Star Magnitude / Image Planning with Stellarium and OAG

[Jim H]

Recently added an Automatic Rotator to my C11 Edge HD (running at native FL) with a ZWO OAG and can now plan to select a rotation that will put the OAG is the best position for PHD2 to have guide stars to pick from.

Just curious if there is a star magnitude range that PHD2 prefers for guide stars?

My system it working and guiding well - this question is just for image planning using the Oculars function in Stellarium, which is helpful at long focal lengths.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

[Brian Valente]

Jim

The preference is a correctly configured auto-selection of guidestar. 

it's a common misperception that a brighter star may work better for guiding. However, an oversaturated star with a "flat top profile" is not ideal. 

Make sure your min SNR for auto find star is something reasonable (default is 6, i prefer 20-30 range) and allow PHD to make the guidestar choice for you.

Brian

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Brian 

Brian Valente

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