Another great video Amy, thanks! Not sure if you would want to do it, but maybe add to this video with a "how to set up a sequence in SGP" using the Framing and Mosaic Tool with an rotational angle for correct framing and show just how SGP can do that with the NiteCrawler. Thanks again for all the great videos.
Amy, just got my Nightcrawler installed on my Esprit 100/MyT mount/TsX/N.I.N.A. setup. Looks good so far, looks like my rig gained about 4 lbs or so in the change out from the OEM focuser assembly. Question: Is there a way to 'sync' the Nightcrawler angle indication with the camera FOV? The reason I ask is that as I put in the various spacers to get my drawtube length where I wanted it/it needed to be, the camera alignment with the OTA changed with every different configuration/optical train assembly. It seems like there should be a way to tell the Nightcrawler (or TSX/N.I.N.A.) what the offset (for lack of a better word) is to get align the FOV with the position indications from the Nightcrawler. ???
Great video Amy. I'm the one that asked for this video a couple of weeks ago. I appreciate you doing this. One thing you didn't answer and maybe the answer is obvious and that's why... Let's say you rotate the camera to 3500 and do your session. Now you are done and have to pack it up. If I have to remove my camera, doesn't that eliminate the repeatability of the rotator since it's doubtful I could replace the camera on the next outing to the exact same initial position? I guess I would just need a custom case so that I don't have to remove the camera/filter wheel portion of the rig.
Yes, removing your camera will remove your repeatability for doing flats later at home. But between sessions it does not matter. The nitecrawler will work with the plate solver to get you to the correct orientation. The rotation angle may be a different number, but it does not matter. The images will line up. I don't have a case for my rig. It all stays together on my desk covered with a towel. ;) I can not imagine trying to lift the scope in a box. I might need a crane! My back cries just thinking of that. Clear skies. Keep the ideas coming!
@@AmyAstro Well, here's an idea for another video since I'm a relatively newbie to astrophotography, how about a video explaining platesolving and how you use it to match up frames from previous sessions. I understand plate solving but not how the software can be used to match the rotation from a previous session.
Amy. In your video at 5:49 it shows an adapter that says WR25 to 2" compression ring adapter. What are you attaching to that? Can you quickly run down the optical train for me? I just ordered the Nightcrawler (and I am blaming you :) ) and can't figure out a good way to connect my Hotech flattener which has a 2" tube with compression rings to hold into an adapter that faces towards the focuser with threads towards the camera. (hope that makes sense). Great videos and appreciate you
I will gladly take that blame! I love mine. The WR25 is 2.5" my field flattener is 2". The adapter I believe comes with the nitecrawler. The NC comes with 3 spacing adapters. Always keep those with you. When you swap cameras you may need another configuration. The spacing rings thread into the NC, then an adapter (provided) threads into the end. From there you can use your 2" compression flattener. From the flattener it is the standard things. Back focus spacers, filter wheel, camera. Enjoy the NC! It is top notch and customer service is great.
@@AmyAstro Thanks for the prompt reply. You are correct, Ron over at Moonlight is absolutely the best. Great service and very patient working through the configuration for my scope. Looking forward to getting the unit. Thanks for the rundown on the focal train. By the way. Please don't buy anything else. I see your great telescope equipment and go "I need that".
Very nice Amy. Well done. BTW - it would appear that the link you gave to calculate step size in the previous video does not work anymore. All I get is a weather forecast etc. Is there somewhere else to do the calculation? Thanks.
For some reason that website is down. I hope it it temporary. I was on it last week. There is another way to do this using SGP. Roswell Astronomy has a video showing it. ua-cam.com/video/Jkq7OcgupL8/v-deo.html
Hi Amy, I have a Moonlite CHL focuser which is just great. But it does not rotate, should have gotten that option. But another flats question: How does SGP (my app too) segregate the flats files at different angles? Is this recorded in the subframe metadata? Keeping all those dust donuts and sensor specs would be critical with multi-target orientation changes. Thank you.
I added the focus point and the rotation angle in my file name when taking the images. Then prior to running my flats I set the focus point and rotation. Then take the flat images.
