate the moveaxis within SkyTrack. Set tracking rate update frequency 1500ms.

Thanks David, that looks like the ticket - and thank you for letting me know there are some tweaks to be made before it will work properly.

[bosh60]

https://www.youtube....h?v=JKQEOJ-tWww

[ButterFly]

SkyTrack works very well if your mount can do continuous tracking.  It's honestly easier than getting TLEs into the mount.  Get a Network Time Protocol, such as Meinberg, on your computer to set the time as best as you can.

 

SkyTrack has a generous trial period, so wait until there are some opportune ISS or CSS passes for your viewing area.  Even run of the mill points of light are fun to track as they crash into all your favorite DSOs.

[ButterFly]

https://www.youtube....h?v=JKQEOJ-tWww

Thanks a bunch!

[ex-Bubblehead]

SkyTrack works very well if your mount can do continuous tracking. It's honestly easier than getting TLEs into the mount. Get a Network Time Protocol, such as Meinberg, on your computer to set the time as best as you can.

SkyTrack has a generous trial period, so wait until there are some opportune ISS or CSS passes for your viewing area. Even run of the mill points of light are fun to track as they crash into all your favorite DSOs.

Generous trial period and very low cost afterwards. My mount does not support variable slew rate, but it is fun to see it slew bit by bit around the sky.

[NovaAstroFog]

I have found nothing as nearly as blood pumping exciting to do with my telescope than chasing ISS using manual tracking with an EQ mount. It's hard, but the adrenalin rush is real, even if you end up with 25 gigs of black frames. With the EQ mount, it's key to align your scope to the orbit of the space station. In theory, if it were to pass 90d overhead and you nailed the alignment, you could track the entire pass with just RA movement and a meridian flip. I couldn't figure out how to get my GoTo mount to align automatically, and after trying different methods to get reasonably close, I realized I could use HeavensGate App on my phone to take a lot of the guess work out of it. With no time for adjustments it's nice to be as close as you can to being on track. I can't load the video, but you can get the idea from a few images.

It's a lot more fun than dealing with more software. You'll be out of breath and shaking after the 2 minutes of game time. It's awesome, even when all black frames.

 

[ButterFly]

It's nicer to see the whole pass though. The panels of the stations get quite red when passing in and out of the shadow. And you get to watch it rotate as it passes over and gets bigger.

Seeing a docked Dragon with my 15" for the first time was rather awesome.

For hand tracking with my EQ mount, I would just loosen the clutches and have a go. It's better tracking with an alt az mount in general because the eyepiece doesn't end up in weird locations.

[NovaAstroFog]

It's nicer to see the whole pass though. The panels of the stations get quite red when passing in and out of the shadow. And you get to watch it rotate as it passes over and gets bigger.

Seeing a docked Dragon with my 15" for the first time was rather awesome.

For hand tracking with my EQ mount, I would just loosen the clutches and have a go. It's better tracking with an alt az mount in general because the eyepiece doesn't end up in weird locations.

I use a correct image guide scope to follow it, and my exp time is set for its brightest point, so when low, I don't pick it up with the camera. I would buy a fork mount or big Dob if I wanted to spend money and take too much of the challenge out of it.

What are eye-pieces? 

[ButterFly]

Some challenges are fun indeed.  But you don't need a fork mount or a big dob to use SkyTrack.  It with fine CPWI, so my AVX does well.  I'm not sure whether your CG4 can use CPWI.  The better your polar alignment, the better the tracking.  The better the star alignment, the better the acquisition.  SkyTrack was one of the reasons I coded up a platesolving alignment routine for aligning CPWI.

 

An Eyepiece is what one looks through when using a telescope visually.  My refractor has a clicklock visual back, so it makes rotating the diagonal (the thing the eyepiece goes into) easier.

 

If photography is your goal, work on tracking it!

[NovaAstroFog]

I think I paid for SkyTrack, is that the one that the guy asks 9 bucks or something for and donates the proceeds?

[NovaAstroFog]

Some challenges are fun indeed.  But you don't need a fork mount or a big dob to use SkyTrack.  It with fine CPWI, so my AVX does well.  I'm not sure whether your CG4 can use CPWI.  The better your polar alignment, the better the tracking.  The better the star alignment, the better the acquisition.  SkyTrack was one of the reasons I coded up a platesolving alignment routine for aligning CPWI.

 

An Eyepiece is what one looks through when using a telescope visually.  My refractor has a clicklock visual back, so it makes rotating the diagonal (the thing the eyepiece goes into) easier.

 

If photography is your goal, work on tracking it!

I think I paid for SkyTrack, is that the one that the guy asks 9 bucks or something for and donates the proceeds? Does it actually track or leapfrog?

