W/C 23rd April

[swamp thing]

Hi All

Looks like another super week. This cloud and rain is getting to be a bit tedious.

It hasn't stopped raining since they announced the drought.

This week is good for a possible dark sky trip, if it ever clears. Is anyone interested?

[Woking]

The weather really is'nt playing ball at the moment.

Will keep an eye on the forecast and on here

[jam1e1]

if does clear up and work doesnt interfere....yes! not been out in ages....

[swamp thing]

My weather app is showing clear skies tomorrow night. Yeah right. I'm not going to hold my breath though.

If it does come about anyone fancy Bignor or would RC suit better?

[Woking]

It's not looking promising at the moment, with this wind the scopes might blow away too!

sat24 is showing loads of cloud here and coming our way

[swamp thing]

Tell me about it. Its blowing like fury here to.

My weather app miraculously changed it's tune during the night anyway. To now predict cloud and possible rain.....just for a change.

[Leebert]

The weather apps are on a wind-up for sure. I got an alert from my phone to get my scope out tonight but I think it might blow away!!

This weather is driving me nuts! :)

[jam1e1]

Weather is teasing here, wind died down and clear at mo, expecting to change soon enough tho ...

[swamp thing]

Cloudy here and they're still moving fast. Sort of fluff that brigs rain in seconds when you dare to set a scope up.

Think I'll leave it tonight.

[Leebert]

I have set up the mount in the garden and aligned it. Just for a giggle, I have put the camera on it and pointed it to the Virgo cluster of Messier objects with M87 kinda in the middle and left it running doing 60 exposures at 30seconds each at ISO800.

I expect to get some blurry clouds

[swamp thing]

Blimey Lee you're brave, leaving a DSLR outside on it's own in this weather.

[Woking]

I might put the skytee2 outside to blow off some of the dust that's already settled on it. 2 weeks new and still not been used!

Just noticed, congrats on the mod status Steve

[swamp thing]

Cheers Darren.

It was a bit of a shock TBH. A nice shock, but a shock nonetheless.

[Stu Skywatcher]

Just noticed, congrats on the mod status Steve

Well spotted. +1 on the congrats, Steve . Any chance you could moderate all of these clouds out of the way

[swamp thing]

Cheers Stu.

If I could buddy. Trust me, they'd be toast.

[Leebert]

Congratulations Steve - Top man Cloud moderation has gotta be the top of the list job

Speaking of which, the camera survived the wind last night (no rain thankfully). Many of the frames contained some blurry clouds and some lp from a neighbours light. It was a bit of an experiment but I definitely need a bit more focal length on the lens for next time as it is way too wide angle. It was at 55mm - I think 200mm at least next time.

Oh, and less wind, darker skies, no cloud and a power cut for the neighbours would be nice too

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/7119392279_00360228d6.jpg' alt='7119392279_00360228d6.jpg'>

Wide field around M87 by MrLeebert, on Flickr

[jam1e1]

congrats steve also! seem to be tonnes more mods now....maybe a trend!

Lee your stars seem really sharp, need some alignment tips off you at some point

[swamp thing]

Cheers Lee & Jamie

Glad the cameras okay Lee.

I used to take photos (35mm film) years ago piggy backing and hand tracking with a 200mm lens on top of my 114mm newt. Very amateurish I know but they worked okay.

Look forward to seeing how you do it in the field.

Let's hope we get some cloud free nights soon.

[tone71]

Congrats from me too Steve

Spent last week in Banbury, lots of loverly dark areas but also lots of blumming clouds

Clear skies soon I hope

[Leebert]

congrats steve also! seem to be tonnes more mods now....maybe a trend!

Lee your stars seem really sharp, need some alignment tips off you at some point

Thanks. That was just the camera and normal lens so used auto focus on the moon then switched to manual and didn't touch it again. On the telescope, I use a Bahtinov mask but I think it's luck some of the time though. I thought a recent one of M51 was ok until I had a look on the pc and I had blurry oval stars!

Just need to clear, calm evenings to have another go

[Woking]

could it really be clear skies tonight? anybody ready just in case?

[swamp thing]

No!

I'm not loading my scope up until it starts getting dark and it's still clear.

The moon will be pretty intrusive but TBH I don't give two hoots, if it's clear..... count me in.

[Woking]

agreed, sod the moon!!

[jam1e1]

Will try to make up, post a time later when thinking of heading up for

[swamp thing]

There's some serious looking black clouds coming this way at the moment.

Whats it like down there Darren?