Mognet

I saw one when out looking at the sky after packing up the scope about 3:15 this morning. And caught another on the all sky camera too

Single frame from an ASI585MC. A more normal size at 3840 x 2160. It's a colour image, although there doesn't seem to be much colour in that sub

M_31_Light__100.fits

I found Xaos a while back. Wasted quite a few hours zooming in and out! https://xaos-project.github.io/

On 25/06/2024 at 14:55, Xilman said:

I have also heard rumours that a Y-shaped contraption made out of sticky tape will do at a pinch. Anyone have any information about that solution? If it is cheap and cheerful it won't matter if each doesn't last very long.

I'm sure I've tried such a thing, but I can't remember where I found the information, nor how good it was in use. It was just a Y shape cut into a circle of cardboard.

I have found some alternatives that can be made up from card so could work as a temporary measure. They seem to be variations on Hartmann masks

https://astro-photos.net/fokussieren2_en.html

https://www.instructables.com/Telescope-Focus-Mask-for-Perfect-Focus/

Microsoft have removed their documentation on how to install Windows 11 without an account https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/06/microsoft-removes-documentation-for-switching-to-a-local-account-in-windows-11/ Looks like they're going to insist on users having an account with them.

Getting a Linux laptop is becoming more tempting!

I'm looking at buying at new laptop at the moment, but it looks like I won't have a choice but to get a Windows 11 one. The need for an account with them and the announcement of Recall are putting me off. Fortunately installing without an account seems easy (currently), and MS are now getting a lot of pushback on Recall over its spyware-like behaviour and weak security.

Seriously tempted to use Linux as the main OS and W11 in a VM though!

13 hours ago, Xilman said:

I keep losing the washing-pole support embedded in my lawn. A metal detector works wonders. Even a simple device designed for locating pipes in walls before, rather than after, drilling holes in them is effective.

I've had that problem too. I'm told the solution is to embed the pole support in a small bucket of cement and then bury it in the lawn at the right depth.

I'll see how it goes with the ground spikes. With the current rate of clear skies here, they might see a couple of uses by the end of the year!

Now the grass has regrown I've started losing the gold spikes in it, so I've swapped them for white ones. Much more visible now

Transit Finder has been mentioned a few times on SGL. I've not used it for an ISS photo yet, but a quick test says there's one nearby for me on June 10th. Their website is https://transit-finder.com/

Essex is flat, and my part of it is no exception. There's almost nothing for miles to the north and east here too, which made it ideal when rushing out to take photos of the aurora. There's a tidal creek in the foreground, and mist rising in the meadows in the distance.

My suspicion would be a tumbling rocket body. Last time I saw one I was able to find it on Stellarium, so mihgt be an option for finding this one?

A rare photo of my setup in action. First time in two months it's been clear enough

I didn't do anything special with the printing. The filament is 3DQF PLA, and I printed it with 4 perimeters and 10% cubic infill. Whether it holds up to our weather or not remains to be seen!

I believe @Chriske has used prints outdoors, and somewhere in the forum threads I think there are a few others, so there should be some opinions on long term outdoor use. As these are under compression they might be ok.

They've managed to get a final photo of Ingenuity from Perseverance and it's definitely lost a blade. The missing one is sitting about 15 metres away.

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/02/final-images-of-ingenuity-reveal-an-entire-blade-broke-off-the-helicopter/

Thanks. The intention is that these would be safe against lawnmowers, but I have no idea if they actually are yet. They're 75mm long, and didn't go into the soggy clay soil here that readily, so might be ok. They're pushed in level with the surface.

After experimenting with some plant pots laid out in a triangle to help with positioning the tripod I've 3D printed some ground spikes that should hopefully be better while also not being trip hazards. The soft ground from the recent rain helped greatly in pushing them in.

This could be one of my saner ideas. Just need a clear night to try it out.

The STL for it is attached.

TripodPeg.stl

Hot chocolate, especially on cold nights at the eyepiece. If I'm indoors keeping an eye on an imaging session then it varies. After 9pm it's usually decaf coffee or peppermint tea.

Seems like Ingenuity was quite impressive given how it was made. Nothing was space hardened, it was all off the shelf parts and made to a weight limit of just 4 pounds!

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/01/now-that-weve-flown-on-mars-what-comes-next-in-aerial-planetary-exploration/

Taken last night in less than ideal circumstances; full moon, thin cloud, focus slightly soft, and light pollution in that direction. And I still managed to pull something from it.

81 subs of 60 seconds at gain 252, stacked in ASTAP and roughly processed in GIMP

For what was only meant to be a short term experimental aircraft it was quite amazing, especially as it was being flown on another world in preprogrammed flights.

The last planned flight was for a greater distance than the Wright Flyer ever managed

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/01/nasas-mars-helicopter-has-made-its-last-flight-above-the-red-planet/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Flyer

1 hour ago, Bugdozer said:

Doesn't work. My mum believed this for a while, leaving conkers in the corner of her rooms, until I pointed out a spider had actually built a small web between two of the conkers... 

I guess if you're sitting on the sofa and throwing them at any visible spiders then they're likely to work! 🤣

11 hours ago, JOC said:

Is there not an international body that can control what gets lobbed into space?

For Starlink they've needed the approval of the US Federal Communications Commission (https://www.space.com/spacex-fcc-approval-7500-starlink-satellites) I've not seen anything that covers worldwide approval for launches so maybe there isn't anything in place, although with current geopolitics countries could block each other from launching satellites if there were.

That's great. Never realised there was so much dust in that area too.

My brother bought me a furry hat to wear when I'm out. Haven't actually done so as I have a large head (but no brains) so it barely fits

On 18/01/2024 at 01:16, globular said:

What's the thermometer in the focuser adding?

Mine last night was telling me what I already knew - it was cold!

I assume it's actually there as an indication of acclimatisation