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

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Ekos guider recovery after lost guide star?

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Hi Folks,

I'm using Ekos with PHD2 guiding and am running into an issue with the guide star being lost. I'm using an OAG and this typically happens after an automated refocus event where due to drift and/or mirror movement the original guide star has moved outside the guide star box and PHD2 can't find it. I've already set the box size to maximum (50 pix) which helped make this less frequent, but did not solve the issue. When this does happen, I get logs like the one below that just keep cycling trying to require the original guide star.

Is there a way to setup the guider module in Ekos so that after a timeout period it will reset and command PHD2 to select a new guide star?

Thanks!
-Bret

<...>
2022-08-16T01:34:43 PHD2: Guiding started.
2022-08-16T01:34:38 PHD2: Star Lost. Trying to reacquire for 60s.
2022-08-16T01:34:31 Autoguiding started.
2022-08-16T01:34:31 PHD2: Guiding started.
2022-08-16T01:34:05 PHD2: Star Lost. Trying to reacquire for 60s.
2022-08-16T01:33:52 Autoguiding started.
2022-08-16T01:33:52 PHD2: Guiding started.
2022-08-16T01:33:46 PHD2: Star Lost. Trying to reacquire for 60s.
2022-08-16T01:33:40 Autoguiding started.
2022-08-16T01:33:40 PHD2: Guiding started.
2022-08-16T01:33:35 PHD2: Star Lost. Trying to reacquire for 60s.
2022-08-16T01:33:16 Autoguiding started.
2022-08-16T01:33:16 PHD2: Guiding started.
2022-08-16T01:32:58 PHD2: Star Lost. Trying to reacquire for 60s.
<...>
1 year 7 months ago #85393

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Hi

Perhaps you're not using the Scheduler. It will try -I think 5 times- to regain the guide star and then restart the job, including alignment and guiding if you have so selected. Maybe set the lost star timeout to a lower value, otherwise you'll lose 5 minutes every time. Useful also for nights with drifting cloud.

Tested here with with the internal guider. Maybe worth a try with PHD2?

Cheers and HTH
Steve
1 year 7 months ago #85436

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Hi Steve,

Thanks a bunch for the suggestion. I have not been using the scheduler ... I typically just start the guider and use the Capture tab to initiate my runs. I'll give the scheduler a try ... I never thought to look there!

-Bret
1 year 7 months ago #85438

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Hi Steve,

I'm trying the scheduler now, but I must not have it configured correctly ... if/when the guide star is lost, Ekos/PHD2 continues to hunt for the original guide star and eventually lands on some other star causing the framing to be way off from that point. Below are the related settings I could find in the scheduler ... any recommendations?

Thanks!
-Bret
1 year 7 months ago #85470
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Hi

Make certain that your mount is mechanically better than perfect, then...

In the Scheduler alignment:

Verify captured image every <1> frames
Reset pipeline if verified image delta excedes <whatever you need> arcminutes.

HTH,
Steve
1 year 7 months ago #85473

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Got it and will try tonight!
1 year 7 months ago #85485

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