Using NINA with TheSkyX (And Paramount Mounts)

Setup NINA

While 1.11 is currently still in preview release, it is the version of the software we’ll use in this guide. I find that even though there may be bugs, the capability and features introduced in 1.11 are absolutely necessary.

We’ll need to tell NINA our location, set up our planetarium link and configure out NINA ascom settings.

Configure location to match TSX

In NINA click Options -> General and fill in location under Astrometry setting

Please be sure to always make sure your location is correct in TSX and NINA before you use your equipment.

Configure NINA to use TheSkyX as Planatarium

Open/Tab to NINA, Click Options -> Equipment and choose TheSkyX

Set up ASCOM Telescope driver for TheSky

There are a few things you will want to be aware of when configuring the ASCOM Driver for TheSky

If you want to take advantage of TSX TPOINT Models, you want to make sure that you disable Sync’s in NINA and as a preventive measure, ensure that TheSky driver inhibits syncs to protect your TPOINT Model.

Options -> Equipment -> Telescope

Configure TSX Ascom

Now that you have selected the ASCOM driver, click the 3 gear icon to open the ASCOM settings

Unguided Setup

If you run a Paramount mount, you can run unguided sessions with the following settings.

Use DirectGuide should only be used if you have a Paramount mount and have enabled DirectGuide support. We explain what most of these checkboxes are down below in the Guided configuration setup. (It’s also in the PDF we recommended you read during install)

In NINA we’ll want to set up the Direct Guider.

Click Equipment -> Guider

Select “Direct Guider” in dropdown box and hit the power button to connect. (It will connect to scope as well.) We need to connect to complete direct Guider Setup.

Once you have connected, you can configure dithering. I do fairly large dithers of 20 pixels.

The “Direct Guider” method allows us to run unguided sessions and have the benefit of dithering. NINA will run the dithers per your sequencing options by slewing the camera however many pixels you define in a gaussian distribution around the center of the target.

Guided

TheSky Controlled Driver setup for use with Guide cams. We’ll assume you’re running NINA and PHD2 in this configuration.

• If you don’t use a Tpoint model, you can uncheck that.
• Can set tracking – allows NINA to start/stop tracking
• Mount can be parked – Allows NINA to send parking command in the post imaging sequence
• Slew start delay – is checked by default mostly because of cameras, I’m just leaving it default. YMMV.
• Enable tracking offsets – Allows changes to the tracking rate to be applied to both axis if your mount supports it. Required for Guiding.
• If you enable tracking offsets, you can enable PulseGuide – this is NOT required on Paramount mounts, but may be required on the popular EQ and CEM mounts.
• Can get Pointing State – If your mount supports side of pier, this will allow NINA to know which side of pier the mount is on. It is not necessary for operations but you can have it enabled in NINA to report side of pier.

If you want to have side of pier support, open NINA and click Options -> Imaging -> Side of Pier

Be sure to configure PHD2 to use the TheSky ASCOM driver for its mount too

Since you are setting up a new mount in PHD2, It is highly recommended that you run a full calibration run. You can find some great information in the PHD2 Best Practices PDF to fine-tune and tweak your guiding.

Sequencing with TSX & NINA

Now that everything is setup and connected, we’ll run you through the a basic sequence with NINA and TSX using TSX as our planetarium package.

The gist of using NINA with TheSky is as follows:

1. Start TSX and Connect to Telescope
   1. Polar Align
2. Start NINA
3. Hit the power button to connect all devices
4. Build sequence
5. Enjoy

Launch TheSky and Connect Telescope

Click Startup -> Connect Telescope

Once telescope is connected it should show green tracking off

Polar Align

Please see the TSX Guide for polar alignment. The process is pretty advanced and beyond the scope of this guide. BTW, we love TSX Polar alignment, it really is the gold standard of getting set up if you ask me. Especially with Paramount Mounts!

Start NINA

Once NINA is started, click the Power button to reconnect everything

Build a Sequence

You can build a sequence however you like, but for this example, I’ll show you how can find something in TSX and import it into NINA to show how the integrated planetarium software works.

Tab over to TSX

Open the “Find” Tab and lets search for Orion Nebula

Click the Find button

It should show up as NGC 1976 with a Green icon like this

Now that TSX has targeted the Orion Nebula, we can switch (tab) back to NINA.

In NINA, lets click on Framing, now we want to click the little Map icon next too Coordinates

NINA will now query TSX for the target and display it.

Once you click the target icon (circled above) it will query the catalog and find the object. I use the awesome HIPS 2 FITS Sky Survey myself.

Now let’s add this item to a sequence. Click the “Add Target to Sequence Button”

We’ll use “Simple Sequence” here so click “Simple Sequence”

Now the Simple Sequencer shows up and you can tweak settings as you wish or Just click Play to start imaging.

Obviously, as I wrote this blog and did the screenshots my time is not the right time to image, so just be sure your sequence time matches the objects time 🙂

Summary

All said and done, I find TSX and NINA to be a great combination. Both tools are powerful and complementary. I honestly feel even if I didn’t use a Paramount that TSX affords capability and powers that are great and useful that I’d recommend it for those with other mounts it supports.

As always, if you have any comments, questions, concerns, let us know and leave feedback below. Clear skies!