Astrophotography With The ASIAIR - Part-2

[@mjsweeps]

Awesome video! Thank you for all the info!!

[@DakotaStarryNights]

You're welcome!

[@barnaclewatcher4060]

Thanks for making this series on the ASIAIR. Just curious, did you record part 2 before part 1?

[@DakotaStarryNights]

Yes, it was. 💫

[@davidletz9123]

Thanks for this, I just watched Part 1. Did you polar align the mount prior to executing all of the steps in the ASI Air? Also, I have tried unsuccessfully to use my Sky Watcher Skymax 127 MAk on my ZWO AM3 mount, using the ASI Air. My goal is/was to take some video of Saturn and Jupiter. I could never polar align, as the ASI Air would say there were not enough stars in the FOV to properly align. My camera is the ASI224. Do I really have to polar align to do video of planets? If I have the mount pointing close to Polaris, would that suffice? Sorry, new at a lot of this and rely On YT for all of my knowledge base.

[@DakotaStarryNights]

The mount at the observatory is on a pier and is already polar aligned. The Skymax 127 is a long focal length scope, f/12 fl1500. The ASI224 has a small sensor, 4.8mm x 3.6mm. Together, there just isn't enough FOV for the plate solve algorithm to work. You could try to PA with a finder scope and your ASI224. That should work. Then put your camera back in the Skymax. But as you suggested, for planetary work, a PA is not absolutely necessary. Get on Polaris and you're close. A proper PA is better of course. But as your planetary video capture should be limited to no more than a few minutes, 3 tops, you should be fine. If it's not working, then go for the finder scope option to do a PA. In any case, this is fun stuff so don't be afraid to mess around with it.💫

[@davidletz9123]

@@DakotaStarryNights Thank you for the reply! I believe I will have clear skies to might, so I'll give this a try. Thanks again.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Nice.

[@DakotaStarryNights]

🙂💫

[@crazyblingo]

Is that a 14" or 16" ota

[@DakotaStarryNights]

It's a 12" Meade ACF. 💫