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Everything posted by Swoop1
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I have friends in Gibraltar and plan to be viewing from there.
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I have revisited this image and am getting even more from it. Vallis Schroteri snaking its way in towards Aristarchus The muted ejecta ray from Kepler Every viewing is a revelation.
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Not exiting? The presence of a myriad of small, dark craters to explore gives plenty to look at.
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Wow! Great images Nigella. Is the 8th image the Ha? Very angry looking Sol.
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Help setting up the NEQ3 in the correct orientation
Swoop1 replied to Kilohertz's topic in Discussions - Mounts
I've since upgraded to the HEQ5PRO. When I had the EQ3 I started with slo mo controls and then did a motor upgrade so no, I didn't have Synscan. I do have it on the HEQ5PRO though, but I mostly control the mount through my lap top. -
Many people are precious about colour on all sorts of things- "I can't buy a blue bike cos I'm and Arsenal Fane/ red bike cos I'm a Chelsea fan" etc. Why should you not be an 'astrotart' about this?
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Help setting up the NEQ3 in the correct orientation
Swoop1 replied to Kilohertz's topic in Discussions - Mounts
Hi @Kilohertz I always orientate my mount head with the home position set saddle screws on left when standing behind the mount looking towards North. This means that when I mount the scope, it is pointing in the general direction of Polaris. I grabbed an image of the (or similar) manual mount off the internet showing the 'home' orientation before installing a scope. -
Space flight programs on BBC TV Monday 12th February
Swoop1 replied to reddoss's topic in The Astro Lounge
The Columbia documentary has started off very well I think- exploring the whole thing from very human angles. I'm looking forward to the next installment. -
Hi Andy and welcome. There is some good kit out there to replicate your previous scope. If looking at astrophotography however, you may soon find yourself wanting a driven equatorial mount to follow the target over a long period. It may be worthwhile researching your local astronomical society to tie up with some like minded nearby people to help and demonstrate equipment for you.
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Film-based astrophotography is now history
Swoop1 replied to Cosmic Geoff's topic in History of Astronomy
That is an absolutely stonking image @Nightfly! Thanks for sharing it. -
Beautiful sickle moon and banded susnet clouds- still stuck at work
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I frequently spend 5 minutes watching the feed during a bit of down time and always see at least one meteor. Some of them are quite spectacular. It is also good to be watching when sessions are in progress- seeing the lasers being activated for atmospheric data collection etc.
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I have a gorgeous clear blus sky overhead at the moment- pefect for some solar. I'm stuck at work Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhh!!! 😠
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I don't know Olly- looks like you missed some bits 😉
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Chinese satelite or similar burning up https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-68264541
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Film-based astrophotography is now history
Swoop1 replied to Cosmic Geoff's topic in History of Astronomy
That would have worked for the evidence gathering as the film cameras were Nikon F3's. Beautiful bits of kit to use and tough as old boots. Marry that to an old school 400w plus Norman flash kit (big 1-2 kg battery and control pack and 4-5 inch polished parabolic dish reflector, getting good images of distant subjects at night was fun (full power flash made things identifiable at 100m or more) -
Film-based astrophotography is now history
Swoop1 replied to Cosmic Geoff's topic in History of Astronomy
To my eye, celluloid film is far better for background gradient. GHoing to the cinema to watch a Sci Fi film, the stepping down from bright to dark on a passing space ship for example is very obvious whereas well managed celluloid has no noticeable gradient. I used both film and digital cameras professionally on covert surveillance work and public order evidence gathering. The benefit of instant result checking was a major plus for digital as was only having to shove in another card on a bad day at a protest or football match. Trying to load a fresh film whilst wearing double layer fire retardent gloves, cowering in a shallow doorway or hiding behind a shield whilst looking through a very fogged up visor (anti mist treatments are only so effective) and having bricks, bottles, petrol bombs etc landing all around was certainly an experience and aquired skill- and that was only training. Follow that with hours (or sometimes days) of paperwork once you receive back the product of sometimes 30 to 40 36 exposure film canisters to sort out the correct exhibit handling procedures and collating the product with audio commentary and recordings from radio transmissions etc. I'd do wet film evidence gathering work again tomorrow though, given the chance. A sadly declining skill as most EGT seems to be video these days. Sorry- a bit of a diversion from film based astrophotography. -
You're welcome @Telescopist
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SIRIL Script question
Swoop1 replied to Swoop1's topic in Imaging - Image Processing, Help and Techniques
Thanks @StevieDvd, those links will be copied to my favourites bar! -
I have been almost exclusively DSS for stacking since I started astrophotography but have recently started to use SIRIL for early processing stages such as background extraction, histogram stretching etc. I have tried using SIRIL for stacking on one occasion and that went OK but, the last time I tried, my session was rejected as there were no bias frames. Does SIRIL insist on the full regemin of lights, darks, flats and biases or can they be circumvented? If so, how do I turn off any particular requirement. Disclaimer- I had a processing file on the desktop as the source file for the script to work from. The folder had sub folders for lights, darks, flats and biases but the bias foleder was empty. Would that have been the cause of the rejection? Thanks, Matt
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Getting hold of a spare dovetail bar and then using a bolt of the right size to attache the camera to the bar via the tripod mount? Or something like this ready made item- https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-camera-mounting-adapters/adm-vixen-type-dovetail-with-camera-mount.html
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Advice- don't be overly critical of yourself. A nice image indeed. Now you have dipped ypur toe into astrophotography- nurture a good relationship with your bank manager.
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With that triple tube ring and saddle set up, the ex military in me really wants one..... Very much the sort of thing that I could imaginge coming out of an armaments lab somewhere.
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Buying my first telescope is my biggest regret. Poverty now looms as I constantly browse the ads for new shiny stuff.
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