dannybgoode

2 minutes ago, scotty38 said:

I prefer the first one, seems to have a bit more definition to me.

What were the process steps and how did they differ?

I could tell you but that would mean remembering them 🤣.  Predominantly running EZ Denoise on each channel stack before combining the SHO.  Yes, I know what you mean about the structure, I just prefer the colour on the second and whilst it is softer I feel there is more detail in the dust.

I will no doubt try a third and even fourth version at some point...

Gargh - does anyone ever stop fiddling with the data?!  Think I prefer this rendition.  Altered the sequence in which I processed a few bits in PI

5 minutes ago, tooth_dr said:

Thanks Danny, just chipped away at it over a few weeks, patience is required in this game

Ain't that the truth. Need to get back into it. Been messing with other hobbies but do enjoy the immense frustration that is AP

That's an outstanding image. Well worth the effort. 

On 24/12/2022 at 20:46, Mike Q said:

This mishap has got me wondering if something happened to one of my scopes if my homeowners insurance would cover it . I am going to touch base with then next week

 

Depends on the value and whether you have personal possessions and accidental damage cover. 

I have my scope specifically noted and valued on my policy. Adds a few quid to the premium but then I could never afford to replace it outright if anything happened to it

Finally got round to some processing on this and I am pleased to say that the concept is sound.  My framing was way off though so only spent proper time processing this one panel - for 45 mins of data I am very impressed and this is certainly my best image to date.  Need to do much more of this!

On 15/02/2022 at 23:56, Shibby said:

@dannybgoode I'm interested. How about that result?

I just need time to process it  !

On 13/01/2022 at 08:37, Stardust said:

This all sounds good  getting frustrated with mine and thinking it needs this treatment.  ra is very stiff, dec is very free.

If seen a reports of superlube or the bicycle grease, so which is best for this mount?

 

This seems to be the recommended stuff. Has worked well on mine…

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01186U64Y/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_DFEPCKNBZ9PXN4AHE692?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Can’t say I’ve had any issues with the cable and routed correctly I don’t think it will impact guiding at all - it doesn’t impede mount movement at all. I think it is a good quality, robust cable? I’m quite happy with the cigarette lighter plug also, works perfectly fine

Unless it breaks I won’t be changing it…

What a wonderful looking book and as someone who is just looking to get started with Doubles it seems ideal.  Field copy ordered

4 hours ago, Starwatcher2001 said:

Postie delivered me a copy of Ags superb book on double stars this morning. I've been a fan of doubles for a long time, but can never remember where to find the perishers or their vital statistics. It's even trickier in my Bortle 7 environment, but Discovering Double Stars is aimed at those kinds of skies.  This is going to be a great resource with my grab and go scope, particularly with the spiral spine which will take up less space on my observing table. Thanks Ags, I think this will encourage me outside more often.

 

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/381220-book-project-discovering-double-stars/page/4/#comment-4179331

 

Ooo this looks lovely.  May just have to order a copy myself

20 minutes ago, Elp said:

If you've got the camera setup you'll be surprised what you can see from a light polluted backyard.

I don't have so much of an issue imaging what I can see, it is more that most of the Western skies are completely blocked for me so now I can get mobile and I have access to a nice secure field I can set up in not too far away, I want to take the opportunity.  Not whilst it is quite so cold though!  I will wait until the (hopefully) warmer spring nights  

Many thanks all. Last night was a fail as I couldn’t get my mount aligned as my Telrad was dewed up so couldn’t see the target stars for alignment!

I’ll stick the TMB back on tonight and give it a go. It may only be 650mm however it’ll happily take a 5mm eyepiece and sometimes even a 2.5 if conditions are right so may have a chance with some at least

OK it's taken me a while but when I first got interest in imaging I knew I'd have to be able to get out in a dark field somewhere as my patio is a) horribly bright and b) view limited. 

Last night though, even though my lunar imaging was a fail due to missing focus, I did run the entire session entirely on battery and run from the set up's own WiFi network. This is a big big step forward and made last night more than worth it. 

For reference the complete set up is as follows:

Power - 40Ah car battery in a Bison battery box feeding a Pegasus Astro Pocket PowerBox Advance.

Control - Beelink Mini PC and GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 travel WiFi hotspot

Access - either a laptop or ipad via Windows Remote Desktop

Software - NINA, PHD2, ASTAP, Sharpcap 

Mount - Skywatcher AZ EQ6GT 

Scopes - TMB 105/650 LSOZ, Meade 10" SCT and SW 150P (f5)

All in all I'm delighted with this solution. Sure things like the PPBA are quite pricey but everything is fuss-free and just works. The PPBA also makes powering the whole thing trivial and cabling etc very simple so worth the money. I finally have the confidence I can load up the car, go somewhere nice open and dark, set up and it'll all actually work.  

