Ags

Saw this thing on aliexpress - not sure 27mm 70 degrees is possible but who can resist a yellow eyepiece? € 48,35 29%OFF | Astronomical telescope eyepiece 70° 27mm Super wide angle High magnification achromatic eyepieces 1.25 inch all metal https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrLm022

I was going to get it this month... but I messed up a tax return. Hopefully February. This doesn't just cover high powers. With my Long Perng 90, it would give everything from 167x to 0.9° FOV, so on the average evening no other eyepiece need apply.

Hi and welcome!

Probably not exactly centered, but thereabouts.

Another sequence from tonight. 7 ms frames this time.

...but does it have EQ mode?

Sounds like a scientist at the beginning of a robot uprising movie 😀

Final entry? Surely not???

This was a seven minute sequence of 6ms frames and a ROI of 400x400, giving about 150 fps. Processed is AS!3 and RS6, with some final processing in Gimp. This was shot at f20-ish and then I did a 1.5 drizzle on top of that.

I have been getting it to write new episodes of Star Trek. It is pretty amazing, but sometimes you can see the yawning void at the center of its intelligence. I asked it to describe camera lenses, and it told me it uses the EF-S 17-85 a lot. I told it that it is a language model and has never used a camera, so it then corrected me, patiently explaining it was a language model and could not use lenses. Silly human 😀

I tried different styles. In the Klingon version Chat GPT writes that the wolf challenges Red Riding Hood to single combat and she triumphs. In the Hobbit version the wolf is defeated by a riddle (but Chat GPT failed to write a riddle - the hobbit just makes a factual statement and the program calls it a riddle).

Tell the story of Red Riding Hood in the style of a Dalek. Chat GPT answers: EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! Red Riding Hood is a human. She is weak and insignificant. She carries a basket of food to her grandmother's house. She is unaware of the danger that lurks in the woods. The Dalek stalks her. It is superior. It is a warrior of the Daleks. It will show no mercy. Red Riding Hood is foolish. She does not see the Dalek. She is distracted by the beauty of the woods. She picks flowers and sings to herself. The Dalek approaches. It is time to destroy. It raises its weapon arm. It prepares to fire. But the Dalek is too slow. Red Riding Hood hears a noise. She turns and sees the Dalek. She screams and runs. The Dalek chases her. It is relentless. It will not stop. It will exterminate all in its path. But Red Riding Hood is clever. She reaches her grandmother's house and slams the door shut. The Dalek crashes into the door, but it is too strong. The Dalek cannot break through. Red Riding Hood is safe. The Dalek is defeated. It retreats, vowing to return and finish the job. But for now, Red Riding Hood is victorious. She has survived the encounter with the Daleks. She is a hero. EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!

Based on the published specs, I expect the Skymax 180 would be well over the limit.

I can officially be switched off, disassembled and recycled now. Question: "Write a one page introduction to a book about deep sky objects called "Discovering Deep Sky Objects II". The book covers the whole sky with two charts per season at declinations 45°N, 10°N, 10°S and 45°S, with two additional charts for the circumpolar regions. The book covers 382 deep sky objects, and gives location, finding instructions and details about each object. The DSOs of the book include nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, variables and carbon stars." Answer from Chat GPT: Discovering Deep Sky Objects II is a comprehensive guide to exploring the wonders of the night sky. With over 380 deep sky objects to discover, this book offers a wealth of information for amateur astronomers of all levels. The book is organized by season, with two detailed charts per season at declinations 45°N, 10°N, 10°S, and 45°S. In addition, two additional charts are included for the circumpolar regions. Each chart includes clear and detailed information on the location and appearance of the deep sky objects, as well as finding instructions to help you locate them in the sky. The deep sky objects covered in the book include a wide range of fascinating objects, including nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, variable stars, and carbon stars. For each object, the book provides detailed information on the object's characteristics and history, as well as tips for observing and photographing it. Whether you're a beginner looking to explore the night sky for the first time, or an experienced amateur astronomer looking to add to your observing list, Discovering Deep Sky Objects II is the perfect companion for your journey of discovery. With its clear and comprehensive coverage of the night sky, this book is sure to provide endless hours of enjoyment and learning for anyone interested in the beauty and mystery of the deep sky.

I did a control question to see how it would answer for other kinds of photos. Not only different advice, but also advice written in a different style for less advanced users... "How do I process wedding photos in GIMP?" To process wedding photos in GIMP, you can follow these steps: Open the photo in GIMP by going to File > Open and selecting the image file from your computer. Use the crop tool to trim the photo to your desired size and composition. You can access the crop tool by going to Tools > Transform Tools > Crop or by pressing the C key on your keyboard. Adjust the brightness and contrast of the photo using the Levels tool. You can access the Levels tool by going to Colors > Levels or by pressing Ctrl + L on your keyboard. Use the clone tool to remove any blemishes or unwanted objects from the photo. You can access the clone tool by going to Tools > Paint Tools > Clone or by pressing the C key on your keyboard. Use the dodge and burn tools to add depth and dimension to the photo. You can access these tools by going to Tools > Paint Tools > Dodge/Burn or by pressing the O key on your keyboard. Use the smudge tool to smooth out any rough edges or skin imperfections. You can access the smudge tool by going to Tools > Paint Tools > Smudge or by pressing the R key on your keyboard. Save the edited photo by going to File > Export and choosing a file format and location to save the image. Keep in mind that these are just basic steps for processing wedding photos in GIMP, and there are many other tools and techniques you can use to improve your photos

Answer according to the terrifying Chat GPT AI: To process deep sky images in GIMP, you can use a few different techniques to enhance the contrast and clarity of the image. Here are some steps to follow: 1. Adjust the levels or curves of the image to improve the contrast. You can do this by going to "Colors" and then selecting "Levels" or "Curves" from the menu. 2. Use the "Noise Reduction" filter to reduce noise and improve the overall quality of the image. You can find this filter in the "Filters" menu. 3. Use the "Unsharp Mask" filter to sharpen the details in the image. You can find this filter in the "Filters" menu. 4. Use the "Selective Color" tool to adjust the colors in the image and make them more vibrant. You can find this tool in the "Colors" menu. 5. Use the "Dodge" and "Burn" tools to further enhance the contrast and detail in the image. You can find these tools in the "Tools" menu. 6. Save your changes and export the processed image. These are just a few examples of the techniques you can use to process deep sky images in GIMP. Experiment with different tools and settings to find the best way to enhance your images.

I saw them closing last night in gaps through thick cloud. The cloud was no better this morning. I would have gone out and set up anyway hoping for a gap, but it was drizzling so impossible. Nice captures all!

At one point millions of years ago, there were too many amateur astronomers on Venus.

My family have been teasing me mercilessly about discovering The Yellow Planet, so I did a reprocess.

This was shot at 150 fps, 6ms frames with a 400x400 ROI, using SharpCap (best 10% of 10 minutes video). I have started using SharpCap auto color balance recently and it seems to be giving good results, rather than doing the color balance later in Registax.

I had a look at Mars and Castor with my 90 mm frac, then set up for imaging Mars. Seeing was very stable and I enjoyed the sharp image on the laptop screen. After shooting a couple of sequences, I decided to have try doing planetary-style imaging on the Trapezium. This was a too short 3 minute burst of 200 ms frames shot with C6 at f10, binned.

Well, id died after three days - flickering screen. Now I have a new one delivered, looking good so far!

The SLS is like any other vehicle: the moment you drive it off the lot it loses half its value!

An interior decorator would call the look "honest".

They didn't do a very good job - the rockets don't even look the same!