Macavity

True (all) Dat! ? For the moment I'm leaving my Camera choice up "in the air"! Indeed some excellent input (grist for the mill!) here and elsewhere though. ? I am now tempted by a Mono Ultrastar, but worry about the "Black Streak"? ? After a long layoff (mostly solar imaging) I forget stuff... Notably the virtue of smaller (1/2") chips: They are within "Coma limit" of my budget 8" f/4 Newt! ? I may "struggle on" with my *eight bit* Watec 910HX for a while. I've no idea how to factor in 8-bit hardware pre-stacking to the general equation of EEVA! It may not be ALL that bad? As indeed some of my past (Wat 120N+ images). THIS may have been taken with an ST102... I processed the life out of it. (sic)! For those who don't mind "post-processing", it may illustrate my problem? ONE mere click within GIMP (Photoshop?) can make or break the image! ? Notice, in the corners, I am fighting (what I call) the "Generic HEAT Haze"?!? Who knows? Couple of years back I built a cooling case for the WAT910HX. (Contemplated adding a small cooling FAN... A Peltier Chip chip even! lol I sense there are two types of heat-effect? On-Chip heating AND also the surrounding electronics... Ambient temperature? A lot of air cooled EEVA Cams have small cases... get VERY hot... At least on Summer Nights now? ? Aside: EEVA'ers can be forgiven if... "Their Brain Hurts"? [Monty Python!]? ? </wibble>!

Great Stuff! It went ominously QUIET for a while? lol. It's been a while since I did any "Video Astronomy" and I did need to catch up on the latest ideas / trends! ? As we Astronomers know, it is often possible (unwise?) to stretch a budget 2X! ? So maybe an "Ultrastar" is not completely impossible... Thanks @Martin Meredith I also read this: (See section on EEVA) https://agenaastro.com/zwo-astronomy-cameras-buyers-guide.html I find myself drawn (whatever the price) to ASI183 type cameras... Having enjoyed the luxury of Watec "half inch" chips (Or "slightly dodgy" polar alignment!) I am reluctant to go to smaller chips. My 8" f/4 Newt is OK for many Messier, Caldwell DSOs etc., But l still aspire to (larger chip) "better framing"? ? And my smaller(!) ZWO Cams give me some possibilities to TRY OUT this stuff...

Colour certainly livens things up! And (with extra effort) I can do this via a manual alignment of Narrow Band RGB on compact Planetary Nebulae: N.B. I can NOW rid myself of (tri-coloured!) hot pixels by using Camera hardware. ? And of course, get into such things as dark field subtraction... Flat field processing. I suppose the only less inspiring experience is with diffuse nebulae. But I can still image M42... And even use software masking for some "extended contrast" stuff? ? I guess I will TRY pitting my Watec 910HX (using internal hardware stacking + offline stacking / processing) versus my ASI120MM using (SharpCap) *LIVE* Software. I sense many modern cameras have similar Q.E's to Watec Cams! ? 16 versus 8 bits? But nothing is totally cut and dried until tried in practice? I sense I will limit myself to non-cooled Cams. I like the simplicity of EEVA. (Though I have no qualms re. using processing. "Whatever works" for me). ?

After (quite a few!) years doing "Video Astronomy" -- Using my trusty Watec 120N+ (later Watec 910HX) 8" f/4 Newt, I am / was fairly happy with 8-bit hardware stacking + offline (stacking) processing. But still hoping to improve previous DSO images? ? I prefer to image a WIDE variety of DSO rather than emulate the Classical image(r)s. ? (Ultimately I found myself inspired by "going a bit deeper" e.g. HG & ARP Galaxies): BUT I SENSE I could now *make life a bit easier* by moving to 16-bit Cameras + LIVE Stacking etc. At this stage of life, I might struggle to "invest" £1000+ in a Camera... But think I might just stretch to a Lodestar X2 Mono (if still available) AFAICS it uses the same CHIP as a Watec 910HX... AND 16bits > 8bits, right? ? I can anyway practice LIVE stacking with Watec Cams... ZWO ASI120MM/MCs? (I guess I still HOPE there will be some place for my "older technology" too!) ?

I suppose... when they cart me off to the canonical "Old people's home"... a Maksutov 127... Or maybe smuggle in a "102" in my personal effects? ?

