Helen

So my obs PC has completely died - light on but not booting up (been misbehaving for a numbers of weeks). So I'm wondering whether to go for small form on mount or full size PC? I run a Mesu and it's loaded! 3 scopes (so 3 cameras, focusers, dew). I currently use Maxim, stand-alone focusmax, sharpcap and CdC. I use usb3 for higher frame rate lunar and planetary. I have 2 screens - one in with scope for manual focussing/collimation. My cabling gets challenging - hence thinking of scope mounting. But reliability important too! So what would you recommend? Thanks Helen

My Obs computer had completely died 😞 😞 Helen

Still go for it, it won't have disappeared and information is even more important. The orbit is a bit off from the forecasts, so check you've got it. www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=13620 Helen PS I'm miffed as I have a run on FT for 7 nights: 4 ok, but missed last night when it was interesting- D'oh!!

The Bepi Colombo spacecraft is heading back towards Earth for a flyby (slingshot) before heading towards Mercury. It will be visible from Earth this Friday morning (UT) 10th April. I'm currently working with Europlanet and the ESA team on encouraging observations from amateurs in particular. So I thought here was a great place to encourage people to get involved!! It will be challenging 🧐 , but we like a challenge! Bepi will be too faint to see with the naked eye anywhere, but binoculars and small scopes will pick it up as its magnitude is between 8 and 11. The biggest challenge is the trajectory. Those of us in Northern Europe won't get a look in sadly, and even some further south with have to contend with low viewing angles and twilight and sunrise. But if you are in southern Europe (<40), Africa, South US or particularly Central and South America (or have access to scopes in these locations) then you should be able to observe Bepi (and wave goodbye 🤗). If you could make observations/images and share them then the rest of us (and Europlanet/ ESA) would be very happy! Additionally, there's a competition with very nice prizes 😄 Here's a tool to check visibility for your location https://bepicolombo.iaps.inaf.it/ Further details https://www.europlanet-society.org/spot-bepicolombo-during-its-goodbye-flyby/ And importantly, here's where to upload your images: https://www.flickr.com/groups/bepicolomboearthflyby/ (Flickr) https://www.europlanet-society.org/bepicolombo-earth-flyby/ (via webform) And competition details: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/…/bepicolomb…/observation-contest ESA links: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/bepicolombo-flyby/ground-based-observations If you are interested in orbital mechanics there is some great information in this link https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/bepicolombo-flyby/earth-flyby Post your observations here too 😄 Thanks Helen

I LOVE this Gav! I might give something similar a go tonight if it stays clear (although the Moon isn't going to help!) We're thinking of including an animation exercise in the educational materials we're putting together - I'm sure kids would be wowed if they could produce something like this 🙂 Helen PS I've got some FT data on Y4 available too if you want a look https://observe.lco.global/requestgroups/967863/ (I need to find time to do some analysis 👀)

.. and remember that delivery drivers are out there, probably with increased workloads, stress and risk, when most of us are sat safely at home 😉 Helen

Making It Rain: How Giving Me Telescope Time Can Reduce Drought https://arxiv-org.libezproxy.open.ac.uk/abs/2003.13879 👀 2003.13879.pdf

https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.13722 Worth a quick read!

In DSS you can choose a point for the comet nucleus using shift and click 🙂 That doesn't always get a great result, but worth a go...

Nicely done Adam 🙂 Green = CN gas emissions 😉

It a bit hazy, but some nice proms showing 😎

This arrived from William @stewartw (thanks!). It's a lens for the watec meteor camera I'm setting up. It is certainly more substantial than the little zoom that came with the camera! A bracket for the protective box also arrived today. I will see if I can get it installed tomorrow (ready for at least some clear skies forecast for the week). So tonight I'm reading up on connections, settings and software... Helen

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescope-bags-cases-storage/page/0/ looks like some might meet your needs 😊

Your wife will have lots of fun with that 👍 Send her along here too (nice to have more female company 🤗) Helen

My solarquest mount decided to die - I think it had a coming together with focus knob if my scope while aligning 😲 Azgti set up instead - and have a bright orange disk with a hint of prom in a 40m eyepiece and at Central tuning. That's progress. Just getting back a camera for more detailed testing and tweaking Helen PS Peter, I'd like to chat about checking/optimising my pay mod....

Hmm precipitation from a blue sky 😲. I thought it was too good to be true🥺

The adventure starts... And miraculously... Just trying to work out which scope and remember what to do!!! Wish me luck 😊 Helen

Yes, I'm a mixture of excitement and trepidation... When I bought it originally Astrograph tested it beforehand. Astrograph have handled the return (I've just paid outward shipping), so no customs dealings. Astrograph say they ask for repair rather than replacement to try to ensure quality of view, but Daystar usually ignore that! This one hasn't been tested since return due to weather, so we don't know what it's starting quality is, or of course, how long it will last. I think it may be possible to get a refund from Daystar if there are continuous quality problems. Helen

Thanks both 🙂 The camera appears to be a 902H, which I think means its an older 1/2 model. So recommendations for a suitable lens would be welcomed @tooth_dr @JeremyS Thanks Helen

I bought a Quark many years ago, had some fun initially, but then life got busy and it sat in the box. Last year I decided to dust it off, but something drastic had happened and I couldn't see anything at all 😞 So it got sent back under warranty to Daystar. I've now heard that instead of repairing they've just replaced it. So a new one should arrive later in the week. I wonder when I'll get to check it out - its snowing here 🥺 Helen

She was a real hero and role model. There are two books which tell her story much more fully than the film, with extra background detail on the racial/gender challenges faced. It really opened my eyes to just how serious the issues were (and sadly still are) in the US. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Figures-Untold-African-American/dp/0008201323/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hidden+figures&qid=1582648365&s=books&sr=1-1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reaching-Moon-Autobiography-Mathematician-Katherine/dp/1534440836/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=katherine+johnson&qid=1582648399&s=books&sr=1-1 I thoroughly recommend them (the first is broader, the second aimed at younger readers) Helen

.... and I blame @JeremyS for the fact I have now been asked to speak at the BAA Christmas meeting.... 👀 Helen

A bit of progress - I've ordered the cable 🙂 I've also had another look inside and at the lens: How does this look? (I'd rather replace before I put it outside if needs be) I am a little concerned that there is some significant movement between the lens and the collar (not the screw part) - I think there might be a little grub screw? so will have a better look in the light tomorrow. When moving this about I found a loose foam disk - any idea where it should go??? Next on the list is a bracket, and downloading the software... Looking at the weather forecast there's no rush 🥺 Helen

I can empathise with having a big scope and not using it.... I've had a lot of just plain fun with my Tak 100 and the azgti. The Tak is quite lightweight and easy to handle. The azgti is the same as your solarquest but with different functionality, so will work as brilliantly with your tripod. You could then use the Tak for white light and cak too. An alternative would be a small Mak with an azgti for planets etc. With an asi camera you can do live viewing or planetary very easily. Helen