Hi All,

I can’t seem to get the filter offsets to work correctly.
I have a Ha filter that has a -324 offset from the Red filter.

When CCDAP3 gets to Ha light series it moves the focuser by -324 count, focuses on a sky star, changes focus by 314 counts (to the clear filter) and slews back for a plate solve, then begins the light series without -314 counts to get back to the Ha filter.

---- LOG FILE ----

00:58:18 Light Series 5: 1 light frame(s), binned 1x1, HA filter, 60 seconds, focus at series start.
00:58:22 Focuser moved by -324 to 6109
00:58:23 Telescope RA: 10 45 21.4, Dec: -59 44 33
00:58:25 Guider stopped.
00:58:25 Guider stopped.
00:58:25 Focusing using HA filter...
00:58:25 Telescope RA: 10 45 21.4, Dec: -59 44 33
00:58:25 Telescope RA: 10 45 21.4, Dec: -59 44 33
00:58:26 Moving to focus star number 1, SAO 238379 at 63 deg. altitude
00:58:26 Slewing scope...
00:58:28 Slewed to RA: 10 42 54.8, Dec: -59 14 52
00:58:28 Mount settling for 3 sec. after slew.
00:59:56 Focus position: 6108, HFD: 2.8 arc-sec., Temp.: 55.9
00:59:56 Returning to target...
00:59:56 Slewing scope...
00:59:58 Slewed to RA: 10 45 19.3, Dec: -59 42 43
00:59:58 Mount settling for 3 sec. after slew.
01:00:01 Plate solving...
01:00:01 Telescope RA: 10 45 19.4, Dec: -59 42 43
01:00:06 Focuser moved by 314 to 6108
01:00:29 D:\CCDAutoPilot3\060212_Key Hole Nebula\..\CCDAutoPilot_SyncImages\SyncImage_Key Hole Nebula_010029.fit
01:00:30 Solved RA: 10 45 03.0, Dec: -59 38 59
01:00:30 Pointing error (arcmin): RA 0.0; Dec 1.8
01:00:30 Slewing scope...
01:00:32 Slewed to RA: 10 45 21.3, Dec: -59 44 31
01:00:32 Mount settling for 3 sec. after slew.
01:00:35 Location corrected
01:00:35 Done focusing
01:00:36 Dither: +0.0, +0.0,
01:01:07 Guider running
01:01:19 Guide Error X: 1.0, Y: 1.5
01:01:30 Guide Error X: 0.7, Y: 0.1
01:01:42 Guide Error X: 0.5, Y: 0.3
01:01:42 Altitude: 63 deg.
01:01:42 Exposing...
01:03:01 D:\CCDAutoPilot3\060212_Key Hole Nebula\HA_Key Hole Nebula_00010.fit
01:03:01 *** Average altitude for this series is 63 deg.
01:03:06 Focuser moved by 324 to 6746

I have since changed the plate solve filter to Red without any success.

Log, Config and Sample Image files can be download from here:

http://www.southern-astro.com.au/files/4JohnSmith/ha-problem.zip

Many Thanks,
Brad Moore

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Brad Moore,

Additionally I also changed to focus with the Red filter, however that didn't help either.

Brad,

I think you need to set your reference offset filter the same as your plate solve filter. For example, if you set the clear filter as your plate solve filter, then your offsets would be r: +10, G: +29, B: +3, C: 0, Ha: -314.

I believe that should work. I will amend the help file to include this recommendation.

Hi John,

For what its worth last night I set the plate solve filter to Red to match the filter offsets. I still had the same problem.

I will change the offsets to match the clear filters as you have suggested and give it a go.

Regards,
Brad Moore

--- LOG FILE ---
Software Settings
CCDAutoPilot, Version: 3.00.2229, Unlicensed * For Evaluation Only *
System profile: D:\Setup\CCDAutoPilot3\3 RCOS AP x.67 maxim.app
Operating System: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
MaxIm version 4,51,0,0 being used for image acquisition.
Maxim camera: SBIG Universal
TheSky version 6.0.0.40 being used for telescope control.
Focusing program used: FocusMax
PinPoint used for plate solving
Plate solve sub-frame: Full
--> Plate solve filter: Red
Plate solve binning: 1x1
Plate solve exposure time: 10

....