Hi Amy, thank you for that interesting video. Just one question: The crawler is quite long if you assemble it with your refractor. Can you stay in the range of 55 mm back focus with it? Is the field flattener before or after the cerawler positioned in the light path? Thank you and CS, Christian
Yes I can get 55 mm back focus. The order of the image train is Telescope, nitecrawler, nitecrawler extension tubes for focus. The field flattener, spacers for back focus then camera. Hope this helps. I love my nitecrawler. I do not regret this purchase. I have had it for 3+ years now.
@@AmyAstro Thank you so much Amy. I would love to have one. But I have only a 430 mm refractor and a 12" Newtonian so I have to wait untill I get myselve a bigger refractor. CS Christian
Hi Amy. Beautiful piece of equipment. But I don’t understand. You tick Autofocus per filter and autofocus on filter change and you untick focus with filter. And you put your exposure time in OSC... Don’t you have to click on Per filter and put your different exposure times in the filter tab? Thank’s for all these informations. You make very nice videos. Clear skies. JM
I auto focus on every filter change. If I ticked focus with filter then it would battle the other setting for which filter it actually runs focus on. The exposure time in the OSC is just a habit. Where I put the time in prior to that screen works fine. I use the same exposure time on each filter. If I'm using narrowband that night I will increase the exposure time. I vary the time each time I go out depending on what I am imaging and which camera I am using. 6 sec works well with OSC cameras and RGB filters.
Hi Amy great video, when you next have a clear night and you are imaging, can you do a quick video of the v curve you get when it runs through the auto focus routine, intrested to see this with your step size, we have similar scopes.
Amy, yet another question. How are you connecting the NiteCrawler to your PC to use with SGP? I know in one of your previous videos you had to build a special cable to connect to your Pegasus Powerbox but I am not sure you are using that Pegasus anymore. I think the NiteCrawler now has a USB connector built in rather than the DB9 previously used. Are there still connection issues between the NiteCrawler and the PC? It is so nice to find someone who has worked through so many of these types of issues that is willing to share your experiences with us newbies.
Thank you for your comment. The nitecrawler has a USB 2 connection on it. No special cables required. The special cable I made was for their regular focuser, and it still needs one. I have both moonlites and love them. No problems at all with the nitecrawler. Oh and the connection is NC via usb to the Pegasus UPB. Also I connect the power between the NC and Peg. The Peg connects to the computer. Sometimes I feel all I have is problems, but when I solve them I figure others may be having the same issue, so I share.
How do you justify spending so much on a focuser that is 13.5% of the mount's capacity & considering it's nearly 3x the price of your mount? Wouldn't you have been better off spending the money on a better mount & derotating in software? It cost nearly as much as your Scope & Mount combined. One good thing about it it has enough capacity to take an adaptive optics unit.
Well it is more about the order of how I purchased things and learned about new things. I purchased items, and they did not do what I wanted, so I traded them for other items. Early on there was a lot of buying and selling. For the price it was a lot, but by then I had sold a lot of items I did not need. I just redirected those funds. Today I look at quality before I buy. The nitecrawler is quality. I don't regret the investment.
Excellent job with the explanation and setup. The footage with the slider looks good. Buttery smooth.
Glad you liked it! fun new toy.
Another great video Amy, thanks! Not sure if you would want to do it, but maybe add to this video with a "how to set up a sequence in SGP" using the Framing and Mosaic Tool with an rotational angle for correct framing and show just how SGP can do that with the NiteCrawler. Thanks again for all the great videos.
Great idea!
Perfect timing - Just installed my NiteCrawler on my ES102EDCF! Now to get clear skys back so that I can get it out for first light!
They say timing is everything! Share a picture of your set up over on my Facebook page! Can't wait to see it!
What a useful video! Thanks for making this. Sometimes it’s useful to see the whole soup-to-nuts when considering big purchases like this.
Glad it was helpful! I still use mine today and I truly love it.
