On the Equipment setup tab we must look at, Camera, Filterwheel, Focuser, Rotator, Telescope & Guider. After setting up it is necessary to test the system in small steps before running a complete automated session. Here I will take you through the settings needed for complete automation with NINA. Related to the PHD2 setup I suggest you read my post: Guiding the Panther Alt-Az mount with PHD2 To know that PHD2 is working correctly together with the mount before moving on makes it easier to identify any problems occurring. There are many settings working together when everything is ready for automation. If you have not done this before I strongly suggest that you do this before moving on to setting up NINA. You still need to setup all the guiding parameters in PHD2 to get the correct guiding. This completes the setup of PHD2 in relation to the control from NINA. This will allow for NINA to control PHD2. Open the Tools menu and click on Enable Server. If you have problems finding the correct COM port number check the windows device manager.Ĭlose the windows related to the Device Hub.įinally in PHD2 you have to enable the Server. This will ensure the different devices gets assigned the same way every time. I suggest you always inserts the same Equipment into the same USB ports and connect everything before powering up the PC. Depending on the USB devices connected to the different USB ports this number can change. Note on serial ports: Windows assigns the COM port number. For the Panther Mount use Meade Classic and Autostar 1. To setup the Device Hub click on the settings icon. Using the Device Hub allows more software programs to communicate with the mount simultaneously. If needed download drivers for your imaging and guide cameras, filterwheel, camera rotator and focuser. For the Panther Mount use Meade LX200 Classic and Autostar #494, #495, and #497. ASCOMĭownload and install the latest version of the ASCOM Platform.ĭownload a driver for the mount. Note that for this setup NINA version 1.10 HF3 was used. For more general introduction to NINA and PHD2 check out the many tutorials available. In this paragraph I will focus on the settings needed for this type of setup and with extra focus on the settings when using Alt-Az mounts. All three software packages are free to download. You must have ASCOM, NINA and PHD2 on the computer to make an automated setup. The devices needing 12V power get that from one source again having only one power cable going onto the moving rig. So only one USB cable goes from the moving mount to the laptop. I connected all USB cables from the different devises to the USB hub, that was installed on the counterweight arm (handpad magnet). but I will leave that out (feel free to ask for any details). Mount: TTS-160 Panther with telescope rOTAtorĪnd a lot of cables, dew heaters etc.To enjoy this kind of automation you need to use some time to setup the system. Processing it all into one color image that something else that I haven’t completed yet…. Getting all these frames on the harddisk was so easy. Here is the resulting stacked frames showed in PixInsigt (not yet assembled to one image) To get longer total exposure time just run the sequence several time – the same night or over several nights. I keep the total exposure time per panel below 1 hours to stay within the Telescope rOTAtor’s tracking time. I then input the number of subs for each panel. This targeting is automatically transferred into a Sequence with 4 targets – one for each panel. To get all of the Galaxy in the Field of view I pick a 2×2 panel mosaic and rotates the FOV as wished. In the framing assistant in NINA I select target M33 – The Triangulum Galaxy. First a quick appetizer on how simple it works I hope you will enjoy reading this and that it can help you setting up your own system. Slews to the next target – this also rewinds the Telescope rOTAtor.Recenter and rotates FOV to requested position based on plate solve.Back inside waiting for the subs to show up. Then I select and start a premade session for the night. With the automated setup I am now able to start up all the equipment in 5 minutes. In this post I will tell how I have used the software NINA – Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy to automate my imaging setup. New hardware and software solutions becomes available for the dedicated amateur astronomer. Keep warm indoor, sleep all night – the automated system will collect light all night long.Īutomating your astro-imaging is getting easier and easier all the time.
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