Filter Parameters
Red filter: Guide exposure: 5.00 sec., Focus exposure: 1.5 sec., Filter offset: 0 counts.
Green filter: Guide exposure: 5.00 sec., Focus exposure: 1.5 sec., Filter offset: -39 counts.
Blue filter: Guide exposure: 5.00 sec., Focus exposure: 1.5 sec., Filter offset: -7 counts.
Clear filter: Guide exposure: 5.00 sec., Focus exposure: 1.5 sec., Filter offset: -10 counts.
HA filter: Guide exposure: 10.00 sec., Focus exposure: 3.00 sec., Filter offset: -324 counts.

....
01:55:03 Light Series 5: 1 light frame(s), binned 1x1, HA filter, 5 seconds, focus at series start.
--> 01:55:07 Focuser moved by -324 to 6112
01:55:08 Telescope RA: 10 46 18.7, Dec: -59 43 52
01:55:10 Guider stopped.
01:55:10 Guider stopped.
01:55:10 Focusing using HA filter...
01:55:11 Telescope RA: 10 46 18.7, Dec: -59 43 52
01:55:11 Telescope RA: 10 46 18.7, Dec: -59 43 52
01:55:11 Moving to focus star number 1, SAO 238379 at 68 deg. altitude
01:55:11 Slewing scope...
01:55:13 Slewed to RA: 10 42 54.8, Dec: -59 14 52
01:55:13 Mount settling for 3 sec. after slew.
01:57:07 Focus position: 6099, HFD: 1.8 arc-sec., Temp.: 55.1
01:57:07 Returning to target...
01:57:07 Slewing scope...
01:57:09 Slewed to RA: 10 45 19.4, Dec: -59 42 42
01:57:09 Mount settling for 3 sec. after slew.
01:57:12 Plate solving...
01:57:12 Telescope RA: 10 45 19.4, Dec: -59 42 42
--> 01:57:19 Focuser moved by 324 to 6423
01:57:40 D:\CCDAutoPilot3\060212_Key Hole Nebula\..\CCDAutoPilot_SyncImages\SyncImage_Key Hole Nebula_015739.fit
01:57:41 Solved RA: 10 44 05.5, Dec: -59 39 27
01:57:41 Pointing error (arcmin): RA -1.0; Dec 1.3
01:57:41 Slewing scope...
01:57:43 Slewed to RA: 10 46 18.9, Dec: -59 44 00
01:57:43 Mount settling for 3 sec. after slew.
01:57:46 Location corrected
01:57:46 Done focusing
01:57:47 Dither: +0.0, +0.0,
01:58:18 Guider running

Never moves back -324 counts.

....

Regards,
Brad Moore

Hi John,

I have set the plate solve filter to clear and have set all the focus offsets to clear as you have suggested.

The bad news is I've still got the same problem.

I then tried using CCDSoft instead of MaximDL which produced the same result.

John the problem seems very clear to me.

In Short:

23:23:23 Light Series 5: 1 light frame(s), binned 1x1, HA filter, 120 seconds, focus at series start.
23:23:27 Focuser moved by -302 to 6133 (from Clear to HA sets inital position)
23:25:04 Focus position: 6113, HFD: 2.2 arc-sec., Temp.: 52.5 (FocusMax Run)
23:25:15 Focuser moved by 302 to 6419 (back to Clear for Plate Solve)
23:25:35 Solved RA: 09 17 48.5, Dec: -11 27 12
---> Step Missing focuser never moves back to -302 back to HA Filter Offset
23:27:00 Exposing...
23:29:13 D:\CCDAutoPilot3\060213_FOV center East\HA_FOV center East_00011.fit
23:29:15 Focuser moved by 302 to 6415 (This is incorrect the RCOS TCC reports a position of 6717 counts, as -302 was never applied before the exposure.)

Any new ideas?

Thanks for your assistance,
Brad Moore


---- LOG FILE ----

23:22:35 Setup Information
23:22:35
Equipment Settings
Observer: Brad Moore
Telescope: RCOS 12.5
Mount type: Equatorial
Self guider or off-axis guider used for guiding
Imaging camera: SBIG 2000XM
Notes:
Imager pixel size: 7.40
Telescope focal length: 1936.40002441406
Imager image scale: 0.789
Imaging camera gain: 0.930000007152557
Bias: Determined automatically

Guide camera pixel size: 7.40
Guide focal length: 1936.40002441406
Guider image scale: 0.79
Guide rate: 0.50
Guider1: 2x0.00.0
Guider2: -4.9-4.8E172.5Mount settling time: 3 sec.
1x1 download time: 24 sec.
2x2 download time: 12 sec.
3x3 download time: 8 sec.
Other delays: 1 sec.

