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Re: [APML] guide stars on ST-10



Tony,
Thats an important question. At short FL's (<1000mm) there's always
a guidestar. At longer FL's (>2500mm) you will need to plan the imaging
session using "the Sky" software with its FOV indicators and template
for the SBIG cameras and self guide chips. This will tell you how to orient your
camera and center your object so that a suitable guidestar will fall on the guiding chip.
The other factor is the limiting magnitude of guidestars which will depend on your aperture.
With my RC (12.5") I can guide on stars as dim as 13 magnitude. That may not sound that dim but
once you start placing filters in front of the camera for tricolor work the guidestars can get very dim,
especially with the blue filter. I'd say that if you use "the sky" you will be able to get a suitable guidestar
99% of the time if you are willing to change the orientation of the camera and the centering
of the target.
Rob Gendler
Email: robgendler@att.net
Web site: http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 1:52 PM
Subject: Re: [APML] guide stars on ST-10

Rob,
 
   Since you have been using the ST-10 for awhile now... is there always a guide star available on the guide chip? Seems like every now and then in the "empty" parts of the sky you might not happen to have a good star in the "right" spot ... or is the chip so sensitive there is always something there?
 
     Tony