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Patience, and taking stock. . . . .


Nigeyboy

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The time since my last blog entry has been a little turbulent. Some close to home family problems have had my entire focus and energies. Coupled with a week in the Lake District, the time has flown by!

 

I had really hoped to have a scope to take with me up to Windermere, to make the most of the dark skies on offer up there. However, due to circumstances this didn’t happen. My EQ3-2 is still scopeless in the dining room. That said though, and with hindsight I didn’t miss out – the typical weather, while ok-ish during the day was pretty wet through most of the evenings. It also doesn’t really get dark now here in the UK at this time of year, and with the solstice still 3 weeks away, that won’t change anytime soon. But, hey! The stars have been there for a few years, and they aren’t going anywhere are they?!?!

 

So I can take stock for a few more weeks, and read, and reread as much info as I can before laying down my Sterling on a OTA to adorn my lonely EQ3-2 mount. But what OTA to get – that’s the million dollar question. The more I read, the less certain I am!! I started out with the plan to get a SW 80 or 102 ST. That then changed to a SW 130p-ds, after seeing the thread here on SGL about its imaging prowess. But I am not getting back into Astronomy for AP- at least not yet. One must walk before one can run! I have plenty of time to build up to AP if and when it takes me. I can settle for looking at the great images here on SGL for the time being.

 

I want to immerse myself in the visual aspect. I want to be able to find those fuzzies by knowledge of the sky, and not have to rely on a computer doing the hard work for me. Sure, I would love to go out and buy an EQ6 with imaging and guiding OTA’s, and all the bells and whistles that go with it. But here’s the thing – I am a keen photographer, and have learnt that you don’t need all the latest camera bodies and lens to get on with the hobby. You make do with what you have, and use it to its full capability. Give a novice a £10k camera and lens set up, and they will still take novice photos. Give a £40 compact camera to a master, and they will still turn out the goods.

 

The same is true for Astronomy, and especially the AP aspect of it. Only when you have outgrown what you have, should you even consider upgrading! And for those of us starting out in this amazing hobby think about this – don’t jump in and get what could possibly be thousands of (insert your currency here!!) on equipment that you may well not be able to make the most of. Even worse, it could put you off for life! While the eagerness is always there to get that huge mount and photon hoover, can you really, really use it to its full potential?

 

Astronomy teaches us the wonders of the sky – and it also teaches us patience. Learning curves can be step, but you can make it easier on yourself by taking it one step at a time.

 

Thanks for reading –

 

Nige

4 Comments


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You mention your a keen photographer, do you have a DSLR camera and motors for the EQ3-2?

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Hi Robp.

 

Yes - I have a Canon 400D with EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 lens. And, no, I don't yet have motors for the EQ3. I think I see where you are going, and yes I had planned on doing some simple wide field shots with just the 400D on once I get a set of motors. Seen a set on ABS for about £40 which is not half bad!!

 

I reckon with a decent polar alignment, and the 400D at about 20mm I could get a minute or slightly more unguided to stack. What do you think?

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It's definitely worth a thought as a cheaper way into astrophotography and let you learn the ropes about stacking and processing etc.

 

There is an older thread on here where someone achieved up to 4Mins for unguided on an EQ3Pro (the goto version of your mount I think) with a 50mm lens:

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/119922-eq3-2-as-a-slr-mount/

So Id say 60 seconds is something that may be achievable for you if you work at it and the mount is sound, but even 30 second exposures would get you started on the slippery slope of astrophotography :).

 

The 400D doesn't have live view as far as I'm aware so it will be harder to achieve a good focus, this doesn't mean you can't, just it will take longer! You can make a simple Y mask out of cardboard for the end of the lens to help focusing.

 

I'm building a widefield rig at the moment as well with my 450D using old manual M42 Ashahi SMC lens (135mm and 200mm) as they can be had off ebay for around £30. Hoping to give my old EQ5 mount a new lease of life!

 

The scope part is pretty hard to recommend for. Each person has there own tastes when it comes to that.

 

I chose a Newtonian as it offered more for my money.

There are lots of pros and cons for a Newt, in my opinion the ones important to me were:

 

Pros:

More aperture for less money.

 

Cons:

Have to cool down to ambient temp to get the best out of them (around 30minutes)

Have to be collimated (Once you learn this its easy and SW newts hold it quite well but the collimation tool is extra, around £20).

 

I''m afraid I can't really comment on Refractors as I have never owned one. I did have a look through a ST80 once but I preferred the Newtonian.

 

Another thing to think about would be looking for a local astronomy club? They generally do group trips out and I'm sure other astronomers would be more than happy for you to have a look at and through there scopes to get an idea of what would suit you best?

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4 mins would be amazing!! If I could manage half that I'd be happy - as you say, the start of a slippery slope!! You have given me some valuable info here, so thanks very much.

 

I am leaning more toward a Newt to be honest. I have previous with a 150mm Newt way back. I think you can pull more out of a 150 newt than, say, a 102 Frac. Plus the frac will have CA . . . .

 

I live in Derby and when I get time I intend to visit the East Midlands Astro club over in Belper.

 

Thanks for the link - will have a read!

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