k_martensen

On 04/12/2022 at 18:46, badhex said:

@starhiker @k_martensen just a quick update that I've actually created a templated version of my Notion site, but still not finished annotation on each of the sections.so it's clear which bits interact and how. I'm currently recovering from shoulder surgery which has delayed me a bit! Hopefully will have the notes done in the next week once I'm feeling a bit better, will keep you updated here. 

 

Thanks, i hope the surgery went well, and take your time, i'm in the same situation as @starhiker, here the weather has just been cloudy all the time, or too cold, to go out and stand still around a telescope for a while  But take your time, i'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with, when you're ready to continue

9 minutes ago, badhex said:

I'm looking into making a duplicate of my notion site for @starhiker, I'm more than happy to make a duplicate for you too.

One of the things I have found with existing software is that there are tens of thousands of things in the object database which, whilst very thorough, doesn't really make it easy to plan a session without excessive amounts of filtering. If I'm looking for objects in a given constellation, I don't want hundreds of objects most of which I can't view with a small scope anyway, I want more in the region of tens of objects all of which are within reach of a small-medium telescope. 

I would love a copy of yours when you get time and think it's at a state where you want to share it, i didn't even think about having a database with the objects that can be observed. I overlooked that part, as this was more like a old timers notebook in digital formate and more database like, but it could be a really good addition

6 minutes ago, starhiker said:

Thanks a lot for sharing your notion page. I made a copy straightaway 😀 I will play about it and adopt some format from the screenshot of @badhex as well. There will be plenty of time to play about it before my next observation session, according to the weather forecast.....

I agree with you about the choice of software by the way. I realised notion could do better job for this, especially the cloud based style.

Nice, i will proberly make adjustments here and there, but the link should never expire, so you can always go back and see adjustments, when i get a but further, i will proberly make a changes note when i make/change stuff in the formatting, so people following can see what i've done

On 22/11/2022 at 09:05, badhex said:

I found this thread from a comment by @starhiker

Below is my approach to recently solve a similar problem, perhaps some of the info might help in your own quest. 

 

Ohh that's quite an extensive notion page you get there, what i've just created is nothing like that, but it looks really good, and i might take inspiration from you

On 08/11/2022 at 10:08, starhiker said:

I have not started observation notes yet. But I would like to start one and am interested in what you guys normally note down. Sketching is too much for me though.

As for the journal system, @k_martensen, as you mentioned notion, why not try Obsidian or Logseq. They are free and have the similar functionality. I used Logseq myself for work related notes. I am sure you can customise a good template for your observation notes.

I looked a bit at Obsidian, as much as i'm a software lover and love markdown, for what i can see it was a bit too hard to do some of the stuff i wanna do, like insert images, and have it cloud synced. So i continued with Notion, and i've finally gotten to do a bit of stuff. I've only just got some set up, and not filled out yet, but here you can see what i've done so far (even tho the link looks wierd, it's a link to a notion page) https://delirious-tarsal-7c0.notion.site/Astronomy-Journal-0a8bb0939a994bf89e83ec2b121f8480

It's setup so that you can import it as a template your self. As it's not filled out yet, it might not be the best stuff to show how it actually works, but i will get to that soon, it's just hard filling out, as i've not gotten any obsavations in a long time due to sky conditions.

What i like about notion is, that you can have it on your phone, pc, tablet anything really and it's cloud synced, and it can work as a database, so when i make an obsavation entry, i can link it to a session entry and then the session entry will automatically show that it has the obsavation linked

25 minutes ago, josefk said:

Hi there, i'm a newbie to a structured approach and while it's not the be-all and end-all of things recently i've found it helpful to check what the Astronomical League look for in observing notes for different categories of objects - for any object its always location, instrument, magnification and sky quality but then there are helpful prompts per different object type for observing and recording characteristics/qualities in a repeatable way. 