Amy, just got my Nightcrawler installed on my Esprit 100/MyT mount/TsX/N.I.N.A. setup. Looks good so far, looks like my rig gained about 4 lbs or so in the change out from the OEM focuser assembly. Question: Is there a way to 'sync' the Nightcrawler angle indication with the camera FOV?
The reason I ask is that as I put in the various spacers to get my drawtube length where I wanted it/it needed to be, the camera alignment with the OTA changed with every different configuration/optical train assembly. It seems like there should be a way to tell the Nightcrawler (or TSX/N.I.N.A.) what the offset (for lack of a better word) is to get align the FOV with the position indications from the Nightcrawler. ???
I have this question also
Great video Amy. I'm the one that asked for this video a couple of weeks ago. I appreciate you doing this.
One thing you didn't answer and maybe the answer is obvious and that's why...
Let's say you rotate the camera to 3500 and do your session. Now you are done and have to pack it up. If I have to remove my camera, doesn't that eliminate the repeatability of the rotator since it's doubtful I could replace the camera on the next outing to the exact same initial position?
I guess I would just need a custom case so that I don't have to remove the camera/filter wheel portion of the rig.
Yes, removing your camera will remove your repeatability for doing flats later at home. But between sessions it does not matter. The nitecrawler will work with the plate solver to get you to the correct orientation. The rotation angle may be a different number, but it does not matter. The images will line up. I don't have a case for my rig. It all stays together on my desk covered with a towel. ;) I can not imagine trying to lift the scope in a box. I might need a crane! My back cries just thinking of that. Clear skies. Keep the ideas coming!
@@AmyAstro Well, here's an idea for another video since I'm a relatively newbie to astrophotography, how about a video explaining platesolving and how you use it to match up frames from previous sessions. I understand plate solving but not how the software can be used to match the rotation from a previous session.
@@gregmckay666 Great idea! I will work on that my next clear night. Looks like my next 10 are all storms. :(
Amy. In your video at 5:49 it shows an adapter that says WR25 to 2" compression ring adapter. What are you attaching to that? Can you quickly run down the optical train for me? I just ordered the Nightcrawler (and I am blaming you :) ) and can't figure out a good way to connect my Hotech flattener which has a 2" tube with compression rings to hold into an adapter that faces towards the focuser with threads towards the camera. (hope that makes sense). Great videos and appreciate you
I will gladly take that blame! I love mine. The WR25 is 2.5" my field flattener is 2". The adapter I believe comes with the nitecrawler. The NC comes with 3 spacing adapters. Always keep those with you. When you swap cameras you may need another configuration. The spacing rings thread into the NC, then an adapter (provided) threads into the end. From there you can use your 2" compression flattener. From the flattener it is the standard things. Back focus spacers, filter wheel, camera. Enjoy the NC! It is top notch and customer service is great.
@@AmyAstro Thanks for the prompt reply. You are correct, Ron over at Moonlight is absolutely the best. Great service and very patient working through the configuration for my scope. Looking forward to getting the unit. Thanks for the rundown on the focal train. By the way. Please don't buy anything else. I see your great telescope equipment and go "I need that".
@@marvinwhisman3333 lol that is funny. The only thing I plan to buy right now is a house. :) fair warning. best of luck and enjoy.
Great video, Amy! Looking forward to your next one!
Thank you for your support Dennis!
Very nice Amy. Well done. BTW - it would appear that the link you gave to calculate step size in the previous video does not work anymore. All I get is a weather forecast etc. Is there somewhere else to do the calculation? Thanks.
Yikes. I will check it out and fix. Thanks for letting me know
For some reason that website is down. I hope it it temporary. I was on it last week. There is another way to do this using SGP. Roswell Astronomy has a video showing it. ua-cam.com/video/Jkq7OcgupL8/v-deo.html
@@AmyAstro Thankyou - will check it out.
great video! will it fit william optics 81gt with reducer 0.8 ?
Contact moonlite at www.Focuser.com they can let you know for sure.
Good video, very informative and nice piece of kit
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your support!
Hi Amy,
I have a Moonlite CHL focuser which is just great. But it does not rotate, should have gotten that option.
