Astro Photography Tool Walkthrough (+ PHD2 Guiding)
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- Astro Photography Tool Walkthrough
In this video, I walk you through the process I use to capture images with Astro Photography Tool and PHD2 Guiding. It's a rather rough outline of the software, as I only a few basic features on a regular basis.
I also rant about PHD2 Guiding and the misconceptions behind the heavily scrutinized guiding graph.
Download APT: ideiki.com/astro/Default.aspx
APT User Guide: ideiki.com/astro/usersguide/
APT Forum: aptforum.com/phpbb/
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Some of the links in my video descriptions are affiliate links, which means at no extra cost to you, I will make a small commission if you click them and make a qualifying purchase. - Наука та технологія
I keep coming to your channel often to get new ideas. Even this older content is helping many of us. I just decided to got with APT and PHD2 on my laptop. I grew supremely frustrated getting Astroberry to work with an SVBony SV305 Pro and I don't want to purchase a bunch of ZWO gear to replace everything. Thank you for this tutorial, Trevor!
I know that this is a 3 year old video, but this is such a useful guide that has helped me iron out all of the issues that I was having as a complete newbie to PHD2 and APT, cannot wait to get a clear night to begin my first long-term project!
Thank you Trevor ^^
Trevor, this was immensely helpful for me and I'm sure for many of us AP nubes. There seems to be a real upswell in people wanting to do AP since we have all been cooped up at home duing the pandemic. Your passion and enthusiasm for this craft really comes through and it's why I really enjoy watching your channel! Please keep them coming!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have had a guiding issue for a month or so now and your video just solved my problem. I re-checked the focal length of the scope in PHD2 and it was incorrect. Guiding is now once again back on track. Just love your videos
This is perfect Trevor. I've never used APT before but now feel primed and ready!
It’s good to see you posting how-to videos. I believe you contribute more this way. Clear skies.
Thanks Garnett. Cheers
Thanks Trevor! Very informative video as usual. Keep up the great work. You have inspired me to get back into the hobby of astronomy after many years.
I watch your tutorials in awe Trevor ! Nice one 👍 Clear skies from the UK.
Good honest video, Trevor. I use Maxim DL but watched this right through as I always like to keep up with the latest gear and tech and you explain things so well. Your number of subscribers is no accident! 👍🏻
Hi Trevor. Tom from France, very good video ! You're kinda teacher for me since 1 year. I use to watch French astrophotography tutorials, but deeper I get down the rabbit hole, the more I appreciate your videos, and especially tutorials. (I love your gorgeous acquisition nights but you're like millions Light years away from me in terms of results !) So, just thank you for your work, which is absolutely inspirating ! Bye. Tom
YES! It's finally here! Thanks Trevor!
You definetly have inspired me starbuddy, ordered a cam and stuff.
Thanks for your work and i do really like your style, always fun AND
things to learn.
Fantastic vid Trevor! Your remark about the PHD2 guiding graph is very useful ! Many thanks from cloudy Holland!
That was great Trevor, explained some good stuff there. I started using APT about 2 months ago with my 5D mkii and just switched to an asi533mc pro. You cleared up some stuff things for me here. Thanks, and clear skies bud.
Thank you so much for all the content lately Trevor! Especially since no quality has been lost. Keep it up.!
Thanks, this is just what I needed. Getting ready to do some deep sky stuff after doing solar and planetary imaging for the last 6 months.
When I went to start imaging last night, I realized it's almost like starting from scratch going from imaging really bright objects to deep sky stuff. I used Sharp Cap for all of that imaging, but looks like I need something more specifically made for deep sky stuff now.
Another great and informative video Trevor....👍 Even though I have been using the software for sometime I still enjoyed watching it. A couple of things that I do which might be of interest (or not) are:-
1. I set up the filter I’m going to use in the “plan editor”
2. I push the gain of my camera up to reduce the number seconds need to see the object, especially if you’re trying to frame it, just don’t forget to put it back before starting your imaging run which I’ve done on more than a couple of occasions....☹️
3. I use the crosshairs and move it over a bright star so if I have to move away from the object to re-focus its easy to bring it back to the correct position. Like you I still do this with the handset.
I'm getting back into astrophotography. You are absolutely correct about guiding.. if you don't have a good polar alignment and perfectly balanced scope with all cables connected, then you will have a rough night.. I used and will continue to use my old atlas eq-g .. I get perfectly round stars every time if I keep my routine simple. And thanks for this APT tutorial.. I use to use dslrfocus for camera control..
Great job as usual Trevor and thank you very much for the shout out! I am glad you mentioned the guiding graph, very informative. You are quit right I am always hearing or reading in forums and such about what the graph looks like. I usually just worry about the the Total value not in the parenthesis which was actually low on yours - Good call, just look at the images. I still use the the Bahtinov mask as well in APT as I don't really like how the Focus Aid works either. I tried the Auto Focus Aid since I have the ZWO EAF and thought I had it working well but it not consistent so I end up going back to the Bahtinov. After reading a couple of post from Ivaylo, the problem maybe in Autofocus settings but will see. Thanks for these videos.
