Tracking /Guiding issues half way through an Imaging session. - Forums

Seany75uk

Topic starter

New contributor

2 hours ago

Hi guys I’m having issues with my tracking/guiding overnight and its really got me stumped.

I’m using thee following equipment

Skywatcher HEQ5 pro

Skywatcher Evolux 82ED

Player One Uranus C Pro

SVbony SV165 30mm guidescope

ZWO ASI662MC Guide camera

Controlled by an Intel N150, 16gb Ram Windows 11 Mini pc running NINA , PHD2 and greenswamp server

I’ve been imaging LBN 576 over the past month or so when weather permitted. I have my sequence set in NINA which I set off as soon as its dark enough I’ll be at the PC for a few hours after starting the sequence and it is all going great until after I go to bed. First hour or so guiding is excellent 0.2 - 0.3 RMS then meridian Flip works fine guiding isn’t as good but still reasonable between 0.5.and 0.7 RMS. All seems well so I go to bed and get up in the morning to the majority of the subs after I went to bed looking like the attached ones.

I can’t figure it out it as I always run my Seestar S30 at the same time (30 second subs in EQ mode) and that’s running its plan all night without issue, I’ve had probably 4 times the integration time from the seestar than I have over my main rig and it’s pretty frustrating.

Can anybody advise me please before I sell up and buy more Seestars 😂

Thanks

Sean

📷 2026-04-25_02-10-43_Oiii-Sii 7nm_-10.00_300.00_0138.jpg

📷 2026-04-25_01-59-14_Oiii-Sii 7nm_-10.00_300.00_0136.jpg ones📷 2026-04-25_02-27-09_Oiii-Sii 7nm_-10.00_300.00_0141.jpg

Respectful

dayglow

1 hour ago

I suggest using PHD LogViewer to examine the PHD2 log file for events at the time tracking was lost.

Check to see if PHD was actually guiding and that the SNR reported for the guide star(s) was decent.

Well written Helpful Concise

Seany75uk

Topic starter

New contributor

1 hour ago

dayglow · Apr 27, 2026, 07:05 PM
I suggest using PHD LogViewer to examine the PHD2 log file for events at the time tracking was lost.
Check to see if PHD was actually guiding and that the SNR reported for the guide star(s) was decent.

Thanks just had a look and it lost the star at 1:38am and never recovered I have set a trigger to restart guiding in NINA too. The seestar managed fine a few dropped frames but nothing drastic.

Sean

dayglow

1 hour ago

Remember to slew back to the target before restarting guiding.

Well written Respectful

Seany75uk

Topic starter

New contributor

15 minutes ago

dayglow · Apr 27, 2026, 07:33 PM
Remember to slew back to the target before restarting guiding.

I have a trigger set up to recentre on drift too, I assumed that would cover it.

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