E.g Planetary Nebula: https://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/planetarynebula/planetneb1.html

E.g Double Stars: https://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/dblstar/dblstar1.html and  https://www.astroleague.org/files/u220/double star log sheet.pdf

What i've found helpful from this are two things - 1. make notes on sky quality in a structured and repeatable way (descriptions like "steady", "steady and clear", "very steady", "pretty dark") even when recorded with moon phase info lose a lot of meaning months after the fact whereas the AL scheme for sky quality is very simple and easy to use and keep note of and 2) use specific prompts to remember to note certain things (size, brightness variation, elongation direction, central star visibility, colour, etc) - i have quite a few "dim smudge" notes that are meaningless once memory has faded whereas i could have been prompting myself to note all sorts of specific and comparable qualities (even recording negative qualities - things i couldn't see) if i'd set off on a better footing.

Cheers

 

Those are good points, if i end up making something myself, i will keep those options in mind in the instructions on how to use the journal

1 hour ago, starhiker said:

I have not started observation notes yet. But I would like to start one and am interested in what you guys normally note down. Sketching is too much for me though.

As for the journal system, @k_martensen, as you mentioned notion, why not try Obsidian or Logseq. They are free and have the similar functionality. I used Logseq myself for work related notes. I am sure you can customise a good template for your observation notes.

I've only just barley opened Obsidian before, but i will give it a look, and if i get something good mixed together, i would be happy to send the templates to you if you want it

1 hour ago, Knighty2112 said:

I use an option in Skysafari to make a list of observations on a certain date (or even just a list of items to observe, but doesn’t have to be on the same day). I use this as I can control my goto mount via Skysafari, and log items seen after slewing to them via goto. No need for pen or paper, and it logs it all in the Skysafari app, which can then be exported as a csv file I believe if you want to log it elsewhere too, although I don’t do that. Below is an example form a session I did on the 18th September;

Can you save pictures you take yourself as well?

So i'm looking for some software to make like a journal or obsavation "data base".

I've looked at bit at Observation Manager, and i seems okay, just a bit of stuff that needs getting used to. But i've also considered using Notion or OneNote to "copy" the way Observation Mangager does it, but then it would not really be converable for openastronomylog. What does you guys use? Do you use handwritten journals or some software?

I'm really bad at using handwritten journals, as i can't really sketch, so i take pictures with my phone instead when possible. Hense it would be nice if it could be for phone (android) or pc, as i can just transfer my pictures.

I realised in my high, that i posted the other post in the wrong sub, so i will move it.

so i went out with my new Bresser pollux 150/750mm as there finally was a clear sky. I still need to get a bit better at setting up the EQ mount but I'm getting there, as I just had to make small adjustments on the DA axis, from time to time, and as you would mostly used the RA.

First picture is taken with 20 mm Keller eyepiece and 2 times zoom in my samsung galaxy A52

Next is taken again with 20mm Keller, but 10 times zoom with the same phone.

when I get a better look at the rest of the pictures I took I will maybe post them in the comments if I feel they will add anything

And if somebody maybe could tell me what crater there is at the bottom of the pics (It pics is taking with a reflector, so it's the top of the moon if i'm not wrong), the darker one i would be happy  

so i went out with my new Bresser pollux 150/750mm as there finally was a clear sky. I still need to get a bit better at setting up the EQ mount but I'm getting there, as I just had to make small adjustments on the DA axis, from time to time, and as you would mostly used the RA.

First picture is taken with 20 mm Keller eyepiece and 2 times zoom in my samsung galaxy A52

Next is taken again with 20mm Keller, but 10 times zoom with the same phone.

when I get a better look at the rest of the pictures I took I will maybe post them in the comments if I feel they will add anything

6 hours ago, StevieDvd said:

@k_martensen

Wow, what a rambling thread in response to a reasonable question.  As you have already stated that you've bought your choice perhaps ask any further questions on a new thread or forum section and let this one lapse into the depth of history.

Hope you get some good clear nights with the new gear and please post impressions good/bad and what you've enjoyed viewing.

Regards

Steve

Haha yup it went a bit off the skide, but there is some good view in here, and I got the help i needed, so it's okay with me 😀 I'm actually about to post some pictures of the moon i took this evening.

Well an update, i ended up buying a Bresser Pollux 150/750mm from a Danish retailer, I will mostly buy from Danish retailers if it's not second hand as it can be easier discussing with them if there is any warranty problems  It should be shipped today and arrive tomorrow, and then I will have time to figure it out, as there is cloudy the next week if not more  But thanks for the pointers everyone  and a mount will be one of the next bigger purchases' I will make 

7 hours ago, SthBohemia said:

^^ Forget it, unless you wish the misery of attempting to collimate the collimator (as @wookie1965 above can well attest to).

