RayD

Will be interesting to see how it works out.  I'll keep an eye out.

Yes I know what you mean. I originally used a colour camera but then repurposed it back to its original planetary imaging use.

I'm not an expert in that field either unfortunately,  Adam. As you say, another thread will, I'm sure, get you a ton of ideas.

I would say definitely yes with IP camera as I use them myself, but exactly how to configure that to your own ftp server I wouldn't know............but someone here will.

1 minute ago, tooth_dr said:

Thanks Ray. I have a spare 120 but it’s mono.  Is it simple enough to then get these images to upload automatically onto a server to go onto a webpage?

Mine is the mono too, Adam, and it works fine for me just monitoring weather/cloud etc.

Once you have the data from it there are various ways you can stream it.  I don't know what streaming software you are using, but I think most should recognise it.  I believe you can also stream directly to your host using VLC, but I've not tried that.

Exactly what I did.  I used an old camera, put a ASI120MM in the housing and it works a treat.  There are various heaters available, or just a couple of resistors (as with he Oculus) will work fine to prevent dew.

26 minutes ago, tooth_dr said:

Hi

I have a Starlight Xpress Occulus camera that I use for night time all sky image capture.  Over the past couple of days I've been working on a website, and plan to stream my feed live.  I have noticed however that the occulus camera is totally over exposed during the day.  I am using AllSkEye software and have the min exposure set to 0.  Even with a 0.01s exposure it's completely blow out.

So my question is - can the occulus camera be used during the day with software adjustments.  If not, can anyone recommend a suitable cheap camera that I can use for day time imaging and revert to the occulus at night.  The camera needs to be suitable that a muppet (me) can get it to upload to a server via FTP.  I've seen a few really nice colour day time all sky cameras, and this is where I would like to go if I can.  I cant spend very much on the daytime camera, and it needs to include an enclosure too.  The webpage isnt current refreshing properly, but Michael at AllSkEye is helping me with the coding side of this. 

TIA

Adam.

 

https://www.deepskywalle.com/livecam.html

 

 

No you can't use Oculus in the day, Adam.  The sensor is too sensitive and just over exposes.

I spoke with Terry about mine when I got it and he made it very clear, it is an ultra sensitive night sky camera.

On 14/07/2020 at 12:39, iwols said:

hi just wondered if it is possible to find and track neowise with your scope and something like sgp ,i know its not possible for me at the minute as its in the north(poor direction for me)but when its not would love to give it a go after some of the superb images ive seen on this sight

SGP is for acquisition, it isn't a planetarium.  I used SkySafari to locate it and to decide whether and where I could view it from.

As noted, once it's gone it's gone, and it will be predominantly northerly aspect until then.  It is also pretty low so you have to have a relatively good horizon view.

Not bad at all given the challenges and limited data. 

Just now, Jiggy 67 said:

I apologise for confusing things.....though in my defence, in my original post I agreed with Freddy that good star alignment does not compensate for poor PA

Not an issue and no defence needed, we are all just trying to offer help.  PA and star alignment is something that often come up and, as basic as it seems, can be pretty daunting and confusing when starting out as they do often appear to go hand in hand.

2 minutes ago, Jiggy 67 said:

I'm not disputing that or what Freddie says, I'm just pointing out that PA and star alignment ARE related, whereas Freddie said they aren't, the better your PA, the more accurate your star alignment and the fewer stars you have to use

Ok I see what you're saying.  However, the OP specifically asked "Would a very good 3 star alignment compensate for a not so perfect Polar Alignment".  Well the answer is no, in this respect they are unrelated as star alignment has no effect whatsoever on polar alignment and the stars will soon move out of the FOV if it's a long way out.

2 minutes ago, Jiggy 67 said:

Not strictly true.

If you read the Synscan manual it clarifies the position on star alignment.

For a one star alignment accurate polar alignment is required. I would suggest that with accurate PA Synscan knows where it is starting from better.

For a two star alignment less accurate polar alignment is required, I assume because it can correct any errors in PA with the second star

A three star alignment is not required at all unless you suffer from cone error, the only purpose of the third star is to correct for cone error and has no impact on pointing accuracy with no or little cone error

But that is only accounting for the PA error when identifying star positions, it isn't correcting PA error when tracking, as Freddie notes.  Doing a 2 or 3 star alignment just means the stars will be close to the centre of the reticle when slewing between them but, if the PA is out, the stars will soon move out of centre when tracking them.

1 hour ago, Shaun Sr said:

What would you pick. I like the idea of adding a beader click lock but I think I'd still be dealing with the screws from the diagonal

The Baader steel track gets very good reviews and they have a pretty proven track record.  I have both a Moonlite (with auto-focus for galaxies) and a cheaper Revelation Astro (manual focus for planets etc) and both are absolutely fine for what I use them for.  Below is a pic of the Revelation.

3 hours ago, StarGazingSiouxsie said:

Just had the MOST amazing observing session of my life!!!

I am staying / living in the Blue Ridge Mountains at the moment and am blessed with very dark skies.

About an hour after sunset, appx 9.50pm, I saw comet NeoWise motoring - could literally see it moving as I watched - up in to the NW twilight and then watched (10x50 bins & Cassie)  it disappear  over the top of the mountain.............. completely, totally, surreal. I saw comet Hale Bopp in 1997 in London and whilst that was spectacular, what I saw tonight was just absolutely surreal. Most comets 'just' appear to hang in the sky, whereas I could actually see Neowise moving. From coming into view to disappearing over the NW horizon must have taken only 20 minutes or so. There were a lot of helicopters up over the mountain watching it. 