My AVX is on my pier and since I align to the center of ISS orbit and not polar north when chasing it, I just threw by CG4 head into the unused AVX tripod and makes a good manual kit without screwing with my pier. I am only moving RA axis, and I leapfrog, getting just ahead and have it pass through the viewer with scope and camera still. I started AP after I bought myself an Edge8 and a 224MC for Christmas last year. I have some OK shots of ISS for a complete rookie learning from scratch, but it hasn't all come together for me to get a wall hanger. My last great opportunity was the only 85+Lat pass using this alignment process and I nailed it, again and again at 150 FPS. I guess I didn't change to SER and it recorded in AVI which at least allowed me to view the video immediately after which showed ISS at max Alt looking perfect as it crossed the sensor over and over again........I thought I was going to have over 1000 frames of ISS.......but for some reason, the AVI saved at 30 FPS...I cried just a little bit. The monsoons have denied me another shot for over a month since.

Maybe I'll give SkyTrack another chance after I get something I'm proud of. With everything I have had to learn from shooting at f10, f7 and the Hyperstar, PixInsight, DSO to Planetary, I have had to set some priorities, you know? 

[ButterFly]

I think I paid for SkyTrack, is that the one that the guy asks 9 bucks or something for and donates the proceeds? Does it actually track or leapfrog?

My AVX is on my pier and since I align to the center of ISS orbit and not polar north when chasing it, I just threw by CG4 head into the unused AVX tripod and makes a good manual kit without screwing with my pier. I am only moving RA axis, and I leapfrog, getting just ahead and have it pass through the viewer with scope and camera still. I started AP after I bought myself an Edge8 and a 224MC for Christmas last year. I have some OK shots of ISS for a complete rookie learning from scratch, but it hasn't all come together for me to get a wall hanger. My last great opportunity was the only 85+Lat pass using this alignment process and I nailed it, again and again at 150 FPS. I guess I didn't change to SER and it recorded in AVI which at least allowed me to view the video immediately after which showed ISS at max Alt looking perfect as it crossed the sensor over and over again........I thought I was going to have over 1000 frames of ISS.......but for some reason, the AVI saved at 30 FPS...I cried just a little bit. The monsoons have denied me another shot for over a month since.

Maybe I'll give SkyTrack another chance after I get something I'm proud of. With everything I have had to learn from shooting at f10, f7 and the Hyperstar, PixInsight, DSO to Planetary, I have had to set some priorities, you know? 

That guy is bosh60 above.  If you paid for it, you may as well use it.  The ISS won't be up forever, but the Veil Nebula will (effectively)!  It's quite easy to get to know SkyTrack.  Its learning curve isn't very steep at all, and really handles everything for you.  And your mount can do continuous tracking.  Getting a good alignment, and the time correct, is the hard part.  With a handcontroller, it was incredibly difficult.  With platesolving, and an internet time protocol, it's an unattended five minutes while I do other things to get ready.

 

I'd rather just look at the thing.  It's less stressful.  Look over others' exposure and gain guidance, and how to focus, posts to save you some trouble.  Because of the rotation and size change as it passes over, you will have to chunk the pass anyway.  There's just more potential for more in-focus frames.  Satellite imaging is a hard endeavor and I'm always super impressed by the efforts even if results are less than perfect.

[bosh60]

The number one thing to success with SkyTrack is a good alignment.  Test our your alignment by slewing to some bright stars, obviously  if you don't get the stars in the field of view then you will not get satellites.  Start with "leap frog tracking"  by leaving "Continuous Tracking" unchecked.  When you have that working well, then venture on to continuous tracking where timing is more critical.

 

I think I paid for SkyTrack, is that the one that the guy asks 9 bucks or something for and donates the proceeds?

That is correct.  In fact, SkyTrack proceeds are currently helping to fund a project that I am working on.  We are sending 1.2 million servings of dehydrated soup to an impoverished area in Northern Kenya to a school.  If the kids know they will be getting a meal, they are much more likely to show up for school. 

Edited by bosh60, 09 August 2023 - 03:38 PM.

[HxPI]

Luminos Pro app and AZ-GTi mount is another option.

Edited by HxPI, 10 August 2023 - 02:24 AM.

[NovaAstroFog]

That is correct.  In fact, SkyTrack proceeds are currently helping to fund a project that I am working on.  We are sending 1.2 million servings of dehydrated soup to an impoverished area in Northern Kenya to a school.  If the kids know they will be getting a meal, they are much more likely to show up for school. 

Awesome, honestly, what made me purchase it when I did was seeing that you were donating the proceeds. I was trying to learn too much already at that time and had no business thinking abut ISS. I had bought my Edge800 right after Christmas after walking into a store as ignorant as one could be about this hobby called Starizona. I was 50/50 that it might sell used records and lava lamps along with telescopes to keep the doors open. I am still not sure if it was a blessing or a curse that Dean greeted me and asked me what I wanted to do. I didn't buy everything at once, but it wasn't long before I was trying to solve back focus issues, different guiding needs and exp times for f2, f7 and f10, and was in my first week or so of "PixInsight Bootcamp" when I came across your sight. I don't think I would have purchased it had I not seen that you were donating. I still haven't gotten around to playing with it; but I will.

Good on you Brent. This shining ball of blue we call our home could use a lot more folks like you on it. Cheers - "Dustin Gazz"