james_screech

Something a bit different but still using a CCD/CMOS/DSLR camera, photometry of a variable star. Possibly a time series or an eclipsing binary, or short period pulsating star.

Can some one recommend windows software for an all sky camera. Ideally something that will run on XP as I was hoping to use my old ASI120MM / XP netbook for an all sky camera. Though I do have a spare Win7 netbook I could use instead. I'm aware of AllSkEye (doesn't support XP though ). James

Is there any free small application that can be used to measure FWHM / HFD from fits / DSLR images. Thank you James

Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE, Canon 7D Tamron 150-600 at 150mm, f5, ISO800 on a fixed tripod.

I'm currently having dealings with ShedShesSheds, I'm have a fold down roof observatory built by them, should have it in a few weeks. If you contact them use the mobile number as they tent not to respond to email, and one of the land lines (the one you need) on their website is wrong. James

200mm Newtonian with dual speed focuser, 28mm 2” eyepiece & red dot finder, usual marks on the dovetail bar and a few marks on the outside of the OTA nothing to effect the optics. USB powered cooling fan added to the main mirror also a brass compression ring eyepiece holder replacing the original screw type (original included as well). Complete with Sky Watcher 0.9 coma corrector, a laser collimator and Bahtinov mask. Collection only from Bedford £300.

My budget is up to £250.

I have a set of oldish ZWO LRGB filters, I just used eXcalibrator to estimate their colour balance ratios with my Atik414ex to try and improve my colour balance. I was very surprised at the results, which explain my problems with getting colour balance looking natural: R: 1.00 G: 2.07 B: 2.44 Green and blue need more than twice the exposure of the red! Can anyone recommend a filter set which will give a better colour balance for both my Atik414ex and ASI1600MM. I know ZWO have a set that are balanced for the 1600. Are they likely to be any good with the Atik as well or would I be better getting a set of Baader filters and comprimise between the two cameras? James

IS never produced an ASCOM driver for their cameras. I contacted them years ago about it and they said that they weren't astronomers and weren't interested in producing drivers just for them. That was the main reason I stopped using their cameras. James

The Canon 200mm f2.8 is reasonable, nice field of view for larger objects like M31, M44 & M45. There is some distortion of bright stars towards the edge of the frame, but nothing that can't be fixed in post processing. James

YZ Boo a DSCT type variable with a period of 2h 29m. Atik414ex with a V filter, ED70 telescope on an AVX mount. 886 20 sec exposures.

Added a second night's data so now 65 x 180sec for each filter and processed a bit more carefully.

Your not the first to say that.

Hi Pete, No I use https://transit-finder.com/ James

My first LRGB deep sky image. Atik 414ex, ZWO LRGB filters & ED70 (f6) telescope. Captured with APT, processed in DSS & PS. 35 x 3min subs in each filter, dark, bias and flat corrected. I have done DSLR deep sky in the past (a few years ago) but not mono CCD & LRGB. Not great processing the brighter stars have a blue halo that could do with some work, but I'm pleased for a first attempt at processing. I'll spend some more time playing with it when I get the time. James