Great Tutorial trevor. very easy to follow and understand sir! Thank You for another fine video. Clear Skies to you too sir!
If someday I can be even half as good as you, I'll be quite satisfied, but I won't stop trying. Thank you very much for all the time you spend helping noobs like me to learn and practice and grow!
Great vid Trevor, considering it's been done out in the field so to speak. Well done! I'm getting back into this stuff having been away from it for about 4 years, so I needed a refresher - amazing how much you forget 😁
Awesome! I've been using APT for a while now, and still learned something new :D Thanks!
A big thanks for this tutorial, very helpful to me as I am just getting into this amazing hobby. Also found all of the others items on this channel just as good.
Thank you Trevor, I always learn something from your videos.
Thanks Kevin!
Haven't used APT for some time now. Have been using SGP. This video makes me want to revisit APT again. There are some features I really like with it. Excellent video and less technical and simple works better for me also. I have a technical 8 to 5 job and prefer my hobbies not be so difficult. Makes it much more fun.
good to see someone doing a start finish and how to with these programs. Well done dude
This is a great video for me. I'm just now learning APT and this video hit the highlights of what I intend to use it for. Would love to see a video on using APT with plate solving if you haven't already done one. Thanks again Trevor.
Very good video. I will start learning APT soon. Loved your rant at 21.40 about PHD2. I have fell into that trap of looking at the graph and not the actual pictures.
Thank you for the upload. You've gained another sub! I have a huge interest in astro photography but know very little about it. Hoping to learn from your channel.
Me too, just bought my camera and tripod, now i will buy the star tracker, i will be using camera and prime lens (50mm f1.8) maybe i will use crop mode to get to around 80mm. This video is very interesting, i wonder if there is utility in buying this software for my explained setup or this is for when you have a dedicated astrophoto and equatorial mount?
Brilliant video. The software looks very promising and at the price is definitely worth buying to try out.
N.I.N.A. is the future of astrophotography automation. Clean interface, powerful, and free! I switched from APT and love it.
Good video as always though. 👍
Hi, I just learnt about N.I.N.A. from your comment.
I'm a SGPro user but i'm not 100% fond of it, I'll give it a try and play with it tonight.
Nina is getting good reviews 👍 but for me I’m awaiting apt 3.90 which will unlock dslr drivers for use with indigosky so I can control everything from my house via pi4 using APT server on mount , which at the moment Nina can’t do .
Awesome video as always and get that rabbit Rudy! Thank you again! I find APT to be great and user friendly. I love the point craft and plate solving. With EDMOD and my
Atlas it works great! Also, I think a lot of people should have two image acquisition programs at hand. You never know when one acts up or an issue
develops and the other program saves the day.
Really enjoyed this walkthrough! You should do some more for people like me who just got into the hobby :)
Nice! I'm not the only Thinkpad user for the astro rig. I got a T520 off eBay for under $200 and I've found its just perfect for astroimagining.
Really good video that, I'm just starting into guiding and imaging with my AzGti in EQ mode so just getting my head around it all and simpler setups with my laptop
Thanks, Trevor. I found this video very useful! Great image too!!!
Great video! Very informative, thanks so much I really enjoy your videos. Ed
Trevor thanks for your RANT on the RMS graph. Yes all of the
settings need to be set properly for the most accurate portrayal of the mounts
tracking, however (as you noted) the mount isn’t the only factor influencing
the “corrections” PHD2 administers.
Seeing conditions, temperature variations, airflow and a number of other
environmental forces are in play. The best advice you gave was to take a look at your image before condemning the capture from the PHD2 graph. Great content as usual.
Awesome video and thanks for sharing! My question would be does the final image in the video represent your guiding for the evening was under 1 arc sec? Also would it be possible to see any final images you've done where your guiding was over 1 arc second? (such as maybe older images you've done that you know your guiding was over 1 arc sec).. I ask because I've been battling issues with my setup and its been said that even if the stars are round you still can get "bloating" if the guiding isn't as accurate for the night. The test image in the video where the guiding was showing over 2 arc sec looked fantastic and serves as a great point go with your eyes, but i'm wondering if the accuracy was actually under one arc sec because the settings in PHD2 where off temporarily. Again great video and this is my first year imaging deep sky objects and I've been trying to wrap my head around the guiding issues I've had over the past 7 months.
Great video. Thanks for showing the guiding graph as well
I recently learned how to use the Pointcraft platesolver. Man that is nice. Lifechanging.
Thanks Trevor,
Great much needed video.
