David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 409 (2009-12-27) Notes (S408)   Notes (Main)   Home Page   Notes (S410)

Goto Images from 2009-12-27

LX200R Autostar II / Handbox Problems (2009-12-27)

Also lost connection with LX200R at end of session after AIS program crash. A visit to the observatory showed that scope was not working using the Autostar II controller and could be neither Parked or Slewed to its normal closedown position. 

Elected to power down the scope and then restarted scope.  Unlike session S405 (when the Autostar II wouldn't come back at all), this time the scope restarted normally and was able to be slewed back to its rough park position. Noted that the scope will need to be aligned on a suitable bright star at the start of the next session.

[ Attempted a follow up session on 2009-01-02  but was aborted as it was not possible to start up the LX200R scope. All attempts to start Autostar II failed, with either a blank handbox screen and with initialisation failing to get past the Meade copyright message. It was eventually shown that attempts to upload a clean copy of the LX4.2g.rom firmware would consistently fail at exactly the same point (just after 1% completion).  (see 2009-01-02 Notes),  After concluding that problem was most-likely related to a failed Flash Memory the scope was eventually returned to dealer for circuit board repair/replacement under warranty ]

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LX200R Autostar II  - Timeline to Handbox & Autostar Problems (2009-12-11 to 2010-01-27)

12" LX200R (ACF) Scope
 
Ordered 12" LX200R from Pulsar Optical on 2009-01-07.  Received around 1-2 weeks later.

Scope Installed in a Roll-Off Roof Observatory or permanent pier & Polar Aligned.  Autostar II Version 4.2g.  Scope powered by 12V Supply (AC317 12V IC-Regulated AC Mains Power Supply Unit 1200mA / 12 months old).  

First Light Session for 12" LX200R on 2009-03-09 (S356)

Scope generally operated using TheSky software running on a observatory laptop (Windows Vista), using a Prolific USB to Serial connection (COM5). Subsequent sessions demonstrated full connectivity to Autostar using Remote Handbox controller in CCDWare PemPro, including the download/upload of PEC curve data. but haven't needed to use Autostar Suite.ASU connection before problems in late Dec 2009.

2009-12-11  (S404)
48th Session with LX200R scope.   5.8 hr session. Min Temp -1.5 degC. 
Scope operating normally to both handbox and laptop commands (TheSky)

2009-12-12. (S405)
Autostar II failure 1.5 hrs into session at -2.5 degC, whereby LX200 scope wouldn't respond to programmed slew commands  (0.9 hrs of imaging data wasted).  Autostar screen blank or unreadable text.   Autostar still not responding correctly after turning LX200 off /on a few times.  Slew buttons responding to presses ok, and the scope was finally 'roughly' parked (without the need to unlock the RA clutch).   Given the low temperature this was clearly a job that needed daylight hours to sort out (perhaps the Autostar firmware had become corrupted ?)

Reviewed postings on "LX200 GPS" Yahoo Group and noted problems with starting up Autostar II/LX200 have been seen by a number of other people with LX200 GPS or LX200R scopes. Noted that problem might relate to Handbox or the internal electronics of the LX200.  Problems seem to occur more often in cold weather.   Postings talk of corrupted firmware (reloading of Autostar II firmware), problem with HBX lead (swapping round the HBX lead), poor contacts inside the Handbox (replacement of handbox unit),  dying AC adapter (try batteries),  faulty electronics in LX200R due to poor quality control (return to Meade). electrical problem due to induction currents during thunderstorms  (return to Meade).  

Autostar II Handbox Problem [ http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LX200GPS/message/110229 ]  
Dead Lx200GPS [ http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LX200GPS/message/97394 ] 
Blank Hand Paddle [ http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LX200GPS/message/93958 ] 
HELP: AUTOSTAR AND/OR SCOPE IS DEAD! [ http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LX200GPS/message/91098 ]

A post by "autostaretx"/ rseymour  (Dick) suggest that starting a session which is significantly colder than the previous session(s) could be a factor in garbaged displays. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LX200GPS/message/82369 

Tried the scope the next day in daylight conditions. and fortunately found that the Autostar II contol box was again responding normally and the LX200 started up ok as it should (the previous night's problem was put down to either just a 'gremlin' or problem related to a combination of low temperature (-3 degC) and and onset of freezing conditions.  Performed a blind sync (correct to to nearest 5-10 degs) and parked the scope.

