From: "gaffney.mark" <markgaffney@mac.com>

Date: February 9, 2008 10:16:08 AM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Focusing

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, "Joe Breault" <joebreault@...> wrote:

I am new to the group, and have just ordered a ¼" chip imagining source

color cam without IR cutoff (firewire) to connect up to my macbook using the

Astro IIDC software I just downloaded. So I am trying to get oriented not

having used anything but a DSLR in the past and focused for that using

mechanical focusing aids (http://www.stellar-international.com/).

How does accurate focusing occur with these cameras and Astro IIDC? Do you

mechanically focus your scope based on the image on the screen in the

software? Or based on other indicators in the software? If by image that

sounds like a challenge for solar imaging when the sun will be washing out

good screen viewing even with covers. Is there a feedback loop from the

software to control a motorized focuser for telescopes?

Sorry I do not know anything about this yet, just a newbie trying to

understand how this works.

Joe

WB2MXJ.com

I`m new to the group too and have been looking into motorised and computerised 

focusers for my new 10 inch Celestron scope. "Moonlite" make focusers of that kind but 

the focusing software is PC based (Robo-focus and Focus Max) and would have to be run 

on my Mac Mini using Virtual PC for Mac. Other options are Boot Camp under Leopard and 

VM fusion Ware if your computer is an Intel job.The software first requires you download 

Ascom 5 (which is the astronomy standard for PCs). I`m not aware of any focusing 

department in Astro IIDC but Milton can perhaps tell himself you where he`s up to with 

that! Mark.