Tim Lewis replied to the topic 'Flat automation' in the forum. 4 years ago

Hi Jasem,

Yes - please add the confirmation dialog.

Read More...

Tim Lewis replied to the topic 'Flat automation' in the forum. 4 years ago

Hi Jasem,

I just read my posting, and saw a need for elaboration: the way I intend to do flats is to capture my light frames, then, at the end of the night, I would do all flats for all filters in a sequence. So, I would slew to the Alt/Az position, then do the L | R | G | B | Ha flats using focus offsets, one after another. Just wanted to clarify that for you.

Read More...

Tim Lewis replied to the topic 'Flat automation' in the forum. 4 years ago

Hi Jasem,
I have two scopes that use the same Flatman, so it's probably not in the cards for me to buy two FlipFlats. So, it sounds like the confirmation dialog would be a good solution. To confirm: the way this would work is that I would program in the Alt/Az position to the calibration dialog and check a box to ask Ekos to prompt me to confirm the Flatman is in place, then, when I launch a run of flats, it would slew to the Alt/Az position, then prompt me to confirm the Flatman is in place before commencing flat exposures. Is that what you envision? If so, that would work well. I am assuming that it would not re-slew to the same Alt/Az position for subsequent flats of different filters - it would just see that it is already in the correct Alt/Az position and not move.

Thanks, Jasem. You have a really great product going here, and I do appreciate the work you and your team are doing!

Read More...

Tim Lewis replied to the topic 'Flat automation' in the forum. 4 years ago

Hi Jasem,
Using that approach is somewhat problematic: The slew works, but I have to walk over and put the Flatman on the OTA before it starts exposing. Is there an option to pause exposures until I place the flatman on top of the OTA after the slew? Or is there a better approach I am not considering?

Thanks,
Tim

Read More...

Tim Lewis replied to the topic 'Flat automation' in the forum. 4 years ago

Hi Wouter,
Thanks for the response! I am aware of the Site Management tab, and I already use the standard Park 3 for my Mach1 GTO as the Default park position. So, what I really need is something like this on the Site Management tab - several custom park positions that can be labeled. Something like:

-- Park: End of Session
-- Park: Flats

Thanks,
Tim

Read More...

Tim Lewis created a new topic ' Flat automation' in the forum. 4 years ago

Hi Folks,
I am new coming to Ekos/Kstars, having been using SGP for a while. I am trying to develop my approach to flats in Ekos. I’m aware of the flat automation facilities, and have a question:

— How do I automate a slew to altitude 0, azimuth 90 prior to starting my flats sequence? I’m aware of the option to slew to a particular Alt/Az as part of each flat run, but I only need this slew once before I take all of my flats through each filter. Also, I need the sequence to pause while I set the flatman onto the OTA. Is there such a thing as a saved location that I can use for slewing to this ‘pointing at the zenith’ position?

Of course I welcome any advice on a ‘better way’ to approach this!

Thanks!

Read More...