Beginners guide to setting up and using ASCOM to control your astrophotography gear - Part Two
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- Опубліковано 12 кві 2020
- In this video we go through using and configuring various astrophotography tools, all based around the ASCOM platform.
This video is very much aimed at beginners.
Check out part one of the video to see how to setup and install the software used in the video
Part 1: • Beginners guide to set...
#ascom #astrophotography #thenightsky
You can contact me using
Twitter: @hogarthUK
Discord: hogarth#6881
Email: youtube@alien10.com
I'm always open to providing impartial and fair product reviews - Наука та технологія
Thank you for both videos. Very easy to use and well explained. Learnt more in 2 days than in the last 2 months. Cheers
These last two videos have been perfect. Straight to the point with some great info.
Thanks Bob
Finally one good video how all of it comes together through ascom. Thanks mate!
Hey thanks for the feed back. I do appreciate it
Amazing couple of videos... thank for all the effort!!
Great video! Learned alot! Plate solving finally made sense to me lol. Thanks
So im an absolute beginner to all this astro stuff and I just bought a secondhand telescope with camera and guide scope plus im waiting on the delivery of my EQ6-R Pro.
Ive watched so many videos on many of the software mentioned and it was just doing my head in..
Then i stumbled on these two videos....oh thats how it all connects/works, thank you so much for these.
This has to be the most useful information i have come across in regards to using ASCOM and connecting it to the hardware ect.
So cool that you can use a virtual mount.
Cheers.
Hey John, glad it helped out. Have fun with your new gear.
Great video Hogarth :-) I wish I'd had such a concise explanation available when I started astrophotography last year, as there has been a lot of trial, error, cursing and researching to get me to where I am now, most of which I could have just breezed through using this video! I still learnt quite a few new things though, such as how to get Stellarium to move the mount and the Aim function in APT, so thanks for that! Something else that might be useful to folk would be something on configuring Oculars in Stellarium; doing this has really made a difference to me when planning sessions . Keep up the good work!
Michael Benn thanks for the comments Michael. I have another video which takes you through oculars to use plate solving and see what your scope is pointing at
Best explanation yet, thanks very much.
Thanks for the feedback
Thanks a lot for this video. It has given me enough confidence to finally delve into plate solving and autoguiding. :)
Glad it has helped Grant
So after just reading many of the highly praised comments i came across a few asking about taking a shot in APT and it not showing the correct image, you commented that you are using an external software that wasn't mentioned in the video..
Glad i read the comments and you replying back to the people.
This will save me and you repeating the same thing when i set this all up tomorrow.
Cheers.
Thanks for the comments. If you look at my practising astrophotographers video I did a few weeks ago, I cover it off in that one
Thank you very much. Very easy to follow and covers all topics.
You are welcome!
Just fantastic! Many thanks, and so well explained for a beginner :)
Hey Rob, thanks for the comments, it does mean a lot, glad you found it useful
Thanks for this fabulous video(s) Parts 1 and 2.. You have helped me and many others.
Hey Anthony, thanks for the feedback it does mean a lot. The channels been quiet for a while, but I’ve got some stuff coming soon hopefully.
@@HogarthsAstrophotography looking forward to it.
Thank You!
Hogarth! I just found your channel and subscribed, awesome I am just trying to do just that with my new equipment. Everyone talks about EQMOD but I did not see you use it? Do I need to install it?
Thank you and clear skies!
Thank you so much for the videos. That said, following you step by step....my cameras and mount fail to be visible through APT. I recall last time I set all this up that COM ports were the issue. I currently show only COM3 as being available....ugh. Now where do I turn!?!? :/ Anyway, great videos, thanks for getting me a little further down the path...
Thanks very much Hogarth, now all is working ... i was able to set up the sim camera in way to have the same field and the same view of my camera mounted on my celestron 6se .... learning is a never-ending story. just a thought .. it is unbelievable how things developed since '90 ... i rediscover astrophotography after a while .. 20 years ... now i am able to see in few minutes on my poor 6 inch scope object that only 20 years ago were impossible to see on very long exposure on chemical with very hight costs for film and time frustrating .... for instance a small field of ngc504 with galaxies 200 m yl far .... appears on my monitor with only 500 sec exposure .. a correct plate solving allows me to center correctly in few minuets the object in the camera field ... now next step is to learn to set up a correct autoguiding procedure .. once that i will jump to a new setup .. a RC 10 on CEM60 mount .... but this will be only when i will have a full control of actual my modest and simple setup .... many thanks for your tutorial .. it was a really great time .. thanks again!
