Meridian Flip Fails

Sequence Generator
1

Hello,

I come here for help because I have already read everything and tried all possible solutions (that I could think of).

I’ve been having some issues with my meridian flips, which used to work fine last year. I spent a few months without using my mount (CEM60) due to weather and also the build of my observatory. I don’t know exactly where the problem happens but it seems that the mount makes the flip but something goes wrong and SGP fails to recover, even with me telling SGP to recover, nothing happens. First I noticed that the flip occurs but PHD2 continues guiding, if I remember well, it used to stop guiding and then resume, so in order to continue imaging I have to wake up (or not even sleep), wait for the flip (and error), manually stop PHD2, manually tell PHD2 to find a guiding star and resume guiding, then I can go back to SGP and do another plate solve and continue imaging. Last night I imaged all night and thought about finally saving the log and coming here for help. The log is huge and I don’t know how to read them (interpret) but the flip happened around 11:00 P.M. (ish). I am also attaching the screenshot of the error message. The mount is a CEM60, I don’t use USB hubs, all the cables are connected directly to the computer, which is a Book PC attached directly to the pier.

Please see Dropbox link for files

2

You have to determine when you’re in your window to flip. Here is a thread with a CEM60 where they got it to work:

Can you post pictures of your ASCOM settings for your mount? There is a disagreement between when SGP asks for it (the things you set on the telescope tab) and what you have set in ASCOM for your mount. You need to sync up what is displayed on the ASCOM driver (time to pier flip) and what is shown on the bottom tool bar for SGP.

Also, you can practice meridian flips during the day. Make a profile without platesolving and guiding. Slew to a target near the meridian. Wait until you’re inside your ‘window’ for SGP/the mount. From the telescope tab, tell SGP to perform a meridian flip. If it works, you’re golden, if it doesn’t, you need to adjust either SGP or your mount’s settings.

3

@Ladyhawke

Are you sure that’s the right log? I don’t see any attempted meridian flip in that one.

4

Yes Ken, it has to be. It was the last log on the folder. Maybe the mount is flipping and SGP doesn’t even have a chance to? I will try Alfredo’s method above, even though it is his method that I used last year and it worked but I didn’t know there had to be a difference between SGP and the mount for the meridian to work, right now both are set to 0 so I am hopeful that tonight I will have a successful flip. I will report tomorrow if it worked or not and be sure to add another log in case it doesn’t.

Thank you for the tip!

5

@Ladyhawke

The log you sent never attempted to flip so that could be what your seeing? It starts on the east until 23:27, then a new sequence is started at 23:28 and the mount is on the west. So… not sure I can help since SGPro never even attempts to start a flip:

[9/20/2016 10:04:48 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:04:48 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:06:03 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:06:03 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:07:21 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:07:21 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:08:39 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:08:39 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:09:57 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:09:57 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:11:15 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:11:15 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:12:37 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:12:37 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:13:55 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:13:55 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:15:50 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:15:50 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:17:08 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:17:08 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:18:30 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:18:30 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:19:48 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:19:48 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:21:06 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:21:06 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:22:28 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:22:28 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:23:46 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:23:46 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:25:39 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:25:39 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:25:49 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:25:49 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:26:38 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:26:38 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:28:20 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:28:20 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side
[
[9/20/2016 10:28:31 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:28:31 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:30:37 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:30:37 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:31:10 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:31:10 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:32:57 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:32:57 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:33:08 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:33:08 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:34:08 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:34:08 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:35:28 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:35:28 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:36:50 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:36:50 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:37:01 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:37:01 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:46:35 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:46:35 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:46:46 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:46:46 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:48:03 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:48:03 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:49:21 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:49:21 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:49:31 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:49:31 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:50:56 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:50:56 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:51:12 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:51:12 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:52:56 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:52:56 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:54:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:54:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:55:03 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:55:03 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:56:38 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:56:38 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:57:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:57:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 10:58:57 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 10:58:57 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:00:15 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:00:15 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:01:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:01:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:01:46 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:01:46 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:03:31 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:03:31 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:03:49 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:03:49 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:05:16 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:05:16 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:06:07 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:06:07 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:07:42 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:07:42 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:08:07 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:08:07 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:09:42 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:09:42 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:11:01 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:11:01 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:12:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:12:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:13:54 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:13:54 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:14:40 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:14:40 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:16:01 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:16:01 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:17:23 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:17:23 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:18:17 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:18:17 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian flip not needed, telescope on East side

[9/20/2016 11:28:27 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:28:27 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Telescope is on the West side of the mount
[9/20/2016 11:28:27 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian Flip not needed, Hour Angle < Degrees Past To Flip: -177.692424621745 < 0

[9/20/2016 11:28:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/20/2016 11:28:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Telescope is on the West side of the mount
[9/20/2016 11:28:36 PM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian Flip not needed, Hour Angle < Degrees Past To Flip: -177.651393765772 < 0

[9/21/2016 4:46:26 AM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Checking if Meridian Flip is needed
[9/21/2016 4:46:26 AM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Telescope is on the West side of the mount
[9/21/2016 4:46:26 AM] [DEBUG] [Sequence Thread] Meridian Flip not needed, Hour Angle < Degrees Past To Flip: -97.8378212670473 < 0

6

You can try it during the day or right now without waiting to see if it works. Considering how ‘dangerous’ a bad meridian flip can be, it might be worth being there to make sure it performs.

7

Ken,

I have an idea of what happened that the flip doesn’t show in the log. I was imaging M81-82 and for some reason SGP was not showing side of pier. I need to investigate if this was happening because of the location I was pointing to (very close to celestial North) or if I am having some additional issues. I don’t recall ever having issues with side of pier but anyway, last night I continued pointing at the same location but changed the meridian flip according with the post you posted earlier, changed the flip on the mount for 15 degrees past meridian and SGP 1 degree, the mount did not flip at 1 degree and that’s why I took a look and saw there was no side of pier detected, so I forced flip and went to bed. I am feeling positive that the flip will work on my next attempt but that still doesn’t solve other issues I am having, such as an error message saying that it could not dither PHD and still causing SGP recovery to come up, it only works when I manually go back to PHD and resume guiding, back to SGP and abort the session and re-start. More testing is needed and I need a clear sky on the weekend for that because I am really tired of losing sleep on the week and being tired makes me more prone to making mistakes and not thinking clearly.

Thanks one more time and I will keep you updated!

8

Well now I see that the log is showing side of pier so I am really confused…Last night, SGP was not showing the side of pier, all I had was N/A.

9

Ya… not sure I have an explanation for that. All of your logs indicate that SGPro had access to that property. Some of the circumpolar targets are easy to get mixed up in. Using SGPro or your ASCOM driver status dialog, make sure that it it reporting a side of pier consistent with what’s actually going on. If reality and software match, you shouldn’t have any problems with automated flips.

10

Are you using the very latest iOptron ASCOM mount driver? I think at first their ASCOM driver had issues and eventually they may have fixed it.

Peter

11

Not the very latest, the one just before, which used to work before. I have nothing against updating it and I even thought about it but usually when I am troubleshooting I like to eliminate one issue at a time!

12

PROBLEM SOLVED!

I am very happy to report that my issues with meridian flip have been resolved. Thank you so much for everyone’s help, the solution was really to make the flip times between the mount and SGP different. I am not setting my flips on the mount’s controller (iOptron CEM60) to 15 degrees past the meridian while in SGP I am keeping at zero! The whole automation is now working and it is amazing. 2 consecutive nights of good sleep and wonderful data waiting for me in the morning. I can’t thank you enough for the support!

You all have a great day :slight_smile:

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