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Spile

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Posts posted by Spile

    Orion mixed doubles match

    in Observing - Discussion

    Posted

    I've spent the last two observation times collecting Orion binaries.

    A lot of variety especially when it comes to difficulty. Some of these came from Turn Left at Orion and it made  me smile when I saw this once described as a beginners guide. After working hard to split 52 Orio and failing to split 42 Orio, I very much disagree.

    Beta Ori - ***** B+W very nice
    Delta Ori - **** Nice and wide W+B
    32 Orio - **** Y+B Noticeable colour contrast
    Theta1 Ori - ****** Excellent multiple W+W+W+W
    Lambda Ori - *** Y+R pretty good
    STF 747 -  *** B+B More blue than white to me
    Iota Ori - **** W+B Very nice
    Sigma Ori - ***** W+B+++ Lots of them!
    STF 761 - **** W+W+W The triangle
    52 Ori  - Failed to split,  try again later. Get thee behind me Trapezium!
    Eta Ori  - Gave up after my body thought it was in a cryogenic chamber so as Zeberdee would say, time for...

     

    • Like 10

    "Keep it simple" cleaning telescope mirrors 12" GSO dobsonian primary and secondary

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted · Edited by Spile

    Thank you (apart from the music!) for this interesting video. I appreciate the introduction and balance you bring to this hot debate and it is welcome.

    For me, the issue is a lack of evidence that a dirty mirror will affect what I will see. You use the subjective "I believe", "I suppose",, "I imagine" and "I think" throughout the video. The thing is, there is a difference between with what I think/perceive and reality. I was going to reference a certain ex-president and bleach here but I thought better of it 🙂

    Until I see evidence from a laboratory that...

    Cleaner mirror = Better image in my retina, my risk assessment tells me that it is safer and simpler to not not do anything.

    It is not just the risk of damaging the mirror. It is about time. Cleaning might appeal to my vanity and make me feel good but without evidence that it is making a difference, why would I waste my time doing something that is not going to make a difference? Especially if I am going to repeat the exercise every few weeks or months?

    This quote from the supplier of my telescope helps me:

    Don’t worry, be happy

    You will be surprised how much debris can accumulate without it affecting the telescope’s performance, so relax. It is all part of owning a Newtonian telescope. If you refit your telescope’s cap between observing sessions and ensure it is completely dry before storing you can go several years without cleaning.

    I also read a study (I will try and find the source) that mentioned that for a 10" mirror, up to 15mm of dirt will make no difference to the image in the eye piece. 

     

    Finding targets with ocular view screen shots

    in Getting Started With Observing

    Posted · Edited by Spile

    21 minutes ago, wibblefish said:

    Very cool, I think I probably need to look into this (or a really good star atlas) as I find the mobile version of Stellarium is totally unintuitive when I am out. My main trouble is getting guide stars available through the light pollution murk atm, I can see why GOTO is so popular :) 

    I love Stellarium desktop but rarely use the Stellarium app as I prefer SkEye and its indirect mode. I would strongly recommend attaching your phone to the OTA and giving it a go. It does take time getting used to as the tracking can be erratic due to magnetic effects but it does "catch up" and with my Telrad greatly helps me.

    I still refer to a paper atlas and use this one (http://www.deepskywatch.com/deepsky-atlas.html) printed out on 80+ sheets of A4! 

     

     

     

    SkEye - looking.jpg

    Finding targets with ocular view screen shots

    in Getting Started With Observing

    Posted

    I finally managed to get M1 last night and I found it much easier to locate this time. 

    I've previously tried printing from an atlas but matching what was on paper with the view from my EP was a real challenge.

    What I did this time...

    1. Fire up desktop version of Stellarium. 

    2. Add my 42mm WA eyepiece to the ocular list. I had previously added my 8" Dobsonian. 

    3. Use the search function to find Tianguan and switch to ocular view - Select 42mm EP

    4. Copy screen and paste into Affinity Photo. Use Layer > Invert (to save printer ink) and print A4 hard copy.

    5 Centre on M1 and repeat above. I also added a circle for my 24mm EP and a note to remember to target Struve 742.

    I used the Telrad to locate, Tianguan and was delighted to see the EP view perfectly matched the printout. This made finding the nebula and binary easy.

    I then added a sketches to the printouts and a note of the perceived colour.

