Moonshed

Alien: Oh look, you can see our house from here.

Okay, I didn’t want to say this before but I am now a little more confident in what I think is wrong. It looks to me as if you may have over tweaked it in Registax, I say this because have done it a few times myself and achieved that rather odd look, a little over sharpened in the wavelets perhaps. Anyway I totally understand you wanting to post them here and I’m relieved you took my unhelpful criticism well 😄

Hi, I have to say I like the top image better than the bottom, it looks a little strange, as though it’s not quite in focus, makes my eyes go funny when I enlarge it. Did you have a problem processing it? Sorry to be critical without being constructive but I don’t know what the problem is.

Amazing! When you stop and think about it it really isn’t so long ago that only a giant mountain top observatory could achieve such results. Well done indeed.

It’s actually very simple to break the curse, you only need to sell all your kit, the sky will immediately clear as if by magic.

Great report, felt as if I were there with you looking over your shoulder. Keith

Certainly worth all the effort you put into it, it’s a great image, well done.

Yes, I do have a dew/light shield that I almost always use but even so the lens will still mist over after a short period of observing, the higher up the scope is aimed the quicker it mists over. If I leave it parked for a while in a horizontal position it will not mist over, it’s only when pointing upwards to anything over say 45 degrees the problem develops.

Your comments regarding your amazing view of the Pleiades struck a chord, reminding me of my own similar experiences. I have spent the last 3 years delving into the photography side of things, with mixed results, and you have reminded me of what I have always felt astronomy is all about, the simple pleasure of looking through the eyepiece and marvelling at beauty of the stars.

I don’t have the answer for you but others surely will, just wanted to say apart from the star shapes it’s a very nice picture of the Double Cluster in Perseus.

Yet another sign I’m getting old, I don’t have a clue what any of you are talking about. As some old man once said “I’m a wind up watch in a digital age”.. (returns to Amazon to compare hot water bottles).

You might need to invest in some sun glasses, you can have mine if you like as I have no need of them at the moment.

I was sad to learn of the passing of Chuck Yeager, an American hero, the first man to fly through the “sound barrier”. I have read the book, it’s a great read.

The analemma always fascinates me, it’s a beautiful way of showing the position of the sun over the course of a year.

I agree M40, it’s all about giving it a go no matter how challenging it may be due to cash restraints and restrictions on where to put your gear. The OP has the Right Stuff 😄

I appreciate your point of view, however for most beginners budget restraints are the main factor plus not wanting to commit all their funds on equipment until they are sure astronomy is for them. You ask why people will spend 3K on a RCT and as much again on a CCD. I would suggest for two reasons. One, they can afford to throw that much cash about, and two, they are not beginners planning on setting up in their bedroom and sticking their scope out the window. We are all different and have different limitations governing what we can and can’t do. You can’t compare your big spender rich friends with all their top end gear that cost more than most beginners cars with the OP who is asking about a telescope to stick out the bedroom window to see if he likes astronomy, so there is nothing to be gained talking about spending 3K on one piece of kit. It’s just different worlds, if he is happy with what he is doing, and he clearly seems to be, then that’s all that matters. 😄

The moon can certainly make a big impression. Even now, after many years star gazing, I still on occasion like to line my scope up just ahead of the Moon’s leading edge, use a high magnification eyepiece that still gives a sharp image and stop the drive motor. As the Moon appears and then slowly drifts across the FOV until it fills the eyepiece I gain the impression that I am in lunar orbit as it appears to slowly rotate beneath me. It’s quite an experience isn’t it! Moments like this create lasting memories. I hope you continue with your new hobby and continue to enjoy it because that’s what it’s all about.

Watching the direction cloud cover is moving is the reason why I recommend this live satellite site, it’s not a forecast it’s actual. https://en.sat24.com/en Keith

Welcome, sorry to hear about the weather up in your part of the world because down here in the south it’s just been one brilliant seeing, clear night for months on end, night after glorious night, not a cloud to be seen, maybe. Keith

They sold some very cheap and nasty gear alongside some really good gear, appealing to both ends of the market, not a bad strategy really. The scope I bought from them in 1963, a cheap 4” Newtonian, was a very capable instrument and served to get me hooked all those years ago, I kept it for 15 years then donated it to a keen beginner.

Or suffering from trench foot. Keith

“I bought this lens a few weeks ago. This is what I've managed with it so far. Don't be put off with these images though, as I'm a complete novice, and my processing skills aren't the best.” Hi Daf1983, there’s nothing wrong with your processing skills!

When you are pushing the limit of your scope to its maximum magnification it’s better to settle for a slightly lower power and enjoy a better, sharper and crisper image, it will actually reveal more detail.

Hi Ian, welcome. I lived in Beith, Ayrshire, for 17 years, 1993-2008, and it was the wettest place I have ever lived. I remember in my final year there keeping a note of the number of times during the period November to February I was able to use my scope, it was 6. I hope for your sake things have greatly improved since! Keith

Over the many years I have been into astronomy I have only ever owned one scope at a time, money can only stretch so far. My current scope is an 8” Celestron SCT which I have had for almost 30 years and I find it perfectly satisfactory for both visual observations and astrophotography. Some scopes are specialised, either for solar observing, general night sky observing, observing planets or astrophotography, and they will all be great at doing precisely what they are designed to do. If only one scope can be bought then some sacrifices in quality will perhaps need be made in some areas, depends really on what you expect for your money, so do some research and then research some more. Ideally, If you find out where your local astronomical club is pay them a visit, the folks there will be only too happy for you look through their scopes, that is the only way to be completely sure. Keith