Swoop1

Thanks Paul

Does the mask have to be on the very front of the scope or will it still work if there is a dew shield in place first?

Thanks

Matt

Another from last nights learning session with the C6 XLT.

One of the things I learned was that the C6 dews up a lot quicker than my Newtonian. I discovered this after wondering why focus adjustment made little difference to the image sharpness- quick peek at the big bit of glass at the front- Doh!

Sony a6300 prime focus,ISO 3200,  25", HEQ5 Pro

Shot last nigth as I started the learning curve using the Celestron C6 XLT for imaging.

Sony a6300 prime focus. ISO3200 25" exposure. SW HEQ5Pro.

I know focus is off a touch but next time I shall deploy the Bhatinov.

Along the top line, towards the right you will see your name with a down arrow. Click on this to open the menu. Choose profile, the edit profile. Top left will be your name with the generated avatar. There is a little box- lloks like a mountain image- click on that and it will open the avatar screen.

Got out tonight and tried a bit of single frame imaging with the new C6 and Sony a6300. A couple of poor shots of Jupiter then a couple of M92 followed by M13 which looked a bit hazy despite my best efforts. I then realised dew had misted the objective on the C6 so packed it all away.

I will be importing the product tomorrow so will get a better lok at the outcome then.

I recently recieved my Skywatcher HEQ5 PRO from FLO. Today has been the first opportunity to check that the polar scope reticle was properly aligned.

Previous experience (DIY upgrading EQ3-2) meant that I approached this task with trepidation. It took hours and caused more grey hair and less total hair volume as I struggled to align the polar scope that time.

Today, I picked my target, centred the reticle on the target and then rotated the axis by 180 degrees. The reticle didn't wander an iota.

To quote a couple of cartoon characters I know- Happy Happy Joy Joy!

6 hours ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:

Looks like a Mission Control, so what dastardly deeds are in the offing.....

No picture of Miguel in a high backed swivel chair stroking a long haired white cat..........

Well, tonight was much improved. First order of business was to try the mount with my SW 150P Newt. Set the kit up then messed around for half an hour getting alignment sorted (practice WILL make perfect) and then I decided to try M92 using the GoTo. Straight to it and very nice it was too- got to it just before the moon popped above the rooftops and made life difficult.

I then did a bit of casting around but the moon won out so I dismounted the Newt and deployed the C6. After a little while for it to cool down, I went to the 10mm EP with an ND filter. At first I thought the focuser was faulty but I soon realised that the magnification of the EP and scope combination was stronger than I was used to and I was looking at the heart of the moon which was bright enough to wash out most features at first. Slewing to a limb allowed me to refine focus and, well, wow! Roll on some more stable seeing and a newer or older moon. The detail visible around the limb was much stronger than I am accostomed to. I can't wait to get the Sony a6300 on it.

Afet a while exploring Luna, I slewed round to the west and hit on Saturn for my first look at this target this year. Too close to a neighbours roof for much detail but, I can see that, once conditions are better, I will be able to discern much more.

Am I right in thinking that the summer ecliptic is lower in the sky than in winter?

If so, is this due to the fact that in the summer, the axial tilt of earth is towards the sun for the northern hemisphere, therefore the sun is higher in the sky by day and the moon/ planets lower by night?

I was on duty but at the police station next to where I lived in Marlow, Bucks. I managed to sneak out and brought my two sons round to the car park where I set up a pinhole projection for then to see the partial.

They loved it. Watching the sky darken and feel the temperature drop intensified the experience. Also seeing the partial being 'reflected' in the shape of the shadpw of leaves etc was quite stunning.

A bit of a let down tonight. I deployed the new combination for the very first time tonight. Since recieveng my goodies, either the conditions have been poor or work has meant not having time (4 days as an exhibitor at Countryfile Live, Blenheim Palace meant I was a bit pooped).

After about half an hour messing about with alignment etc. I slewed to a couple of objects (M31, Double Cluster and and NGC globular). None were particularly striking however, I believe this was mostly my fault- insufficient dark adaptation, poor set up etc.

I have a feeling the rig and I will need considerably more time to get used to each other before I experience its joys properly. I also think I need some targets a bit closer to get the full benefit of the C6.

The HEQ5 PRO will probably come into its own for DS withe the Newtonian on board.

23 hours ago, JamesF said:

You'll be in good company

James

So, our microscopic selves could be sharing a quiet moment on the martian surface, when I turn to you and say "James-I can see your obsy from here".....

I got a bit of a surprise tonight. I got home from work and my wife handed me a Mars Rover 2020 bording pass.

Apparently, my name (along with several thousand others) will be etched onto a microchip fitted to the rover😎

She could be planning a one way trip for me though?

https://mars.nasa.gov/participate/send-your-name/

More Yay!

A bit of Boo however as one of the counterweights has a chip in it and the thumbscrew is cracked.

I know FLO will sort me out so still Yay!

Not used binding posts (apart from when fitted to equipment I bought but, could you construct some using suitable small bolts?

When I was a school caretaker for a couple of years aftyer leaving TVP, I found that the Turbo Gold screws were brilliant. Our facilities manager sourced some with Torx heads and they were the best.

Yay!

Boo!

Sorry folks. Clouds are all my fault.

3 minutes ago, MarsG76 said:

Very nice... I'm expecting some nice astro image posts in your near future.

Don't hold your breath (for the nice element of your expectations......)😉

Just seen a TV add for the Omega speedmaster- George Clooney 'interviewing' Brigadier General Charlie Duke. Nice

The courier cometh!

Just ordered an HEQ5 PRO from FLO (and a Celestron C6 XLT OTA to keep it company).

Well, I've just pulled the trigger with FLO on a Celestron C6 XLT OTA, a Skywatcher HEQ5 PRO, a Baeder power supply and a dew shield.

I chose the C6 as it will give me an SCT to learn on and an HEQ5 PRO as it will work with both the SCT and the SW Explorer 150P.

Can't wait.

13 hours ago, andrew s said:

This specifically may give you some perspective on your choice http://www.astrophoto.fr/which.html along with the rest of this http://www.astrophoto.fr/technique.html

Worth checking out his images as well as they are stunning.

Regards Andrew

Thanks Andrew- quite thought provoking!

I'm prime focus with a Sony a6300 sometimes assisted by a X2 Barlow. I don't start my imaging until at least 45 minutes after I have set the scope up.

I do limited post processing as I am not yet competent in using the software- a bit of stitching and exposure compensation. My stacking attempts have been pitiful.

I would like to get in closer and tighter to some of the features hence looking for something a bit 'bigger' than my 150.

It won't just be imaging however. I still love sticking in a eyepiece and getting some actual photons onto my retina!

12 hours ago, dweller25 said:

Your current 150mm Newtonian is a very capable scope.

What are you looking for in a Mak or SCT over the Newt ?

My Newt doesn't give good magnification for imaging (or as good as I would want). Looking at some recent images from the Lunar and Planetary imaging boards, the more close up lunar is what I would like to emulate.