Swoop1

As I progress in this hobby, I want to start building up a more imaging based set up. Do astro specific cameras have on board storeage or do you capture the data to the laptop/ PC that is used to view the target? Is a guide scope a must or is it a requirement for a particular flavour of DSO imaging? Outside of the scope and mount, what other items are a must have requirement? By 'must have' I do mean 'must have' in so far as I would not be able to image without it- not the 'must have' that I usually fall for because I really 'must have' that particular bit of shiny! Thanks Matt

A stunning image. Each time I look at it, something else pops out at me- like the little 'necklace' of 5 small craters through the mare at top centre. Thanks for sharing Tareq!

Another consideration (if you have a flat roof) might be seeing if you can gain access to the roof of your building. Light pollution at roof height might be better shielded.

A couple of single frame images of Jupiter taken in atrocious conditions on 27th June. Jupiter was about 1 deg above my neighbours (furiously radiating) roof top at the time of imaging. I could have waited a couple of hours for it to move around but work in the morning suggested that getting on with it was probably a good idea. SW 150P Newtonian on driven EQ3-2, Sony a6300 and X2 barlow. 1) ISO400, 1/13 sec. 22:20 UTC. A bit iof detail but very hazy. moons not immediatly visible but they emerge if you enlarge. 2) ISO3200, 3/10 sec, 22:22 UTC. Jupiter overexposed but the moons now revealed. Later plan is to process the two to combine the better features of each.

Have you tried to find if a nearby Astro Society has an obsy? It may be that the membership fee of the society allows you regular access to the conditions you ned?

Ah! Asgard- purveyors of fine metal sheds and things. Got an Asgard bike box and it is a an excellent shed.

probably 25kg bags in that case.

So we had a cup of tea.........

I find it is better to have someone else with the right tools.....

Aaaaaaaand we have a winner! After a few wak wak oops moments and some fiddling, I have a video file that Autostakkert is working on. Thanks for the input gents👏

Why, he's getting and Old English Canis Major Hound of course.

Very nice Alex. Building and equipping ones own obsy- £several. Enjoying the fruits of ones labour- Priceless.

Downloaded and processing!

I was using my Sony a6300.

I tried a bit of daylight lunar today, stills and video. The video recorded as MP4. On trying to upload to Autostakkert! I opened the software, clicked on open and selected my video. Nothing happened. I mooched around the software a bit and found a button for opening AVI and something else so I converted my MP4 to AVI and tried to upload. I still can't get past stage 1 Open. What is this idiot doing wrong?

I don't know if anyone has tried this as a roof securing method- Install ground anchors such as bolt loops in the floor of the obsy, perhaps even concreted in. Install eye bolts in the roof sructure and then get long ratchet straps between the two to tie the roof down to the ground?

Good progress being made. Well done👍

I think another factor in the way things happen in The States is, Americans network far better than us Right Pondians. In a previous life, i spent a number of years as a cycle patrol police officer- day in, day out astride the saddle of my Smith and Wesson patrol mountain bike. This was proper bike patrol, full on cycle equipped and fast, not the traditional view of Dixon of Dock green in his tunic and police helmet pootling around on his sit up and beg shopping type bike. Whilst researching effective tactics, I discovered that America had an established cycle patrol ethos, bith police, paremedics and even fire prevention. There were organisations in existance to promote the tactics and train the practitioners. I joined opne of these organisations and in 2007 was invited to their annual conference in Baton Rouge. This was attended by hundreds of police officers and paramedics and was a fantastic event. We tried to set this up in the UK. After a couple of years it had to fold due to lack of interest. My point is that in America, people are more receptive to this networking and, networking is how you get to go hands on with bigger and better kit. Going hands on demonstrates the benefits and makes someone more likely to splash out big bucks on that extra couple of inches of apperture.

You can go right off people can't you............

Fab bit of work there. Thanks for sharing! I wonder if the two lines at right angles are other galaxies behind this showuing through? The lower one looks to have a bright slightly bulging centre, perhaps an edge on spiral?

I don't think it is just home and vehicle size. I suspect the average back garden/ yard in the states is a bit bigger than in the UK so smaller is more practical (though aperture envy is still rife). Also, isn't eveything bigger in Texas? 😉

I concur. Fabricate a bottomless box the dimensions you want the base to be above the surface and secure in place. I have seen it done with pegs fixed to the outside of the box and driven into the ground to keep it in place. When pouring the concrete, do so so that is level with the top of the box then use a trowel or plasterers float to smooth the surface to give a nice finish. If the base is the same dimensons as the bottom of the pier you are going to mount and you intend to use adhesive/ mortar etc, consider roughing the surface to give a good key for the adhesive. Don't forget to apply a release agent to the inner surface of the box as failure to do so can cause the concrete to stick to the former.

I work in a cycle shop and apart from a bicycle, everything else I sell is just a 'gadget' to entice the victim customer. Lots of the accesories make a ride easier or more pleasant BUT, when you get right down to it, all you need for a bike ride is a bike. The best telescope in the world is just a gadget to improve someones astronomy experience. All you really need to engage in astronomy is a functioning eyeball.

That must have been one hell of a blow going on there!

What are your mounts fixed on Charl? Alos, what is yoyr floor- wood, concrete? I'm asking as your images always have a sharpness that I don't associate with being on a wooden floor.