Vixen SXP2 Autoguiding Workflow

[mistaya7]

Sorry for the longish post, but I needed to enter details.

I have had a Vixen SXP2 mount (with Starbook-10) for about 3 years. I've been using it mostly for Visual Observing
and enjoying it very much. I would like to start using it for long exposure imaging. I have searched online for details
on how others accomplish this on their SXP2, but Vixen is not a popular mount and have not had much luck finding info.

So, I would like to know from members on this site who have used SXP2 + SB-10 for deep-sky imaging, detail steps for doing autoguiding with software.
- What software works best with SXP2/SB-10 (e.g. NINA ?)
- What autoguiding scope you recommend ?
- I'll have to get a laptop. what drivers needed for SXP2 ?
- What are settings to use in SB-10 when autoguiding ?
- What cables needed to connect everything ?
- Details steps of workflow.

- Do you initially do 2-3 star alignment with SB-10 then handover to autoguiding s/w ?
- How would you do Polar Alignment with automated tool like QHY PoleMaster (drift alignment takes too long).
I have run into a SB-10 message/error "Crossing North Celestial Pole" How do I get around that.

Here is my Current Visual Observing workflow.

1. Setup and level tripod. Attach SXP2 mount, SB-10.
Some SB-10 settings:
- SB-10 version 5.10
- Set my observing location and time
- Mount setting: Equat mount without polar alignment
- Atmospheric Refraction ON
- I do not have PEC recorded.
Cross-Over Meridian:
warn for Telescope reverse: Over 15° Step 2°
Override Merid stop point: Over 20°
Goto: East 20°

2. Do best effort polar align using included Polar Scope.

3. Attach Telescope and accessories, balance.
Loosen DEC, RA clamps and point scope due west (I'm in Canada)

4. Turn On Mount/SB-10
Advance SB-10 initial settings screen to "Home Position", OK
Do Alignment on 2-3 bright stars

5. Start using Goto for different objects.
- In SB-10 I cannot disable Crossover-Meridian
- SB-10 does not have an actual guiding rate to set (Lunar, Solar, Sideral)
I assume it sets it based on the object I GoTO.

Your help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
K.Q. (Calgary, Canada)

[KathyNS]

I don't know that mount. However, I wonder about pointing the scope due west for the power-on "home" position. I have never heard of any mount using that as a home position. Normally, you point the scope at the north celestial pole (south in southern hemisphere).

[Graeme1858]

Sorry for the longish post, but I needed to enter details.

I have had a Vixen SXP2 mount (with Starbook-10) for about 3 years. I've been using it mostly for Visual Observing
and enjoying it very much. I would like to start using it for long exposure imaging. I have searched online for details
on how others accomplish this on their SXP2, but Vixen is not a popular mount and have not had much luck finding info.

That's an excellent mount for astrophotography. But I'm not familiar with it either.

When you connect it to your pc (I assume pc) what software do you use to align it? My Celestron uses CPWI. Skywatcher mounts uses EQ Mod (and others I believe)

You will need to install the ASCOM Platform from here: https://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Index.htm

ASCOM works in the background and will allow your mount (and filter wheel, focuser, camera, guider etc) to talk to your astrophotography software (NINA, APT, SharpCap, FireCapture etc)

You can guide your telescope with a separate guide scope or an off axis guider and a separate guide camera controlled by the PHD2 software and others. But one step at a time!

As Kathy says, manually pointing west is unlikely to be the way to go. If you tighten the clamps and instruct the telescope to go to the Home position, does it point in the direction of Polaris?

We look forward to hearing how you get on.

Graeme

[mistaya7]

Thanks for the tips.

For the SXP2 mount, the home position is due West (northen hemisphere).
When I first got my SXP2 mount I had to read the manual several times,
becuase it was totaly different from all others mounts I read or saw videos about.

I have not purchased any accessories for imaging yet. I just have a DSLR,
thru which I imaged the Moon, and did short subs of M13 (10secs x 18) just
to learn.

I had a friend who tried to use the mount with his software just to learn
the Vixen ideology. He ran into 2 issues. Could not do polar alignment due
to message/error (Crossing over North Celestial pole" and SXP2 would not
cooperate. He also could not set a tracking rate (e.g. sidereal). I told
him SXP2 sets it depending on the object I GoTo with SB-10. So his s/w
and the SB-10 were not "talking" to each other.

I am hoping there are members who have used an SXP2 (or a recent Vixen mount with SB-10)
for astroimaging that can help with detail steps of their workflow.

K.Q.

[KathyNS]

For the SXP2 mount, the home position is due West (northen hemisphere).

Weird, but true, I found out. I stand corrected.

[mistaya7]

Kathy. Yeah I too was surprised. Being new to Vixen, it took me a while to realize
Vixen does things very differently.

So, for now, below is the workflow I have come up with. Once I have saved funds
to get imaging accessories, I will try this out. In the meanwhile, any Vixen SXP2
or other Vixen imagers can update this post to let me know if I'm on the right track.

1. Setup and level tripod. Attach SXP2 mount, SB-10.
Some SB-10 settings:
- Mount setting: Equat mount with polar alignment

2. Attach scope, imaging equipment, and cables, etc. Balance.
3. Do initial visual Polar Alignment with included Polar Scope.
4. Turn On Mount/SB-10
- Advance SB-10 initial settings screen to "Home Position"

5. Use an App (e.g. Polemaster) to do a more accurate Polar Alignment
- not sure how I get around the error "Crossing Over North Celestial Pole"

6. Turn mount Off/On (repeat step 4).

7. Use SB-10 to do alignment on 2-3 stars.

8. Use SB-10 to goto object to image (so mount sets respective guiding rate).

9 Use chosen application (e.g. NINA) to do autoguiding, imaging, Plate-solving.