UK_Steve

Having looked more closely at my attempt, and then at some of the other excellent images fro today, I think I've figured out some of what I've done wrong. I have the spots (duh!), but looking more closely I have _some_ of the colour shading that show in the other images. If I'm not mistaken, I think my picture is over-exposed, losing contrast. I think next time I'll take a larger number of dimmer images, and try the stacking hoo-haa magic. Steve.

Hi there, and welcome to SGL. astronomycentral.co.uk has a list of what's up in the sky, and there is much freeware available to show you when and where on your PC. Have fun! Steve.

I've seen you thread - nice obsy! Now if I had an obsy instead of a small garden with big shed, or somewhere to set up that didn't have two mad collies and a pomeranian running around... Wanna buy two collies and a pom? Actually, if you take them I'll pay you! Steve.

:crybaby2:Definitely much better than my first attempt (also today) My Pentax doesn't do video, so I can only do one frame at a time. Maybe we should have a new acronym, DSLRV or DVSLR? Not that I'm jealous though... Oh no, not me. Well, maybe a little! Steve. [Edit] I'm assuming you used a video mode. You might have just taken 100 photographs.. I never thought of that, but I reckon my camera would wear quickly at that rate, to say nothing about the environmental impact of the batteries I'd use!

If you've ever looked up in a dark-sky location, even (especially?) with the mk.1 eyeball, you've already got the bug. The question is, how bad have you got it! Steve. PS If you fancy a meet anytime, PM me.

Welcome to SGL, space_monkey! Reading the posts on SGL has helped me a lot. Don't be afraid to ask questions - the only stupid question is the one you never ask! Steve (also from Hull (HU3)) PS Today was first light for my 6SE, and first astro-image too! Have a look in the Imaging/Solar section if you're interested. Also my collie is called ZiB, which was a space_doggy!

Welcome to SGL Steve. It's not that long ago I joined up, and reading the posts has helped me a lot. Don't be afraid to ask questions - the only stupid question is the one you never ask! Steve (also from Hull (HU3)) PS Today was first light for my 6SE, and first astro-image too! Have a look in the Imaging/Solar section if you're interested.

Today is a day of firsts! The Celestron 6SE my fiance bought for me as a surprise pre-wedding gift got its first light today. I bought a sheet of Baader solar-film from First Light Optics, and built my first full aperture solar filter. I got a T2 mount for my Pentax K100D and finally had a use for the T2-1.25" adaptor I got when subscribing to "The Sky At Night". I've never tried anything other than terrestrial photography before, but I figured "in for a penny, in for a pound" and after looking at the Sun for about twenty minutes and muttering "wow", "chuffin' mick" and other such epithets I decided to have a go with the camera. It's not as easy as it looks, is it? My admiration for the quality of modern amateur-astronomer imaging has increased a heck of a lot this morning! I took about 5 frames, this one being (I thought) the best. I recoloured it to match the perceptions of the people I know. I need to figure out how to focus more accurately, but as a first ever astro-image I'm quite chuffed! (Click on image for full-size version (3.3MB)) Steve.

NASA??

Cliff top car-park, Mappleton, East Yorks. Hopefully have the same luck as I did in Cornwall 1999, when a hole in the cloud cover uncovered the sun just before the start of the eclipse, and then covered the sun just after the end of the eclipse. Magical! Steve.

I'm glad you enjoyed it, JamesF! I liked the quote "Once you decide that you know all you need to know, then you have a Degree in Disinterest." Depressingly, that fits a lot of people I know! Steve.

Not having Sky I had to find it somewhere else. Just watching it now. What a great guy! Some 'strange' ideas, but his passion is unmistakeable. Steve.

I've the same setup as you, and there's not been a good clear night since I got it! I must admit it's a great piece of techno-sculpture in the living-room though! Steve

I just bought two - at that price, why not? I've still got RS232 stuff, and my RS232 laptop is getting seriously past it! Steve

She's not my wife, but after today I'm considering it... Steve