But another flats question: How does SGP (my app too) segregate the flats files at different angles? Is this recorded in the subframe metadata? Keeping all those dust donuts and sensor specs would be critical with multi-target orientation changes.
Thank you.
I added the focus point and the rotation angle in my file name when taking the images. Then prior to running my flats I set the focus point and rotation. Then take the flat images.
Oh cool. Thanks for the info. The Crawler is definitely on my wish list!
Hi Amy, thank you for that interesting video. Just one question:
The crawler is quite long if you assemble it with your refractor.
Can you stay in the range of 55 mm back focus with it?
Is the field flattener before or after the cerawler positioned in the light path?
Thank you and CS,
Christian
Yes I can get 55 mm back focus. The order of the image train is Telescope, nitecrawler, nitecrawler extension tubes for focus. The field flattener, spacers for back focus then camera. Hope this helps. I love my nitecrawler. I do not regret this purchase. I have had it for 3+ years now.
@@AmyAstro
Thank you so much Amy. I would love to have one. But I have only a 430 mm refractor and a 12" Newtonian so I have to wait untill I get myselve a bigger refractor.
CS Christian
Hi Amy.
Beautiful piece of equipment.
But I don’t understand. You tick Autofocus per filter and autofocus on filter change and you untick focus with filter. And you put your exposure time in OSC... Don’t you have to click on Per filter and put your different exposure times in the filter tab?
Thank’s for all these informations. You make very nice videos.
Clear skies.
JM
I auto focus on every filter change. If I ticked focus with filter then it would battle the other setting for which filter it actually runs focus on. The exposure time in the OSC is just a habit. Where I put the time in prior to that screen works fine. I use the same exposure time on each filter. If I'm using narrowband that night I will increase the exposure time. I vary the time each time I go out depending on what I am imaging and which camera I am using. 6 sec works well with OSC cameras and RGB filters.
👍 Thank’s for this quick answer.
Stay safe and healthy.
JM
@@jean-marclemoine9636 As I told Brian Timing is everything. I was sitting at the computer when it popped up. lol Clear skies!
Hi Amy great video, when you next have a clear night and you are imaging, can you do a quick video of the v curve you get when it runs through the auto focus routine, intrested to see this with your step size, we have similar scopes.
Yes I will! Thank you for the comment.
Amy, yet another question. How are you connecting the NiteCrawler to your PC to use with SGP? I know in one of your previous videos you had to build a special cable to connect to your Pegasus Powerbox but I am not sure you are using that Pegasus anymore. I think the NiteCrawler now has a USB connector built in rather than the DB9 previously used. Are there still connection issues between the NiteCrawler and the PC? It is so nice to find someone who has worked through so many of these types of issues that is willing to share your experiences with us newbies.
Thank you for your comment. The nitecrawler has a USB 2 connection on it. No special cables required. The special cable I made was for their regular focuser, and it still needs one. I have both moonlites and love them. No problems at all with the nitecrawler. Oh and the connection is NC via usb to the Pegasus UPB. Also I connect the power between the NC and Peg. The Peg connects to the computer. Sometimes I feel all I have is problems, but when I solve them I figure others may be having the same issue, so I share.
@@AmyAstro Thanks Amy. Exactly the info I needed. Clear skies.
If SPG allows, youi may want to try filter offsets so that you don't have to waste time autofocusing on filter change.
Thank you
How do you justify spending so much on a focuser that is 13.5% of the mount's capacity & considering it's nearly 3x the price of your mount?
Wouldn't you have been better off spending the money on a better mount & derotating in software?
It cost nearly as much as your Scope & Mount combined.
One good thing about it it has enough capacity to take an adaptive optics unit.
Well it is more about the order of how I purchased things and learned about new things. I purchased items, and they did not do what I wanted, so I traded them for other items. Early on there was a lot of buying and selling. For the price it was a lot, but by then I had sold a lot of items I did not need. I just redirected those funds. Today I look at quality before I buy. The nitecrawler is quality. I don't regret the investment.
Great video as always. Very informative. But, I knew I shouldn't have watched it. Anybody want to buy a '77 MGB? :)
It happens! Thanks for watching!