Nice concise review of APT. All AP management apps should at some point definitely incorporate a plate solver to grow with the user. Eventually we find that certain targets will just squeeze in based upon our sensor size and focal length and we need to precisely align to get the best framing :). Cheers.
Really good and comprehensive tutorial! How can one work out what binning to use? I suppose it's not as straight forward as knowing what camera you have?
Great video as always. I'm just starting to get into Deep Space Objects. Going through the learning curve of using the ZWO ASIAir Pro along with the ZWO 30mm f/4 Guide Scope on the Star Adventurer Pro Mount. This may be a dumb questions, but could the Astro Photography Tool be used in conjunction with this setup or do I already have this capability.
Hi Trevor, I appreciate all your videos, website and info. It's been a big help. I purchased a WO GT71, WO 50mm guide scope, ASI290mm, HEQ5, Power Box, FocusCube, Polemaster, and other goodies and waiting for my modded Canon to be returned hopefully this week. I have everything up and running and connected (Running remote to my laptop with a powered USB Hub and a Power Tank attached to the Mount). I'm hoping to take my first try at imaging this weekend if the weather permits.
The question is: In your video you mentioned the different methods of guiding which is not clear to me. I've seen where the Guide Camera is hooked to the mount (ST4) and connecting the camera and mount through PHD2. I've also seen other setups without the ST4 and I'm assuming feeding the data back to APT (Which I am also using) and letting it adjust the mount from the guiding data from PHD2. Or am I missing something? Currently I have a USB from the Synscan to my laptop in addition to the USB to the Guide Camera in addition to the ST4 between guide camera and mount. Seems like I shouldn't need the ST4 cable and let APT\PHD2 do their thing. Again, thanks for all the great info.
Great Video Trevor, it cleared up a few things for me :) Cheers
Instant click. Amazing content.
Hi Trevor, another great video. See you have upgraded to a Starlight CCD the same model that i have had for a while now. Did you have any issues with the main imaging camera being over written and shut down by the lodestarx2 ?? Im on Win7 did i miss something on the installation or ascom ?
great video! I believe the best feature of APT is the Bahtinov mask focus tool
Hey Trevor! Love the vids. Is it possible to guide with an HEQ5 and PHD2 using ASCOM instead of a ST4 cable?
Really impressed with the video. Thanks
Amazing content, i'm addicted to your videos. How about telescope maintenance video?. That would be helpful.
This is a great piece of software for 90% of imagers, It's great value too
Thank you for all your help. I am new in astrophotography and your videos have helped me a lot to understand how everything works.
Amazing video, thank you very much.
Did you say you have the guide camera thepugh the main telescope? Or through a guide scope, you said on phd2 it was 1000mm fl. I have a 1500mm fl, how would be best to set up my guiding?
EQ8R = Equator, right? ;-)
I just recently got an EQM35 Pro, so I'm watching your videos with a great deal of interest and making lists of things that I need to do, need to NOT do, and need to consider acquiring in the future.
I don't have a telescope, but I do have a few really good lenses, so once I get acquainted with my mount and start experimenting, I hope to eventually start getting images that will make me glad I stepped up and got a mount. (I've never had one or operated one, so this is all new to me at this point!)
Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to share what you do and how you do it, plus your honest insights on software and hardware!
Perfect, thanks Trevor. APT is fantastic with the DSLR.
I have seen some people suggest the order in which you open these programs matters, particularly if you are also using ASCOM mount control and a planetarium program like CDC. I don’t know if that’s true, but I have had to restart PHD2 and CDC on occasion.
THANK YOU!!! GREAT VIDEO Trevor, Please list all of the Astro Photography Software, I did not see it on your site?
Thanks for the video, but there is one thing that you can clear up for me. When you are imaging are you keeping auto stretch right or left on?
Hi. Does binning at the 4x4 for focusing than imaging at 1x1 need re adjusting? Thanks
The gear that you have reviews and tutorials on that upgrades your older equipment, do you keep or sell your older equipment? If you sell it what sites do you use? Also on cloudynights site is there anyway to narrow down the search area to your area?
Thank you,
Drew
Trevor I wonder, do you know if the rotary encoder of the EQ8 Pro R is purely for positioning or if it also provides feedback to close the motor control loop?
Really is time for a pier now that you have moved. I have never used the tripod of my CGX beyond indoors testing. CGX lives permanently on the pier with a heaver weather proof bag over it. Perhaps not the best solution for Canukistan however.
Trevor might i ask a video about calibrating the skyguider's polar scope and the reticle? Ive noticed when i turn the polar scope to align polaris in the correct time position, the whole scape does not stay centered. It is normal for the scape to turn with the twisting of the polar scope, but when it moves with the scope, it is off centered.
Great video as usual ! Now I only need to know more about the gain and offset :D maybe a good suggestion?