A few evenings later the scope was aligned on a star field and then correctly parked ready for session S406.

2009-12-21 (S406)
Very cold session (6.5 hrs, minimum temp. -8.0 degC). Autostar II/LX200 performing normally
One single unexplained erroneous jog where a particular westward Jog of 0.49 arc min resulted in scope movement of 28 arc min.

2009-12-25 (S407)
Cold session (4.3 hrs, minimum temp. -3.5 degC). Autostar II/LX200 performing normally

2009-12-26 (S408)
Cold session (4.3 hrs, minimum temp. -7.5 degC). Autostar II/LX200 performing normally  

2009-12-27 (S409)
Cold session (3.6 hrs, minimum temp. -3.5 degC). Autostar II/LX200 performing normally for 3 hrs, but then lost connection with LX200R near the end of session after control program crash on laptop. Visit to observatory showed that scope was not working using the Autostar II HBX controller and could be neither Parked or Slewed to its normal closedown position. Elected to power down the scope and then restarted scope.  Unlike session S405 (when the Autostar II wouldn't come back at all), this time the scope restarted normally and I was able to slewed the scope back to its rough park position (within 5-10 deg). Scope was then powered down recognising that scope will needed to be aligned on a suitable bright star at the start of the next session).

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Aladin Software (IC 65)

Experimented with Aladin Software  (Downloadable from http://aladin.u-strasbg.fr/aladin.gml )

Aladin is an interactive software sky atlas allowing the user to visualize digitized astronomical images, superimpose entries from astronomical catalogues or databases, and interactively access related data and information from the Simbad database, the VizieR service and other archives.

Screen Capture of Aladin Application with DSS2 Image view of area surrounding IC 65

IC 65 with SN 2009mf (Andromeda) 21.2 days after SN discovery.

CCD Image (Linear Scale, cropped) 5 x 90s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter  2009-12-27 22:55 hUT (#409219-23) 12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

IC 65 - Negative Image

Negative CCD Image (Linear Scale, cropped) Image details as above

Aladin Display with DSS2 image loaded Note that the Display Orientation is normal (N top, E left) Red Rectangle shows the area of FITS image #409219-23

Aladin Display with FITS image loaded (#409219-23) - incorrect orientation FITS imaged acquired in CCDSoft (0,0 at Top Left).  WCS coordinates inserted into FITS image using CCDSoft/TheSky Note The Display Orientation is mirrored (with N top, E right) (CCDSoft holds 0,0 at Top Left )

Aladin Display with FITS image loaded (#409219-23)  - correct orientation FITS imaged flipped horizontally (ie mirrored) before WCS insertion Note : The Display Orientation in Aladin is now normal  (with N top, E left)

It should be noted that performing an Image Link in CCDSoft and a horizontally flipped  (mirrored) FITS file, causes TheSky to be left in a 'Mirror Image view'.  Mirror Image then  needs to be toggled off in order to see E/W in their expected normal orientation. To ease the process a routine was added to my AIS program that would in 'one step'   (Create Mirror Image) - create a mirror image of the current active image - link the mirror image (inserting WCS) - save the mirror image as a *.mirror.FIT A number of additional associated facilities were also added to AIS program that would automatically ensure   - Button to Turn Off TheSky's Mirror Image if it it on and redisplay the Virtual Sky  - Checkbox that will optionally Turn Off Mirror Image after performing any image link - A check that Mirror Image is off before redisplaying the TheSky with S, N, E, W sky view orientations.

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Aladin (M101)

Earlier image of M101 - 2009-08-24

CCD Image (75% size)  9 x 60 sec (average combine),  3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-08-24 22:00 h UT  (#386001-10) 12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

M101 - detail developed in Aladin

False Colour CCD Display Dual Linear,  Rainbow spectrum, 75% size Created  in Aladin (Image details as above)

CCD Display POW2,  Grey Scale, 75% size Created  in Aladin (Image details as above)

Simbad Objects witin image field - Aladin Display

(#386001-10)

Object investigation using Aladin Display What is object maked by white cross-hairs ?

CCD Image (100% size, cropped)  9 x 60 sec (average combine),  3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-08-24 22:00 h UT  (#386001-10) 12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Aladin display of NED (extragalactic) objects overlaid on FITS image

Answer : Object is SDSS J140216.95+542445  A galaxy lying at a redshift of 0.099437 ( a light distance of 1.249 Gyr ) [SDSS J140216.95+542445 - database details]

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