Cjg

Congrats, I’d be proud of an image like that.

Chris

54 minutes ago, Elp said:

That's a great image. Greece has many wonderful choices and I agree, getting there isn't necessarily the most straightforward.

Thank you, the flight is only 4hrs from Stansted, and the backpack with all the bits was just under the 10 kilo weight limit for carry-on, but at 35 degrees latitude, much better views of the Southern / eastern Milky Way, than home in the UK at 52 degrees.

Good luck, wherever you choose to go. Am hopefully heading to Kithira (Kythira) this year.

Chris

Loutro, Crete. 
A tiny village with no roads. You have to take a small or larger boat in and out ( or a strenuous, long hike).

Get up the hill behind the village by the ruined castle. The next stop on the eastern horizon is Libya. 
I went last year with a Star Tracker and Sony Camera. 

It’s a long journey, flying to Crete and then a taxi down to a little port to catch the ferry, but well worthwhile. 
Cachet Travel have ready made holidays there, but not many other companies.

The pic below was the first widefield that I am reasonably pleased with after a number of false starts in the UK. Think a telephoto or short frac would give superb results after midnight. 
Chris

Is usually the first object I hunt for in the night sky at the start of an observing session. If I can find the "cascade", then usually the sky quality / my eyesight is good enought to have an enjoyable evening.

Chris

Not sure exactly what modifications you mean, but these guys https://advancedcameraservices.co.uk/ did an excellent job in cleaning / servicing the sensor on my Sony when a guts of wind blew a load of muck onto it. They also do the IR / UV mods.

Hope this helps?

Chris

Not sure who is suppling your kit, but @FLO have a few AZGTi’s listed as being in stock.  Only 8, left, and when I was looking (during 2020) they were out of stock for a long time, so I purchased the Ioptron Sky Guider Pro. That’s an excellent mount, but I struggled with the supplied wedge, so purchased the much better, although heavier and costly, William Optics wedge too. 
Good luck with whatever you choose. 

Chris

On 04/03/2023 at 08:22, labtech1122 said:

Hi, is there any star parties this year around the Midlands area in the uk? I live near peterborough but don't mind travelling a distance to get places

Depends upon how far you want to travel. I live just south of Norwich, but prefer the friendliness and the vibe of the AstroCamp at Cwmdu in Wales. (Just North of Crickhowell)  https://www.astrocamp.awesomeastronomy.com

The Spring event May have sold out now, but you may get lucky!

Good luck to whichever one you choose.

Chris

Has anyone visited the Greek island of Kythira (also spelt on some websites as Kithira)?
Planning a trip in May as the island has great walks, is interesting, but not hugely busy.

https://www.kythera.gr/en/

Going to take my startracker to try and get some more photos of the Milky Way, so any tips / recommendations welcome.

Thanks in advance, 

Chris

On 10/02/2023 at 14:41, jetstream said:

@Cjg I'm super interested in the presentation that your A-P gives on M24, Delle Caustiche. This object can also dazzle and from the sounds of it your scope will be superb on it under dark skies.

@Littleguy80 sorry to wander off course 😁

That’s the star cloud above the Lagoon and Triffid? Well, from 52 degrees North, my viewing has been limited, but remember all of the Sagittarius area just enchanting. I’ll be sure to have a look later this year.

On 10/02/2023 at 16:08, cajen2 said:

Can I join the queue for a peek at Cwmdu? 😉

Sure! 😁 

1 hour ago, jetstream said:

Geeze, now you have me wanting one!😳

😀

For a long, long time, I swore that the Tak would have to be prised from my cold, dead hands...but that extra 16mm...as the highly experienced dude on FB said;

"The view was 3D like with huge detail in its letter box core, suspended in space above pinpoint diamond like stars." 

The Feathertouch focuser, although is a joy to use too.

If you're heading to Cwmdu for the AstroCamp, I'll have it with me there.

Chris

1 hour ago, Littleguy80 said:

Sorry I missed out on that. Great report. Would love to have a look through the Stowaway!

Am not at Seething so often now (long story, not for here) but let me know when you're next headed there, if not on a Friday then as a keyholder, and I'll try and swing by with it!

59 minutes ago, Littleguy80 said:

I’m not sure I have. I’ve definitely looked through your baby Tak. I particularly remember the swan and eagle in the same FOV. Stunning!

Really must get out to Seething again soon. Been far too long. 

The baby Tak went to an accomplished observer that we both know. The Stowaway is something else. Had a few memorable nights last year https://www.facebook.com/groups/479353680354/posts/10166985478450355/

Chris

On 02/02/2023 at 21:15, Littleguy80 said:

Mount - I originally planned to get an AZ4 but after some research I a found my Altair Starwave Mini AZ is rated up to 6kg with the counter weight so I think this will be fine for the Starfield. 

