15 replies to this topic

[rlmxracer]

Last night (only my 4th imaging) I tried to image a target (M42) which transit the Meridian in the middle of the session. I currently only image with the asiair live mode because I don't have a computer to post process. I paused the imaging and guiding and let the target get across the meridian. I thought I could just go to the target from one of the images in the stack by going into the EMC drive on the app. When I did that it didn't slew to the target and I had to stop the goto and start over. I just selected M42 in the skyatlas on the app and it found it after a few tries. When I tried to resume imaging I guess it was not framed perfectly so it started showing gray bars at the edge because of the miss alignment. I don't think in live mode you can do an automatic Meridian flip at least I did not see an option in the set up menu. Also is it possible to image over multiple sessions continuing on a target on a live stack with asiair? I'd like to hear some of the more experienced asiair users workflows for this. Thanks, Rob.

Edited by rlmxracer, 07 February 2025 - 02:21 PM.

[tcm2007]

Can you not just do a regular plan mode, then do the stacking on the ASIair later ?

Edited by tcm2007, 07 February 2025 - 11:31 AM.

[rlmxracer]

Can you not just do a regular plan mode, then do the stacking on the ASIair later ?

I'm honestly not sure if I can stack on the Air from plan mode.  

[soojooko]

Last night (only my 4th imaging) I tried to image a target (M42) which transit the Meridian in the middle of the session. I currently only image with the asiair live mode because I don't have a computer to post process. I paused the imaging and guiding and let the target get across the meridian. I thought I could just go to the target from one of the images in the stack by going into the EMC drive on the app. When I did that it didn't slew to the target and I had to stop the goto and star over. I just selected M42 in the skyatlas on the app and it found it after a few tries. when I tried to resume imaging I guess it was not framed perfectly so it started showing gray bars at the edge because of the miss alignment. I don't think in live mode you can do an automatic Meridian flip at least I did not see an option in the set up menu.

In preview/live mode you can't meridian flip as you suspected. I would honestly suggest you learn how to use plan mode.

 

Also is it possible to image over multiple sessions continuing on a target on a live stack with asiair? I'd like to hear some of the more experienced asiair users workflows for this. Thanks, Rob.

What I do is use plan mode, and connect my PC indoors to my ASIair via WiFi to see the folder containing the files. You can then use "live stacking" in something like Siril or ASTAP to stack the images appearing in that folder as they are created. For example, see this page for instructions how to do this using Siril: https://siril.readth.../Livestack.html

Edited by soojooko, 07 February 2025 - 11:38 AM.

[rlmxracer]

In preview/live mode you can't meridian flip as you suspected. I would honestly suggest you learn how to use plan mode.

 

What I do is use plan mode, and connect my PC indoors to my ASIair via WiFi to see the folder containing the files. You can then use "live stacking" in something like Siril or ASTAP to stack the images appearing in that folder as they are created. For example, see this page for instructions how to do this using Siril: https://siril.readth.../Livestack.html

I don't currently have a computer so it looks like I will be limited until I do. I am horribly computer illiterate so I was hoping to be able to manage most things on my Ipad. 

[soojooko]

I don't currently have a computer so it looks like I will be limited until I do. I am horribly computer illiterate so I was hoping to be able to manage most things on my Ipad. 

In that case you have to choose what's more important to you: live stacking or automation including meridian flipping. I would still suggest learning to use plan mode. I was also quite reluctant to use anything but live mode in the beginning. But after getting used to plan mode, it was a real game changer for me. Basically, anything that reduces the need to perform tedious tasks is always good in this hobby.

[rlmxracer]

In that case you have to choose what's more important to you: live stacking or automation including meridian flipping. I would still suggest learning to use plan mode. I was also quite reluctant to use anything but live mode in the beginning. But after getting used to plan mode, it was a real game changer for me. Basically, anything that reduces the need to perform tedious tasks is always good in this hobby.

Is it possible to run everything in Siril with the asiair or are you running the mount, guiding, and image capture on a tablet while stacking on a laptop in Siril?

[soojooko]

Is it possible to run everything in Siril with the asiair or are you running the mount, guiding, and image capture on a tablet while stacking on a laptop in Siril?

The latter is correct: ASIair does the capturing and Siril live stacks.

[Exquisitus]

I guess I have always used autorun.  It auto meridian flips, refocuses and does it all for me.  I just watch the pictures roll in on my tablet while doing other things.  I have never meridian flipped view preview window before. 

[PIEJr]

I don't currently have a computer so it looks like I will be limited until I do. I am horribly computer illiterate so I was hoping to be able to manage most things on my Ipad. 

What if you try posting your data over here to get it processed?

https://www.cloudyni...ead/?p=12475821

[PhilHoyle]

Suggestions:  Buy a PC.  You can save a TON of money if you buy a remanufactured one from Best Buy or Staples.

[rlmxracer]

I was able to complete a meridian flip and keep imaging the target on live mode. My rig can image a bit past the meridian so I just let the object cross, paused the image and guiding, then went into the sky atlas and just hit goto again on the target without moving it. I recalibrated the guiding and then began shooting again. 

[luxo II]

Last night (only my 4th imaging) I tried to image a target (M42) which transit the Meridian in the middle of the session. I currently only image with the asiair live mode because I don't have a computer to post process. I paused the imaging and guiding and let the target get across the meridian. I thought I could just go to the target from one of the images in the stack by going into the EMC drive on the app. When I did that it didn't slew to the target and I had to stop the goto and start over. I just selected M42 in the skyatlas on the app and it found it after a few tries. When I tried to resume imaging I guess it was not framed perfectly so it started showing gray bars at the edge because of the miss alignment. I don't think in live mode you can do an automatic Meridian flip at least I did not see an option in the set up menu. Also is it possible to image over multiple sessions continuing on a target on a live stack with asiair? I'd like to hear some of the more experienced asiair users workflows for this. Thanks, Rob.

