Dark Vader

My 200p from FLO was perfectly useable for visual out of the box. I assume the only issue could be if it gets knocked in transit.

I bought the FLO premium Cheshire and a Rigel Aline collimation cap for just over £40.

Never used a laser - I've read that they themselves can go out of alignment.

Andy

Went back out for the shadow transit - clouded right out. Poured a medicinal one 🥃

Just getting a small white "lump" appearing on the limb.

Seeing a bit iffy but looking nice when it settles for a bit. A dark speck just up from the SEB about 3/4 of the way across. Unfortunately it'll be behind a streetlight for the shadow transit.

Andy

1 thick black cotton T shirt. Put your head through the neck hole as normal then pull the rest back over your head and over the eyepiece. Works like a charm.

My local council was pretty good to be fair. I took some very orange night photos but didn't need to use them. I've omitted certain specifics to the street lights in my particular case, but the main part went like this:

"The light intrusion into my property means I have a bright orange garden during what's meant to be the hours of darkness. Please can these lights be fitted with shielding asap?"

The term "light intrusion" is quite a good one. Hope you get somewhere with them.

Andy 

On 03/10/2021 at 01:36, Dave scutt said:

Got one of these from amazon works a treat 

Ordered one of these based on this, came this morning. It works on native app with both still and video, and still only on FV-5. Thanks for the info Dave.

I've no experience with Procam, but have noticed similar with Saturn on the native phone app and Camera FV-5. I may be wrong but it looks to coincide with seeing getting a bit "bouncy" and confusing the camera focus. Still looking for a solution to that one...

Andy 

I was out in the garden while the dog was doing what dogs do before bed, when I saw how clear it had become.

Completely unscientifically, I set the Samsung A6 to infinity focus in Camera FV-5, the longest exposure it'll do (ISO1600 1/10 sec). Set the shutter timer on 10 sec. Pressed play and had 10 seconds to put the phone on the patio table before I got a shot of my hand!🙄

Aimed, if you can call it that throwing it on a table, directly overhead somewhere between Cygnus and Cassiopeia.

Boosted contrast a bit and brightness by a LOT in the native app. Hope it's not just a load of noise I'm mistaking for a bit of the Milky way... 🤞

Very welcome Paul, and congrats on the err.... shrinkage. Tis something I need to do a fair bit of.

Andy

On 27/09/2021 at 16:42, wookie1965 said:

I need a chair you can adjust but one for a heavier person although I have lost 4.5stone I am still over 20st. 

Mr Wookie Sir. As a fellow heavier person, I went for one of these:

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/sit-stand-stool/stagg-mt-300bk-musician-stool-tall?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces&gclid=CjwKCAjw-sqKBhBjEiwAVaQ9a0mKwWk_jLYxseIgKSD8a-FQ_rIXwZxSB2JChec_ShdtBATcpMs5gRoC7skQAvD_BwE

Spec. claims to be good for up to 200kg or 30st. Very stable, and has a back support.

Thanks John. There was nothing like that amount of separation at 180x  but it was the opposite side to HR8924 listed at mag 6, in the same view. Very faint, in and out of visibility but sure something was there. 

My go to for planets currently is the BST 15mm with the BHZ matching 2.25x Barlow.

That BST 15mm is very nice for the money.

I finally managed to bag Neptune last night after numerous attempts. Shouts of "yes" emanating from the darkness in the back garden at Vader Towers. 

Now, I'm not certain about this next bit. Just a fraction up from Neptune (dob view) was the faintest point of light coming in and out. A check on Sky Safari and it was where Triton was meant to be. I was only at 180x and I've read that it can take in the region of 300x for Triton. I tried upping the mag with the BHZ and 2.25 Barlow but the image was too dim.

Is it possible at 180x in an 8" Dob, or wishful thinking?

Thats better than anything I've managed yet, although I am trying to do it with a smartphone...

Single shot handheld (couldn't set the mount up properly in the dark and gave up with swearing 😄)

Tweaked a bit in PS Express and shot with a lot of luck. Samsung A6, ISO64,1/60sec, Camera FV-5 app. BST 15mm barlowed 2.25x. Jpeg Zoomed a bit and screenshot.

GRS just visible and Io barely visible bottom left.

That's a better Jupiter than I've managed so far, keep up the good work 👍

My attempt, just after it cleared the trees. Single shot, SW200p, 25mm EP, Samsung A6. Quick process in Snapseed.

I managed the last 30 minutes of the Callisto transit before the first cloud bank arrived. Left the scope out on the off chance of it clearing, went back out an hour later and got some of the best views of Jupiter and Saturn I've had for a while. More cloud now so giving my back a rest with a large medicinal one. 🥃

Tbh I tend to leave the full moon alone as a lot of the details are too washed out. There's much more visible detail during the phases and it's not so bright.

I use the 8" SW dob and got some pleasing results with the 15mm BST and 2.25x Barlow at 180x using the built in camera app on auto. Had to tap the screen first to set the AF. On the odd occasion it all comes together you can get a nice crop shot like this.

Anytime...

you won't need much as it's digital zoom and you'll really need optical zoom for the better results but it's mainly to reduce the light intrusion.

What scope are you shooting through?

From the first photo I'd say your alignment is almost there. If it were me I'd move it just a touch closer so the round area almost touches the sides. As well as maximising the FOV,  I've found this helps with light intrusion (orange streetlights?) 

Something else I've done is to use a bit of phone zoom, say 2x, and if possible set the phone's focus at infinity. Hope it helps.

Andy

Forgot to mention, nice view of the Golden handle.

I have to take my case off, it will still fit but isn't quite so stable in the mount with it on. I still struggle to get mine adjusted right especially in the dark. 

Another tip, I normally set either a 3 or 5 second shutter timer so the phone vibration settles before the shutter triggers. Sorry if you already knew that 😀

I'm far from expert on this but it looks to me like you just need to adjust the phone mount so that it lines up properly with the exit pupil of the EP, allowing for the eye relief as well as up/down/left/right if that makes sense. 

I've got dozens of photos just like yours...🙂

The Skywatcher Skyliner 200p scope...200mm aperture.

I'm in Bristol, SW UK (Bortle 6 on a good night) and the moon is that way round up in the northern hemisphere. I notice you're in Perth WA and am very jealous.... I was fortunate enough to visit for 3 weeks back in 2004 and didn't want to come back 😄