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Innovation Foresight SkyGuide

Stefan Berg Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (N.I.N.A. / NINA) Equipment Sequencing
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I currently use TSX with N.I.N.A. and in combination it works very well for me. I’ve been reading up on Innovation Foresights “SkyGuide”. Are there any users of this program here on Astrobin and could comment on SkyGuide and also whether it would work with TSX and N.I.N.A.?

Hank
Well Written Engaging
John Hayes avatar
John Hayes avatar
I've been using SKG for years, since before version 1.0 and I like it a lot.  Yes, it will work with NINA.  I don't know what TSX is so I can't comment on that.  As much as I like it, I have to say that SKG is a bit involved to set up.  It' biggest advantages are two fold:  1) It allows astigmatic focusing with ONAG and 2) It does full field guiding.  What problem are you trying to solve?  Is your current guiding system not working for some reason or are you trying to implement autofocus?

John
Concise Supportive
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Hi John,

‘’Thanks for the quick reply. TSX = The Sky X (Software Bisque - MtY mount software). I’ve been using PhD for guiding but results have been inconsistent. Clear nights are at a premium and I want something that can consistently give me good guiding. Many people get good results from PhD guiding but I’m not one of them, unfortunately.

I use Hocus Focus for auto focus and it works well. You mention ONAG in your reply. Does it eliminate the need to refocus after filter changes in combination with SKG?

From what I’ve read, SkyGuide is, as you’ve said, a bit involved to set up but once done will it give me good guiding?

Hank
Respectful
John Hayes avatar
John Hayes avatar
Hank,
You still have to worry about filter offsets no matter what you use for focusing.  ONAG improves throughput and it may improve your focusing but that's a bigger step. So let's go back to the issue of basic guiding.

I really like SKG but I suspect that if you are having trouble with PhD, it might be too soon to move to SKG.  My recommendation would be to first figure out why PhD isn't working--so tell me more about that.  Developing good analytical and debugging skills is really important in this hobby so tell me more about what you see with PhD and why you think that it's not working well.  I've used PhD for years and it works extremely well.  Once we figure out why you aren't getting decent results with it, then you'll be in a better position to figure out if SKG is a better option.

John
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Thanks, John. The next clear night I’ll record my problems with PhD. I appreciate your offer to help sort them out.

Hankn