A question is coming up in the context of guiding with executive programs e.g. CCD autopilot. Whether to set up as "self guiding" or "off axis". How many mirrors are in the optical path of the FW8G STXL guided filter wheel? Apparently the correct setting for guiding depends on the answer to this question?? Thanks Dave
Thanks Tim. So the weird thing is that for the last year and half or so the guider was operating successfully in "self guiding" mode (in CCDAP) but now having issues. Maybe this is why. Dave
The "self-guiding" cameras have a built-in guide chip, which is a fixed distance and position relative to the main chip. The "self-guiding" filter wheels like the FW8G-STXL are really the same thing, but in this case the chip can be a variable distance and angle from the main chip. So that is more similar to an off-axis guider, in that the guide sensor can be adjusted in position a bit. That's really all the difference is. I'm not sure why CCD Autopilot would care, except for perhaps trying to locate guide stars? It certainly doesn't change the guiding function at all.