Yeah just saw a video explaning that and how to just make a collimater cap from a dust cover so that's what i will do

Just now, Nik271 said:

I used to own a 150/750 Newtonian from Celestron and it worked well on a EQ3 mount. In my view it's the maximum size for comfortable viewing on a equatorial platform without using stools or ladders. You can alsoways rotate the tube in the rings so the eyepiece is at comfortable height.

The Bresser seems a good deal, bear in mind the tripod seems a bit shaky. This kind of scope weighsabout 5 kilograms and the mount with counterweights also about 5kg, so the legs have to support 10 kilos, doable but there will be some vibrations). But it is good enough to get you started and in the future you can upgrade the tripod and even the mount. I would recommend EQ5 class mount for more solid performance but this is beyond your budget for now, unless you find something on the second hand.

 

Nice, yeah the stability is my biggest concern. I saw in YouTube somebody mention that if you attach a hook right in the middle of the tray and then hang something a bit heavy on it, that I can help, not fix it, but help, and it seems like a doable solution to begin with before upgrading to a bigger tripod/mount. but thanks for the pointers, they are all really helpful.

So far, I think it's the Bresser that I'm most hooked on getting and that I think I would be able to use the most and longest for now at least, I mean there is always bigger and better things to get, but sadly my money tree has not started growing yet  

Just now, Nik271 said:

About the Astromaster 130: I used to own that scope, it was my first 'proper' scope. It was a good deal when it was below 200 GBP with the mount, but at current prices I would not recommend.

The main drawback of the Astromaster is that you wont be able to use high magnification, i.e. more than 70-80 times. Its mirror is spherical and it shoud be parabolic for its focal ratio. The scope suffers from sphericall aberration which means that not all light gets focused in one point. The starts at high magnification will not be pin points and the detail on the planets will be poor. For DSO though it should be fine, as you dont need high magnification there.

 

Thanks that's a good point, I also just realized that about the mirror, and that's the problem with both telescopes I mentioned in my first post. After seeing that, I have been looking at a Bresser Pollux 150/750mm that has a parabolic mirror, and for now, the Bresser is properly my favorite, but I'm still looking at options, but thanks for the pointer

21 hours ago, SthBohemia said:

There is no definitive answer as regards what to purchase as much depends upon what you expect from the scope! Forget the magnification factors as no matter what scope you have a 200x magnification is the limit unless you are sitting on top of a mountain with extremely good seeing conditions.

Be aware that most DSO's visually look little more than a vague patch of mist even with 300mm+ mirrors.

Maybe look around the second hand markets and see what's available, no need for GOTO, an old equatorial mount like a Fullerscope with a little motor makes the modern mounts (the popular ones, not upmarket Losmandy etc) look like junk (personal opinion).

🙂 not much help Im afraid as regards your original question 😞 

Nice thanks for the pointers, even tho it's not much help with the question it's still good help, as i mentioned in the response to NGC 1502 i've also discovered another scope, but i'm still thinking about it and keeping an eye on the secondhand market. And will also keep an eye out for the mount you mentioned  

2 minutes ago, NGC 1502 said:

If you intend to travel out of the city how will you get there, by car or public transport?   You only need a small area to set up in, if the field is uneven is there no part of the field you can use?

Also, if traveling by car can you set up close to the car, or would you need to park and carry equipment very far?  How much do you intend to spend, what’s your maximum budget?   If you have a limited budget, best to do visual observing rather than imaging.  Many people new to observing find equatorial mounts confusing!

Perhaps continue to use what you already have for a while, a 3” reflector used with enthusiasm can show you a lot!

The above information will help folks on here give advice.

All the best with your decision 😊

I got a car, so I can drive myself luckily as out public transport stops at around 8 pm

The field is a bit uneven but with the mount I already have I've had good luck getting it level quickly. the distance I need to carry from 1 meter to as 50 meters, but I can drive on the field I'm using as it's not a field that is being planted there is just grass.

I've seen a lot of videos with EQ mounts and actually find them a bit easier than AZ mounts as when it's setup it's easier to track the objects in my opinion, no need to turn in two axis, just the RA axis.