For visual obs I have my guidescope fully aligned to my main scope so I can use that to plate solve - works better for me than using a handset and some form of star alignment. Call me lazy but from home I can't learn to star hop etc as I can't see enough stars due to light pollution and I am not about to waste valuable time whilst out somewhere darker

Now just waiting for a free night when I can get to my chosen site and give it all a go. 

In an effort to try and do a bit of everything, as the Moon was bright last night I decided to give lunar imaging a go.  For a first proper attempt I am pleased enough.  Equipment; TMB 105/650 LZOS, TV 2x Barlow, Altair Astro GPCAM2 130 Mono.  Processed in Autostakkert (best 20% of 3000), DxO PhotoLabs and Affinity.  Still need to work on focusing and processing a bit however I never get bored of the moon so happy to keep trying - I'll be back out tonight with my Meade 10" SCT to try and get closer in still  

Finally I can get my rig mobile (and speed up setting it up at home).

Found this natty 12v battery enclosure - well made and with a cigarette type outlet, 5v usb plug and a pair of terminals a) should you wish to have a 240v inverter say and b) to charge the battery via. 

Yes you can build similar with a 12v power panel and a suitable box but by the time you've bought all of that then the price is not much different (this box is £59.99). And all the cut outs and installation of the sockets etc is nice and neat.

As I now have a PowerBox it is just a single cable from the mount to the battery box so all nice and tidy. 

I have been trying to broaden my horizons a bit so I have something to do regardless of moon phase, patchy cloud etc and one thing that has always interested me although I have never given it a go is double stars.  So, with tonight's forecast looking good and the moon being almost full imaging is out it seems a good time to start.

Can anyone recommend me some nice starters?  Anything in the Eastern hemisphere above 25 degree alt and anything high in the Western skies - above 70 degrees alt?  Will be observing from 6pm to 9-10pm so not a huge window I appreciate 

Many thanks all

Well so far this month I have 6 clear nights recorded and have observed or imaged on 5 of them and didn't want to break my neck on the other.  I have also done extensive work on setting up things like NINA, testing various wifi configurations, worked on getting PHD2 guiding as well as possible on a further 4 nights.  So that is 9 our of 12 nights I have done something.  5 or 6 more than last year in total I think!  Tonight is looking good also.

OK there is absolutely no point to this at all however I am stunned by the properties of Kruppax.  The ground was icing up, the garden furniture was damper than a damp squib, moisture was literally dripping off the telescope and yet the objective, even without heating, stayed perfectly clear.  The stuff really is magic.  So I have written a haiku about it

Kruppax; phenolic

Disregard temperature

Refuses to dew

@vlaiv - so tonight I am trying a proof of concept 4 panel mosaic to see how well it works.  1 hour per panel so just 15 mins per channel but 2x binned.  So far the data does not look too bad for such short times be we shall see.  I messed up the framing a bit but entirely my fault and part of the reason I am running through things to see what steps I need to take.

NINA makes generating the sequences very very easy though  . I will of course post the result when done...

Having suffered from ulcerative colitis I know just how debilitating a chronic illness can be and how much it can detract from just enjoying life.  Good to hear you're getting on top of things and managing to carry on :).

Nice image - M33 is a tricky little so and so.  I have plans to revisit it this year... 

Can we have a new forum rule please.  Stop showing your Taks.  Only because I am desperately trying to avoid temptation and every time I see one the want becomes just a little stronger...

@Carbon Brush - I fly electric RC planes and helis and lipos don't like the cold any more than LA batteries to be fair.  If flying in the winter I leave the motor just idling to get the pack up to temperature before putting it under load.  Definitely good for their lifespan

That Bison box will take any 12v battery really.  At some point I'll get a decent sized LiFe battery but the advantage of LA is you get a lot of amps per £.  This disadvantage of course is the weight.  As for multiple circuit breakers, that is the beauty of the PPBA.  Just a single device plugged into the battery.  Makes like so easy  

I was going to built my own box but by the time I had bought the 12v panel, a suitable box, the wires etc the Bison was only marginally more expensive and looks well built and ready to go.

So here we have my spangly new Geoptik Losmandy dovetail. Works a great and I can now get the DEC balanced

I have also requisitioned the shorter one and re-fashioned it as a natty mounting point for my mini PC and PPBA...