Hello Everyone,

While my STL camera is in for repair, I have put the old ST-7 on the 12.5" RCOS to image some smaller targets. As you can imagine, my FOV is pretty small. The problem is that I can only sometimes get a plate solve in the middle of the Milky Way. There's no chance pointing outside the galaxy. So I think I can get the CCDAP3 initialize routine to work.

So the question is, how can I use CCDAP3 in the event I can only initialize with the CCDSoft routine? I want to be able to use the dithering functions, dome jogging, the LightFrames screen, auto flats, darks and close the dome. I found that setting the plate solve exposure time to zero will completely by pass all the plate solve routines. Also the pixels on the ST-4 guide chip are 13.75 x 16 microns. What should I enter for the guider pixel size? Also is the rotator offset controlled only by the registry entry or is there something in the system profile? Unfortunately, the profile can't be modified with a text editor. Does this all look possible?

All replies are greatly appreciated,
Bob Franke
http://bf-astro.com

Hi Bob,

Plate solve is a requirement for initializing CCDAP - there is no way around it. If you have or can borrow an AP .67x focal reducer, that will help by giving you a slightly larger FOV. You might be able to rig up one of the SCT .63x FR's as well. Also, take longer plate solve exposures and/or obtain the USNO A2.0 stellar catalog and add that to TheSky's stellar database. That should give you more faint stars.

As to the guide chip, just enter the average of the two dimensions - that will be close enough.

There are no registry entries you can change. The data is stored in the system profile, which is not editable as you have uncovered.

Sorry. Hope your STL is returned before new moon time!