My budget is between 400 USD to 460 USD (and that's with Danish tax, so for people not used to 25% tax, in Denmark it's gives a bit fewer buying options.

After posting this I also saw a Bresser Pollux 150/750mm at the price 411 USD (again with tax). Which I fell a bit in love with, as I noticed the two others, I mentioned don't have a parabolic mirror, which for what I can read the Bresser Pollux 150/750mm does. Plus, it comes with solar filter, can take 1.25" and 2" oculars, comes with a 3x Barlow Lense. Solar filter and smart phone adapter. Tho if I want to get a RA motor for it, it's a bit pricier than the other scops but for now, the motor is not needed. I've also considered getting a laser collimator from the start to give me the best option to get a good experience from the start with the new scope, but I'm not sure how likely it is for the scope to be un culminated when it arrives.

I'm still looking and keeping an eye on the secondhand market in my area tho, so nothing is set in stone yet

Heey, I'm also from Denmark.

That logbook looks like a really good and fun idea. I've thought of a bit like that, just more in the form of OneNote or something, but it's not something I've done yet, as I don't really know what to write down  

Hello, I'm also from Denmark more specific Jutland  

Hello, I'm kind of new to observational astronomy, at least with anything but my eyes, currently I got a national geographic reflector, that I got second hand to try it, I've had it for some time, but not really used it much until recently, and now I'm in the process of looking at buying a new scope .

I'm from Denmark as stated in the title. Don't really know what else to tell, I want to do a bit of armature AP just to save the pics for myself to look back at. Other than that, I've interests in IT (studying software engineering), gaming, outdoor life, and way too many hobbies and way too little time. 

Also a sidenote a Dub might not really be an option for me, as the city I live in have decided to place a streetlight pretty much in my garden, so I travel out of the city to a field where I'm allowed to setup in, so there is not really any level place where I can have a dub.

Hello, it's yet another post with the topic of not knowing what to get, and sorry for the long post, I'm just the kind of person that have an extremely hard time deciding when I'm buying stuff .
TL;DR; Should I get an Astromaster 130 EQ (with motor or phone adapter + Barlow Lense) or Omegon 150mm?

I currently have a National Geographic reflector scope, that's 76mm (if I remember right) on an EQ mount that I've until recently just used as and AZ mount, but now I've started learning about polar alignment.

But now I want to buy my first "real" and bigger telescope. But I'm not totally sure what to get. I started out wanting one with GOTO but as I'm a poor student, also wanna learn the night sky, and also want a bit for my bucks and don't have money for a power bank on top. I'm looking at good "old fashion" manual EQ mounts again.
Currently I'm looking at an "Astromaster 130/650 on EQ (CG-3 EQ mount in steel)" or an "Omegon 150/750 EQ-3 (alu)"
My problem is, i've seen in some reviews that the Omegon is a bit shaky in the mount, so it might not be the best there. But i like that it's the 20 mm bigger, but how much does those 20 mm + 100mm focal lenght give?
The retailer i'm looking at using got 3 "versions" of the astomaster (differences is specified in the specifimations below).
Until now I've just been looking at the moon, at bit on Saturn, Jupiter and mars, but if I could, I would love to also start looking a bit at DSOs.

A bit of the data that I've been looking at
Omegon 150 mm
Highest mag: 300x
equipment in the box: 2x Barlow, 6.5 mm and 25 mm eye piece, red dot finder
Mag with the supplied stuff: 30x, 60x, 115x and 230x
Mirror size: 150 mm
Focal lenght: 750mm f/5
EQ 3 mount in aluminium
Price:  344.57 USD (including the danish tax and such)

Celestron Astromaster 130 EQ
Highest mag: 307x
equipment (version 1): 20mm and 10 mm eye piece, red dot finder
equipment (version 2): 20 mm and 10 mm eye piece, motor for the EQ mount, red dot finder
equipment (version 3): 20 mm and 10 mm eye piece, smart phone adapter, and a t-adapter/barlow 2x
mag with supplied (v1 and v2): 33x and 65x
mag with supplied (v3): 33x, 65x, 66x and 130x
Mirror size: 130mm
Focal length: 650mm (f/5.12)
CG-3 EQ mount in steel
v1 price: 304.83 usd
v2 price: 397.65 usd
v3 price: 370.60 usd