CCD-Freak

I saw this recently and rolled on the floor laughing..... It also applies to amateur radio. John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

This was the LP map I was looking for when I posted the other and like mentioned above the data is 5 years old (2015) and I have not seen any 2020 maps as yet. With LP growing like it is maps are out of date before the ink dries. I need to edit this with more labels but Fort Griffin is in the center. I am fortunate to have good skies within a few hours drive. My home is located under Bortle 5.5 skies and to the south is the Dallas / Ft Worth "metro mess" with it's Bortle 10+ skies. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Therein lies the problem......Astronomy use of mono sensors is only a very very small percentage compared to all the OSC sensors made for phones, cameras and such. Things like machine vision for manufacturing are going the OSC route due to low cost. The sensor manufacturers are developing products for OSC market were there is a large demand and fewer mono sensor are coming to the market. Less volume = higher prices to produce. This is not a pretty picture for astronomy and low cost mono cameras. 😔 My $.02 John CCD-Freak WD5IK

Hi Dave Glad it was of use to you. Did you try out all the different overlays and features. I refer to this map quite often as I look for new dark sites to visit. I am lucky to have Ft Griffin State Historic Site ( Bortle 2 ) and Copper Breaks State Park about 3.5 house from home. John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Try this LP map. It has some annoying adds but you can zoom in to your location. https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=4.048366899006263&lat=6999944&lon=-64704&layers=0BFFFFFTFFFFFFFFF John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Water is more efficient but the plumbing is more problem. The heat sink I use actually uses convective circulation of oil to improve the heat sink efficiency. I was able to get a solid delta T of 35°C without water. If I wanted to get really cold I would use a two or three stage TEC with water cooling. When you get really cold there comes a point of diminishing returns. Most of the new cameras are low noise before cooling so going really cold is not really necessary. A steady repeatable temperature makes calibration easier. You probably already know this stuff. 🙂 John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Yeah...Finding a heat sink that can efficiently remove the heat can be a problem. I tried multiple heat sink and fan combos before I ended up with the one I used on the DSI-Pro-II TEC project. Did you use heat transfer compound between the TEC module and the heat sink and camera body? If not you will not be able to efficiently transfer the heat. Also a gap between the fan and the heat sink can improve efficiency. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Hi Steve Welcome to SGL..... Where are you in southern New Mexico ????? I go down to Rodeo as often as I can get there. I checked the location from your first post and I see you are in Las Cruces. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

More shots from Ft G. Needless to say it is one of my favorite dark sites. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

I found another night shot from Ft G. The summer Milky Way was looking good under the Bortle 2 skies there. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

So you are trying to cool it just enough to regulate the temperature to make calibration easier? I was re-packaging a Meade DSI-pro II to provide regulated set point cooling. The finished camera cooled to 35°C below ambient air temp. I usually ran the camera at -15°C Sealing the camera to prevent condensation on the sensor was a bit difficult but I did get it to work. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX M27 Single 600 second sub at -15°C

I had an AASI-1600MC-Cool and sold it to get the ASI-533MC-Pro and I like the square sensor as it frames most objects better with less wasted "real estate". I have only had the 533 out a couple times due to the abysmal weather here. I chose it for the improved specs and little or no amp glow. Here is a test image of M3 60 x 10 seconds with no Darks or Flats applied. The image was made with an Ultima 8 SCT at F10 ( 2000 mm FL ) I really like how the star colors came out. I wish they would produce a mono version with this sensor. Looking forward to getting it out to the dark site for a proper test with my better scopes. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

What are you doing about condensation when the camera gets down to the dew point? Trying to seal the housing, connector openings etc can be a real pain. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

And then there is the "Party Scope" John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

You will also see things like this........ ( from a listing on "Flea Bay" ) John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Definitely unlucky. 🙂 I go to NM as often as I can and I have had some spectacular nights. It is a two day drive but worth the trip. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Confessions of a "Dark Sky Junkie"........Once you experience a clear night under a Bortle 1 or 2 sky you will be ruined for life. The Okie-Tex star party is held at a site about 40 miles from any town and the sky is Bortle 1. We have seen the Gegenschein easily and the Milky Way casts your shadow. http://www.okie-tex.com/index.php John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX My buddy Phil with his C14 at Okie-Tex and a visitor checkin out my batteries.

Same place...different trip. My little Casita caravan is named the Moonlight Manor. (^8 Makes staying out at the dark site for several nights very comfortable. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Having a great summer night at Ft Griffin State Historic Site in north central Texas. "Ft G" is one of my favorite dark sites. I have to drive about 3.5 hours to get there but it is worth the drive to get under Bortle 2 skies. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

I chose the ASI-533MC-Pro and I think I am going to really like it. I have only had it out once due to the weather but here is a test image of M3. 60 x 10 seconds (10 minutes total exposure) no darks or flats. This was shot with an old Celestron Ultima C8 at F10 .39"/pixel resolution I can't wait to get this puppy out to the darks site !!! 😀 John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

As said above the Losmandy "D" size plate is the best answer. You won't have the fit issue and they are wider so it will handle the weight better. In the mean time you could put a spacer between the flat plate and the V size dovetail plate so that it would reach. My $.02 John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

I have both. I also have a modified Williams Optics 80ED-II. Having multiple OTAs give me flexibility when choosing my field of view. I use the AT60ED when I want to go wide. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Definitely NOT Whitesboro, Texas !!! (^8 It was out at Rodeo, New Mexico. We go there once or twice a year if we can pull it off. I had to cancel the trip I had planned for May. I would be there right now if not for the #%&@ virus. I love it out there with the scenic vistas, DARK skies and the LOW humidity. Dew strap....We don't need no stinkin dew strap !! John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

My Antares 8" f5 Newt imaging out in the wilds of western New Mexico. I was shooting M83 John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Here is a prototype of the Explore Scientific 208 Newt Astrograph. Mine is F3.8 where as the production models are F3.9. I love the carbon fiber tube with the white end rings. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX