Paul M

I've seen a youtube channel demonstrating how to hack a chromebook to install a standard Linux Distro, Ubunto for example.

With that you can do a lot. KStars and Ekos are very good and there are many other astro packages for guiding, processing etc, for Linux.

Not something you'd want to do with a computer under wanranty though, i'd guess!

I was expectedly dissapointed with the canaries video.

I don't mind him having a jolly out of it but the content needed to be better than that.

Too much lingering on the last minute "problems" to add unnecessary excitement. Not enough time spent on the imaging project. Then with the confused handicapping of the observatory telescope, I lost interest.

That's why I can't watch golf...🤣

But it was still more entertaining than 20 channels giving demos of SuperExtremeFuzzyStarExterminatorProPlusAIv2.03.1😁

Good luck, and keep us posten on progress!

37 minutes ago, MylesGibson said:

Thank you, I figured it out a few minutes before you posted this. Was following a tutorial from a few years ago. But thank you for the reply!

How are you able to create an imaging plan like that? @Paul M

I posted a tutorial a few years ago, maybe it was mine?

I'll link it bellow. there is a quite a bit to get familiar with in the imaging plan editor. But maybe there is another way with the latest version of APT using the "Tags" feature that's just been introduced. I've not had a chance to look at that yet. But my old plan as shown above still works.

For each frame generate a Goto++ command. and then another line after it in the script giving the actually exposure/subs details for aech frame. Notice I have the "wait for script to end" box selected, else weird things happen! It won't wait for your subs to complete before heading off to the next Goto++ commands etc.. 

The actual purpose of my totorial was to show how to use the Ascom Sky Simulator form the same stable as ASTAP and HNSKY. It was slightly fiddly to set up. But it eally does allow you to test run an imaging or mosaic plan, such that APT doesn't know that it isn't looking at the real sky! You even get an "image" at the end of it, although it's actually created from online deep sky survey imagery.

Great fun in these times of wild weather.

Look for them in the "Custom" tab.

Here is how HNSKY mosaic frames look for me:

The items _151   to _156  are imported frames from HNSKY

Here is how they look in imaging plan:

That's insane! At full resolution it's go so much detail that I'd expect to be washed out by the usual low contrast of a nearly full moon.

I think it would make a great poster or framed photo. Stunning!

Thanks Ivo, It's installed already. I'm looking forward to trying out the new TAGs feature. I think it'll help me manage my automated sessions much better  I usually leave my gear out all night, unatended, when the sky is clear so APT looks after it for me.

I see the start-up splash screen still has the "Clear Skies" good luck message, but what the v4.4 should have included is a "Clear Skies" button! Could really do with that feature in the UK right now!

My main arrival of interest is my new Ras Pi 5. It arrived on Friday, a bit ahead of it's pre-order schedule. The MD got it me for Chrimbo so it was good timing. 

It's going to relieve my Pi 4 from ist's current duty as a remotely sited IP Camera server, which will then be used in my soon to be started all-sky camera project. Actually I'll be using the server on the Pi 5 to disseminate the All-Sky camera imagery (hopefully). So they'll both play a role!

I've followed this thread from the very beginning, Malcolm, and I'm still impressed with your skill and inginuity.

I've done quite a lot of electronics in the past but not digital and not SMD. Well I did a bit of a hack on my brother's game box thing, back in the day for him. I had components floating away in a sea of solder.. 😳

As an increasingly clumsy NEQ6 owner, I suspect I'll be needing your services, eventually

7 minutes ago, maw lod qan said:

I always thought it was a cross of stealth technology and hypersonic!

I don't know how they track him and his reindeer!

I think the sleigh travels at hypersonic speed, thereby causing ionic ripples in the sub-temporal, orthogonal phase field. It's a simple matter of tuning a suitably cooled Turbo Encabulator to said filed. 

On 17/12/2023 at 23:28, Vertdad said:

First attempt with seester s50, suburban skies

I think I've said this already, but anyway; it's a though the Seestar was designed to showcase M42. Maybe ZWO did exactly, that? Whether or not, you've captured what I call the Classic Orion Nebula.  Nicely done too!

I think that's misinformation from Norad. They have Santa over Norway at the time of writing but Flight radar has him in the mid Atlantic having just passed abeam Cape Verde:

https://www.flightradar24.com/7.72,-23.68/5

The Sleigh is surely suborbital, that is, it's an aircraft. So I'd give Flight Radar the vote on this.

Ok, I've solved my asteroid problem.

I'd replaced the MPCORB.DAT file with an obscure Trans Neptunian Object file while tracking down one of those a couple of weeks ago.

