Albir phil

41 minutes ago, DaveL59 said:

hey my teens woz a long time ago, I just couldn't be a'd to google it for the right spelling on the tablet  😛

Whatever you do tho, DO NOT try to charge a laden jar in one hand while moving a neon in with the other. That big voltage drop over a few CMs between the 2 "experiments" sure wasn't a tingle I can tell you. More like an elephant had jumped onto my chest! 😮  Not sure who was more shocked tho, me or the physics master but for sure that off piste experiment I did, having asked "what happens if..." wasn't allowed again.

Touching a old type tv tube from the back we're the coil fit on the tube when tv as been just unpluged makes for a very interesting experience, not to be repeated ⚡⚡🤬

2 hours ago, Fraunhoffer said:

Having browsed the various 'sky quality' maps I wondered if it was possible to get a more accurate estimate of local conditions using a photo exposure meter.
I live very near some huge light domes, on a corner with 3 street lights and in a slight dip below a hill that seems to attract mist when the temperature drops.

I wondered if this sort of measurement was possible (I have an old exposure meter to hand).

Thanks

 

I suppose it would give you a measurement of sorts, but in the end sky quality is something we have to accept, are you thinking more like build up your own sky quality maps using the exposure meter. I think it would give you a idea on the night which you could then compare with other nights in the same location.,it is something I thought about at one time but never tried it Good luck 🤞👍

Hi as far as I know if you set mount to current position you can begin next session from there, however I always return to home position,never tried current position. When you use home position it tells you it is saving data,not sure if current dose🤔

Great image ,what a mosaic it would make love it🤗👍

2 minutes ago, Bugdozer said:

I agree that's a sensible option if it's possible to do it, my point is it may be a precaution against nothing. The aim of this thread was to try and establish if it is. So far, nobody has any information either way.

I think the lack of information is probably because no one is willing to find out if it dose matter 

1 minute ago, newbie alert said:

Folklore or not if you have the option to mark it's orientation before removal then I'd do it as a failsafe option

If you have to replace the corrector then you no longer have that option

Chance it or not?

I agree mark it , refit it then it's as before, simple.😃

On 20/10/2023 at 00:00, Mr Green said:

Evening All,

I've decided to go with the SW 72ED, GTi mount, field flattener and a few other accessories including an ASIair bundle.

Order arrives on Saturday therefore fingers crossed we have clear skies.

I think that this will do me nicely to start with although went over budget.... whoops 

Going over budget in this game is usually quite common I think you will find.

4 hours ago, tomato said:

With no hope of acquiring new data while the grey skies persist, I have returned to my favourite galaxy processing exercise, M31. This is around 15 hrs of old data from the RASA8/IMX571, some dual band data with the NBZ filter and a 6 panel mosaic using the Esprit 150/IMX571.

Processed predominately in PI, it still doesn't look right, (overall too cold and 'thin' looking?), but I've come to the conclusion that M31 is a difficult target to get right.

 

 

I agree m31 is not easy you only need to look a all the various images to see it comes in all shades,but to me keeping the foreground stars true colours is the best way to get the best from your data.

30 minutes ago, bomberbaz said:

I am with the seestars (or similar)  by @Elp, sorry but however much us dinosaurs hate it, that is the future for a significant majority number of the upcoming astronomers. Kids these days live in their phones, if she hasn't got one already, she will by 14.

I bought then sold an evscope, sold because although I liked it, I didn't use it enough to validate it's investment but I got how it would be "cool" for the newer generation. Tech is the future for many. 

Cheers all

Steve

I agree the new technology telescope's will only get better,I remember when you had to star hop to find objects,then came go-to ,film replaced by digital, So the seestar types are just one more step.Im glad that I've seen all this development and I'm sure there much more to come😃

Yes I found best with no filters also I found better results using my unmodified DSLR instead of my modded one on this kind of object.

I know it more than your budget but the Samyang 135 f2 is a game changer.You would not be disappointed,but it is around 300 more than you have to spend at the moment. This game is a money sponge 🧽 

8 hours ago, wesdon1 said:

@callisto I sent mine away to Astronomiser. He's done a perfect job for me

I bought mine from Astronomiser already moddifed ,and he is very helpful if you need advise.

