Guiding was Good Then Bad

[Graeme Durden]

Hello.

https://openphdguiding.org/logs/dl/PHD2_logs_oFfA.zip

I captured some Soul Nebula data 09/08/22 with the best guiding I have ever had!

Then I slewed the telescope to The Helix Nebula at 00:50 and was unable to guide at all. The selected guide star kept drifting out of view. My polar alignment was good with ok 60 second subs unguided.

Could you see if the reason for loosing guiding is in the log please. 

9.25 SCT

CGX

ASI294MC Pro

QHY511 OAG

CPWI

NINA

PHD2 2.6.11

Thanks

Regards

Graeme

[bw_m...@earthlink.net]

I think your slew to Dec = -20 created a problem with the gear riding on the mount.  You didn’t mention that at 01:28, you slewed back to Dec = 60 and continued to have major problems.  I suspect that you ran into a cable snagging problem on the slew to the Helix nebula and the OAG or the guide camera in the OAG rotated.  This led to the following kinds of apparent tracking errors (red is RA, green is Dec):

 

 

If the problem was simply one of cable snagging, I would have expected things to settle down when you slewed back to the north.  You should probably run a trouble-shooting session where you repeat the process:

1. Make sure everything is tightly fastened, then get a fresh calibration done
2. Slew to Dec = 60 to your original starting point, rather low in the north-eastern sky
3. Verify that guiding works ok for 10 minutes or so
4. Slew to Dec = -20 and about 15 degrees east of the central meridian, watching very carefully to see if cables are dragging, snagging, or otherwise tugging on the guide camera assembly

 

Good luck,

Bruce

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[Graeme Durden]

Thanks for your response Bruce.

It was a lengthy slew and I image from indoors now working over TeamViewer, watching the telescope on the house security cameras. My cable management is quite good but I probably need to be out there for major slews. Hopefully it was a cable snag, I'll set up tonight and carry out your four steps.

I have just switched from guide scope to OAG and added a F6.3 reducer, my first thoughts were that it was a new focal length setup type problem.

Thanks

Regards

Graeme