An amazing achievement for all concerned! At the risk of being a tad controversial, but hopefully giving some fellow (American too) scientists a good-natured chuckle: How many times can Jim Bridenstine mention the word "American" in one Tweet? ? I SALUTE ALL scientists who work hard... for long hours... (not always huge salaries!) and despite (threat of) cuts/stoppages and the uncertain whim of administration? ? But back to the REALLY important question: "Where can I BUY: https://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Buddies-Earth-Plush/dp/B005ESB6PG HTH! ?

Another one brought up on SPM's Observer's Book"! Three inch refractor... Six inch reflector... Notorious Pillar & Claw Mount! ? (I did try out the One Dioptre spectacle lens idea too!) My pocket money would only stretch to one of the "dread" 30x30 scopes sold in many seaside resorts! But it taught me quite a lot. I rapidly realised it was *usable* if I stuck my microscopes e.p's (longer focal lengths!) in it... But with only £12.50 in P.O. savings, when I left school, I simply gave up! ? Next 30 years (Uni... jobs... travel) I completely almost forgot Astronomy. Until... By chance... I bought an Astro Mag in WHS! I was *amazed* I could finally afford a REAL telescope (OK... an ST102 / EQ3-2 Combo anyway!) ? And I did LOVE it... But I had supposed this 4-inch scope would be FAR better that SPM's 3" (I suspect f/12) doublet achromat? lol. I knew about "chromatic aberration" so I paired the ST102 with a MAK90. With that I became aware that a smaller color-free / well figured scope had merit! ? WITH HELP from Astronomy Forums (+ my experience as a "scientist") I began to understand the underlying issues more clearly? It isn't really just about SIZE (though it does matters! lol) but a whole host of stuff... ? My real "revelation" came with discovery of Video Astronomy. Again that (like the Astro Mag) a completely random thing! ? My (Astro) Life is mish-mash of chance / learning / Darwinian selection? ? "Faint heart never won fair lady" sometimes "making the BEST of things"!

A personal thing that occurs to me when I see a "slideshow" talk of DSOs etc., by an expert imager is to wonder about the *actual size* of these objects? ? Can they be seen by casual observer? Can Amateur scopes SEE this thing? I began my "Video Astronomy" talks with a discussion of *magnitudes*. A basic intro to the idea of Logarithmic scales... The visual magnitude limit. The (rather positive) ability of technology to see things in the real world? ? They might end up a tad disappointed in the long run, but that's science! ?

I live in an area that (despite the rumours) is *relatively* crime free. With a little ingenuity, protecting e.g. tripods against (casual) theft, seems a real possibility? Whatever, I have devised extra obstacles to less determined "non-professional" criminals? A few extra HOLES in metal things... Add Heavy Chains... Padlocks? ? I suppose if "Bad people" come equipped with Angle Grinders, Bolt Cutters etc., I will be heartbroken to lose (my precious) few £100's of "scrap metal" at most? (The Telescopes and "Optics" live indoors with me at all non-observing time!) ? I AGREE that a potential enemy is "careless talk"? According to ONE neigbour I have "Thousands of pounds worth" in my Shed... I'm also a Secret Millionaire? ? (Seriously, if I had a *tiny* fraction of the stealable wealth of such speculation!)

Yes, sorry to muddy the waters on that one. Relative simplicity of ED doublets, knowledge of my limitations (+price!), a clincher re. my small non-Achromats. ?

If the plastic pins don't (quite) match the Vero-Holes, I "drill out" the nearest vero holes to fit them? If that doesn't look promising, I snip off the plastic pins from socket, enlarge for, and SOLDER the solder pins. Add a bit of (Super?) Glue to available flat surfaces on socket/board... ?

Quite strange... Looks almost like a crossed thread. But I'm reminded of the "no-meddle" rule, which I should often have observed in the past! ? I found real interest in articles re. "fixing" Apochromatic (Triplet) cells! Optical bench + Genuine Expertise - Both fascinating & terrifying? NOT one for the uninitiated though! On the plus side, the lens elements did seemed capable of significantly better things... One lives in hope etc. ?

Well, the first set I bought turned out well. I need a (slightly different) second set to do the precise job I want. A small amount of "judicious bending" too. But I see that as product versatility! Quite why they have to "dome" ONE fence post face? But... ?

Random wibble: I'm often wary re. *substantial* (weight) scopes on "side-mounted" alt-azimuth dovetail clamps. Many here may well be stronger than I (lol!), but there seems to be a specific "cringe moment" while ensuring the scope is firmly located in the jaws of the clamp before screwing it home! Me? I use a dovetail etc. "handle"... screwed to the other side of the scope rings for safety. Averted "disaster" once! ? Aside: Although initially disconcerting, one gets used to the "Bobdignagian" Astro World! But my question is often: "How much does it weigh"? Not always stated. ?