On 30/10/2023 at 15:26, Elp said:

In such circumstances it's always wise to consult the manufacturer product pages to find out all the information you need, they usually have technical drawings which show the dimensions you require. The 55mm measurement needed is from the bottom of the flattener thread (or telescope if it is a built in flattener type) to your camera sensor. In the case of most (not all) cooled zwo cameras, the distance from the front face of the camera to the sensor is 6.5mm, 17.5mm if you include the m42 female to m42 female coupler ring (as the ring is 11mm thick). You will get +/- from that 55mm due to manufacturing errors/acceptable tolerance.

Ok thanks a lot I guessed it was about 6.5 to 7 mm so as you say that makes up the diff , again thanks for the help 😃

Hope this is in right topic place. I have a zwo 533 colour camera, got the usual supplied spacers I've read I need 55mm back focus yet when I use all the supplied spacers I still don't have 55mm as measured from the camera body. Is this measurement actually from the sensor which seems to be a few mm lower than the body of the camera, is this distance included in the 55mm🤔 help from anyone please 

On 28/10/2023 at 23:55, Veloman said:

I'm looking at mini guider scopes and notice that a lot don't have the means to align themselves with the main scope. Is this a thing that is compensated for by the software and if so to what kind of alignment error is tolerable?

ATB

Rob

As I have said it only needs to be in line with the main scope and you will have no problems .hope this helps🤗

1 hour ago, David at Bythel Obs said:

Pls can anyone recommend where to get Az eq6 pro mount serviced? Been in storage for 18 months clutches were seized now free not not holding in Ra. Sticktion too.

thanks

I think RotherValley Optics will sort it for you

I have found as long as the guide scope is mounted parallel with the main scope all works ok I use 50mm WO guide scope with mgn stand alone system,no problems

Nice image ,I imaged it some time ago,my outer edge was green but I think I like your orangy better,I often wonder what is the correct colour in many DSO its down to personal preference really 🤗

11 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

JMI  (Jim's Mobile).  Sadly, Jim is no longer with us.    🤩

Ah yes are they not trading now, I've still got the cad drawings for those I made, never got the time to pursue it much more than one unit😀

2 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

Whilst I'm in complete awe of the design and expertise of the engineering I have to say that my approach to the construction of binoscopes is at the other end of the spectrum.  Applying the "KISS" principle It takes me around 2 weeks to make a similar aperture model yet still retains simple IPD adjustment, focusing and almost instant  user collimation.  The main downside to all  these binoscopes of 150mm and upwards is the weight.       🙂

Yeah keep it simple,I seem to remember a company in the USA who made 8-10inch reflecting Binos with electric motors on the eye spacing ,don't think they caught on much though.Cant remember who it was that made them, your's are much less complicated as I remember Peter 👍

Yes pleiades is remarkable, I did 90min x 30sec subs with wo 81 GT and ended up with very similar result.Just shows what the seestar can do .I think as more people use this scope we will see some great images👏

30 minutes ago, wesdon1 said:

@Albir phil Thanks Phil, that's a very good point. It's not helpful constantly comparing myself to other much more experienced imagers, it just makes me not appreciate my own progress. Thanks mate.

Yes no mileage in comparing just be happy with YOUR images good luck get some images with that new toy 🤗🤗

1 minute ago, wesdon1 said:

@Albir phil Thanks phil. yes it's massively improved my camera mate. When I get better at processing i'll start producing really nice images hopefully!

Yes it's the processing that the hard part, I used to look at my images and say that's not as good as another person's, now I look at them and think yes that will do for me.If you're happy with it that's all that matters.

Your imaging as suddenly been given a shot in the arm with the modification,as was mine when I had my DSLR modded 😳

10 hours ago, andrew63 said:

Oh that's lovely, I only saw a handful ☄️

Looking at you image I think you have another meteor very faint low below Orion you can see it if you zoom in.