Use AUTORUN:

 

- when you select the target in PREVIEW mode, even if you have manually re-positioned the target to taste, hit the SYNC button BEFORE you start AUTORUN.

 

- plate-solving for GOTO should be ON;

- meridian flip during AUTORUN should be ON;

- refocus after meridian flip should be ON (if you have an EAF).

 

This way:

 

1. Before the flip, the SYNC makes sure ASIAir then know exactly where it is pointing;

2. It will stop the last exposure before it gets to the meridian, automatically; then

3. It will stop the mount tracking for a few minutes and do the flip automatically - I sit in the car and watch;

4. After the flip it will GOTO re-acquire the position you SYNC'd it to at step 1, and verifies it with a plate solve;

5. It refocuses, and

6. Resumes imaging.

 

All by itself.

 

Rookie mistakes:

 

1. failing to SYNC on the position before you started the image capture. without the SYNC, after the flip it will GOTO the catalog position of the target again, exactly as you described.

 

2. noticing that imaging and the mount tracking stopped, and panicking - and attempting to intervene without realizing it will do the flip if you set it that way;

 

3. attempting to intervene to manually do the flip.

 

4. Not using AUTORUN - this is the mode that will store the images in the EMMC and you retrieve them afterwards.

 

The LIVE mode is really only for LIVE stacking (EAA) to show spectators then-and-there, eg an outreach night. While its remarkable that the little ASIAir has the guts to stack at all, it doesn't do half as good a job as a desktop app like AstroPixelProcessor or PixInsight.

 

And not a PC in sight.

 

NB: I am halfway through writing "ASIAir: The Missing Manual"; should finish in April. When this is done I'll submitting it to CN for publication.

Edited by luxo II, 09 February 2025 - 09:22 PM.

[rlmxracer]

Use AUTORUN:

 

- when you select the target in PREVIEW mode, even if you have manually re-positioned the target to taste, hit the SYNC button BEFORE you start AUTORUN.

 

- plate-solving for GOTO should be ON;

- meridian flip during AUTORUN should be ON;

- refocus after meridian flip should be ON (if you have an EAF).

 

This way:

 

1. Before the flip, the SYNC makes sure ASIAir then know exactly where it is pointing;

2. It will stop the last exposure before it gets to the meridian, automatically; then

3. It will stop the mount tracking for a few minutes and do the flip automatically - I sit in the car and watch;

4. After the flip it will GOTO re-acquire the position you SYNC'd it to at step 1, and verifies it with a plate solve;

5. It refocuses, and

6. Resumes imaging.

 

All by itself.

 

Rookie mistakes:

 

1. failing to SYNC on the position before you started the image capture. without the SYNC, after the flip it will GOTO the catalog position of the target again, exactly as you described.

 

2. noticing that imaging and the mount tracking stopped, and panicking - and attempting to intervene without realizing it will do the flip if you set it that way;

 

3. attempting to intervene to manually do the flip.

 

4. Not using AUTORUN - this is the mode that will store the images in the EMMC and you retrieve them afterwards.

 

The LIVE mode is really only for LIVE stacking (EAA) to show spectators then-and-there, eg an outreach night. While its remarkable that the little ASIAir has the guts to stack at all, it doesn't do half as good a job as a desktop app like AstroPixelProcessor or PixInsight.

 

And not a PC in sight.

 

NB: I am halfway through writing "ASIAir: The Missing Manual"; should finish in April. When this is done I'll submitting it to CN for publication.

Thanks for your tips. I definitely look forward to your manual. 

[rlmxracer]

I have watched probably 300 videos about how ASiair works and finally someone pointed out a feature that allows you to select images and stack them in the app. I understand that it not a full suite of image processing but it will work for now. It is located on the screen for the EMMC storage at the bottom "DSO Stacking". I was able to make several dark and bias masters. Now it appears I can have full access to the imaging controls including a the automatic meridian flip. I will obviously have to get a thumb drive to store the images. 

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Edited by rlmxracer, 10 February 2025 - 09:35 AM.

[luxo II]

I have watched probably 300 videos about how ASiair works and finally someone pointed out a feature that allows you to select images and stack them in the app. I understand that it not a full suite of image processing but it will work for now. It is located on the screen for the EMMC storage at the bottom "DSO Stacking". I was able to make several dark and bias masters. Now it appears I can have full access to the imaging controls including a the automatic meridian flip. I will obviously have to get a thumb drive to store the images. 

This one aspect of the ASIAir's user interface I dislike - the use of graphical icons arrayed around the edges where, depending on which mode you select, the entire UI changes fundamentally - and its not immediately obvious which ones to use.

 

Icons and no menus are ok on a simple small display like a phone or webpage, but for something as complex as ASIAir it is IMHO on the verge of becoming quite difficult to use. And if you have tried using ASIAir on a phone you have already experienced this.

 

As a software dabbler long ago this was the pint of Apple's 1980's "human interface guidelines" - put all the functions in hierarchical menus/menuitems where most users know where to look, and will find all of them at a glance.

 

Without needing a 50-page manual, and this is a significant issue - my manual is heading for over 60 pages, which is indicative of the significant complexity in ASIAir.

 

NB regarding storage... I have the AA Plus with 256GB, that does seem to be plenty for imaging with the ASI2600MC DUO. If you intend to capture video though it could be limited; my experience with the ASI533MC Pro connected to a fast laptop was that the video stream from that could chew 9GB per minute, though I don't think the ASIAir hardware is that quick.

Edited by luxo II, 10 February 2025 - 04:30 PM.