Thank you for the kind comments
I was trying to connect my Atlas to the program, but it did not communicate with the software. I wonder if there is a specific cable connector I need to use. Do I have to connect the port that uses the hand control to my computer in other for the software to operate my mount? It is a bit confusing I know:(
thank you sir
How connect the Telescope with the PC physically (wiring or WiFi, to remotely control) for alignment, finding, tracking/guiding, mount stearing, camera control (e.g. velocitymeter), photo shooting and its remote image accessing ?
Thanks for your detailed and practical explanations! Difficult to do better. I however have a problem with Stellarium: the simulated telescope does not slew to the element of the sky I selected. The scope is connected and I can see it, but it doesn't move.
.... and I just figured out that the track button was not selected in the telescope simulator remote control. Fixed!
@hogarth Great videos, thanks for taking the time and effort - it's appreciated. I was able to configure all software and get things working, apart from being able to take an image in APT for plate solving using "Shoot": I get the following message
"...
Started - Bulb Shoot
Exp 1/1 : Bin(1x1), Gain(N/A), Offset(N/A), Duration(1"), CCD T(0C)
Can't read the image
Finished Plan - Bulb Shoot
..."
Any pointers as to where I've gone wrong, or where to start looking?
Using simulators throughout, on W10 Pro PC.
Ian Moore I used so very specific sky simulator software, not the the built in camera simulator. The built in one, just has one image. Where as the one I used (not covered in the video) gets the image from the internet based on the real target.
Thank you for this great and informative video, this helps me a lot. However, I still got a question. When I'm not using the simulator and want to take pictures in the real sky, I guess I've to select the right driver for the mount, camera,... and not the simulator right? So in my case, I would have to choose the EQMOD ASCOM HEQ5/6 (for my HEQ5 mount) when looking at the window at 8:00 right? And the same of course for the other Hardware right?
Nic Biembacher that’s correct.
Walter Gebhart
In part 2 (APT) you briefly mention "a pretend sky" and you say use " a simulator" but too quickly click on "Sky Simulator" and get a dialog box. I can't get there. I'm missing the secret sauce. Also once a camera is chosen, how do you get back to the "chooser" to get a different camera.
Great presentation.
you're very intelligent
Great information.
Is it possible to use plate solve to track the planets?
They are not fixed objects like stars?
Plate solving is just telling your mount where it’s looking, once it knows that, you can skew to a planet and start tracking.
When we get to the "take photo" part of the video I don't get a picture in APT and I get and error message "can't read the image" . Given that this is a simulated camera where will it get the image from anyway? One difference I noted during APT setup camera select is that I didn't get the fifth option "sky simulator" which was the one selected. This is an excellent vid, but I confess I am stuck. Anyone help?
I've got!. I should have read through the previous comments first.
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. But I have a question. I've used your guide to the point you want to connect stellarium to your mount using ascom.
I have an Lx200 classic. Connecting to Apt through ascom worked and I am able to move the mount using the directional keys. But when I want to connect Stellarium it fails to connect. When I disconnect the mount in APT I ám able to connect it in Stellarium.
What could be the problem ???
Are you using ASCOM in both APT and Stellarium to connect to the mount ? I believe Stellarium has native serial support for the LX, but i doubt that can be shared with multiple programs.
@@HogarthsAstrophotography
Thanks for your response.
Yes, both through Ascom.
I think your right. Haven't thought about that. The serial connection could indeed be the problem and unable to share. That would explain why only one program can connect at a time.
Thanks again 👍🏼
When I ask Google maps for my location I get 2 different sets of coordinates. D.D. Decimal degrees and D.M.S. Degrees minutes and seconds. Which should i use for my positioning for my telescope?