    Of course the good skies and no moon helped but I will be using the Screen shot > Invert > Print when I have a target than is dim or in a sea of stars. 

    m1b.jpg

    m1a.jpg

    Telrad dewing

    in DIY Astronomer

    Posted

    I've used RainX for years on the rear window of my wiper-less car. I find it great for water hitting the windscreen in that it clears but it doesn't work as well for me when it comes to water settling AKA dew.

    Top 500 binary stars

    in Getting Started With Observing

    Posted

    I put this list together because I wanted a list of binary targets in a format that I could sort, filter and comment upon.

    The data file is in a spreadsheet for ease of sorting and modifying in Excel, Google Sheets, Libre Office etc.

    The fields include object name(s), location information and star data – magnitudes, separation and position angle. Also included is a rating (5 being the best) which helps me prioritise targets, observed colours and a description. Finally, there are columns to add your own rating (I use T for targets here), date of observation and comments.

    There is a note sheet and a separate sheet is used to produce a CSV export file for the SkEye app.

    Original data sources are the Coldfield Observatory list of 200 most beautiful double stars and the Saguaro Astronomy Club Double Star Database.

    More details

    • Like 11
    • Thanks 3

    Buying the equipment

    in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice

    Posted

    My recommendation is that you forget astrophotography for the time being and start with visual astronomy. There is a ton of stuff you can do with your eyes especially with a dark sky.

    Getting to know the asterisms, constellations, main stars and objects like the Orion nebula, Pleiades and Andromeda will give you a sound foundation. 

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Boötes binary collection at 3am

    in Observing - Reports

    Posted

    At last a bit of clear sky so up at 3am and a bit of binary hunting.

    Started with Cor Caroli (CVN) which although physically rather awkward (very up!) was an excellent (yellow+blue/white) sight and well deserved 5* rating. A good start.

    Then onto the main event of the evening (morning) - Boötes

    Started near Arcturus and headed for Izar (Epsilon) but disappointed that I couldn't split it so off to...

    Xi (Y+O) which was nice but 4* not 5* for me and then Pi (B+Y) which I found easier and a good 4*.

    Then headed up t'north for the highlight of the evening, the delightfully named Alkalurops and well deserved 5* for this triple. Pleased to get all three - W+Y+W

    Finally part of this area was very close - Zeta Corona Borealis and found it easily ... Or so I thought. On checking up,  I think I may having been looking at  v1 and v2 Boö. Grrrr. One to try again and this time remember Izar - Delta - Zeta CRB are in a line.

    Then headed back to Izar and managed to split it - Y+B. Pleased with that.

    Before calling it a night/morning, I headed to Lyra to try the Double-double but it was a half hearted attempt and I couldn't split the smaller companions. 

    • Like 9

    SkEye app as a PushTo finder

    in Member Equipment Reviews

    Posted

    An update...

    Having the 500+ binary star catalogue uploaded into SkEye really helps me to find my top (5* and 4*) doubles.

    Alignment is very quick using a couple of good targets and then an insta-align "check" to keep things precise.

    It can sometimes "forget where it is", but a second later it catches up and it is often spot on target. I keep the magnetometer calibrated with a figure of 8 calibration.

    I also tried using an old Samsung A3 phone rather than my main one (OnePlus 8 Pro) and although the screen is noticeably smaller it works fine once calibrated.

    Biggest ++++ is that (unlike my Telrad and finder) it doesn't suffer from dew or ice!

    Finder scope enhancements

    in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice

    Posted · Edited by Spile

    I am now using a Telrad alongside the SkyEye app to support the straight-through finder. 

    Each device has its pros and cons which persuades me to carry on using all three in the following order...

    SkyEye - Alignment is quick using a couple of good targets. It can sometimes forget where it is, but a second later it catches up and it is often spot on. It directed me immediately to Alkalurops last night with me having to use a finder or even a WA EP! Figure of 8 calibration makes a massive difference.

    Telrad - Really quick and easy to use but the designer needs to use a variable resistor that doesn't place the dim range all at one end! The dewing up is terrible though. Often do not need to use the STF and can go directly to the EP

    Straight-through finder -  Useful if I need a bit of magnification to locate an object that the Telrad cannot see. 

    42mm EP - Useful if my target is in a busy field 

    Doubles

    in Getting Started With Observing

    Posted

    I made the mistake of targeting Lamda Orionis before realising it was part of a very busy part of the constellation. Not so much seeing the wood for the trees as tree from the woods.

    A lot of turbulence last night which didn’t help but thankfully 118 Tauri came to the rescue.

    ***dy cold though.

    • Like 2
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