fireballxl5

1 hour ago, CraigT82 said:

Very nice. Really like the size of the subject in the frame. 

Thanks @CraigT82. This scope/camera combo is almost a perfect fit,  with minimal cropping just to centre the bubble. 

Some data from the run of clears nights that we enjoyed last week here in the NW. NGC7635, the Bubble Nebula imaged using my 5" refractor and colour camera with dual band filter. With trying to stay away from the bright Moon over this time I ended up with 8 hours of data. Processed using PixInsight, playing with the selective colour correction toolbox🤠

SM125 f7.8 / ASI533MCP / IDAS NBZ / 97x300s (8h 5m)

15-18th Sept 2024

when used for imaging, the latest software tools such as BlurXterminator (and others) make the differences between high and 'low' end scopes even less distinct.

13 minutes ago, Richard N said:

fast-deployment shower-dodging will be required

General good point for UK star parties I guess.  Got me thinking that a fully loaded AZ100 on planet tripod with 12" MC isn't usually appropriate for these sessions, especially in Scotland😬

2 minutes ago, jamie56 said:

Hi xl5

Just been at Lesley's for weekend break, there are still pitches available for the star camp, I suggest you look on her website, drumroamin Farm and camp site, contact her direct 

Jim

Already booked👍

3 minutes ago, Alan White said:

1 hour ago, ST_Steve said:

Any news on a release date Alan?

Thats a question for Rowan themselves, I am sure this will get an input from @Dek Rowan Astro

I also had a play with the new AZ100 handset. It's very well designed and would avoid the need to flip between phone apps in my usage (motors on/off).

I was told of a couple of minor firmware tweaks that are needed, but they are expecting it to be available very soon. I asked for before the end of Oct, pretty please😇

1 hour ago, globular said:

Did you not point out this sign hanging from it?....

oh yes

Looks like @Mr Spock didn't get a shot of the new tiny Tak

I tried my best to get FLO to sell it to me but it was a firm no! Apparently it's the only copy in Europe. 

I had to settle for the display mount and tripod that I was after,  but with a nice discount🙃

3 hours ago, FLO said:

Here's a quick photo made using a mobile phone and cropped in Photoshop. We'll make more, better, photos soon

So this is now an item that has been opened for product photos and available with 10% discount? I'll take it! 🙃

My phone auto updated in the background.  Just had to download direct to do some astro tonight...

3 minutes ago, mapstar said:

Brilliant.

Are you visual or Imaging?

Either way there is plenty of help and experience among the attendees 

Just make sure you bring warm clothes as the lowest I've viewed in is -10°C up there. 

Oh yes,  I did try to book on the site as a regular booking at first🤭

I do both so I'll take my mobile imaging rig and a setup for visual.  I've got a number of options fortunately🙃

Looking forward to sharing some views through the larger scopes that I expect to be there. 

Oh yes,  I have suitable clothing (hopefully)🥶

Should be great!

CS, Andy

1 hour ago, LandyJon said:

Did you speak to Lesley and say you wanted to book for the Starcamp ?

I'd just assumed that the site would be full at this late stage, hence my initial query for alternative locations.  Checked with Lesley as you suggested and now booked in for the Starcamp😎 It'll be my first starcamp, so be gentle lol

Latest posts have kindled my interest only to find that there are no pitches left. Is there an option to attend the star party and stay elsewhere, somewhere close by?

Thanks Roy🙂

Yes, they were very clear in the unprocessed stack so I was careful to try and keep them through the process.  I was hoping to have opportunity for another go last night but back to the clouds here...

Clear and darkish skies in Preston on Friday night for such a change🙂 Selected M27 as an easy target to image as I had to work through a re-assembly of my imaging rig.
Imaged using a dual-narrowband filter in OSC and processed in PI. I've imaged the Dumbbell in Vulpecula several times over the last 20 years and this is my best result🙃

M27 / SM125 f7.8 / ASI533MC Pro / IDAS NBZ / 103x120s (3h 26m)

CS, Andy

Coincidently my first image of the summer was of northern Cygnus, though at slightly less resolution using my Samyang 135mm / ASI071MC Pro combo. Here's the same asterism.

11 hours ago, John_D said:

Very nice. Was that taken from the top end of Rhossili Bay?

Thanks🙂

I was approx at the mid-point of the beach, where the path reaches the beach from Hill End car park. 

X marks the spot!

I'd recommend Rhossili beach,  my time-lapse taken July last year. 

https://youtube.com/shorts/a-pStzCwJK0?feature=shared

Just been using mine today,  tracked the sun well for over 6 hours, excellent.  With mine I've found that it doesn't take much cloud obscuring the sun to cause the problem you describe.

51 minutes ago, SwiMatt said:

I'm tempted to wait and put some money away for the Takahashi FS-60CB

well back in early 2015 there were fewer options for a small 'APO' class refractor and so I fell to temptation and bought the FS60CB for an upcoming trip to Mount Teide. My main use was for imaging and so I purchased the flattener with the scope, closely followed by the x0.72 reducer for a second trip up the mountain later that year. Over time I also acquired the extender for a solar eclipse trip to the US. I've used it visually and it gives excellent views, at least comparable with other top quality scopes in this class. The key factor is that it is extremely portable for airline travel.

HTH and CS, Andy

Antares region, Tak FS60CB @ f4.2. Mount Teide Aug 2015

Solar Eclipse, Tak FS60CB @ f10, Grand Tetons Aug 2017

1 hour ago, Ags said:

Testing it with the ASIAIR I see the 5521 ports are actually giving over 13V, I hope (and currently believe) that’s OK.

My Tracer LiFePo4's push out 13.4V when fully charged, with no apparent issues using my ASIair units over 3-4 years.

11 minutes ago, Kon said:

I used to go for fast FPS but Geoff and Neil had done some nice experimentation here to change my thinking.

Interesting.  Do you have link please?

Wow,  what a ride! You've got to give SpaceX much credit for pushing the envelope in space flight recently.  Love it!

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.