Most Astro equipment and software uses DMS
Thanks very much for your boith video, i am facing someproblems with simulator notwithstanding that i had followed all your installation process step by step .... problems start suddendly when i start to take picture with sim camera (ref starting min 15:41) .. message in log bottom left area say " 1) started - bulb shoot 2) bulb exp ..... 3) can't save immage 4) finished plan - bulb shoot .... and the liveview/img preview remain completely black. i tried with my ASI 170mm .... shoot and the picture appear ... could you please help me ? really many tanks for that!
If you have a black image, depending on what imaging software your using, you probably need to stretch it. If APT this is done using the Histogram tool
Hi Nigel and thanks for the video. I've had a break of 3 years or so and have forgotten a lot of what you've got in the video itself. One of the annoying things I've come up against is the configuration between Stellarium and the scope. I've followed your instructions but replaced the virtual mount with my Ascom skywatcher mount and click add but nothing happens. APT has picked up all my gear so I'm at a loss to know what I haven't or have done incorrectly. Any advice would be greatly appreciated Nigel.
So just check your using native ascom support in Stellarium and not some thing like stellariumscope. I don’t normally do this, but if you want to do a remote session over teamviewer, email me using the address in most of the descriptions of my recent videos. I can probably diagnose what’s going on easier
@@HogarthsAstrophotography Thanks for such a quick reply,. I'll have 'play around' with Ascom and see how I get off. Thanks again.
Hi Hogarth, thanks for the very usefull video!! Somehow I get stuck at slewing the mount in Stellarium. First it said that the mount was in sleaping mode. That message I somehow managed to solve but the mount is still not moving. Sofar I can judge I have made all installations, settings and communications well. Do you have any clue what this can be?
What mount is it ?
@@HogarthsAstrophotography Hi Hogarth, It is a Celestron Adv GT. In the meanwhile I managed to connect things propperly. I am connected via CPWI now and all programms follow the mount now. I am currently experimenting with PHD.
@@dirkvansambeek6941 cool. I was going to say if it’s a celestron, I’ve found that you can’t send ASCOM move commands from any programs until the mount thinks it has been star aligned. My celestron CGX does exactly the same.
can you turn the volume up
What sky simulator did you use? I didn't see that in your references.
It’s called SkySimulator and you can find it on SourceForge
sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/
It’s not perfect and got some quirks.
Thanks for a very good pair of videos. The only thing I can't get to work in the simulation is ascom sky to display the picture taken with the simulated camera. I get a white screen unfortunately. Can you through some more light on this please. I've been an avid Sharpcap pro user till now, but the SC platesolver doesn't work for me and I plan to install my gear in Apt the way you have shown us. Thanks for showing it all in such a calm and methodical way that I can understand.
thanks for the comments.. appreciate it.. i think your sky simulation problem is.. im going to guess your using the built in one that comes with ASCOM.. you need this one
sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/
its fairly straight forward to setup.. let me know if you have any issues / problems
@@HogarthsAstrophotography Thanks, I downloaded from the link and ran it but only see unfocused stars. Maybe if I don't run the simulated focuser the bright star will be corrected?
@@HogarthsAstrophotography Thanks for your link to the Sky simulator, now I can slew in Stellarium to Vega, and click shoot and its there in Apt, but the resolution isn't the same as yours. What resolution in the Sky simultor do you use please? I used the suggested 1200x1200. Point craft is working to a point, and will solve successfully though not as accurately as you demonstrate. Thanks for your help.
Thanks for the videos. I assume all this presupposes that you have aligned your scope...or will ASCOM do that for you as well?
Polar Alignment and Star alignment via plate solving first
@@HogarthsAstrophotography hi thanks for your reply. Have an issue with APT which closes down right after I press the shoot button
Followed pt 1 exactly but I don't have any cameras YET. They are coming soon. When they do come i assume I can just install any software they come with. And this array of software will recognize it?
Depends on the camera ?
@@HogarthsAstrophotography qhy polemaster and some zwi cameras.