Software Settings
CCDAutoPilot, Version: 3.00.2229, Unlicensed * For Evaluation Only *
System profile: D:\Setup\CCDAutoPilot3\3 RCOS AP x.67 maxim (clear).app
Operating System: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
MaxIm version 4,51,0,0 being used for image acquisition.
Maxim camera: SBIG Universal
TheSky version 6.0.0.40 being used for telescope control.
Focusing program used: FocusMax
PinPoint used for plate solving
Plate solve sub-frame: Full
Plate solve filter: Clear
Plate solve binning: 2x2
Plate solve exposure time: 10

Slew to first target skipped.
Precision slew to target used.
Guide Settings
Guided operation being used with a peak enhanced dither of 3 pixels.
AGSR enabled for 10 cycles to get within 0.7 pixels.

Focus Settings
SkyStar, which requires CCDSoft and TheSky6, being used for focusing.
Focus stars will be selected to have an altitude higher than 55 degrees.
Focuser temperature compensation is not enabled.
WARNING: No periodic focusing specified.

Filter Parameters
Red filter: Guide exposure: 5.00 sec., Focus exposure: 1.5 sec., Filter offset: 22 counts.
Green filter: Guide exposure: 5.00 sec., Focus exposure: 1.5 sec., Filter offset: -17 counts.
Blue filter: Guide exposure: 5.00 sec., Focus exposure: 1.5 sec., Filter offset: 15 counts.
Clear filter: Guide exposure: 5.00 sec., Focus exposure: 1.5 sec., Filter offset: 0 counts.
HA filter: Guide exposure: 10.00 sec., Focus exposure: 3.00 sec., Filter offset: -302 counts.

Meridian Flip Settings
Automatic meridian crossing enabled. The rotator will not rotate upon meridian crossing.
The mount will not be resynchronized after the meridian crossing.
The guide star will be automatically selected after meridian crossing.
A focus run will not occur after the meridian crossing.
The mount will track for 2 minutes past the meridian.


