Cjg

Thank you, Paul. Yes, very happy with the iOptron and Sony A7 mark 2 r.

If at first you don't succeed. 

4 minutes for the foreground and 6 x 4 minutes tracked (and stacked) for the stars. Combined in PS using Luminosity masks.

Looks like my trip to the Hideaway Huts coincides with rain, thundery showers and clouds, so not expecting much this coming weekend.

Congrats, that's a super image, the weather can be so frustrating can't it!

Congrats, that's superb!

6 hours ago, FenlandPaul said:

Enjoy, Chris. Hope you get some clearer (and darker) skies than I’ve had in the Highlands this week! ☁️ 🌧️ 

Ah, sorry to see no clear skies for you this week….it’s always a gamble isn’t it! 
My week on Kythira, Greece was filled with stormy weather, high winds and cloudy nights!

Hopefully the Autumn will be kind to us.

14 minutes ago, skyhog said:

Nice image,  my only thought would be the light nights in July from Northumberland though...

Very much lighter in July, but from about 00:30 until about 01:30'ish with no moon, hopefully enough, if not, there's always the possibility of some NLC's to be seen.  (Clouds permitting)

A year or two ago, I made a short review of the Hideaway Huts.

On my visit last Autumn I managed a quick late night photo as the clouds rolled in.

Not my best image, but had just a short window to capture the photons. Anyway, the owner has had a cancellation in July (think that they were due to be working at Vindolanda) and has a 'late availability offer' available. I've snagged 5 days, so fingers crossed for mid July, and hope to improve this image and a couple of others.

Chris

On 25/05/2023 at 19:58, Littleguy80 said:

I have a new Tak FC100DF. When looking at Venus there’s very noticeable CA around the limb. I see the same on the moon but it’s much less noticeable. I see this with my Baader Clicklock diagonal and Baader prism diagonal. Tried it with Nagler zoom and Vixen HR 3.4mm. Everyone seems to talk about how these scopes don’t show CA which is making me wonder if there’s a problem with mine. Just wanted to know what other people’s experiences are? I’m either expecting too much or there’s a problem with something I’m using. 

Congrats on getting a Tak Neil!

I don't recall seeing any noticeable CA when I owned the 76.

Chris

On 15/06/2023 at 23:23, Albir phil said:

Not sure if this belongs here, A few weeks ago a old friend paid me a visit,he looked at some of my images and said, very nice but why do you spend so much time outside in the cold when you can see them in many magazines.Well he is and always as been a keen angular.I replied why do you stand in water to catch fish when you can buy it at the supper market, he smiled and said each to his own 😁

The challenge of overcoming weather, mosquitoes, photoshop, and in planning a photo that I am happy with, and happy to print and put on my walls at home.

There will always be someone with more talent, better weather, better kit etc, but for me, it's the satisfaction in seeing something that I had the idea for and managed to capture and produce.

Great post btw!

Chris

3 hours ago, City9Town0 said:

Added with permission.

Same location a few years ago... Thunderstorm on horizon.

It really is a cracking spot... apart from the Felixstowe glow!

What month did you take these in? Judging by the position of the MW, I’d say later in the year? 
I need to get back in May for another attempt. 
 

Thank you, Paul!

A long walk from Aldeburgh and you'll arrive at this special place. So much sky glow from Felixstowe, but at least it's partly shielded.

5 minutes for the foreground and 4 x 4 minutes for the sky, taken with a 14mm lens and Ioptron Sky Guider Pro, between midnight and around 01:30hrs this morning. 

Congratulations, there were some challenging smaller / faint objects on that list!

See you in September - think weekend of the 16th.

Super images, Matthew.

That was quite a night at AstroCamp.

How did you get on with the Cwmdu Spring Marathon?

15 minutes ago, Basementboy said:

Did the base fit back together as easily as it came apart?

Definitely, it's still in use, albeit infrequently with the person I gave it to. I was really gentle in prising it apart.

