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Autoguiding with PHD2
Normal startup procedure
Open PHD2
Click on USB Icon
Under Camera, select "ZWI ASI Camera"
Select the icon to the right with squiggly arrows next to the dropdown and select the camera you'd like to use for autoguiding
Click "Connect" to the right of this
Under Mount, select "GuideDream ST4 telescope driver (ASCOM)"
Note: if you get a COM error, reseat GuideDream box, allow LEDs to go out before reconnecting
You'll know things are connected once the center LED is illuminated
Close this menu
Select the circular arrow thingy to start looping
This starts collecting frames
You want to have the exposure of at least 1s, but aim for 2s exposure
Otherwise, PHD2 may correct too often and no bueno
Select the Star icon for multi-star guiding
Once the software acquires a set of guide stars, select the green crosshair icon to begin autoguiding
You'll know it's working if you see vertical and horizontal green bars around the green square that surrounds your guide star(s)
If these are yellow , then the software is calibrating
If you want to do single-star autoguiding, you can select an individual star INSTEAD OF STEP 4 above, then proceed to step 5
When done with PHD2, disconnect all equipment in the USB menu
Don't slew while guiding. Onkar will haunt you. And PHD2 will be very upset.
Related content
Direct Questions/Concerns to Roy Prouty (roy.prouty@umbc.edu)