23:22:35
23:22:35 Run starting...
23:22:35 Log saved to: D:\CCDAutoPilot3\CCDAutoPilot_Logs\ccdap20060213_232235.log
23:22:35 Root save path: D:\CCDAutoPilot3\
23:22:35 System profile: D:\Setup\CCDAutoPilot3\3 RCOS AP x.67 maxim (clear).app
23:22:35 Target List: D:\Setup\CCDAutoPilot3\target.apt
23:22:35 Start sequence number: 11
23:22:35 Session start time: 23:22 13 Feb
23:22:35 Slew to first target disabled
23:22:35
23:22:35 Target: FOV center East
23:22:35 Telescope RA: 09 18 15.4, Dec: -11 33 38
23:22:46 Guider running
23:22:46 Guider x: 235.3, y: 62.5
23:22:46 Telescope currently pointing to...
23:22:47 Telescope RA: 09 18 15.4, Dec: -11 33 38
23:22:47 Plate solving...
23:22:47 Telescope RA: 09 18 15.4, Dec: -11 33 38
23:23:22 D:\CCDAutoPilot3\060213_FOV center East\..\CCDAutoPilot_SyncImages\SyncImage_FOV center East_232321.fit
23:23:23 Solved RA: 09 17 53.1, Dec: -11 29 29
23:23:23 Target RA: 09 18 10.8, Dec: -11 31 02
23:23:23 Meridian flip after 01:04 Tue 14 Feb
23:23:23 Light set 1 of 1 starting...
23:23:23 Light Series 5: 1 light frame(s), binned 1x1, HA filter, 120 seconds, focus at series start.
---> 23:23:27 Focuser moved by -302 to 6133
23:23:28 Telescope RA: 09 18 15.4, Dec: -11 33 38
23:23:29 Guider stopped.
23:23:29 Guider stopped.
23:23:29 Focusing using HA filter...
23:23:32 Telescope RA: 09 18 15.4, Dec: -11 33 38
23:23:32 Telescope RA: 09 18 15.4, Dec: -11 33 38
23:23:35 Moving to focus star number 1, SAO 155060 at 58 deg. altitude
23:23:35 Slewing scope...
23:23:38 Slewed to RA: 09 17 25.1, Dec: -14 35 60
23:23:38 Mount settling for 3 sec. after slew.
--->23:25:04 Focus position: 6113, HFD: 2.2 arc-sec., Temp.: 52.5
23:25:04 Returning to target...
23:25:04 Slewing scope...
23:25:07 Slewed to RA: 09 18 10.8, Dec: -11 31 02
23:25:07 Mount settling for 3 sec. after slew.
23:25:10 Plate solving...
23:25:10 Telescope RA: 09 18 10.8, Dec: -11 31 02
--->23:25:15 Focuser moved by 302 to 6419
23:25:34 D:\CCDAutoPilot3\060213_FOV center East\..\CCDAutoPilot_SyncImages\SyncImage_FOV center East_232534.fit
23:25:35 Solved RA: 09 17 48.5, Dec: -11 27 12
23:25:35 Pointing error (arcmin): RA -0.1; Dec 2.3
23:25:35 Slewing scope...
23:25:36 Slewed to RA: 09 18 15.3, Dec: -11 33 19
23:25:36 Mount settling for 3 sec. after slew.
23:25:39 Location corrected
23:25:39 Done focusing
23:25:41 Dither: +0.0, +0.0,
23:26:00 Guider running
23:26:12 Guide Error X: 2.7, Y: 11.0
23:26:24 Guide Error X: 2.8, Y: 11.1
23:26:36 Guide Error X: 1.1, Y: 1.8
23:26:48 Guide Error X: 1.3, Y: 1.6
23:26:59 Guide Error X: 0.4, Y: 0.3
23:27:00 Altitude: 55 deg.
23:27:00 Exposing...
23:29:13 D:\CCDAutoPilot3\060213_FOV center East\HA_FOV center East_00011.fit
23:29:13 *** Average altitude for this series is 56 deg.
---> 23:29:15 Focuser moved by 302 to 6415 (actual position is 6717 as reported by RCOS TCC)
23:29:16 Guider stopped.
23:29:16 Total light exposure time is 0 hours, 12.8 minutes
23:29:16 Total dark exposure time is 0 hours, 0.0 minutes
23:29:16 Run completed.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Brad Moore,

HA_FOV_center_East_00011.jpg (317 KB, 31 downloads)

Hi John,

Just to prove I'm not a crazy man; I've took a look at my last CCDAP2 log file. It was a Ha run using filter offsets from the Red filter. CCDAP2 works perfectly with filter offsets.

In Short:
01:57:35 Slews, Plate Solves and Frames Target using Red Filter
01:57:46 Focuser moved by -268 to 6282 (Focus Offset Applied From Red to Ha Filter)
01:57:55 Moving to focus star number 1, SAO 238379 at 66.6 deg. altitude (FocusMax Run)
02:01:09 Focuser moved by 268 to 6478 (to set back to Red Filter for Plate Solve)
02:01:18 Plate solving...
02:02:03 Focuser moved by -268 to 6211 (sets back to Ha Filter. This is the step that CCDAP3 is missing! and the cause of my problem! )
03:03:24 D:\CCDAutoPilot2\Eta Carinae\Run1\Ha_Eta Carinae_00001.fit
03:03:27 Focuser moved by 268 to 6478 (After Ha imaging run, sets it back to Red Filter)

Please help! I really want to upgrade to CCDAP3!

