multiple lost guide star messages requiring manual intervention

[David Ridge]

RCX400-12", SX-AO assisted guiding using Lodestar  guide camera feeding QHY183C imager

https://openphdguiding.org/logs/dl/PHD2_logs_oybJ.zip

Capturing maybe 20% of subs being useable. Wild fluctuations in the guiding graphic tracker interspersed with periods of calm guiding....

Anyone have any reliable ritual offerings they provide to the imaging gods?

[Bruce Waddington]

You're not going to make any progress until you can get better, brighter guide star images.  Consistent lost-star messages mean you're effectively not guiding. The LodeStar is generally a capable guide camera so I think you should take a careful look at the AO/OAG assembly to be sure the camera sensor is fully illuminated and even more importantly, that the guide camera is critically focused.  You can't reach critical focus by just looking at the display, you will need to find a way to measure the size and SNR of the guide stars as you dial in the focus.  The PHD2 Star Profile tool can help with this.

Good luck,

Bruce

[dridge3770]

Thank you! More fun under the stars 🤔

Sent from my Galaxy

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