Many years ago, I disassembled the base of the 130 heritage mini dob to take away to Greece. The two main parts separated quite easily.

The plan was to wrap the OTA in both our beach towels, however the week before we were due to fly, an "open box" Altair 72mm mini frac was on offer at Wex here in Norwich, so that, in its case was my hand luggage. Seemed less risky at the time.

Could you not buy a scope in Arizona on arrival, just taking your mount with you outwards?

Good luck.

@clwonghk Feel your pain, missed the one (maybe 2) clear nights that we have had in South Norfolk.

Have headed out to Suffolk, only to find the light pollution from the Netherlands was quite bad too!

I've tried in East Sussex, returning after 10 years to High and Over Hill above Alfriston, but the sky glow from Eastbourne was so intrusive...

Am heading to Greece in May, to get another week long "fix".

Good luck,

Chris

Not caught in a trap, but definitely many less opportunities to observe in recent years than when I first joined Norwich Astro and regularly visited Seething Observatory each Friday.  The weather is much less settled nowadays, I think.

26 minutes ago, Grant_FLO said:

The blue outline around the boxes and the little clock symbol in the 'hour' box show the 'current hour' - if you line that up between the two forecasts you will see they are identical.

This is because when center on midnight is used in order to show this mornings forecast it must also show the last 12 hours of yesterday.

This often causes confusion so will likely change in the future to only show 'tonight' when centre on Midnight is used rather than try to display this mornings forecast.

Ah, thank you,  user error then!

Cheers,

Chris

On 24/03/2023 at 09:43, Grant_FLO said:

As the old data provider has been having some more issues this morning we have decided to go live with the new data provider today - the beta site has been turned off but regular clear outside should now be running as usual but with the new data provider.

Good morning, Am not sure if this is a glitch, or user error, but the forecast for today and tonight differs greatly depending on whether I choose midday or midnight as the options!

Screengrabs attached, but when "centered on midday" I get a forecast of clear skies from 18:00 to 23:00hrs, but when centered on midnight, the green for the same timeframe changes to red!

Thank you,

Chris

One thing I did not know about the Skywatcher AZGTi mount, until last night!

I only really use the AZGTi mount at outreach events, whether at Seething Observatory or on location, but purchased the SynScan handset (much easier to use in the cold, than tapping the screen of an iphone or tablet btw). Anyway, with the handset, you can run a "daytime alignment" and choose the the Moon, Venus, or whatever solar system object is in view at the time.

Next time I'm out with the mount, I'll try and see if you can align in the same way with just the app, but very handy in the early evening being able to align on just the Moon etc.

Chris

I miss Stargazing Live, but understand why a program in Feb based in the North West might struggle to find clear skies…The Sky at Night though, not so much, think the format was in need of a complete revamp. I stopped watching that years ago.

How to improve / replace it though? 
Chris

Happy to help, and completed your form.

Might be challenging to find a night of clear skies soon though!

Chris

On 11/03/2023 at 21:02, Marc1964 said:

So I am contemplating a last minute few days away. Obviously I am planning to take either a telescope or my binoculars and thinking about where to go. Thought about Malta but heavy light pollution. Canaries springs to mind... Any recommendations for cheap, cheerful and dark skies??? 

Cheap and cheerful holidays abroad often in my experience equate to large towns with lots of light pollution, although at this time of year, more chances of clear skies in the Canaries than the UK.

If you want a dark sky destination in the UK, then I can recommend the Hideaway Huts, a 5 minute drive / 20 minute walk from the Northumberland National Park Discovery Centre. The hut that I've stayed in (3 times) has an observing pad, and the owners will loan you a Dob too.  Of course you're then within easy walking distance of Hadriands Wall and Sycamore Gap etc too. 

Some pics on the review I left at 

Good luck, wherever you go.

Chris

Nicely done, especially from as south as Suffolk.  Is this Dunwich looking towards Walberswick and Southwold?

Chris