I am planning to buy a 6 inch Maksutov-Newtonian telescope (Scientific Exploreer, weighting 7.9 kilo). Mobility is very important. Hence, I think of the AM3 or AM5 mounts. I read the manual, but this leaves some questions open, mainly because the oulines lack (especially for me just starting in the field of astronomy and astrophotography) and basic information is scattered.
When using the hand control: once you focus on an object (moving with "high speed"), you should go down to speed 1× (tracking mode). What is the way to accomplish this (press multiple times on the stick until the speed is in tracking mode?)? How do you notice that you are in the tracking mode (1×)? Can this be done without smartphone? Or does this require wifi-connection with your smartphone and installation of the ASI-mount app?
Does the optional connection to a PC/laptop replace the ASI-mount app? What is needed for a manual entering coordinates and what is needed for the "goto" function (App or PC-connection)? The manual suggests that both functions only function with ASIAIR or any other astrophotography software (needed for synchronisation). Hence this suggests that you need a PC anyhow to implement these functions or can this also be done via the ASI-mount app?
Is it correct that the normal wobble is plus or minus 15 arcseconds and to reduce this (to about 1 arcsecond?) for astrophotography, requires the use of asiair (or something comparable).
Do I understand it correct that asiair utilises image-processing in order to keep track with the stars/object? Is there a video or article that generally explains the principle of auto-guiding; how does such a control system generally spoken function?
Basic princples of using AM3 or AM5
- Edited
In the manual it states the functions of the handset buttons and what they do: https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/AM5_user_manual_V1.0.pdf unfortunately the wording is perhaps a bit vague. The stick controls the slewing of the mount and not the tracking. These are different functions. Tracking speeds can only be set in the app. As explained in the manual, the handset has an LED indicator which shows the tracking speed. The app is only accessable on iOS, MacOS with Apple Silicon or Android. You can also control the mount via the ASCOM driver on a Windows Laptop or the INDIGO driver on a Mac instead of using the app.
I would suggest starting with the mobile App and learning how to use it to control the mount.
The "wobble" you refer to is "periodic error" and it varies from mount to mount. The way to control this is through guiding. For this you will need a guide camera and software for guiding. This can either be done with the ASIAir or your Laptop using software such as PHD2.
Thanks for the fast response. Quote: "unfortunately the wording is perhaps a bit vague". Indeed, I didn't understand the manual. Yet I understand: "high speed" and "low speed" are settings in the app. At least one piece of the puzzle has been solved.
Still the question: does the app include a "goto" function or do you additionally need the ASCOM-driver (on a laptop) for that purpose?
Another question: Can the guide camera be the same camera as the dedicated camera (f.e. Omegon) you need for astrophotography (making an image while using the very same image for guiding)?
Has the software of ASIAir to be installed on a PC or is this an app?