IX. Start the Autoguider

  1. Ensure that the Orion StarShoot is attached to the Vixen, and
    that a USB cable connects the camera to the laptop
  2. Open PHD Guiding
  3. Click the Connect to Camera icon and set:
    1. Adjust camera gain to 95% inside the "brain" icon
    2. Set exposure to 2.0 seconds. A dark frame might be needed if
      a longer exposure is needed. If needed:
      1. Cap the guide scope
      2. Exposure is set to the the same time that will be used
        for guiding
      3. Click 'Take Dark'
      4. Remove the cap
      5. PHD will automatically subtract the dark frame from all exposures
  4. Click on the Looping Exposures icon
  5. Focus the camera
  6. Adjust ring screws if necessary to locate a suitable guide star
  7. Click Stop to stop to loooping
  8. Click on the guide star. A green gide star box should appear around the
    star. If the box is yellow, try increasing the exposure time or select
    a brighter star
  9. Select the Mount menu, and On-camera
  10. Click on the Connect to Telescope icon
  11. (Set the mount control panel to 2x during calibration?) Click the PHD Guide
    icon to begin calibration. The green guide star box turns yellow during
    calibration
  12. Calibration is complete, and the autoguiding begins when the guide star
    box turns green. (Set the mount control panel to .5x during guiding?)