So I just reverted back to the proper file and all is well.

You also got a few pixels of 1998 KU48.

8 hours ago, GalaxyGael said:

It did not show in my astap analysis, what did you use out of curiosity?

I'd also taken the liberty of downloading and plate solving your image with ASTAP, and also got a no show for asteroids down to mag 21.

Weird. I'll have another look at it when I get the chance. I'd specifically gone looking for asteroids and missed a nice one!

Great! I can't imagine there being a better, more intense, method of studying a subject than to draw or sketch it. It must be a very salifying undertaking. 

Small but perfectly formed, I say. Very nice capture.

It looks like a fairly straight forward mechanical repair to me. It looks like that plate connects the internal, sprung contacts with the outer chassis of the DC socket, which in turn is soldered to the PCB. That's why it won't power up without the plate. So it needs to be a sound electrical connection.

Looking on line, that seems to be the way that a lot of PCB mounted barrel plug sockets are constructed. 

I don't think it needs a new part nor even specialist repair and a like for like part might be difficult to get hold of, if it was needed.

Found this online though (as an example of what is available), though you'd need to buy a thousand of them!!! :

https://www.globalsources.com/product/audio-phone-jack-connector-components_1195474899f.htm

If you have a friend or family member that tinkers with electronics I'm sure they'd be able to get it going for you. A professional, like a TV repair engineer would be able to help but their starting price might be a bit of an issue!

My only notable achievement through this dreadful year was a nice comet animation of comet C/2020 V2 (ZTF) from way back in January:

From this thread:

Watching the Met O's weekly "Deep Dive" weather vid on YouTube today, it looks like there will probably be a westerly influence on UK weather at least until Christmas. No details really but for me "westerly" = cloudy

17 hours ago, Phil Fargaze said:

Excellent web page set up HERE

Some very impressive dips in those graphs in the link above!

It's quiet on this thread, Me thinks hundreds of SGL imagers are no all over The Squid hoping to submit their supernova claim

I think it should be called SN 2023SGL , to recognise the collaboration.

Might be some kind of laser interferometry/range finding thing. Observatories sometimes fire lasers at the nights sky to measure the steadiness of the atmosphere and adjust telescope optics in real time to improve the image.

That could give a streak and a spot at infinity or the perspective vanishing point.

Not sure about streaks, there wouldn't usually be streaks emanating from a supernova explosion. Supernovae usually brighten over hours and days.

But I can't see what you can! 

Does the star appear on any photos or star charts?

I've read that the only important numerical value for RC optics is the secondary to primary distance. It it is too far from optimum then good collimation will be difficult.

How to find the correct distance? There are diverging views. One view is to adjust the inter-mirror distance so that the Scopes f/l, as given by plates solving an image, is that given in the scope spec. I.E if the scope spec says it's 1600 f/l then adjust the mirror distance until this is true. Then complete the rest of the collimation process.

Other views are that the design spec is just approximate and that the distance should be adjusted to perfect the star image seen through the scope + a lot of extremely technical stuff:

Just to cheer you along: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/702687-rc-mirror-distances/

I've never measure the inter-mirror distance on y RC10. I just point the laser collimator down the focuser, hit the center spot on the secondary and return through to the target on the laser collimator. I have a fancy collimator thingy for the rest of the process but after getting it right, still found it needed a tweak on a real star!! So I could have saved myself a bit of cash

My first thought is that a 6 year old would struggle to use a telescope without experienced adult assistance and would then be disappointed with the view.

If her imagination is fed by exciting pictures of the planets in books, any telescope within a sensible price range and that's usable by a novice will disappoint. But I don't know the child and she may well enjoy just seeing things through the telescope. 

So the recommendation above is as good a place to start as any! Wide field of view, low magnification, would be good for the Moon and star clusters and the brighter "fuzzy" nebulae.  Just avoid the toy telescopes from high street stores that claim outrageous capabilities.

I just found this from the sponsors of this forum. Simple, just point and focus! For the money it's worth a gamble??

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/celestron-firstscope-signature-series-moon-by-robert-reeves.html

I think mum will need a few starter books!

Nice book idea and a fun project!

I'm a romantic so like to see the Milky Way, at least where the scale is appropriate. Plainly, it's not needed and brings nothing to the usefulness of the charts. So I'd ignore me

One thing I look for every now and again is the conjunction of asteroids on highly divergent paths, such that it would make a dramatic animation. Unfortunately there is a dearth of relatively bright, high inclination asteroids to feed my idea but plenty of main belters, just waiting.

Good luck with the book, are you publishing it, or is it just a personal project?