AstroTortilla question

[jimwc6491]

Anyone

 

This may be a suggestive Topic I know some people like AstroTortilla and some people don't.

 

Just what does AstorTortilla do for you? does it replace Guiding or enhance it? does it replace Drift alignment or All-Star alignment or just enhance them? 

Is it worth the time and effort to make it work correctly when you are setting up for a imaging run or can setup be done during the day before imaging and setup saved.

 

 

 

[jimwc6491]

Rick

 

Thanks. that clears up a little of the mystery. now that I know just what AT does Ill decide weather it will help me.

Thanks again for your prompt reply.

[astroman133]

Jim,

 

While AstroTortilla had a tool for Drift Alignment, I do not use it.  However, I use it's plate solving functionality to center the imaging target in the field of view. This is its primary benefit.

 

When AT is connected to your scope, via ASCOM, and is able to ask BYE to take a picture, it is able to analyze the error between where the scope thinks that it is pointing by reading the RA and DEC from the scope and where it is actually pointing from plate solving the image. It then adjusts the position of the scope to get closer to the desired position.  This can be an iterative process, but rarely takes more than one adjustment for me to hit the target within a few arc-seconds.

 

It does not replace polar alignment procedures, including a drift alignment, nor does it replace autoguiding.  It simply improves the pointing accuracy of your mount.

 

Especially because I most often take pictures of the same target on different nights, AT helps me get right back to where I was for the previous session.  This minimizes the amount of cropping that I need to do to eliminate edge artifacts after stacking.