Astrokev

Jupiter taken with my C11 and ASI174MM in the early morning of the 5th Sep.

Seeing wasn't great, not helped by it's low altitude of course, but I need to improve my focussing (a recurring theme in most of my planetary images!)

Thanks for looking

Kev

I suspect we're all going to get a bit fed-up with Mars images over the coming days and weeks 🤣  but, for what it's worth, here's my effort from the other morning through my C11 at prime focus. I did take some images with a x2 Barlow but didn't really improve image quality.

Nowhere near as good as many images but I was quite pleased with it. Loads to improve on though!

I find focussing the biggest challenge. Any suggestions to help improve this would be warmly appreciated! I ought also to check the collimation, which may help.

Kev

4 hours ago, alex_stars said:

Hi Kevin,

I think what you are looking for is this page: https://pds-rings.seti.org/tools/ephem2_sat.html

When you activate the field "Ring opening angle to Earth (deg)" you get the ring tilt angle as seen from Earth. Positive values (like for today 22.66) mean that the front side ring part (the one facing us) is down, negative is front side up.

Clear skies,

Alex

 

Thanks Alex, this is perfect, even though the time/date format is a bit of a faff! Just what I was looking for though 👍

5 hours ago, geoflewis said:

If using Windows try downloading WinJupos http://jupos.org/gh/download.htm

Sky and Telescope also have an App which can be used on line https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/saturns-moons-javascript-utility/

or downloaded to an iPhone for a small fee.

Thanks Geof. I have the S&T app already, but this doesn't quantify the ring tilt. I think WinJupos does, but it's listed as "declination of earth" which I assume is the same thing!

Hi All

Please could someone let me know where I can find an ephemeris calculator that gives the angle of Saturn's rings, for any specific day/month?

None of the app's and sites I generally use seem to have this information (which surprises me). I've tried CalSky, Heavens Above, Stellarium, Cartes du Ciel.

I've searched the web but can't find any calculator or data tables.

Any help gratefully received!

Thanks

Kevin

On 25/07/2020 at 19:26, ebdons said:

Hi I have had this  "Pro Signal" powered hub for a few years now and has been totally reliable and I also have a usb2 hub connected to it and can power that as well with using my sx filter wheel and 616cxl camera and my Ethernet system for my meteor cam, had startech in the past and mostly they packed up after a year or so. I used to get my hubs from cpc farnell but they seem only to stock the startech which I won't go near again. this is the one I got. albeit it seems hard to get now unless there is another version of it?  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Signal-Psg90987-ethernet-Adapter/dp/B013E47MK4

Thanks, that's interesting. I thought StarTech were supposed to be a reliable brand.  Time will tell I guess!

16 minutes ago, JamesF said:

The recordings are usually posted on youtube a few days after the presentation, Kev.

James

Thanks James, that's good to know.

I presume its easy to find and will look out for it. APP is a great program, but I could do with some tips to get the best out of it. Comet stacking is something to look forward to!

Kev

Unfortunately I missed the presentation.

Is it available to view anywhere - YouTube for example?

Thanks

4 hours ago, Rusted said:

 

Just been out to have a play. To make it easier to visualise what I did, I've attached a pretty annotated picture -

I plugged everything in as shown in the diagram. The 120 was detected fine, the 174 was not detected (this was good, as it replicated the initial problem).

I then tried plugging the 174 directly into laptop with the ZWO cable. Both cameras were detected fine. This suggested the problem was either - the hub, total cable length being too long or faulty connection between 2 and 5m cables.

I then plugged the 174 back into the hub, and plugged the hub into the laptop with just the StarTech 1m cable, taking the 5m cable out of the setup. 174 and 120 both detected fine by ASICAP software, suggesting the hub was OK. This pointed the problem to either - the 5m Lindy cable + 1m StarTech cable run being too long, or the connector being faulty (I did not have the hub powered at this point).

Having established the hub was OK I reconnected everything as shown in the diagram. Surprisingly, both cameras were detected fine this time.  This suggested the problem may have been a poor connection between the 1m and 5m cables. I unplugged everything and reconnected as shown, making sure the connections were sound. Everything seemed to work.

So, problem solved (?).  I'll be monitoring with interest once I use it for real.

On 21/07/2020 at 22:00, Zakalwe said:

I use Orico hubs and they seem to work. Even so, I found that some cables would just not work over a longer length. I guess it might depend on the quality of the conductors and what not.

Thanks. The hub is powered, so I was under the impression that this removes the cable length constraint (to a degree)?

On 21/07/2020 at 18:59, Rusted said:

I had exactly the same problem with my '174.
No luck in a [recommended] Startech USB 3 hub. Works fine straight into the laptop.
I bought a 3m USB3 cable for it and that worked fine until it was badly stretched by an errant slew.
Gone back to the 2m flat ZWO cable until I can replace the damaged cable.

Thanks Rusted.  That doesn't sound too encouraging then - maybe I won't be able to get it to work through the hub, which will be a bit annoying since that's the whole point of having a hub! This puts me in a bit of a dilemma. I'll check out shorter cables with the hub, just to confirm whether it's a cable length issue, or whether the hub is just incompatible for some other reason.

If I can't get the hub to work, I'll need a direct camera to laptop cable of about 5 metres to be safe.  Can you get reliable USB 3 cables of that length?

22 hours ago, Zakalwe said:

USB3 is very sensitive to cable quality and length. I have the same camera and it would work on a 4 metre USB 3 cable. I know use the shortest cable possible from the camera to a powered quality USB 3 hub. I have nothing else plugged into that hub.

I wouldn't use an unpowered hub with this at all. Try changing the cables too, the quality really does vary.

Thank you, that's helpful advice.

