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Dark Raven

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Posts posted by Dark Raven

    Is a ZWO 30mm f4 guide scope great with a 72ed ds pro?

    in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice

    Posted · Edited by Dark Raven

    For guide scope suitability it is best to check at: http://astronomy.tools/calculators/guidescope_suitability. Historically, the rule of thumb for guide scope focal lengths was about ⅓ of the focal length of the primary imaging telescope. Your setup (72ED and ZWO 30) gives the imaging / guiding ratio of 1:3.5.
    However, before you decide on ZWO guide scope take a look at the video below.
     

     

    Also if you are not in a hurry, SVBONY can be found from time to time at discount prices in SVBONY store on amazon. I picket it up for € 40.

    image.png.b8f4898064982719cb999b032fb25abf.png

     

    After watching that video above it was no brainer compared to ZWO for € 138 at the time.

    image.png.f6fb0576d2e53783751cc77cd3f5adb6.png

     

    Please note that it was some time ago and I got it at some deal (Prime day or something...)

    Good and not so good YouTube astroinfluencers

    in The Astro Lounge

    Posted · Edited by Dark Raven

    In order not repeat majority of already mentioned, I'll add some others:

    Adam Block Anything and everything PixInsight

    Amy Astro Nonspecific, from various software to building your own rig

    AstroBlender Cody, Equipment and instructional videos

    astrophotocologne Frank Sackenheim, Deep-Sky AP, Recent APOD winner, knowledgeable, initiator of GraXpert, a free and open source standalone gradient removal tool. His latest two videos about Astro-Safari in Namibia were quite interesting. Some English content, mostly German

    AstroWorld TV Now, this is a special one. US based LIVE Stream Astro Photography focused open forum, with subjects ranging from hardware to post processing and from beginners to advanced. Quite often they will have shows with guests. Latest one was Nico Carver. They do giveaways, books, filters, AP courses, coupons... In June the gave maxed PrimaLuce EAGLE4. Drop in while they stream and ask anything AP related, it's good chance you will get an answer. Dan, Pete, Eric, Scott and Jessi make the core of the crew and they run twice a week with almost 200 shows already. As the show is live streamed they do get of the rails sometimes, but in a fun way. Give them few shows to warm up to your heart. Can't recommend enough! If you watch a recording make sure to skip first cca. 15 min as they play music while setting up. AstroWorld’s shows run long (2.5 hours) and are on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch, every Wednesday and Friday night (Eastern Time Zone (UTC-05:00)).

    Chris Howard US SF writer and AP. Some Astro related DIY 

    Focus Astronomy Kevin LeGore Sky Watcher USA product specialist astronomy outreach program. Has interesting virtual star parties from time to time where he uses high-end remote SW USA gear.

    Galactic Hunter Antoine and Dalia Grelin, a stargazing couple. AP content

    Late Night Astronomy amateur astronomy and astrophotography.

    Nightscape Images Aussie. Richard Tatti, Landscape Astrophotography

    Sky-Watcher USA  Aside from their product presentations Kevin LeGore talks about other subjects like night vision astronomy, solar eclipses, using asi air... Often has quite interesting guests.

    Steven Morris Aussie. Bit dry, but his dual RASA 8 setup is awesome.

    The Astro Imaging Channel Trove of AP knowledge. Lecture style shows.

    VisibleDark Shawn Nielsen of VisibleDark.ca.  Pixinsight image processing, tutorials and tips.

    Windy City Astrophotography Nick takes APs from light-polluted skies with RASA, some tutorials as well.

    Alyn Wallace Landscape Astrophotography combined with some travel and it makes it joy to watch. He recently published a book

     

    Other:
    StarTalk Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. 

    Seeker and Seeker+ Vide variety of science topics with different hosts.

    Scott Manley Physicist talks mostly about rocket science and engineering.

    Marcus House Aussie. Rocket science, launches

    Everyday Astronaut  Tim Dodd Rocket science, launches

     

    Podcasts

    Science in Action  The BBC brings you all the week's science news.

    New Scientist Weekly Keep up with the latest scientific developments and breakthroughs

    Science Magazine Podcast Weekly podcasts from Science Magazine

    Nature Podcast  stories from the world of science each week

     

    Italian speakers
    RAI Radio3 Scienza Interviews, debates, insights and reports on current issues from the world of science. But also the gaze of science on the world. Keeping alive the dialogue between the scientific community and society. 

    West South Slavic speakers 
    Explora Interesting and controversial topics, science news, historical puzzles and technology development trends. If you can understand, a true masterpiece.

     

    That sure took longer than expected...

    Hope you find something interesting.

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    DART mission.

    in The Astro Lounge

    Posted

    As an intro...
    "On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice learn about the NASA DART mission and testing Earth’s defense against asteroids with NASA’s first Planetary Defense Officer, Lindley Johnson."

     

     

    • Like 1

    software for meteor detection

    in Discussions - Software

    Posted

    Take a look at Global Meteor Network.

    https://globalmeteornetwork.org/

    You will find all you need there. It is free and if you choose, you can contribute your data to the scientific community.

    spacer.png

    To join the network, you can either buy a ready-to-use meteor camera or build your own from scratch – the parts cost around €200 (£170).