--- CCDAP2 LOG FILE ---

01:55:31 Run starting...
01:55:31 Object: Eta Carinae
01:55:31 Observer: Brad Moore
01:55:31 Telescope: RCOS 12.5 F6.1
01:55:31 Camera: SBIG ST-2000XM
01:55:31 Notes: CCDAutoPilot
01:55:31 Starting Number: 1
01:55:31 Number of Light Sets: 2
01:55:31 Focus every 60 minutes.
01:55:31 Files will be saved to: D:\CCDAutoPilot2\Eta Carinae\Run1\
01:55:31 Guider stopped.
01:55:31 Slewing scope...
01:55:32 Slewed to RA: +10 45 01 , Dec: -59 41 59
01:55:32 Mount settling for 5 sec. after slew.
01:55:37 Slewing scope...
01:55:38 Slewed to RA: +10 45 01 , Dec: -59 41 59
01:55:38 Mount settling for 5 sec. after slew.
01:55:43 Plate solving...
01:55:43 Telescope RA: +10 45 01 , Dec: -59 41 59
01:56:06 D:\CCDAutoPilot2\Eta Carinae\Run1\SyncImage_Eta Carinae_015606.fit
01:56:11 Solved RA: +10 44 51 , Dec: -59 39 06 J2000
01:56:11 Pointing error (arcmin): RA 0.1; Dec 1.0
01:56:11 Slewing scope...
01:56:12 Slewed to RA: +10 44 57 , Dec: -59 42 56
01:56:12 Mount settling for 5 sec. after slew.
01:56:35 Guide star peak value: 57367
01:56:35 Guider running
01:56:47 Guide Error X: 0.0, Y: 2.3
01:56:55 Guide Error X: 0.0, Y: 1.9
01:57:03 Guide Error X: 0.0, Y: 1.3
01:57:11 Guide Error X: 0.1, Y: 0.3
01:57:11 Guider x: 237.0, y: 95.0
01:57:11 Telescope currently pointing to...
01:57:11 Telescope RA: +10 44 57 , Dec: -59 42 49
01:57:11 Plate solving...
01:57:11 Telescope RA: +10 44 57 , Dec: -59 42 49
01:57:35 D:\CCDAutoPilot2\Eta Carinae\Run1\SyncImage_Eta Carinae_015734.fit
01:57:40 Solved RA: +10 44 47 , Dec: -59 39 44 J2000
01:57:41 Target RA: +10 45 01 , Dec: -59 41 40
01:57:41 Guide Mode: Guide scope
01:57:41 Flip Delay: 3 minute(s)
01:57:41 Meridian flip after 03:03 Mon 6 Feb
01:57:41 Light set 1 of 2 starting...
01:57:41 Light series 1 starting...
01:57:41 Focus Mode: Sky Star
01:57:42 Guider stopped.
01:57:42 Guider stopped.
---> 01:57:46 Focuser moved by -268 to 6282
01:57:46 Focusing...
01:57:47 Telescope RA: +10 44 57 , Dec: -59 42 48
01:57:47 Telescope RA: +10 44 57 , Dec: -59 42 48
01:57:55 Moving to focus star number 1, SAO 238379 at 66.6 deg. altitude
01:57:55 Slewing scope...
01:57:59 Slewed to RA: +10 42 55 , Dec: -59 14 52
01:57:59 Mount settling for 5 sec. after slew.
01:58:04 Focusing...
02:01:05 Returning to target...
02:01:05 Slewing scope...
02:01:07 Slewed to RA: +10 45 01 , Dec: -59 41 40
02:01:07 Mount settling for 5 sec. after slew.
02:01:12 Slewing scope...
02:01:13 Slewed to RA: +10 45 01 , Dec: -59 41 40
02:01:13 Mount settling for 5 sec. after slew.
02:01:18 Correcting...
02:01:18 Plate solving...
02:01:18 Telescope RA: +10 45 01 , Dec: -59 41 40
---> 02:01:09 Focuser moved by 268 to 6478
---> 02:02:03 Focuser moved by -268 to 6211
02:02:04 D:\CCDAutoPilot2\Eta Carinae\Run1\SyncImage_Eta Carinae_020204.fit
02:02:12 Solved RA: +10 44 50 , Dec: -59 38 13 J2000
02:02:12 Pointing error (arcmin): RA 0.1; Dec 1.5
02:02:12 Slewing scope...
02:02:13 Slewed to RA: +10 44 58 , Dec: -59 43 12
02:02:13 Mount settling for 5 sec. after slew.
02:02:18 Focus position: 6210, HFD: 2.0 arc-sec., Temp.: 55.9
02:02:25 Guider running
02:02:48 Guide Error X: 0.2, Y: 3.6
02:02:56 Guide Error X: 0.3, Y: 3.0
02:03:04 Guide Error X: 0.4, Y: 2.1
02:03:12 Guide Error X: 0.0, Y: 0.2
02:03:12 Altitude: 66 deg.
03:03:24 D:\CCDAutoPilot2\Eta Carinae\Run1\Ha_Eta Carinae_00001.fit
03:03:24 Average altitude for this series is 67 Degrees
---> 03:03:27 Focuser moved by 268 to 6478
03:03:27 Light set 2 of 2 starting...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Brad Moore,

Ha_Eta_Carinae_00001.jpg (307 KB, 29 downloads)