vineyard

So an update. The Powerline based route above seems to work & be nice & stable. The connectivity goes when the washing machine is running (!) so I will probably put an ethernet cable down anyway. I'm wondering whether a Pegasus UPB could be connected via USB to ethernet directly to the router (and so whether I could just 'see' it as a remote USB device directly from my laptop), or whether the RPi3 would still be needed as a remote server. Easily experimented with. The pier has been bought - 2nd hand via UKABS - photo attached. V solid - used to carry a Meade LX200 (I think) w wedge etc for the previous owner. So should be fine for my purposes (& allow for some growth). Still has to be put into the concrete base but that's for later in June hopefully. Not sure yet whether to have the pier "lip" (see photo) pointing to the N or the to S - any thoughts from more experienced folks pls? The clear skies are all on the Zenith, E, SE, S & W. N is straight into a wall of houses, so most of the time the scope will not be pointing in that direction. Will probably use a pier extension on top of the pier plate anyway to just get a bit more elevation & angles. But I reckon w the pier adapter & HEQ5Pro, even without the extension the counterweight arm would not hit the lip (if the lip is to the N). With the pier extension its moot I guess. Another Q pls for more experienced folks. I currently put a Telegizmo dobsonian cover over the mount. Eventually I will probably use a bag or a tub of cat litter as a desiccant under the hood? Or would it be better to use a cat-mat heater (as I think I read Olly recommend somewhere once). These last days during the daytime the temperature under the cover has gotten to about 27C - is that too hot (I guess it would encourage humidity if no dessicant)? Looking forward to having it up & running - it makes such a difference not having to schlep things. Once its polar aligned it'll be aligned I can't leave the scope out 24/7 so will have to re-balance each time. I did think whether that would throw off the alignment if I didn't put the scope back in precisely the same home position to the fraction of a degree, but then realised I was being silly and the rotational axis of the mount doesn't change! Long post so will stop now! Cheers.

I've tried it before & ooph it eats up my laptop. (Images were better than DSS but not as clean as APP - although those were different sets of lights so it's a little apples & oranges). So far, cautiously optimistic about APP. Want to try it w some data I'm gathering on Crescent nebula this week (hopefully!).

I know what you mean - seem to be a few eBay sellers - might try the trans-Atlantic route

Hello, Have been trying out APP on a trial licence. Here's 30 mins of lights from M13 last night (Evo50 w flattener, ASI294MCPro, uhc filter, -10C, gain 125, offset 16). Same lights, same flats, same darks, same dark-flats. Both put through ABE & HT in PI to save as jpg for file size. So the only difference is APP (first image) vs DSS (second image). No other tinkering done. (Well, technically DSS is best 90% vs APP all 100% of the lights). I think the APP is better? I'm still learning APP so it did come up w a message during the processing saying that the master [dark] flats could not be applied for some reason, so perhaps APP could be even better. Cheers.

Hello, a quick couple of images from yesterday. I need to rig an umbrella to cover where I sit while imaging - it was a scorcher under direct sunlight. Cheers, Vin

Thanks @ddm4313 - hadn't heard of Wyze! If that can be powered via a solar panel, crikey that's v cost-effective esp for meteors. I wonder what the picture quality is like for stars vs ASI178 type of chip. Thanks for the pointer.

Hello, This is probably a very daft question. But I was wondering if anyone had tried using the RING Spotlight Cam as an all sky cam? Its weatherproof, it can be run off a solar panel, it can connect to your home wifi, it can save the video image for playback. Maybe a software hack might be needed to get it to take longer single exposures. It'd obv be more expensive than some of the Pi versions (but less expensive than anything involving an ASI camera?)? Is this crazy? Cheers, Vin

Just to say I had an EQStar EQ5 from Alexander (I think bought in late 2019 IIRC) & would echo what you said. He's v responsive. And the product was perfect for what I needed (goto on a Vixen GP2) - worked w EKOS (important to go back to Park position at the end of the night, but that is the same w my HEQ5Pro too). Sadly had to sell the GP2 in the end to upgrade due to weight of total AP kit. But would definitely buy from him again if I needed s/t like that again.

That's v cool - an unusual photo of Cambridge! I'll have to try ETTR here in Bortle 8👍🏾

Those are lovely - it's like being in orbit above them! Crikey.

Wow those are v worthy winners. 👏🏾👏🏾 That ISS transit capture 😮!

Stunning - can't believe you got that w a DSLR lens! 👏🏾

Hello, Finally got round to processing some captures from last Fri. Usual kit. I did also play with a 2.5x Powermate in the train - as you'll see that image was softer (probly over-sampling & no doubt less than perfect focus too). Cheers, Vin

Agree w @Kitsunegari - that detailed mosaic is lovely.

Brilliant as usual. I thought FLA was always sunny (except for hurricanes)? 😄 That second image (both B&W & colourised) could be in a Lord of the Rings movie - definite malignant eye feel to it!

Russia is disengaging from the ISS by 2025, so they will probably be part of this too perhaps?

Thanks! Its with 12 panes, although I'm certain I could have done it with 11 (possibly even less) - wanted to make sure though b/c once I did a mosaic with an old Vixen 102 to discover the next day that there was a tiny sliver missing (aargh!).

Hello, Here's from last night. CZJ Telementor2, ASI290MM w UV-IR filter. Tracked on an old Vixen SP mount. FireCapture, then run through AS!3, ImPPG, stitched in ICE & then a bit of GIMP. Cheers, Vin

Good idea to put the before and after. It was pretty ropey here too so that is good skills w the processing 👍🏾

That is v nice - mosaic or did the 178 fit it all in? 👍🏾

I wouldn't grumble about any of those! Lots of lovely detail - you're doing that aperture justice.

Great minds clearly think alike @Luke 😂 - couple nights back out of curiosity I tried my old TV76 w a 2.5x powermate and an old 12T2 (so 100x). It was hilarious, like an L. Hats off for putting a BV on that - braver than me!

Agreed Stu. It wasn't even sweating at 242x - sharp! Every so often (usually when I haven't look through it for a while) I wonder isn't it a bit crazy to have that scope mostly for the moon. And then - every time - I look through it, its just wow. Can only imagine what a larger aperture Zeiss APO would be like!

Yes it was beautiful last night. A relatively quick session w the Telementor 2, BV'd w 2.6x GPC - ran 18.2mm (120x) & 9mm (242x) EPs. The image was rock steady - no mush (at 100x/inch aperture!) - I reckon it could have gone higher w/o a problem. This scope is s/t else on the moon - the sharpness! Schickard & Lacroix were v easy on the eye, the difference between Herodotus & Aristarchus is always something - @Nik271is also spot on Mons Rumker was just there looking mysterious & almost out of place rising like that from the plain, without any particularly bright reflections.

Here's a quick take from last night. CZJ Telementor2 w ASI290MM & UV-IR. On an old EZtouch mount so non-tracking. Spent most of the time visual - wow this scope is good for the moon!