fireballxl5

Superb picture,  beautiful colours. 

Thanks Ian. First time I've taken and applied flats during solar imaging.  Not sure if this or the seeing were the main contributor to the detail. 

My first solar Ha observing of 2024 and managed to find time to capture some video. Processed using AstroSurface v2 and PI Solar ToolBox. 

Lunt LS60DS50 - ASI585MC - 2ms - best 15% of 4301 frames (cloud stopped play); Flats applied.

CS, Andy

1 hour ago, Anne S said:

We have a motorhome and stayed on a small campsite where there was electric hookup.

Do you have the details please? Hopefully I'll have this option soon🙂

1 hour ago, Anne S said:

Do you bin your 533?

No, though I usually resample down during processing.

The ASI071 needs a flattener from my experience using a RC6. I now use a 533 with no such issues,  other than the usual collimation hurdles🤪

30 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

The PC can run on any DC power supply, that can put out anything between 12 and 18v, on either of the 2 USB C ports…it’s as simple as that…the PC will just draw the power it needs from the connected supply, that’s how the PD works, simple as that….whether it be a DC power supply of some description, or lead acid battery, a Lifepo battery or a potato battery….as long as it’s between 12 and 18v

 

This. 

It'll be reet! 🙂

Andy

@Davey-TNo serious problems with the AZ adjustment here in my 135E though mine's carrying only a 9-10kg load usually. Maybe this helps?

Good point about the lack of dew protection. This would have been useful.  Again, no problems here in wet Lancashire🤞

Andy

I have the 135E and love it. The only issue I've found is the lack of a power-off brake, which has caught me out a couple of times in the 2.5 years that I've owned it.  

I thinking that I'll replace my heavy duty GEM with an harmonic mount at some point.  Needs to have 40kg load capacity though!

First "DSO imaging light" for my scope was of M51 on Sat 20th April before the clouds rolled in around midnight... Just an experiment really with the Moon around to see if I may need a flattener with this 'simple' doublet refractor using a 1" chip. Little data so pushed too much maybe and no flats so background isn't right...

Conclusion being that I don't need to spend any more money on astro gear (atm...😜)

M51 / Stella MIRA 125ED f7.8 / ASI533MCP / IDAS D2 / 8x300s (40m)

26 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

Lum 21x15 mins, R,G and B 8x10 min each. TEC140/Atik 460CCD. Not all that much, really.

Just 9.25 hours,  approx 3 months worth here atm, so not that much 🙃

I bought a used LS60THa with the DS50 last year. I fit the DS50 virtually every time I use the scope now. Based on my previous experience with a Coronado SM40, I find performance of the LS60THADS50 to be turely excellent.

Here's a photo at around 3rd contact showing the proms.  Just a converted JPEG that I've wi-fi'ed over to my phone with some basic editing in Snapseed. Originals are raw on card.  There are several...🙃

Canon R7 / Canon 100-500mm @500mm / f7.1  1/15s  ISO200

Clouds clearly seen as well. 

1 hour ago, maw lod qan said:

When it went total there were several prominence visible.

One so big it was naked eye!!

Yes,  same here in Torreón.  Totality was spell- binding.  Almost forgot to hit the shutter release on the camera!

Clouded out for much of the 1st partial phase, but largely cleared miraculously for totality. The best eclipse I think I've seen, totality was awesome as they say🙃

Found time to view through bins as well. It was beautiful. 

I'll be at the Astro Trails observing site,  just NW of Torreón Mexico🙃

5 minutes ago, Adam J said:

yes I actually noted 3.6volts but in my post but for some reason it's been cut short. 

So you agree that it is (almost) a 100Wh capacity battery? Again,  my understanding is that the power capacity is fixed with the time that current can be drawn determined by the voltage used (and the current level of course).  This would mean that at 3.6V/1A the current rating is 27.65Ah,  whereas at 12V/1A (using a handy USB PD 12V trigger) it would be 8.3Ah.

Regards,  Andy

1 hour ago, Adam J said:

how are you getting 100Wh it's described as 27000mah so only 27Wh? 

Your calculation is implying that current and power capacity are the same. I'm no electrical engineer but my understanding is that the relationship between power and current capacity (Wh and Ah) depends on the voltage that is driving the current. So a stated power capacity of 99.54Wh (Anker product website for this power bank) implies a cell voltage of 3.6V, i.e. power / current 99.54Wh/27.65Ah = 3.6V. . 

Happy to be corrected here🙂

Although my preference is for LiFePO4 batteries I've gone and bought one of these...

https://amzn.eu/d/9NJQJcl

If falls just below the 100Wh limit and seems to be super slick. It will be used to provide primary power for my Canon DSLR and tracker mount at Monday's TSE, so weight, capacity and versatility were primary considerations here. 

I'm now a fan of batteries that have PD capable USB outputs🙂

Andy

I've used a Nevada linear PSU to run a dual-scope imaging rig in my observatory for a number of years with no issues.  Looks like they've refreshed the design,  but equivalent I think to this one 

https://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/sharman-lm-30a-30-amp-analogue-display-linear-power-supply-unit-two-year-warranty?___store=nevada

Very impressive visuals and wonderful commentary taking the audience through the whole Apollo Programme, leading into Artemis.

Loved it🙂

12 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Big place though, Texas 🤣

they've got big long roads out there...

Yes,  just once on an Vixen ali tripod. Though it did work OK for visual it seemed to be at the very limit. Haven't tried since and won't be doing it again.

This toolbox is great, had a great go using it on some data from last August...

CS, Andy

Before:

After:

+1 for the SolarQuest 

The Eskimo Nebula NGC2392, a bi-polar double-shelled planetary, imaged on a rare clear night, Monday this week. Located within the boundary of the constellation Gemini but lying approx 6500 light-years away (could be nearer depending on reference).  Also known as the Clown-face, the colours of this narrowband image were inspired by the wonderful image shown here here. A little small for this scope's focal length, though with some nice detail when imaged at ~0.6 arc-sec/pixel (albeit not capturing that resolution😜).

RC6 / ASI533MCP / IDAS NBZ / 38x300s (2h10m) / 26-02-2024