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INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Where to find comet tracking rates in RA and DEC?

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Hey all, I'm casting about for a variety of targets to image with my new-to-me Astro-Tech AT8RC. Since I'm using an OAG I won't be able to guide on the comet itself. PHD2 can accept tracking rates in RA and DEC and apply those as a correction to its guiding ( openphdguiding.org/man-dev/Tools.htm#Comet_Tracking ), but ya gotta have the rates to do it.  I can get a line from the Minor Planets Center that looks like this for C/2019 L3, but there are no headers to say which number is which:    CK19L030  2022 01  9.6198  3.554511  1.001620  171.6106  290.7902   48.3610  20220201   4.5  4.0  C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)                                        MPEC 2022-A21

The  PHD manual says Cartes du Ciel can send the tracking rates to PHD; can Ekos, by any chance?

Thx
2 years 1 month ago #80173

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Cartes Du Ciel can do it by adding PHD2 support under Setup > Manage Tool Box Script...
Currently KStars does not. But I have already brought it up before. Please promote the feature here.
indilib.org/forum/wish-list/11065-wishli...internal-guider.html

Other that that Minor Planets is the way to go.
www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/MPEph/MPEph.html
You need to change a few settings:
Ephemeris interval: Days or Hours. Fast moving comets should be by hour.
Longitude, Latitude
Separate R.A. and Decl. sky motions
Display motions as: "/hr

 
2 years 1 month ago #80175
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Thanks Andrew! I also got guidance on Cloudy Nights to the correct page to get the numbers, but missed the crucial point that PHD wants the rates per hour, not per minute!

So you saved me some serious head-scratching and potentially bad language.
2 years 1 month ago #80176

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