Space Cowboy

I recently purchased a 9x50 astro essentials right angle findersope from FLO to replace my Skywatcher 9x50 straight through findersope. 

Tried the right angle findersope last night and the cross hairs appear way too thick completely obscuring Venus in the evening sky. The optical train is much shorter from the crosshair so I assume this is why it appears thicker.

Does the right angle Skywatcher findersope have the same issue? Do I have to look for a much more expensive replacement? For planetary imaging the astro essentials finder is no use with such coarse crosshairs.

SOLVED!

Sent the AE finder back and got this as replacement. Not tried on scope yet but crosshairs are nice and fine! Only 10 quid more and comes with a shoe! Looks far better quality.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/stellalyra-8x50-right-angled-correct-image-raci-finder-scope-with-bracket.html

On 21/02/2023 at 21:29, Kon said:

Stuart, any feedback and discussion is always welcomed and not taking things face value is part of the fun. After all, most of us here are amateur astronomers and having healthy discussions and questions, can make us better in what we do and how we interpret our images.  I am running a research lab so I am used to the questioning/criticism, and I hope I do not sound patronising. SGL is a great environment for this.

Thanks Kostas. I guess sometimes enthusiasm gets ahead of experience and I'm certainly no Venus expert so should have made that clear. 🙂 

Look forward to seeing your next Venus results 👍

That's a great result Kostas! Please ignore my previous comment. I've never imaged Venus in ir and was doubting my initial reaction 🙂

Fantastic offer from Craig and super UV images there! 

Hmm....just looked on my big monitor, not sure that is cloud detail now 🤔

Terrific effort Kostas! Certainly cloud detail on that image.

On 20/05/2021 at 04:07, bluesilver said:

Hi,  I am hoping someone mght be able to give me some advice or information in regards to FireCapture and using it with a Dobsonian with goto.

So i have a 16" Skywatcher Dobsonian that is on a goto mount

The camera that i have is the ASI224mc camera for planetary imaging.

I was thinking about using FireCapture and the Dobsonian for doing some planetary imaging when the planets come back around for us in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

Now i have been using FireCapture on a Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 mount with another scope and works great as i drive everything via ascom and the laptop, so no hand held controller.

I just came up with the idea that i should really be using the Dobsonian for this planetary imaging as it would give much better results hopefully.

 

So the question is,  can FireCapture be used with the Dobsonian goto mount?

Generally FireCapture slightly moves the mount to keep track of the image of so i think when using the AZ-EQ6 mount.

I realize that FireCapture has the option in the menus to keep the object centered inside the box ( ROI ) this is what i always have been using,  i was just interested to know if this will all work with a goto mount as FireCapture has no way of controlling the mount at all?

 

I will be using a 5X barlow to get the ideal f- number up to around f20

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

 

Did you ever get firecapture guiding working with your DOB? I've just ordered the WiFi adapter for my SW Flextube DOB and am wondering if this can work with firecapture to improve tracking while imaging a planet 

Thanks John and Bosun for your feedback. Clearly  loading and unloading the truck is the critical part of the operation. Height adjustable feet would be handy. Maybe even a permanent platform for the DOB to sit on but that would have to be completely stable as I'd be using the DOB for planetary imaging. 

As you say Bosun inflatable tyres are a must for a smooth ride. 

1 hour ago, ollypenrice said:

I've used a sack truck to move a large SCT. I had it mounted permanently on a palette under which I could roll the platform of the truck. I then had a 'safety belt' round it higher up. Very simple and effective.

Olly

Thanks Olly that sounds a good method.

1 hour ago, Mike Q said:

Yeah that will be able to handle the weight but will you be able to get that extended part under it. It looks pretty hefty and thick. 

That's a good point Mike.  I don't know  if the feet on the 14" DOB will be higher than my current 10". 

Thanks Xilman & Geof for those ideas.

I think inflatable wheels are key as I'll need to go across grass and the odd bump. This truck looks good so may get it and try with my 10" Dob. We need a good truck on the farm anway and this will be able to shift very heavy stuff :

https://www.sacktrucks.co.uk/cst990-folding-toe-sack-truck-heavy-duty-250kg-capacity/

12 hours ago, aspdrive said:

I transport my assembled 350 flextube on a sack truck only if it's necessary, primarily as it looks rather wobbly. I do move the OTA and mount separately by trolley though.

Adam.

Do you think the wheel base is too narrow on the sack truck or is it the toe plate width thats making it unstable?

I'm considering the pitfalls of owning a 14" SW Flextube DOB and wondered if a sack truck would be able to handle one given the base is 31" wide and sack trucks I've seen below £100 don't look that wide. Usually the toe plate is about 12 to 15" wide which looks rather unstable even if a wider plate was attached would the wheel base be wide enough?

Anyone using a sack truck for such a beast?

I was actually trying to view the comet through a 32mm 2" eyepiece on my 10" DOB and before packing up decided to try taking a pic with my phone of the pesky moon that had been shining like a lighthouse! 

Quite amazed how well it came out as the phone cam is not great.

Handheld through 32mm 2" eyepiece.

Capture and processing done with ulfone armor 7x pro :

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/812022-planetary-imaging-faq-updated-january-2023/

All you need to know is on that thread 😉

2 hours ago, The Lazy Astronomer said:

The FOV would be sufficient to catch it, you won't get the full extent of the tail though as it's quite long - I attempted an image of it the other night with a FOV maybe 1.5x the above and still the tail seemed to go off the edge of the frame. 

Cheers!

Sorry to dig this post up but would I be able to use this setup for the comet? I'm thinking FOV wise?

Fantastic!

Very nice detail still showing!

3 hours ago, Kon said:

Very good example. Even in the best 10% you see some bad ones creeping through. Do you put them for quality in pipp first? It seems to give me better results to keep the best 60% and then as!3.

I normally let AS!3 select the best frames but for the purpose of the animation I let PIPP select the best 46.

Better seeing can be so fleeting even within one second. 

Thought it would be interesting to animate 1 second of seeing from a 467fps Mars capture to show how much variation there can be in just 1 second of video  and how important it is to maximise frame rate in less than perfect seeing.

First GIF is the full 467 frames and second GIF the best 10% :

14 hours ago, geoflewis said:

Nice work Stuart. I've tried a couple of times recently, but the seeing has been dreadful on the few occasions its been clear, so unfortunately nothing to share.

Thanks Geof. I went out again last night and seeing was horrid so I used the session to try and get my head around firecaptures planetary auto centering ROI features. Took me a while to figure out how to reposition the ROI after always having it stay in the top left corner.

I reckon there is more detail in those. Very nice!

Remarkable activity! I need to dig out my Coronado. Last time I imaged the sun it was like a snooker ball!

Very nice collection!

Very nice Kostas!