Sometimes keeping it simple works! and APT looks like is that choice. Thanks for hands-on guide!
Hey Trevor
I use a crisp sensor camera should the focal length be before or after the crop... when entering your focal length in PHD2
It has been always nice to learn so much from you. Please guide if its possible to control the iOptron Star guider pro using stellarium software
Have you planned to test the RASA 11?
Thanks a lot! Great video!
It's probably different with CCD/CMOS cameras but I know that you should use high numbers (15-20) for your dithering when shooting OSC with DSLR's as you want the image to shift more than the average size of your color mottle areas, otherwise you're stacking color mottle noise on top of itself which will be picked up as signal when stacking.
Off topic..how you liking the new mount so far? Any 15-20min nb test shots? Thx for all you do!
Highly informative thank you. I would just like to ask a question. In phd2 you said you changed the focal length to 1040 but that was done in the guiding tab. Should this not be the FL of the guide scope rather than your imaging scope?
in his case, he's using an off axis pick-off prism, so he's actually guiding using the imaging scope focal length.
Love the new 150mm looks great.
Hello Trevor, Where is the pop up window with the "auto stretch" left and right? Have never seen this pop up window, how do I find it? Thanks Kevin
How do you review the images captured when they are in FIT format after a session before stacking? Which piece of software? I have seen you use Adobe bridge for RAW photos but that doesn't work for FITs.
Brilliant as always
Does the live loop work for dslr too? That’s a new trick I didn’t know about if so.
I still jump into BYEOS to focus up my camera using FWHM as cannot get to work in APT??
Great videos - Took some 1 sec subs of Orion tonight with a 135/2.8.
I have been looking for APT - it seems to have disappeared.
None of the links work - all time out on multiple browsers.
Do you know of a mirror location or where I could find it?
Thanks!
Hey Trevor, do you know if APT supports Fujifilm Cameras?
Thank you for all the information I love your work and images :) I have a Meade ETX 90 setup with a Canon T7i connected to a mini pc on mount controlled remotely over my Lan network with Ascom, PHD2 and Backyard EOS. My question is could you help me find the correct T-mount for my Canon t71 to my Meade ETX 90. Please share link here or in my inbox :) Thanks
I have the data cable connected to my laptop from my t3i and it's connected with APT and I can control it but I have no live view on camera or laptop screen. It's probably something simple but I'm stumped nonetheless lol. Any suggestions? Thanks for all that you've taught thus far! Tim
@AstroBackyard - I’m having a little trouble using PHD2 and the Skyguider Pro. Do you have a video or a link to a video that shows how to use the PHD2 without a declaration axis? I’m having a really hard time with this.
I like your videos but is there an order I should watch them in for just learning APT. Numbering the videos would be great. Also I am having trouble with star trails and wondered about tracking. Pointcraft does the solving but I can't get good (> 1 minute) tracking.
can a finderscope be used as a guiderscope by replacing the eyepiece with a guidercamera (which then connects via ethernet-cable to the mount, and via usb-cable to the computer running PHD2)?
Great video, as always, on APT Trevor...but plate solving (Pointcraft in APT) lies in your future...make it so! Plate solving is to star alignment and framing targets as polemaster is to polar alignment!
Agree with Plate Solving being awesome...I think SharpCap is also like a PoleMaster but pretty much free and just as accurate.
Honestly reassuring to see someone else with a "bad guide graph". I have the EQ6R and some people get like a laser straight graph all the way through but mines definitely not a laser and wondered if it was a problem or not. It's good to know I'm not the only one lol
so are you saying that if I have my mount is connected directly via rs232/USB that PHD-2 guiding will work through APT without the st4 connection through the camera or a shoestring astronomy adapter?
good stuff, will the program work while using a dslr
Rant!!!! Priceless.
I’m always thinking that if the PhD2 RMS graph isn’t displaying some sort of variance the it’s not doing anything. I ALWAYS go by how the image appears. APT looks interesting so I might need to check it out.
just wondering what would be the process of turning your image from well black and white into a bit of color obviously im not expecing high graphical images im using an old nikon d300s and a really slow laptop as well protability but i would like to know what post processing id need to do to get it looking more colorful
In a few places lately, I've read that it's good to calibrate PHD on a star that's far from the meridian, not necessarily close to your target. It's supposed to prevent the "minimal south movement detected" error, if you're having that. But, I've also read to calibrate close to your target, as you've done. Does anybody know the pros/cons of both scenarios?
Im starting out with astrophoghraphy and i was wandering if i should get a refracter type telescope or a reflector type telescope.
Please some one help
Bravo pour votre tuto .génial ....merci à vous .
Patrick
Off topic question .. what brand of ring light did you use to film the video?
Hi, great vid. What is the other YTuber you mentioned at the end, Astro Quest Kurt.....?
How do you get the stretch window up at the bottom? It doesn’t show on mine?