The StarTech hub is a good quality one, which was recommended by a knowledgeable IT expert, so I'm pretty sure that's fine. I will check the cables though, and see if it's possible to get a shorter and/or better quality one, at least to test that this is the cause.

Thanks again. Watch this space!

Hi All

Hoping someone can help with this frustrating problem -

I've just bought a new ASI174MM and used it yesterday for the first time.

I plugged it into a StarTech 7 port USB 3.0 hub on my pier. The hub is connected to my laptop in a warm room. The cable is approx. 4m long.

ASICAP did not detect the camera. However the software can see my ASI120 camera which is plugged into the hub, without problem. When I tried plugging the 174MM directly into the laptop, it was detected straight away. I tried plugging it back into the hub - no joy.

I then tried powering the hub, thinking this may have been the problem. The 174MM was still undetected. I tried different ports in the hub, and tried unplugging other devices from the hub but this made no difference.

I was able to use the camera by plugging it into the laptop directly and it worked fine like this, but this is not how I want to use it since it means moving the lappy into the warm room doorway to allow the cable to reach.

Please can anyone suggest why it's not being detected?

Thanks for any help

Kev

4 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

First you need one of these to covert it to a sensible thread.

Dave

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-adapter-for-daystar-quark-to-t2.html

Thanks Dave. Was reading your response to my other post on this when this arrived! Looks good. I need to do more research on which adapter to get. I've seen another Altair Astro model that may suit, so a few to choose from.

On 01/03/2020 at 16:34, Waldemar said:

In many cases the diagonal has screw-off 2" connectors, as well as the Quark does probably, too. 

Try to unscrew with sensible force...

I'll check that out. Thanks

On 01/03/2020 at 18:32, JamesF said:

 If I recall correctly Astrokev used T&G for his and made a beautiful job of it.  Well worth a browse through his photos to see how he fitted it all.

 

James

Thanks for the plug James

Yes, I used 1" thick T&G. You have to shop around as process vary hugely, and most of the familiar outlets tend to only stock thinner boards. I'm pleased that mine are really solid.

I attached them with stainless ring shank nails (which, by design and experience, are a pain in the neck to remove if you need to!).

For roof material, I went for EPDM from Rubber4Roofs. No complaints at all. I got a sheet with plenty of spare as I had 2 sections of roof to cover and I didn't want to risk being short. Expensive but worth it as it shouldn't need replacing as long as I'm still around!

4 minutes ago, Altocumulus said:

Before going to the tilt option, have you just tried flats?

I haven't, but the tilt option seems to me (who knows nothing, I should add) to be the preferred solution for dealing with the root cause of NR's, rather than the symptom

Not sure where to post this question, so have posted a related question on the imaging forum also!

I have a Quark for my SkyWatcher refractor, and need to get a tilt adapter to eliminate Newtons Rings when using my ASI120MM. I'd be grateful for recommendations, and also how to attach the adapter to the Quark/camera.

I've read a little about the Rowan adapter, and the Altair Astro, but it isn't clear to me whether I'd need to buy yet more adapters to attach the tilt adapter in my imaging train, as the tilt adapters seem to have threaded connections on both sides.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Hi All

Wasn't sure whether to post this in this forum or the Equipment....

I recently bought a Quark. As expected, when using my CMOS camera I'm getting Newton's rings. I know a tilt adapter can fix this. I've been looking at the Altair Astro tilt adapter, but I'm unsure how this attaches to my scope and hope someone can help.

I use a SkyWatcher diagonal, which push-fits into the focusser and has push-fit connections on the Quark/eyepiece side . As far as I can see, the adapter has M48 threads on both sides. How does the adapter attach to the diagonal and how do I connect the Quark to this?

Thanks for any help

Kevin

10 minutes ago, JamesF said:

I wonder how the temperature looks against the records.  January was the sixth warmest in the last 140 years or thereabouts.  I noticed today that despite the wet weather we have elder coming into leaf and the hazel here has had catkins on since the start of December.  There have pretty much always been insects about too, and I think we've only had two nights, possibly three, where it has been below freezing.  It feels as though it has been an exceptionally mild winter, so it will be interesting to see the actual stats.

Of course given what's happened in the last few years there's no guarantee it won't suddenly turn cold and snow heavily some time over the next six weeks.

James

yep, normal weather systems and seasonality are totally screwed up. I seriously worry that amateur astronomy in this country is becoming a waste of time and money

25 minutes ago, DaveS said:

Met office have confirmed this to be the wettest February since their records began.

….to be followed by the wettest March, and cloudiest Spring and Summer.....

26 minutes ago, DaveS said:

Just ordered 4 IP66 double outlets from that long river place, plus a colour changing dimmable rope light for illumination, so I can have bright white during the day for work, and dim red at night if I need to go in there.

Still need to get some LED strips for my scope room. To be honest though, the weather's been so cr*p for the last few months I begrudge spending yet more money on something that's getting no use whatsoever!

On 24/02/2020 at 19:28, Gina said:

Yes, that's how I built mine, except that i used screws rather than nails.

Agree. Never use a nail where you can use a wacking big screw!

My obsy is probably over-engineered but that's the way I tend to do things

Looking good Dave. 

Did I read that the roof will roll off to the south?  Do you foresee any problems with this blocking the area of southern sky?

On 27/02/2020 at 23:46, dmm said:

Hi,

did you ever try the Quark. I have the SkyWatcher Esprit 100 but cannot seem to achieve focus with the Quark. I have tried up to 200mm's of extensions both before and after the Quark.

Thanks

HI

Yes I bought a Quark Chromosphere last year. Due to my house being due south, and the low solar altitude since I got it, I've only used it twice (!!) but have been able to focus OK using the standard SW diagonal that came with the scope. I haven't needed to use extensions at all.

Kev