I have been having a problem ever since I started plate solving in NINA and I cannot figure out where the cause lies, its super odd too. When I plug in the target and hit slew & center, on its first attempt it goes way off track. But I noticed that it goes to where the target will be in about 3-5 hours. So i figured the problem lied in the calendar settings or time, but I had no luck there. However after that initial picture it is super accurate. So I let it go since it does do its job very well after that but I could not image targets low on my horizon since it would image the trees in the way even though that target was well into the sky at that point. Now that I am sending my rig to Star front, I would like to solve this issue. If you guys have any advice please let me know.
Plate Solving
I don’t really know how to prevent your issue, but in the advanced sequenver add to your sequence a go to alt/az coords and a solve and sync command. It adds half a minute to the beginning of your sequence and can be done before its truly dark anyway so not really any lost imaging time.
If you’re using the simple sequencer, my best advice is to learn the advanced and do what I said above.
I have an Eq6 and don’t see that behavior. What program are you using to control the mount? Are you using the handbox? Are you starting in the proper home position? When the mount syncs in NINA are the numbers close?
Quinn Groessl · Apr 2, 2026, 07:48 PM
I don’t really know how to prevent your issue, but in the advanced sequenver add to your sequence a go to alt/az coords and a solve and sync command. It adds half a minute to the beginning of your sequence and can be done before its truly dark anyway so not really any lost imaging time.
If you’re using the simple sequencer, my best advice is to learn the advanced and do what I said above.
I’ve never used advanced before. I figured i would have to in order to efficiently remote from home so maybe ill give it a try beforehand.
Tony Gondola · Apr 2, 2026, 08:08 PM
I have an Eq6 and don’t see that behavior. What program are you using to control the mount? Are you using the handbox? Are you starting in the proper home position? When the mount syncs in NINA are the numbers close?
Everything should be in order, although i havent checked the coordinates of the targets since i dont know them off the top of my head. I will look into that though, thank you.
Try double checking the site information for your mount. If you are using EQ-Mod it is this screen but regardless the latitude and longitude need to be set for the actual location of your mount in your software.
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John Nelson · Apr 3, 2026 at 06:54 AM
I’ve never used advanced before. I figured i would have to in order to efficiently remote from home so maybe ill give it a try beforehand
It’s not too difficult to learn. I initially used this guys sequences.
https://youtu.be/Gcekn0lw2IY?si=_aJ0jR69vU5UOTra
Instructions to get his sequences are in the video description and I believe he shows how to get them in the video. He’s inactive now, so the sequences are a bit older, but they still work great. Eventually you kind of learn how to use them and modify them to your liking.
That’s a good recommendation, that’s who I learned from. The advanced sequencer really isn’t difficult once you get a grip on the logic and it’s extremely powerful. I’m not sure what you’re using for mount control but I highly recommend Green Swamp Server.
You can handle the advanced sequencer. It is far easier than your initial impression. It is only the interface that takes a little while to get used to.
I use EQ-mod as it allows me to control 2 rigs through one PC. GSS is not capable of doing so. Nothing is simpler than EQ-mod imo.
Spacey · Apr 3, 2026, 02:26 PM
You can handle the advanced sequencer. It is far easier than your initial impression. It is only the interface that takes a little while to get used to.
I use EQ-mod as it allows me to control 2 rigs through one PC. GSS is not capable of doing so. Nothing is simpler than EQ-mod imo.
The OP is trying to get just one rig to work correctly. I’m suggesting GSS, assuming he’s not already using it, as a possible solution to the problem.
Tony Gondola · Apr 4, 2026 at 09:38 PM
Spacey · Apr 3, 2026, 02:26 PM
You can handle the advanced sequencer. It is far easier than your initial impression. It is only the interface that takes a little while to get used to.
I use EQ-mod as it allows me to control 2 rigs through one PC. GSS is not capable of doing so. Nothing is simpler than EQ-mod imo.
The OP is trying to get just one rig to work correctly. I’m suggesting GSS, assuming he’s not already using it, as a possible solution to the problem.
When i send out everything to texas i was planning on putting sharpcap on there as well for the occasional moon photography. Maybe ill slid in gss and give it a try. My only question is i dont see how that will solve this oddly specific issue im having.
We really don’t have enough info to say that it will or won’t. I can say that GSS is a much more modern bit of software and was built from the ground up to support Skywatcher mounts so it’s worth a try. Not sure how you’ll be able to reconfigure for lunar/planetary remotely as this normally requires reconfiguring the image train with a Barlow. I certainly would not send any rig to a remote facility until it’s working absolutely correctly.
Tony Gondola · Apr 5, 2026 at 01:29 AM
We really don’t have enough info to say that it will or won’t. I can say that GSS is a much more modern bit of software and was built from the ground up to support Skywatcher mounts so it’s worth a try. Not sure how you’ll be able to reconfigure for lunar/planetary remotely as this normally requires reconfiguring the image train with a Barlow. I certainly would not send any rig to a remote facility until it’s working absolutely correctly.
I would image the moon with what i have and just record the video at the appropriate exposure and gain in sharpcap, i did it for the lunar eclipse so i know it will work. It occurred to me that i didn’t thoroughly explain my process. Before i image anything i go to the framing tab in nina and type in the designation required, then once i hit slew and center i would setup the sequence in the legacy sequencer. Thats the beginning process, super simple and easy to get into a routine. Im sure ill figure out advanced sequencer or even gss, but i slew and center separate to the actual sequence, is that a problem?
You can work that way if that’s what you’re comfortable with. That really dosen’t address you’re original problem of your firstl slew being wildly off. I’m assuming from your last post that you are using eqmod as your mount control software? I’m also assuming that you’re not using the hand controller anywhere in the process??
Tony Gondola · Apr 5, 2026, 03:52 AM
You can work that way if that’s what you’re comfortable with. That really dosen’t address you’re original problem of your firstl slew being wildly off. I’m assuming from your last post that you are using eqmod as your mount control software? I’m also assuming that you’re not using the hand controller anywhere in the process??
no not anymore, just eqmod.
Assuming you are powering up in the correct polar home position (tube up, counterweight down) then all I can think of is there’s a setting in eqmod that causing the issue. That’s why I suggested trying GSS.
Tony Gondola · Apr 5, 2026, 05:57 PM
Assuming you are powering up in the correct polar home position (tube up, counterweight down) then all I can think of is there’s a setting in eqmod that causing the issue. That’s why I suggested trying GSS.
Okay I can give it a try here in the near future, I just have to wait for the weather to play nice.
Hello, I had a similar problem. My mount was lagging behind by about 45 minutes.
The solution was: A minus sign ("-") had crept into the longitude coordinates in N.I.N.A. After deleting this minus sign, the alignment was correct.
Best regards, Markus