 

Neil, 

4 inches of 'frac is just delightful, not unwieldy like a 5 inch, much more portable, and the are views terrific. 

You've had a look through my 'nearly 4 inches" of A-P?

Chris

I was in Tenerife in November 2020 and did the 'Teide by Night' trip booked locally during my week long stay, partly to have a look around the area. They had 2 CPC 9.25 scopes, one pointing at Jupiter and one at the moon.

At the time, the Parador was fully booked up for months ahead.

Could you get a fly drive holiday and have a nice villa with a pool at say Vilaflor? Booking.com has a few interesting properties? A small frac on a lightweight head and you'll see all the reasonable stuff in Sagittarius?

Good luck!

Chris

On 05/02/2023 at 15:17, Pixies said:

That's the booking system open now.

I've booked the same spot as the past 2 times. Hopefully it's third time lucky, with no breakdowns or family emergencies this time round!

Hope to see some of you there.

First time for a few years for me, pitch 23, so will be a "commoner". 

Have a bit of a dilemma, do I bring the #BFS ( a 125 Altair Astro ED on a sabre mount) or the Stowaway. I'm leaning towards the Stowaway as the 125ED is a bit of a beast to set up and cart back to the tent.

See you there!

Chris

Needed a Bahtinov mask to help focus my telephoto zoom lens (attempting to photograph Comet C2022 / E3) and came across www.jacktheprinter.co.uk who 3d prints Bahtinov masks and more from the UK.

My mask arrived today, a few days after ordering, fits my lens and will be a useful addition to my adventures with the camera at night.

3 hours ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

These really are spectacular images, I love the top one especially and it would proudly sit on my living room wall after the biggest enlargement possible if it was mine. 🙂 

Steve

Thank you, Steve.

That's my first "tracked" image that I am pleased with. Taken from a hilltop above a tiny fishing village on the South coast of Crete with no raods in and just a little light pollution.

Chris

On 02/01/2023 at 18:23, the lemming said:

There does seem to be a bewildering range of trackers out there and my brain hurts trying to pick one and would very much appreciate any advice.

I would like to take landscape images, including Milkyway landscapes, some occasional telephoto images of stuff like Andromeda and other interesting subjects.

I have a MFT camera with lenses going from 7.5mm to 400mm.

I have a photographer's tripod with a self levelling head which is primarily used for video but I'm happy to adapt or change when required.

I'd also like  Tracker that is idiot proof but not so simple that I will outgrow it in one season of image taking.

 

Cheers 

I do not think any tracker is "idiot proof" -  my experience is that they all need some reading the manual / watching the youtube video and practice to work 

After a trial with the clockwork Omegon star tracker (trailing stars whenever I used it) I tried to purchase the Skywatcher in 2020, but it was out of stock and so I purchased the Ioptron SkyGuider Pro. I consider myself a beginner with this lark.

The Ioptron is well made, tracks very well (I'm getting 5 minute exposure with a 20mm lens) and has an in-built rechargeable battery. 

The weak point for me was the Ioptron wedge supplied; I could not get it to lock accurately, and so invested in the William Optics wedge with the extra expense and weight.

You mention climbing in your bio, if you plan on hiking with your kit, then then think about the all in weight of your camera and tracker etc...For a MFT camera, perhaps the lightweight Move-Shoot-Move tracker promoted by Alyn Wallace might suit?

Good luck, I think once you have decided to get one, all of them on the @FLO website are great, just down to personal preference and circumstances really.

Chris

13 hours ago, Sunshine said:

Thank you for the info! great to hear you are Happy with your Altair Astro 125, I decided not to rush headlong into a snap decision and prefer to gather input from those who have larger doublets and can speak from experience at the eyepiece.

Since you were nice enough to contribute (thanks) I will ask about your experience at the eyepiece, how are planetary views? I am not looking for triplet performance in a doublet but I would not enjoy glaring CA, a tad is fine. Many doublets good doublets seem to struggle with Mars, particularly.

UPDATE: Upon searching out your scope I found your SGL review from 2018 front and centre on google, funny part isI was the second person to leave a comment 😂 funny how we can forget.

Good morning, 

The eyepiece experience is a much, much tougher question.

I've had many more hours with the 125 since my first light report, since July 2018.

The planets are great, Jupiter and Saturn have been superb, but not Mars. (Most recently looked at approx 2 weeks ago) it's too bright at present. I used my Panoptic 24mm and 9mm Nagler. I'll have another attempt when the weather improves, but at that time, it felt very much as if I needed an ND filter to "dim down' the brightness.