My OLD SKOOL used to have a *Railway*! (Didn't everyone's back then?) ? "Post Pubescent Boys" (TM) of ALL ages did stuff like that... Considerably extended after I left? Ironically (talking concrete) the school (background) was totally demolished after a mere 20(?) years! It was discovered it had "Concrete Cancer" (sorry 'bout that) apparently... How things do change! ?

I was itching to ask... But that is so COOL! ?

Any traffic on the cul-de-sac road looks directly into my obsy door. So recently upgraded / raised the screening fence in front of it! ? During the (otherwise painless - I got The Builders in!) process, I broke my little Weather Station (Snapped anemometer cup)! ? The new fence now has Concrete Posts, rather than wood posts, but I am rather WARY of drilling into them to attach my Weather Station mast? It is only lightweight, but *concrete posts* seem a notorious for cracking... have internal reinforcing bar/wire etc. ? Aside: My neighbour used twin-thread "concrete masonry bolts" to hang heavy gates. Despite his confidence... the post cracked! Then I came across: http://www.postfix.f9.co.uk/ (Some available on Amazon etc.) Won't hold TONS of weight? But a few could come in handy for solving these annoying little "How To" DIY conundrums? Not yet ordered... Various configurations... But have Hopes! ?

I sense the colour does make quite a difference. For aesthetics, I paint most things (observatory, fences etc.) Dark Brown... And they all warp quite a bit? The observatory is like a "greenhouse" these days! Thinking of cladding the sun-side with something that is rather less absorptive / more reflective? ?

One positive thing I have learned is... It is possible to get GREAT results with (Lunt) solar scopes... But it CAN take a *long* time to get to this... ? I suppose we pay for being at the (b)leading edge of technology etc. etc. After a significant time spent sweating under the SUN... "clocking" stuff etc. I felt myself crying for "straight-thru" (non-diagonal) Lunt scope! lol Getting "optical alignment right" is crucial? Not claiming any expertise... Just saying don't "give up"! Solar Astronomy is (quite) FUN & dynamic! Lunts can be upgraded (Frankenscopes) with due attention to safety... I concede that the best images I have seen are Quark + (ED) 120 etc. ?

Hmmm... Mine (Lunt 50) is alright. (I hate it when people say that! lol) ? The little dab of "glue" has shrunk away from the filter housing but... I do find myself (occasionally) wondering WHY such things happen? Why are these things (plastic or glass) somehow hygroscopic(!)?!?!? Amused that the more intrepid give them a "quick polish" on their pants... like some fast bowler trying to encourage reverse swing! lol ? N.B. Removed small surface spot on mine using my usual technique. But NOT recommending any of above (or "my own way") to anyone! ?

Well, I wasn't exclusively considering "many hours" of classical (night time) imaging. But I have struggled to get even ONE minute gaps in the clouds for SOLAR imaging... P.S. In similar whimsy, I have to admit I haven't yet tried *Radio Astronomy* -- But!

Take up Astro IMAGING of some kind... Multiply the brief time of frenetic outdoor activity by an order of magnitude, endlessly processing & reprocessing the data? Get into modifying & customising stuff, you're rarely at a loose end from then on! (You may NEVER get to actually try out the result, but why worry about details?) But there are so many different AREAS of Astronomy to try out... Try something you *don't* think you'll like? You don't have to be an expert! Later, who knows?

I seem to remember the slightly more WITTY version? As ever, I tend to do a bit of a "background check" ... The top domain of this web link is: http://www.chuckhawks.com/ Hey, "I'm saying nothing"! lol. [teasing]! But seriously, I often find that people who are "outspoken" on ONE issue tend to be so on QUITE a few others as well? We live in interesting times. But I don't always have to agree with someone (in other areas) and it is possible for such to make a useful contribution to debate? <ducking> The Web allows us to surround ourselves with (only) the like minded? (Reading & commenting does not necessarily make one an "apologist")

NOW they tell me! Just bought this. But occasional "polemics" can have a point? I see no harm in "tweaking the tail" of the more... sectarian (of ANY "side"!). FWIW, I have chosen the above to be part of a Solar "Frankenscope". From my own experiments, the *simplicity* of a lens-based system (over a "CAT") may give rise to fewer potential problems of internal reflections... Probably! On the other hand, my refractor (telescope) purchases are unlikely to "excite" those on (as someone once said) a more "open ended" budget. [teasing]

Thanks Garry, that's some really useful information / confirmation here!