@@sketch6995 Ok, so the ZWO cameras - Recently Ascom was updated from 6.4 to 6.5SP1 and ZWO have only made their newest drivers compatiable with 6.5SP1 (not 6.4). You can probably still find the older drivers for ASCOM 6.4 from a reputable source. I've not transitioned myself yet to 6.5SP1 as not every manufacturer has made their own drivers 6.5SP1 compatiable yet (ZWO have).
Which version of ASCOM did you choose to install ?
@@HogarthsAstrophotography the one on the top of the page. 6.5sp1
@@sketch6995 you should be good to go.
This is a wonderful video. Super informative. I do have one question. When I try to take a photograph in the simulation mode. APT always returns a photo of the Orion Nebula no matter where I'm pointed in Stellarium. The RA/DEC in Stellarium, the ASCOM "hand controller" and APT all agree on the correct location (Whirlpool galaxy for instance) but when I take a picture in APT it's always Orion. I'm sure I'm just doing something silly but can't figure it out. I'ts keeping me from trying the simulation of plate solving. Anyone out there have any ideas?
Thanks for the comments.. appreciate it.
In terms of the simulation.. You need an additional piece of software. its open source.. sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/
you will see a new camera in your ascom list after installing it, but you must run the software downloaded from the above link and also connect it to your mount using ASCOM. If you want any help, let me know
@@HogarthsAstrophotography Thanks so much. I'll try that. Your video is very thorough and easy to follow. I appreciate being able to see what the screen should look like as I do each step. I'm a teacher and I know how difficult it can be to explain something. Well done!
Hello Hogath, my partner and I recently have got into Astrophotography and have followed part 1 and 2 to the T. We cannot for the life of us get the simulator to work (shoot an image), let alone move onto plate solving. Any tips?
Hello. So the simulator I use in the video, I don’t cover setting up, as I’m using it purely to make the video more engaging and close to what would happen out in the field.
that said,there are other built in simulators for the camera, mount etc, but the built in camera simulator for example only will show 1 picture of the same stars no matter where the mount is pointing.
so can I ask you, when you choose your camera in the ASCOM chooser, what are you picking ?
@@HogarthsAstrophotography we originally used simulator as that was our only option. I later found the "Sky Simulator" you used in the video but understood we did not have the image for the preferences. We managed to get the start up simulator to take the one imaged you just refer to. However, how will this then feed into Plate Solving? As we do not know what stars are imaged from this simulator. Thank you for your quick reply. My partner is slowly losing heart when we have invested a lot already but have nothing but equipment to show for it 😁
@@rhiannonharrison7285 so, if I understand what you’ve setup.. you need to use something like APT or NINA and setup your virtual camera, mount
then setup platesolving in APT or NINA.
the sky simulator camera, simply saves a JPG file, which is then presented through ASCOM to APT or NINA as if it had come from a camera. So APT and NINA don’t really know your using a simulator, it’s just another camera to them
If you want, I can chat to you on discord using voice if you can run discord on the PC your trying to setup (need a mic and headphones ideally). You can share your screen on the call and I can probably better guide you
@@HogarthsAstrophotography is there a way to private message you? It's getting a bit late this evening but would love to discuss this further with you in the week
@@rhiannonharrison7285 email me - nkarnold at googlemail.com
I didn't get the option for Sky Simulator as shown in the tutorial?
Hello. It’s a separate download, I simply used it to show a more realistic sky from the images.
@@HogarthsAstrophotography it's fine i still got it all to work, thanks, great tutorial series.
@@HogarthsAstrophotography it all works fine using the simulator, but when i hook it up to my own mount, when in apt i can set my mount to move to a target and watch the telescope icon move in Sterallium, (small) problem im having is when i try and do it in sterallium using ctrl + 1 nothing is happening, not a game breaker, but wondered if you knew why this wouldn't work?
@@Sidecontrol1234 CTRL+1 assumes you only have 1 telescope, if its the 2nd scope in your list, you would do CTRL + 2 - how many scopes are listed ?
@@HogarthsAstrophotography hey turns out my sterallium wasn't up to date, now got it working with EQMOD.
... :( even with skysimulator installed ... where am i making mistake ?
With sky simulator, you need to make sure on the sky sim camera as on properties, you select the image button and tell it where to save the image, you only have to do this once, but if you don’t do it, it will error