Hello all
Not sure where to post this, so I will try here.

I have a Remote Guiding Head attached to a Don Goldman OAG. The FOVI for this appears 180 degrees from the guiding chip FOVI of the STL11K camera....consequently, I am using Self GuideR in CCDAutopilot.

Problem is (and this is driving me crazy)....I cannot successfully select a guide star and press "Get" in CCDAP because in practice, the stars in guiding chip image are "reversed" and "upside down" when compared to the guiding chip of the STL11K.

So, what I tried was "Mirror Image" in The Sky, and rotated the Rotation tool from North to 180 degrees and hey presto, the stars in the RGH image were correctly orientated.....but I cannot seem to press "Get" in CCDAP and have CCDAP frame my chosen guide star!

This is driving me nuts..there has to be a simple fix or procedure for this?!

thanks in advance
Martin

Martin,

Have you tried the technique outlined in the MOAG documentation? I believe the guider FOVI should be on the opposite side of the imager FOVI. You can verify this by removing the camera assembly and looking into it from the telescope's view. Then open the shutter and see where the internal guide chip is, compared to the prism location.

BTW, that is why you are seeing double stars with the RGH. The prism needs to be moved to "intrude" more into the AOL's FOV. The AOL glass just doesn't cover as much area on the side opposite from the internal guide chip. You can also see this visually as well.

Hi John
yes, I have read the MOAG documentation and can confirm the RGH FOVI is directly opposite the internal guider FOVI....so if you picture a typical SBIG FOVI, the RGH rectangle is below the imager FOVI. I did overcome the double stars by inserting the prism further into the optical path...but this cannot be flat fielded out.

However John...do you have any advice as to how I can get CCDAP to correctly slew and place the guide star? This part is just not working.

thanks
Martin

Martin,

I need a little more than an open-ended question What kind of problem are you having? Did you initialize with the RGH? This is required of course. Make sure you are using one and only one FOVI for TheSky and the one you use is appropriate for the RGB. I set an STL/AOL/OAG/RGH for a client with no problem.

Hi John
Okay, let me try and explain what I am struggling with. I have created the FOVI for the RGH and this is part of the SBIG/RCOS FOVI...I have just added it in. I then initialised as normal...i.e Selected unguided, and then initialised to set the PIR PA...then I selected Self GuidedR, rotated, dragged and framed a guide star, pressed "get" in CCDAP and conducted a precision slew to the target. Guide star not on chip. Manually placed star on guide chip, and initialised both the imager and guider.

Took a test image...guiding fine.

Now, when I drag the FOVI to frame a guide star and precision slew to it, the guide star is not placed on the chip. When I plate solve, the guide star is displaced....but if I then select "Mirror Image" in The Sky and rotate the Rotation tool 180 degrees The Sky "displays" the guide star on the chip even though it is physically displaced.

So I cant figure out how I should configure the FOVI and/or The Sky/CCDAP so that the scope is slewed correctly to pick up the chosen guide star.

I hope I have explained that clearly.

thanks in advance.

Martin

Hi Martin,

First, make sure mirror image is unchecked in TheSky. In CCDAP, go to Help/Troubleshooting and scan that document. Try renaming the system profile you are using and let CCDAP create a new default. If you use the unguided technique to get the rotator offset, save that profile then close CCDAP. Restart CCDAP and see if you can properly slew to the correct FOVI indication.

Make sure one and only one FOVI is active in TheSky. Check via View/FOV Indicators. CCDAP can work with only one FOVI and if more than one is "on", it will get confused.