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Bizibilder

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Posts posted by Bizibilder

  1. My first "Moon" for almost a year!  (last one was 10th Feb 2019!!!).  Been a bit busy lately.  Also surprised myself that I could (almost) remember what to do to control the scope, camera and get an image - there were a few naughty words spoken getting everything working properly.  The kit was fine - it was just me being a bit rusty :) 

    67218261_3Jan2020MoonMosaicPNG.thumb.png.b0e161605d831c6680614ffab5733e75.png

    Seven mono panes with 200 from 1000 frames stacked in each.

    • Like 8
  2. Personally I would steer clear of inverters to run laptops (or any other Astro grear) - much easier to use an "in car charger" to run direct off 12v.  If you use an inverter you are fighting the inefficiencies of both stepping up the voltage and then stepping it back down again.  

  3. Just add up the total Amps drawn by your equipment and then multiply by the number of hours you expect to use them.  For example: Mount 2 Amps, Camera 2 amps, Laptop 4 amps and Dew heaters 2 amps is a total of 10 Amps.  If you run for 5 hours then 5 x 10 is 50 Amp hours.  This would work on a 100 amp hour battery (it is inadvisable to run batteries down below about 50% of capacity).  Please note the numbers above are just guesses!  You will need to work out the exact values from your own equipment.

    I used to use a 100Ah battery with an EQ6, DSLR camera and laptop and never had issues with running out of power for a 5-6 hour session.

  4. They are most certainly NOT the same as standard photographic filters.

    These foil filters are used for "white light" solar observing and photography - ie they transmit all wavelengths in the visible spectrum.  An Ha 7nm filter is NOT the same as a proper Ha solar telescope.  Unfortunately a true Ha telescope (or device like the DayStar Quark solar "eyepiece") is a very expensive piece of kit!

    One safe alternative to the foil filter is the Herschel wedge diagonal - but again this is quite an expensive alternative.

    (Just an afterthought - there are "Solar Filters" that can be screwed into a normal eyepiece.  These used to be sold with cheap telescopes.  They are EXTREMELY dangerous!!  They will shatter in the heat from the Sun and, should you be looking through the telescope at the time you will be blinded. Don't even think of using one!!)

  5. I would advise you to use the Baader foil of ND5.0.  This is quite safe for both visual and photography.  The ND 3.8 foil is ONLY suitable for photography and NOT for direct visual observations.  You can make a filter holder quite easily from card and strong tape.  One sheet of A4 size should make at least two (possibly three or four if you are careful) filters.

    I keep my own filter in a plastic box with a lid.  It is about five years old now and still in excellent condition - I am always careful not to touch the foil and to check the foil is in good condition before EVERY use.

  6. Assuming you mean space around the scope inside an observatory I would suggest 18" (450-500mm) minimum all round.  That gives you just about enough room to squeeze yourself past the scope - assuming you are of at least only moderate proportions!! 😯

    It also allows room for the inevitable additions and extensions to the scope that will happen as you use it.

    • Like 1
  7. Yes - try some WD40 or similar to try and get into the joints.  Then try using something like this rubber jam-jar opener (less than £2 on the bay of fleas):

    s-l1600.png.3f0327cecfcbf117c1823b0ae0181124.png

    You may be able to get things moving.  If not then try a little heat from a hair dryer (or hot air paint stripper gun but be careful!)

    When all else fails brute force may be required :) 

    • Like 2
  8. First Sun image since last August!  Clouds, lack of any sunspot activity and a very busy life at the moment are my excuses!

    Almost forgotten how to process in addition to Windows complaining about any App that I used (PIPP, Registax5 etc!!)

    Anyway - stack of 45 from 138 single frames taken with the Canon 1100D and ED 120APO.  ISO 100 and 1/4000sec (If I recall correctly).

    1072938027_10April2019JPEG.jpg.d88e59cbd01a087e5d879e8a02921f2a.jpg

    2131841103_10April2019AnnotatedJPEG.jpg.02d1f702689abca7b6b665e9728ffa1c.jpg

    563785681_10April2019LongLat.jpg.b03d6d0f84da3b4683b9abd4ec9833f7.jpg

    • Like 10
  9. I use 12v LED strips on dimmer switches in the warm room - works very well.  I also have a red bulkhead light.  In the scope room i have a white bulkhead with the switch in the warm room.

    Dimmers are these: Dimmer switch  (of which I bought four I think - useful to have a few spares! ),  LED's come in just about every shape and size imaginable!

    • Like 1
  10. Yup - Ebay is the cheapest by quite a way.  As nigelg said leave a gap - about 1/4 inch (6mm) at winter temps of 1-5°C.  If you don't it will buckle badly in the summer months.  You can buy bigger "mats" of the stuff - look for anti fatigue matting - If you can find the right size you can create a floor covering with fewer joins in it.  It also make a good lightweight dew shield material ?

    • Thanks 1
  11. My own warm room/observatory window is a piece of clear acrylic sheet let flush into the wall.  This has a sliding black opaque acrylic cover so that I can close it and keep the warm room lights on but the observatory dark - very useful.  The sliding part, slightly larger than the window itself, just runs in a top and bottom "U" channel made from an aluminium extrusion from the hardware shop.  

     

    • Like 3
  12. OSB should be fine - 18mm or more to get a solid floor.  Get the "damp proof" stuff.  No need to use marine ply - its far too expensive and your observatory will not be submerged for most of the time!  If there is a little air circulating underneath then OSB will last for years.

    • Thanks 1
  13. I would also suggest three - both for security and to help control things when you open and close the door on windy days. 

    Don't forget that if you put the top hinge 6" down from the top of the door the bottom hinge goes 8" up from the bottom!  It is an old carpenters trick as evenly placed top and bottom hinges just look strange - all an optical illusion of course.

    (I suspect everyone will be checking their doors now ? - honest its true!!!!)

    • Thanks 1
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