SGP astrophotography software - A basic overview!

[@kryff1]

Thanks Shawn, I have been using SGP for about 10 months so have not delved too deeply into some of the features. This video has highlighted a few things that I will be trying out in my next few sessions. I especially like the planning tool which I had not come across. Will definitely be using this in future sessions. Thanks again for another great video. Clear skies from the UK👍😀🔭

[@VisibledarkAstro]

Fantastic! Thanks for watching. Super glad the video was helpful to you. Clear skies! :)

[@robwilson8786]

Thank you Shawn, your video has been very helpful. I've been using Sharpcap with some success. It's nice, but it's limited. I just got the license for SGP and your video is a great starting point which will save me time. I'll switch to SGP soon and concurrently use Sharpcap live stacking in the background. I subscribed to your channel and hope to see more such videos. Rob Wilson

[@benc7805]

Shawn Thanks for the excellent tutorial on SGP Keep up the great work

[@VisibledarkAstro]

Thank you! Clear skies!

[@craiglowery4427]

Great overview! Does SGP have a go to function of celestrial objects to slew to? If so are newly discovered comets in the database?

[@VisibledarkAstro]

No idea! Lol. I have to used SGP in over 2 years. I use NINA now.

[@davecurtis8833]

Ive been using SGP for some time and now trialing NINA. Both good options. I like SGP as it is more mature and how easy you can just load an existing image, plate solve and set as target.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

Everytime I have seen SGP shown it has been in the predominantly white colour scheme. Can you change the colours to something a little easier on the eyes? Every other capture software I have used BYN, APT and NINA has or can have a low brightness colour scheme because even astro imagers need some night vision if only to check on clouds or equipment.

[@VisibledarkAstro]

Unfortunately that is one thing you can't do in SGP. There is no option to change the colour scheme. The developers decided on that look and stuck with it. I recall a lot of debate about the colour scheme and many wanting something different. I myself don't like the white (prefer dark grey) , but unfortunately it cannot be changed.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

@@VisibledarkAstro That is unfortunate. With such a highly developed piece of software you would think some UI colour customisation should be a given. What I do like though is the efficient use of screen real estate which is so important for remote desktop operation..

[@christianvulpescu1398]

Very interesting. Thank you Shawn. Just one question: How can you run a second instance of SGP for a second rig, parallel to the first instance? CS Christian

[@patrickrebstock200]

Need to watch this through love the program could see if I’m missing something

[@jaspalchadha1041]

Thanks for the video. Could I ask you with your qhy camera how did you setup ur offset and gain

[@VisibledarkAstro]

Hi there! I set the gain/offset for the camera in the ascom settings. In the sequencer window, you would click on the "wrench" icon beside the camera listed that you are using. I set it here because I typically run all night on an object and have no need to change it. Alternatively though you can also change the gain/offset per "event" in the sequencer window by clicking on the "gear" icon and selecting "event settings". Here's a link to screenshot showing where to find these... amzn.to/3cZ09hj - hope this helps! Cheers.

[@jaspalchadha1041]

Visibledark Astro thanks bud maybe I wasn’t clear.. how did you determine your offset and gain...

[@frankconte2]

Thanks for the info. I'm having an issue With SGP About half way into a 300 sec expoure the mount slews off target. Mount HEq 5 guiding PHD 2 any Ideas

[@briangriffiths937]

A lot of people have complaints about SGP, I had a few issues myself, but overcome them. One thing I have noticed, when I put my laptop in airplane mode, I have very few problems, might be coincidence, but windows can download updates etc at anytime, and I think it causes problems, especially AVG antivirus software.

[@AstroC_13]

Thanks again Shawn another cracking review. I've watched 3/4 will grab the final bit later. I've been looking at SGP but cant see much difference to APT which is free, anything spring to mind which this has over APT?

[@VisibledarkAstro]

Hi Daniel - I haven't used APT so I can't really compare. I've been experimenting with NINA though the last few imaging sessions and it has a lot going for it as well. They all seem to do things a little differently and have their strengths and weaknesses. I might try APT some day. Thanks for watching. Cheers!

[@AstroC_13]

@@VisibledarkAstro No Worries Shawn always a pleasure to watch, your content is great. still waiting for a start to finish on post processing in pixinsight from you ;) thanks for your response

[@davidemancini7853]

Great as usual👍🖖thx mate😎

[@VisibledarkAstro]

Thanks! Appreciate you watching and glad it was helpful. Cheers!

Thanks Shawn. GSP or N.I.N.A, which one can you advice? Pricing is out of question here, please consider just capability, reliability and user friendly side. Thanks.

[@cryptoalchemist10minutes44]

Thanks for the video. I always found bugs and problems with SGP over 9 months I used it. I now use Nina much better for me and does everything I need best of all it's free.

[@VisibledarkAstro]

I've been trying NINA. It's pretty good. Missing some things but they are constantly improving it so will be interesting to see where it goes. Especially now that it's getting a lot of exposure in the astro community.

[@llamarvasquez1803]

Hi there Shawn! Had a question about sequence generator pro if I’m going to image with gain 0 offset 10 but want to auto focus With 139 gain how can I set that or if I set it at 0 gain does it have to auto focus with that game setting? Thanks

[@VisibledarkAstro]

I'm curious why you would want to or need to auto focus at gain 139? Why not just do it at gain 0? Same result.

[@llamarvasquez1803]

Visibledark Astro I have a Zwo 1600mm pro camera the filter I used was a 12nm HA, I had my gain at 0 offset 10... my first 600 sec image of Ngc 7000 and it had lots of detail... but when it went into auto focus I guess it used the gain settings and my stars looked very faint... so I tried another image at gain 139 offset 21 my imaged looked washout at 300 sec but I could see a lot more stars when the auto focus kicked in... the reason I asked that question cause today I’m getting a chroma 5nm HA filter and I know using gain 0 offset 10 when auto focusing on a 5nm filter will be hard.. I live In a bortle 6 sky.. I watched one of your other videos were you mention you only use gain 0 for all your images.. so I tried it I had so much detail and contrast in a single image. I was always using gain 139 offset 21 like Zwo mentions and some people on cloudy nights... My 120sec and 300sec looked very washed out for some reason at that gain... thank you again

[@combatwombat71]

I'm just waiting for it to be able to use ASTAP for rocket-fast blind solving like APT does before I buy the paid version. Still waiting! :-(

[@VisibledarkAstro]

I've never used ASTAP but I was going to try setting it up. Read good things about it.

[@rickpaul9858]

I know some people love SGP but I find it hard to use and extremely buggy.

[@VisibledarkAstro]

I know some people have problems with SGP. I've never really had many issues. Just one really which was plate solving, and not centering but SGP thought the object was. Tried different plate solvers. Would plate solve in a completely different area of sky, not far from the object but not on the object. Never did figure it out - things just started working correctly again.

[@yangyunbo1]

the firse one

[@VisibledarkAstro]

you were! lol. Cheers.

[@tomtoka]

I hate this software, look so ugly and outdated, why making it all so complicated, asiarAir is the best

[@shohrukhnizomov7904]

Fake Fake Fake