Using ASCOM with LabVIEW

I was asked if I could offer some help with programming LabVIEW to control a telescope mount using ASCOM. I decided to create a sample vi that explains the basics. The example is written in LabVIEW 2019. If you don’t have LabVIEW installed on your computer, the sample will be completely useless to you. Peter ASCOM Interface Fundamentals Opps! I forgot to include a Close Reference block where I disconnect the scope

All about master Files video playlist

I just finished creating a new playlist containing several videos discussing master files. Learn more about taking quality master FLATs.  Take a deep dive into what master BIAS and DARKs can tell you about your camera.  I had to break up the video dealing with master BIAS and DARK frames into six parts…too much to discuss.  I also present my results from evaluating DARK current in four different cameras. Nikon D5300, Canon 750D, QHY294C and ASI2600MC Pro.Peterhttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKWSWyofP8UR8ogS5pK-jnOlbyRrgomRA

How I lug around my CGEM mount

I don’t have an observatory so I have to lug my set-up outside and back into the house every time I use it. The mount is the heaviest part so I created some wooden accessories to make this exercise a little less painful. Here I have placed the CGEM mount on a wooden platform and attached a wooden carrying handle. I normally store the mount on the tripod when I am not using it. To move it I will attach the handle and place the wooden platform where I know…

QHY294C Fullwell limitation at GAIN=1600

REVISED March 7th, 2021- See the bottom of this post for more info… The QHY294C OSC camera has a LGC/HGC mode that switches to it’s low noise High Gain Control[HGC] mode when the GAIN equals 1600 or higher. Normally, a user would not expect that the camera to be limited by it’s fullwell. The QHY294C has an impressive fullwell of ~65,000e-. QHY’s current implementation of the HGC mode causes the fullwell to dramatically drop to ~10,000e-. These cameras have lots of sophisticated hardware on the imaging chip so it’s difficult…