All of the comments have been about the Stowaway; ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/479353680354/posts/10166985478450355/ ) it's probably seen a little more action as the weather has been less than settled. If I had to keep just 1 scope, then it would be the Stowaway...

Probably no help whatsoever, sorry!!

Chris

Good luck in choosing @Sunshine!

I went to a 125mm as an increase in aperture from a Tak 76; a huge difference in "light gathering". 

My 125 is a doublet from a UK company called Altair Astro; the same scope is available from other retailers under differing brand names. 

This is a slightly newer version with a handle included ,though the scope  OTA, I think, is the same  as mine https://www.altairastro.com/altair-wave-series-125-edf-f78-apo-w-large-m92-rp-focuser-454-p.asp Mine came with a test report and has a Strehl ratio of 96.6

No noticeable 'cool down' time needed, but I tend to drive to Seething Observatory (the home of Norwich Astro - my local club) with the heating off, or on a minimal amount.

Am not sure if you plan on using your existing mount, but a frac of this size and weight needs careful balancing at the start and handling, especially at the end of a session when you are cold / tired packing away.  I use an Alt Az manual mount that needs counterweights, so more time to set up / take down.

I upgraded my Tak to a 92mm Stowaway, and it really depends upon the weather forecast as to which gets used...if the weather forecast is for clear skies for most of the night, then it's the 125mm that accompanies me, but, if the forecast is less than settled, then it's the Stowaway.

Looking forward to seeing what you go for!

Chris

The constellation of Orion, rising in the East / South East above ‘The Scallop’ at Aldeburgh. Taken at around 21:00hrs on Thursday December 15th.

Foreground exposed for 5 minutes, and then the stars / sky exposed for 5 minutes with my Ioptron Skyguider switched on. 

The two images were then blended in Photoshop.

The Scallop was partly illuminated by someone driving their 4x4 along the coast road with their main beam on.

The lights on the horizon are from a wind farm ( I think) boats heading to / from Felixstowe and from the Dutch coast.

Chris

On 15/11/2022 at 18:27, Carl Au said:

Has anyone fitted a handle to a TS/Altair/Starwave 102 ED-R. 

Not the 102, but yes to my 125. I purchased the WO handle from @FLO. Not inexpensive, but a quality piece of equipment.

Honest opinion; it's transformed the use of the scope; attaching / balancing the scope to the Sabre Mount is now easy at the start of the night, more so, taking the scope off the mount when tired and with cold hands after a night of observing. Wish I'd bought one sooner, but was waiting for Altair to have stocks of their dedicated one since 2018!

Good luck,

Chris

On 02/11/2022 at 04:02, Sunshine said:

Does anyone else feel as though they need a smaller grab and go scope but find you just can’t as you’re spoiled with the larger scope you use? I certainly feel this way. My 4” refractor on my alt/az mount is my goto scope for those short sessions but, just because a 4” refractor sounds like it is light and airy I can attest they are not all so small and light. This combined with my high capacity alt az mount makes for a hefty duo but I cannot imagine using anything smaller as it will leave me yearning for my 4” and the views it provides. It would be nice to have something I could carry out in one piece and plunk down on the ground ready to look through but at the same time all I would be thinking about is what an object would look like in the larger scope. Am I getting this all wrong? maybe i should get a decent 80mm and see what happens. 

Almost, I have an Altair 125 EDF that sits on a Sabre Mount: super views, but all the kit needs more carrying from the car to the observing pads, so doesn't get as much use as it could. I am however, really fortunate to own a rather nice 92mm scope that is special, but just a little less bright at the eyepiece.

Another post recommends a Tak 76, if you can get one, that too is a great compromise and very lightweight. I sold mine only because the very nice people at Astro-Physics got in touch to let me know my number was up for a Stowaway.

When the forecast is for settled skies, I never have regretted the extra hassles in getting the Altair 125 out and setup though.

5 hours ago, MiladyB said:

Well I think that's answered my question about 'Should I...'

I just need to have a good look at 'Which...' 

I have a sturdy photo tripod with a 5kg stated payload that I use for my binos that might be workable, so I'll do some more research (good call on the CA point @cajen2 - I guess I need to make sure I get the best I can for the price).

Thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions - that's certainly given me plenty to mull over. 😄

MiladyB x

Remember to have a look on the used section here too. A quick look tonight shows this one.  No connection with the seller, but an ED doublet for £175 , so some bargains to be found, especially as this comes with an eyepiece and diagonal.