Jump to content

Solarchallenge2023banner.jpg.5515978b5b06f69b45de038cef2b8db9.jpg

  • Welcome to Stargazers Lounge

    Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to contribute to this site by submitting your own content or replying to existing content. You'll be able to customise your profile, receive reputation points as a reward for submitting content, while also communicating with other members via your own private inbox, plus much more! This message will be removed once you have signed in.

Forums

  1. Welcome

    1. Welcome

      299.6k
      posts

  2. Beginners

    1. Getting Started General Help and Advice

      263.7k
      posts

    2. Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice

      188.7k
      posts

    3. Getting Started With Observing

      52.6k
      posts

    4. Getting Started With Imaging

      168.7k
      posts

  3. Community

    1. Official SGL Announcements and Events

      8.6k
      posts

    2. StarGaZine

      997
      posts

    3. SGL Challenges and Competitions

      6.6k
      posts

    4. SGL Star Parties

      14.8k
      posts

    5. Star Parties & Astro Events

      35.9k
      posts

    6. Celestial Events Heads Up

      5.7k
      posts

    7. The Astro Lounge

      388.4k
      posts

  4. Retailers

    1. Sponsor Announcements and Offers

      24.5k
      posts

    2. FLO Clearance Offers

      2.1k
      posts

    3. IKI Observatory

      849
      posts

    4. Supplier Reviews

      2.1k
      posts

  5. Equipment

    1. Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

      307.2k
      posts

    2. Discussions - Binoculars

      20.1k
      posts

    3. Discussions - Mounts

      102.2k
      posts

    4. Discussions - Eyepieces

      112.4k
      posts

    5. Discussions - Cameras

      74.6k
      posts

    6. Discussions - EEVA Equipment

      1.6k
      posts

    7. Discussions - Software

      54.8k
      posts

    8. DIY Astronomer

      121.8k
      posts

    9. DIY Observatories

      49.5k
      posts

    10. Member Equipment Reviews

      42.3k
      posts

  6. Observing

    1. Observing - Discussion

      37.9k
      posts

    2. Observing - Reports

      51.9k
      posts

    3. Observing - Solar

      24.7k
      posts

    4. Observing - Lunar

      10k
      posts

    5. Observing - Planetary

      22.2k
      posts

    6. Observing - Deep Sky

      23.8k
      posts

    7. Observing - Widefield, Special Events and Comets

      15k
      posts

    8. Observing - with Binoculars

      10.5k
      posts

    9. Observing and Imaging Double and Variable Stars

      7.2k
      posts

    10. Sketching

      17.5k
      posts

  7. EEVA (Electronically Enhanced Visual Astronomy)

    1. EEVA - Discussion

      1.6k
      posts

    2. EEVA - Reports

      19.7k
      posts

  8. Imaging

    1. Imaging - Discussion

      95.9k
      posts

    2. Imaging - Tips, Tricks and Techniques

      24.8k
      posts

    3. Imaging - Image Processing, Help and Techniques

      47.2k
      posts

    4. Imaging - Smartphone / Tablets

      2.8k
      posts

    5. Imaging - Lunar

      79.3k
      posts

    6. Imaging - Solar

      119.8k
      posts

    7. Imaging - Planetary

      111.5k
      posts

    8. Imaging - Deep Sky

      321k
      posts

    9. Imaging - Widefield, Special Events and Comets

      53.7k
      posts

    10. Imaging - Showcase Threads

      649
      posts

  9. Science

    1. History of Astronomy

      1.4k
      posts

    2. Physics, Space Science and Theories

      25.1k
      posts

    3. Radio Astronomy and Spectroscopy

      7.9k
      posts

  • Latest Posts

    • symmetal
      Draco II. Dwarf galaxy or star cluster?

