Using ASIAIR Sky Atlas

dbradf

Can I use ASIAIR Pro Sky Atlas (Planetarium) feature for push-to on my dobsonian? Can I just mount a camera and guide scope on my dob, plate solve, and move the dob until the image frames line up?

Tech@ZWO

dbradf It lies on if the dobsonian and camera support on ASIAIR.
Here is a supported list for your reference.
https://www.yuque.com/zwopkb/asiair/compatible-mounts

dbradf

The question relates to a mount that would not be connected to ASIAIR. In other words, I would hope to be able to plate solve and have the sky atlas show where the scope is pointing and then move the scope, plate solve again and eventual reach the target.

Tech@ZWO

dbradf I got the question you asked.
If ASIAIR supports the camera you used, and the FOV of your imaging train is within the plate-solve range of ASIAIR Pro(0.2 degrees to 33 degrees), that should work.

dbradf

Tech@ZWO
I tried it all last night. I'm using a 60mm guide scope with my ASI294MM camera mounted on my 12" dob. I configured the ASIAIR Pro to control the camera only, with no mount. I point the scope to the sky, take an image, and plate solve which is successful. Once plate solved, it asks whether to (1) sync to mount, (2) sync and go to the last object that was in the system, or (3) (cancel). Regardless of which one of those I choose, when I select the Sky Atlas, it comes up with a red target rectangle but no blue one to show where the scope is pointing. An answer from tech support said the blue rectangle is determined from the mount, so my attempt to us Sky Atlas without connecting to a mount won’t work. Please clarify.

dbradf

Tech@ZWO please clarify

Corsair

Yep. What @Tech@ZWO said.

Whether or not plate solving works depends on your optical configuration (I.e. scope/OTA, Camera, reducer/barlow)

Use this website - just set it to Imaging Mode - to have it calculate your FOV angles (such will show as #° by #°). https://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/

For example, with my C8 SCT, ASI294MC Pro camera and 0.63x Reducer the FOV becomes 0.86° x 0.58°.

This is within the range the ASIAIR can use to plate solve.

Without the 0.63x Reducer the FOV becomes 0.54° x 0.37° which is still within range for plate solving with the ASIAIR.

Your numbers will probably be different with your Dob and camera configuration.

franco

In the mount settings select the simulator/demo mount.

dbradf

franco Thanks much! That seems to solve the problem. At least with a simple test tonight, selecting that
"mount" allowed the Sky Atlas to show both blue and red rectangles. And moving the real "mount" seemed to move accurately. More tests with my dob to follow.

dbradf

dbradf Does the Sky Atlas repeat plate solving while the “real” mount is moving toward the target? Or must I repeat plate solving after each movement?

franco

If you have the option enabled, the ASIAir will try to affirm that the mount has moved to the correct location and centre the target but in your case it will fail because the telescope can only be moved manually - by you.

So when you move the scope you need to plate solve and goto to update the sky atlas.