background image

Ultrastar PRO handbook Issue 1, September 2020 

 

Guiding with ‘PHD2’ 

 

A very simple-to-use guiding program is Stark Labs ‘PHD2’ (http://openphdguiding.org/). I 

recommend this as a good and simple way to guide with the Ultrastar PRO and I use it myself on most 

occasions. 

 

To guide with PHD2, first press the ‘camera’ icon and select the ‘Starlight SXV’ option for the camera. 

If you have more than one SX camera connected, then choose ‘Ultrastar’ or ‘SX-825’ from the list. 

 

 

 

Next, press the ‘Mount’ button and select ‘On camera’ (this uses the RJ12 cable to feed corrections to 

the mount). You can also set these as the default by using the ‘Manage Profiles’ selection at the top of 

the box. Close the settings window when finished. 

 

Now press the ‘Loop’ icon and you should see a continuously updating star field. Focus and select the 

best exposure time, then press ‘Stop’.  

Содержание Ultrastar PRO

Страница 1: ...r connection It also provides an opto isolated output connection for direct control of most mounts via their Autoguider sockets This output is compatible with the ST4 style of RJ12 connection and supplies 4 pull down direction lines and a common return Alternatively you may send the mount control signals via a serial connection from the guider control computer The Ultrastar PRO utilises a very sen...

Страница 2: ... sxccd com drivers downloads The Ultrastar PRO has two different software packages One is Ultrastar exe which is an imaging autoguiding software package the other is Starlight Live which is a Live stacking software Starlight Live allows you to use the Ultrastar PRO as an imaging camera by taking a series of short exposures typically 10 sec or more and then automatically stacking the images togethe...

Страница 3: ...uch as AstroArt MaximDL SkyX and others all support the Ultrastar PRO either with native drivers or through ASCOM Our latest driver can be found on our website https www sxccd com drivers downloads Imaging with the Ultrastar PRO The Ultrastar PRO makes an excellent imaging camera especially when used as a Live View imager This method involves stacking many short exposures to achieve a high sensiti...

Страница 4: ...020 If stars are visible Starlight Live will use these for registering the images together and the image clarity will steadily improve as the stack develops The image brightness and contrast may be manipulated by adjusting the sliders provided ...

Страница 5: ...end to be expensive machine vision lenses A relatively cheap option is to use an SLR lens with a C to T or Pentax thread adaptor tube The old Asahi 55 mm F1 8 SLR lenses can be bought for as little as 20 pounds on Ebay and work very well with the Ultrastar PRO The correct focal distance for these lenses is about 45 mm so you will need a C to lens thread adaptor of about 32 mm overall length to ach...

Страница 6: ...you an image and this can be saved as a FIT file for further processing Various image processing functions are available from the menu bar and will be adequate for many general imaging purposes Many other imaging programs will recognise and work with the Ultrastar PRO Maxim DL5 and 6 will work although the camera might appear as an Unknown device in earlier versions of this software However it wil...

Страница 7: ...xis guide prism on the main telescope drawtube SX Ltd offer various assemblies for this purpose such as our Mini wheel with OAG or our Slim OAG Filter Wheel The OAG can also be supplied on its own with an extension tube to compensate for the thickness of the missing filter wheel The OAG utilises the C mount thread in the Ultrastar PRO to give a secure attachment The control of your telescope mount...

Страница 8: ...the View menu In this you will see an option called Max palette stretch Open this and check the Activate stretch display check box This will automatically boost the image brightness so that faint guide stars can be easily seen if necessary you can adjust the slider for the best results Now click on the camera icon to open the Ultrastar PRO control dialog as below The image box will be empty at thi...

Страница 9: ...ou will see the guide star along with error values and a reticule showing the guide star location with respect to the reference position If all is well you should see the guide star location being forced towards the centre position with each successive guide image However it is quite likely that it will be pushed away from the correct position due to an error in the guiding default settings If thi...

Страница 10: ...t the Starlight SXV option for the camera If you have more than one SX camera connected then choose Ultrastar or SX 825 from the list Next press the Mount button and select On camera this uses the RJ12 cable to feed corrections to the mount You can also set these as the default by using the Manage Profiles selection at the top of the box Close the settings window when finished Now press the Loop i...

Страница 11: ...lick the mouse on a suitable guide star in your last image and then select the Target icon PHD2 will set up a cursor and box on the guide star and proceed to calibrate the mount After about 1 minute of calibration it will start to guide on the star ...

Страница 12: ...nsumer Rights of Purchasers CONDITIONS OF GUARANTEE 1 The equipment shall only be used for normal purposes described in the standard operating instructions and within the relevant safety standards of the country where the equipment is used 2 Repairs under guarantee will be free of charge providing proof of purchase is produced and that the equipment is returned to the Service Agent at the Purchase...

Отзывы: