gilesco

Is there a firmware upgrade available?

I take it you've discounted running Kstars/Ekos on the Pi4 then? I understand your reasoning I suppose - something lightweight and efficient. ekos-web is essentially an offline version using the ekos-live API which Ekos runs, which is a kind of cloud based remote solution that is associated with Stellarmate.

Rather than re-invent the wheel, perhaps look to collaborate with someone else who is doing something similar: https://github.com/rickbassham/ekos-web

I have an open order for an item that includes an Esprit 120 Pro, which shows as 40-60 working days lead time, may be this gives me some hope!!!

What part of Granada is your location? Was looking at a property near Zujar, wondered what sky quality might be like. Only speculative online listing, not been there.

I'm thinking of getting an AAG Cloud watcher for his kind of thing, or move to the desert.

Some people just react like that. Lived in an infested area for a while in Spain, initially had those kind of reactions for a while, but after a few years didn't react anymore, just the annoying buzzing sound in the bedroom at night.

It may be worth waiting for the skywatcher one, it is specific to the ED80 and will be better for that scope than a generic.

Is the first alignment definitively correct? And is there a setting somewhere to tell it you are in the Northern hemisphere?

Astroberry = Full version of kstars (v3.4.3 if up to date I think).

kstars lite is not under active development any more, the guy who was working on it stopped. Maybe a tablet vnc to the Pi would work, probably best to preset all your settings at home on the Pi first, and set up the scheduler. Then kick off the scheduler via VNC when at the dark site.

I have that power tank, don't think it has enough juice to run a Pi properly. I'm getting the bigger one with the dual car jack sockets. I have a 3A 5V USB charger that I hope to power the Pi from and plug the rest of my kit into the other one. Will be a while before I have it as other stuff on the order has a 13 week lead time.

Last year I took out subscriptions to S@N, S&T, AN magazines, and I also bought some other single issues of just about anything Astronomy I could find. The only one I am considering renewing is Astronomy Now. Going through past issues I have found it singularly the most interesting read of all them, it seems I just probably meet their target audience. S&T seems to be thinner than it used to be, and not so useful. S@N also seems thinner, and I just don't enjoy the content all that much.

With that one, even if we're still plagued with lockdowns (please no!) there could still be an opportunity to fly into Gibraltar and experience it from the Rock, thus not needing to enter Spain.

Hi Chris, Also here in Paignton, can only agree the weather has been awful, thought we might have had an opportunity on Saturday, but unfortunately the low clouds rolled in just about when everything was set up, and then came the threat of rain at about midnight. The biggest challange in this area seems to be the weather! I'm also in a long wait for some new equipment... let's hope the supply chain improves soon.

I guess, that with more people working from home, and not having to commute in the morning, the idea of staying up late and getting some good viewing or imaging sessions in can be quite tantalising. Having said that, weather's not looking too good here for a while, so I'm happy to wait, and perhaps put up with my inferior equipment if there is a break in the clouds and rain. But certainly when the new equipment does arrive I think it will be time to put some of the second hand stuff onto the market again.

I've ordered the Esprit 120 Pro, onto the waiting list. If these things are coming from China, then they're probably coming by boat, and in my experience that is typically a 6-8 week journey + customs time. oh and +7 days for a bench test.

CEWE foam backed print test sample arrived today, it looks great, so will use them. Quite reasonable for the price, once I managed to remove delivery costs with a voucher code.

OK, well I've given CEWE a try, it'll take a week or so, we will see how it turns out.

Yeah, but as it is a hack, and I would need to do it with photo box (did manage to eventually upload, but they modified my photo to make the background grey, and found no way in their tool to undo that), I am looking for a company that might allow me to tag the photo for non-processing in that regard.

Ok, that looks ok, will look them up

I'm looking at Nebulous DSOs, which might not work so well as planetary imaging.

I'm working on a Mosaic, and have a H-alpha channel that looks pretty good so far, so was thinking about using an Internet Photo Printing service to get the final results printed. Anyone have any experience with using these? I used photobox.co.uk in the past for normal photos, but found that they just error when I upload my astrophotography photo, I'm wondering whether they're trying to do some post-processing or something and deciding that it is too dark. Anyone who can share successful experiences in this regard?

I would check with the Optic Adapter manufacturer whether the S20 is supported. Which camera will you use?

Oh I would never base my purchasing decision on availability...