    Software-wise, a pre-built OS image is available for Raspberry Pi – a 128GB microSD card is recommended. All instructions are provided.

    spacer.png

    Description in the video below

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    Upgrading a portable setup

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted · Edited by Dark Raven

    This might be interesting...

    spacer.png
    Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50ED Guidescope | First Light Optics

    Dedicated flattener
    Sky-Watcher Field Flattener for EvoGuide 50ED | First Light Optics
    Be careful regarding the Back Focus of 17.5mm, DSLR is not going to work. With 1600MM should not be an issue but do check. Astrophotography Travel Part 3 - YouTube

    Starizona EVO FF costs a bit more but gives better back focus
    EvoFF v2 - Field Flattener for SkyWatcher EvoGuide 50ED — Starizona


    Cuiv, The Lazy Geek used it for his portable smart setup...

     

    For about £550 you could have Sky-Watcher Evolux 62ED OTA and .9x Reducer/Flattener for Evolux 62ED

    spacer.png

    https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescopes-in-stock/sky-watcher-evolux-62ed-ota.html

    https://www.firstlightoptics.com/pro-series/sky-watcher-9x-reducer-flattener-for-evolux-62ed.html

    Do let us know what you chose and how it ends up.
     

    • Like 1

    Looking for an affordable GOTO mount with remote for my Nexstar 127 SLT OTA.

    in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice

    Posted · Edited by Dark Raven

    iOptron Cube Pro could be interesting price vise.

    Great for light scopes under 3.6 kg, comes with hand controller, has GoTo, GPS, native AZ and EQ setups and unlike AzGTI, it can carry two scopes at the same time. Great for visual and usable to an extent for AP.

    There is also a brand new (unprooven), belt-driven iOptron Sky Hunter, but not quite affordable. 

    https://www.firstlightoptics.com/ioptron-mounts/ioptron-skyhunter-azeq-goto-mount-package-with-tripod-and-extension-pier.html

     

    Why should you buy dedicated astronomy camera, and not to try to invent your own

    in Discussions - Cameras

    Posted · Edited by Dark Raven

    There was a similar thread on this forum earlier, but I'll repeat in short. No, RpiHQCam will never come close to dedicated AP camera. Regardless good work on your part, I'm sure you learned a lot. Stacks were against you from the beginning, but before you give up all together you might want to check this blog and GitHub:
    Hubble Pi — The MagPi magazine (raspberrypi.com)

    GitHub - RemovedMoney326/Hubble-Pi: Documentation, Resources and Python Codes for portable Astrophotography and KStars Setup with Raspberry Pi 4 and HQ 12MP Camera Module

    This guy appears to have made similar project, but not sure if he got further than you did.


    spacer.png

    Do check his documentation as well for details:
    HubblePiDocumentation.pdf (hu-berlin.de)

    Good luck and be sure to let us know if you make further progress.

    • Thanks 1

    The ZWO AM5 landed!

    in Discussions - Mounts

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Martthebass said:

    Just putting this one to bed.   I set a target last night to check if the meridian point was an issue and can confirm that tracking stopped as per the point when the target crossed the meridian.  Manually performed the flip and guiding continued normally. 

    Thanks for confirming @Martthebass.

    I'll try to replicate in Autorun on my next imaging opportunity. 

    • Like 1

    Show us your set up in action at night.

    in The Astro Lounge

    Posted · Edited by Dark Raven

    Summer vacation August 2022.
    Had to use the opportunity to make a photo of my rig with fantastic background.

    IMG_20220804_051113.thumb.jpg.ee20fc77a3966fe514f702ebe28d2ed1.jpg

    Background:
    IAU/MPC Code: LO1
    https://en.astro.hr/
    They do amazing work with kids and teens, not just promoting STEM but actively including them in ongoing projects. All along keeping the watchful eye on those pesky, dinosaur pulverizing space pebbles.   

     

    Everything was just perfect that night...

    Screenshot_20220804-025353.thumb.png.267d29e497c71a4726dfd487c22c333b.png

    Result from just one night, needs more integration.

    Light_Stack_22_GraXper_PS_HLVG_Saturated.thumb.jpg.48ff0c02bdc4fb96a8e5a7174050a361.jpg

    • Like 19

    Neq6-r and Asiair power...

    in Discussions - Mounts

    Posted

    It would be wise to take into account the entire amps consumption required by the setup together with per port and total limitations of ASIAIR.

    ASIAIR will have the sum of all currents from the Power Output ports at 6A, but any one port is limited to 3A.  So possibilities include:

    1 x 3A
    2 x 3A
    3 x 2A
    4 x 1.5A

    Have in mind that Celestron AVX requires 3.5 A and EQ6-R Pro requires 4 A. Adding cooled camera requires additional 2A, dew straps cca 0.7 - 1.5 A each, and so on...

    Zwo even advises against powering their own AM5 mount from ASIAIR, but rather the other way around or separate power supplies.

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