      By symmetal · Posted

      I haven't found any images of Draco II and just two published papers. 2016  Is Draco II one of the faintest dwarf galaxies? 2018  Pristine dwarf galaxy survey...of the very metal-poor Draco II satellite Draco II is likely among the faintest, most compact, and closest satellite dwarf galaxies. Visually it certainly doesn't stand out, and its individual stars are indistinguishable from the Milky Way stars in the foreground. The first paper lists 9 observed stars while the second paper lists 14 stars as belonging to Draco II in the appendix at the end. I made a custom catalogue to load into PI's annotation script, but there's a discrepancy as two of the observed stars don't seem to be in the 14 star list so I have 16 stars plotted with the 9 observed stars given the numbers assigned. The latter list includes numerous Milky Way stars as well as the 14 Draco II members so maybe two of the first list have been demoted to Milky Way stars. The table columns g0 and i0 have values one of which could be apparent magnitudes. The image is comprised of 3 hours of 2 min subs using a RASA 11 and ASI2600MC. Stacked in APP and processed in PI and PS, and no star removal processing was performed. I've included a crop of Draco II at the end. Area containing Draco II.  But... I can't see it😟  Here it is... 😁 Note all the stars seem to have the same colour. Crop I wonder if the authors of the reports would be interested in the image? Or perhaps send it in to the most underwhelming picture competition. 😊 Alan  
    • pipnina
      Best way to clean this settled dust off Tal 1m mirror

      By pipnina · Posted

      I personally used water and cotton balls Rinse with water to remove the worst of the dirt non-abrasively. Then I use wet cotton balls to wipe once on each side of the ball in one direction to remove the last of the dust Any blobs of water left will leave minerals behind so take dry cotton balls and gently touch them to any drops to soak them up. Cleaned up my newt mirrors nicely at least. Your cleaning method seems to have worked really well! I love seeing a nice quality and clean mirror
    • neil phillips
      End to my Venus imaging season (9/6/23)

      By neil phillips · Posted

      You did well. A record of this years UV cloud. Cheap filter and no drives. Yet quality is top notch. 
    • The60mmKid
      Starhopping under city skies

      By The60mmKid · Posted

      Here's an update: My concerns were overblown. I just wrapped up a successful evening of star hopping under London skies. Although the light pollution situation is obviously different than at my previous location, there are still plenty of stars from which to begin hops using just my basic 6x30 finder. I think it would be difficult to begin star hopping here, but it's not a problem if one is comfortable with it already. Also, I should eat my hat. Despite the adamant stand that I took earlier, I decided to try Sky Safari on an e-ink tablet that I use. My gosh, is it fantastic! Consider me humbled.
    • Mike Q
      Filterless observation

      By Mike Q · Posted

      On nebula it is either a narrowband or OIII.  On the moon i will use a variable polarized filter just to cut down the light a bit, the same can be said for Jupiter and Venus.  When i make my attenpt at the horsehead next fall i will be using a H Beta.  Under my skies even the 16 will need all the help it can get 

  • Recent Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Hawksmoor

      Hawksmoor

      Heads up regarding a considerable chunk of AI software which seems to work rather well on deep sky  images . Anyone who has looked at my deep sky photos will know that they are invariably blurry and have considerable room for improvement!  Well I came across this as a reference on the wonderful internet resource 'Professor Morison's Astronomy Digest' . It is his latest post https://www.ianmorison.com/astrosharp-astronomical-sharpening-tool/. . Astrosharp is a freeware AI based sharpener which uses a model trained on Hubble images. Very much worth a donation to its creator!
      Unlike Russel Croman's  excellent Blur Exterminator which currently is only available as a Pixinsite plug in, this works as a standalone program. (I don't have Pixinsite)
      I have inserted one of my  blurry photos which has had a 60% sharpened layer blended into the original. This was applied to a pre-sharpened image so if astrosharp had been applied earlier in the workflow it would have been better. Definitely worth downloading in my opinion!

      · 0 replies
    • BobTheSaxon

      BobTheSaxon  »  CCD Imager

      Hi Adrian,
      I was after the lens mainly, so please sell the mounting frame.
      cheers,
       
      Bob
      · 0 replies
    • Hawksmoor

      Hawksmoor

      I'm getting really envious of the rest of the UK, high pressure and transparent skies.  In  Lowestoft wall to wall cloud and cold for days on end. The weather is very weird here. Did a crop and enlargement of another video clip of the sun in white light that I sneaked during a very brief break in the clouds the other day. Surprised how much detail my new planetary camera delivered whilst using my 66mm Altair Astro ED scope a a telephoto lens. QHY make fine value for money cameras!

      · 2 replies
    • RT65CB-SWL

      RT65CB-SWL

      Just to letting you know that I have changed my username from Philip R to what you now see.
      · 0 replies
    • Earl

      Earl

      upping the ISO to 1600 tonight against the usual advice and changing the aspect ratio.
      · 0 replies

  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Entries

  • Images

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept