So this project started back in 2022 and many have followed us on our Facebook group when we released the first prototypes back in early 2023. The project has continued to grow and finally is at the point of machined prototypes being workable, field tested, and taking live astro imagery. We set out to build a system that is a working solution for nearly any telescope.
The main goals were:
Like most things, you can usually only pick 2 of those things….
So with that said, let us introduce the Electronically Assisted Tilt (EAT) device and where we currently are. We currently have several machined prototypes running and operational, with our home one working on a RASA 11″ astrograph instrument. It can be mounted to any telescope though and comes with M54 threaded connection as well as standard 62mm 6 bolt EFW pattern and even accepts the ZWO 99mm 6 bolt pattern which is a really affordable 50×50 square 7 position filter wheel.
Basic Features
ASG Electronically Assisted Tilt (EAT)
Control Box
The control box runs separate to keep bulk of the head unit down. We still use the dual clamping process as our photon cages do for stability… like most hunting scopes. Upper we are running 3D printed units to keep weight at minimum.
ASG EAT with an Epsilon 160ED
Courtesy of Overcast Observatory, Chris has a prototype mounted on several scopes. In these images, you can see the light weight and size of the EAT mounted on an Epsilon 160ED. The head unit weights only 23 ounces and produces a minimal footprint to work on even small scopes.
ASG EAT with an Astro Physics 130 GTX Gran Turismo
Courtesy of Nils Harnischmacher of Germany for sending us his photos of his amazing setup running an electronic photon cage. Initial results were successful and Nils noted “It is very easy to install and handle. It made backfocus and tilt adjustments simple.”
Vision
Astrophotography has always been a ( Hardware² * Software² ) = Best Astrophotography equation to myself and many. The vision is to have software systems taking initial photo runs of focus curves, measuring tilt, running a baseline tilt, and then adjusting this sort of stuff automatically just like Electronic Focusing has been done for the hobby… we might be a few years away, but that’s the goal.
Resolution
Backfocus can be adjusted independently from tilt allowing for increase/decreasing values. It looks like total backfocus adjustment is around 2.5mm in and out, while tilting can max at around 1-1.5mm difference…. though if you setup right, you should never have to tilt that much or else something is drastically wrong… Currently, the EAT is really good for dialing in final values of bf/tilt, not for acting as spacers or overcoming large hardware issues.
Weight
The EAT is light enough we feel comfortable hanging off the front of an astrograph’s corrector… Only slightly over the recommended obstruction of a 11″ RASA, precise enough for full frame at F/2, getting to the above is fairly easy to do all while remotely operated.
Control Surfaces
On the computer side of things, we developed a simple interface to connect to and send commands to the computer through serial inputs. It’s able to tilt across 4 major planes. (left, right, top, bottom, tl-br, tr-bl) Currently adjustments are pretty close to micron level so works well with something like Hocus Focus in terms of accuracy. Here we get tilt down to about 1-3 microns pretty consistently.
For anyone who has used a regular tilt device, whether our ASG Photon Cage on down to the regular stock camera tilt plates… one thing is for sure a given; “Patience”. It takes patience to get the sensitive nature of an optical system tilted correctly to where the aberrations will make you stop pixel peeping, if ever!
The EAT system has provided reasonable resolutions down to a near micron or sub-micron levels with good repeatability. It does change how you can actually operate and fix things when you don’t have to necessarily ‘touch’ your telescope.
Coarse Adjustment – Running Live
What used to take 20 minutes you can now do remotely in about 2 minutes. For initial setup, we put the capturing system into 2 second loops and were able to capture quick exposures while live tilting your camera. The incredible part here is you can see the focus portion of your images move across the screen like watching airplane trails or satellite trails. Even run an aberration layout with 3×3 squares and looping exposures gives a real time movement and analysis allowing you to quickly get into focus and most of your tilt removed in minutes.
Fine Adjustment
Once coarse adjustment is completed, you move toward a more fine grained analysis approach using software such as Hocus Focus, ASTAP, CCD Inspector. This process can still take 20-30 minutes (mostly from running autofocus curves) but all from a remote location… either home or thousands of miles away! no more shimming backfocus into submission, or sitting in the cold twisting screws. Just make a few adjustments in or out and test your results with live images.
Future Goals
The next phase here is to get it in the hands of a few users, try it out, see if it is truly working as well as we are seeing it. Longevity, resilience, and other factors have to be considered before we look to produce, but will keep information here for others to discuss and review.
Feel free to leave comments or suggestions!
This is a great idea. I have been looking to do this in a remote observatory in Chile for a long time. I don’t know what price this will land at, but there are a few users I am sure would be willing to grab this from you and utilize on their rigs. Well Done!
Very cool!
I would suggest that you contact ASTAP or Hocus Focus developers to make it truly automatic based on the results.
Already have 🙂
Available for sale ? would love to have one ( at least )
Would love to be in on this. Please let me know how. Either by running a demo or by purchasing.
Hi, great .
Estimate price ?
$2500usd right now… we are making a couple each month.
Same here.
I would like to test/buy to install in my remote obs at 3000km from home.
email us at sales@asgastronomy.com