From: Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@mac.com>

Date: July 8, 2008 1:17:31 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] A couple of questions...

Hi Milton, The focuser is an idea for the future if I find I need more inward focus. I`ve approached Moonlite about the base plate. I`d be using the "Display Reticle Overlay" option if I could obtain any image of a star at all through the C10-NGT. I think the star in question is staying still long enough to get a fix on it but I can`t see any image anywhere in the focuser`s travel. Unless I`ve got the exposure quotient a long way off? I`m yet to try Tim`s suggestion to adjust the play in the nosepiece/eyepiece sleeve before buying an extender tube due to unsuitable weather so far. The extender tube I`m looking at is only $35 anyway! Mark

On 09/07/2008, at 4:48 AM, Milton Aupperle wrote:

Hi Mark;

On 8-Jul-08, at 10:19 AM, Mark Gaffney wrote:

Hi Milton, Tim & everyone, I hope to order myself an illuminated reticle eyepiece tomorrow & 

try & clear up my polar alignment problems with drift aligning, also I might buy an extender 

tube to try with the camera. I`ll have a go shifting the camera & nosepiece inside the 

eyepiece sleeve to attempt focusing. As I`m not properly aligned the star I`m sighting keeps 

shifting out of view quite quickly so I`ll wait `til I have a definate subject like Canopus early 

in the morning.

I'm not sure why you need an "illuminated reticle eyepiece", as you can simply turn on the "Display Reticule Overlay" in Astro IIDC for drift alignment. You have to be like 10° or more out of alignment before it will fly out of the FOV that rapidly. With a compass on the balcony or when I go to my remote uncovered site for summer / winter imaging, I can usually get within 1 or 2 degrees of polar alignment and then fine tune it in about 1 hour with drift align in Astro IIDC.

If I was that far out of alignment and I would just put any star / planet in the FOV of a wide field eyepiece and keep laterally adjusting it until it stays somewhat near the center. Then once you've got that nailed, use the "Display Reticule Overlay" option with a camera in Astro IIDC to fine tune it.

My questions are these.

Can I have 2 cameras connected via my firewire 

repeater running down the single FW cable & get 2 separate camera control windows on Astro 

IIDC?

Yes you can connect multiple cameras that way and operate both at the same time. Since your sharing bandwidth on the cable, you won't be able to run two 640x480 cameras at 60 fps at the same time, but as long as you stay at 30 fps or lower it won't be a problem.

To have Astro IIDC control multiple cameras, you make multiple copy of Astro IIDC  and then have each copy control a different camera. That's how I do it with a single G4 laptop and run multiple cameras at the same time.

The other question is, if I was to buy the basic model Moonlite focuser with Universal 

installation kit ( I can perhaps graduate to the DC servo job, FCUSB etc., later) would it be low 

profile enough to obtain focus if needed in the inwards direction?

I notice they have a 1/4" 

base plate but am unsure whether it`s intended as an addition to the 1" or 1/2" plates or can 

be used independently. Mark.

No idea, ask the manufacturer about it.

Personally I would not be buying any new toys until you have the basics resolved. First getting polar alignment of your mount figured out so you don't have objects drifting out of the field of view, which makes focussing accurately or practically anything else nearly impossible Then determining what your focus issues are. If it's too short that can be solved with an extension tubes or too long which means moving the mirror up to shorten the distance to the Cameras focal Plane. From what it sounds like so far, your too long, but I'm not certain that is the case.

Hope That Helps..

Milton J. Aupperle