Then, at about 10pm heading north was what I believe was the ISS. I've yet to check for sure but it was nearly as bright as Venus and moving slower than a satellite.

Then I saw numerous DSOs, globualr clusters and nebulas. 

Then turning to the SE I saw Jupiter and Saturn, Unlike the other evening when the image was very blurred (atmospheric turbulence?) tonight's images were clear and beautiful. Could clearly see Jupier's cloud belts and the 4 biggest moons. (108x  9mm + 1.5 Barlow)

Saturn was the best I've ever seen him. Crystral clear ring definition and I am sure I saw one of his moon at about 5 O'clock to his position - maybe Titan? 

I'm not an experienced astronomer (telescope wise) but I have followed this subject all my life. I don't know much but I do know that not many people will ever get to see what I did tonight all in the course of 2 hours. 

I am very blessed and thrilled beyond belief!!!! Everything tonight viewed through my trusty 5'" Newtonian, Cassie 😍

Great account of what sounds like a wonderful and unforgettable experience.

ISS was particularly bright for me last night also and, being in Southern Spain, was almost directly overhead and the best pass I've ever witnessed.

9 hours ago, Shaun Sr said:

The stock focus or I'm the edge HDA that I have sucks every few turns it kind of snaps back a little I have a hard time getting A-sharp focus with it is there of after market focus or that can replace it has anybody else have this type of problem with it I don't know what to get I don't do astrophotography not that I wouldn't one day but right now I just wanna have A-sharp focus

The stock focusers are not that great, and you can also get some movement of the mirror (flop) when moving it one way then the other.  For finer control of focus you could try the ultimate direct replacement, which doesn't come cheap, which is the Starlight Instruments offering here, or you could use and external R&P or Crayford type focuser like this, and then lock you mirror.  I use an external focuser on my 8" SCT and it makes focusing far easier and gives finer control.  You could even add a basic motor control so you don't have to touch the OTA when focusing, which helps prevent vibrations and the need for it to settle between adjustments.

13 minutes ago, John said:

Jupiter and it's moons (plus the odd background star) were a lovely arrangement last night. The Great Red Spot was right in the centre of the disk when I observed it as well.

Last night was a classic astronomy night - so many things to see, the hours just slipped by

 

I noticed that. I though I'd stumbled across 5 moons at first, or my C8 was badly out of collimation!  Seeing here was superb and whilst I don't normally do much visual I thoroughly enjoyed an hour or so with Jupiter, Saturn and a little sky hop.

Yes, that would be entirely possible I expect.  Thanks.

2 minutes ago, Kyle Allen said:

If you know the approximate time you could check Heavens Above to see if it matches anything listed under Daily predictions for brighter satellites. Just change the drop down box at the top to the correct day. Some satellites do flare occasionally. Link here...

https://www.heavens-above.com/

I have heavens above so can have a look, but it didn't seem bright particularly until there was a long what I can only describe as flare, and then I couldn't see it any more.  I guess it could have been a rotating satellite as I saw a couple of those, which went bright and dim periodically.

I was just sat on the terrace last night looking up at the stars whilst my kit was gathering subs, and spotted what looked like a regular satellite.  Speed, size and magnitude made it look like one of dozens I saw passing.  However, after a minute or so watching this one, there was a very bright elongated flash and then it was no more.

Do you reckon this was some space debris burning up?  Don't believe I've seen this before so was quite interesting for me to see (assuming that's the likely event witnessed).

3 minutes ago, Zakalwe said:

You won't see them........ they're above  the wall-to-wall couds🙄

Oh how sad but true that is!!!! 😳

11 minutes ago, PhotoGav said:

to combat all the satellite trails, but that would just be inflamatory

Satellite trails?........... Where? 😉

4 minutes ago, Ken82 said:

Only problem is how do I now explain to my wife the filters have all doubled in price 🤔😀

Gently, and from a distance? 🙂

I find that with my Chroma 3nm, imaging in a full moon is doable, but not if the target is in the general direction of the moon.  Careful target selection ie facing away from the moon means I can use it and get perfectly useable data.  However, I don't find the Oiii quite so accommodating or forgiving, although still useable if using the same care with target selection.

As a rule of thumb I try to keep approximately 45 degrees or more away from the moon with my targets when using Oiii (slightly less with Ha).

Nice one, Ken.  They certainly do perform well 👍

Good to see you, Carole.  Hopefully you'll enjoy having a play with the 80mm Photoline.

As I mentioned and, as noted by @gorann, you won't find much wrong with the Esprit 100 and it has the ring mounting rather than the foot mount which you want.

If you have any questions about the TS just shout.

My one which Carole is going to try out is the f/6, same as Vlaiv's, and it is actually not bad at all.  However, I definitely tend to agree with @ollypenrice and think TS are pushing it to provide a quality and reliable instrument under this at this price range.  They work well at f/6 but I'm not sure I would want to try anything quicker from them.

59 minutes ago, carastro said:

@vlaiv

OK, I am now coming round to the idea of Vlaiv's scope, and the FR so can I ask you a few questions about the scope Vlaiv?

1) It appears in the photos to have a guidescope bracket, is this standard with the scope and will it fit a Skywatcher bracket?  Presume it doesn't actually come with a finderscope?

2.  The retracting dew shield - can it be locked to stop it slipping, I have similar on my WO scope and there is no way to stop it slipping and it has caused me a lot of problems.  

Thanks

Carole 

 

I have a TS80 Photoline that I use very rarely which you are more than welcome to use for a while Carole to see if you get on with it.