An evenings EAA Viewing with Starlight Live and a Lodestar-C

[DoctorD]

Hi

I've published a video of my viewing session as broadcast on Video Astronomy Live on the 17th March 2016 speeded up by x16 so you get a whole evening in 12 minutes!

This shows what can be achieved despite living in a Red Zone (Bortle 6-7) with local light pollution too. 

Equipment:

C8 on HEQ5 with F3.3 reducer

Lodestar-C

Starlight Live

EQMAC

Sky Safari Plus V1.8

 

 

Enjoy

 

Paul

[Martin Meredith]

Great idea! I'd love to try this with one of my (otherwise interminable for some, perhaps) sessions...

Martin

[Spacedout]

Fantastic video Paul and sums up what we do perfectly!  I think it's an excellent presentation of what to expect from a typical broadcast and it really shows what we all love about video astronomy.  Near live (or live in some cases) views shared live over a video stream and accessible by anyone with an internet connection, what's not to like about VA/EAA!   

Thanks for the plug too, would you mind if I put this on VAL for visitors?   

[mcsheffield]

Great video Paul (DrD) I remember watching it live that night, It shows what can be achieved in light polluted area by this means, you have put on good show each time.

 

Thanks

Andrew

[DoctorD]

Hi Karl

Please feel free to use the video on VAL - let me know if you'd like the original (non Youtubed) version - it's about 500MB - I could probably put it on DropBox.

Thanks for the feedback Andrew - glad you liked it live and speeded up!.

CS

Paul

 

 

[laudropb]

Very nice presentation Paul.

[HiloDon]

Great job, Doc!  Clever idea, too.  What software do you use to broadcast the image and the screen shot?  Camtwist?

We're planning on doing a broadcast from the MK VIS and I have the same setup as you.  MacBook Pro and Paul's SLL.

Thanks,

Don

[Astrojedi]

Fantastic video Paul. I would like to create something similar. What software did you use?

[DoctorD]

Hi Don

I use OBS - https://obsproject.com/

Handles Scene Creation/Selection, streaming and file saving all at the same time - no need for CamTwist and is available in Windows, Linux and OSx variants.

AstroJedi - Thanks, I used iMovie for the video editing.

CS

Paul

 

[RobertI]

Thanks for taking the time to put this together for us to enjoy Paul - fascinating and informative to see a full session compressed in this way. Looks like you picked up a lot of objects during your three hour session, much better than I usually manage! Also interesting to see the light pollution that you have to contend with which make your results all the more impressive.  My conditions are similar but fortunately EAA/VA is able to cut through the LP.  

[aparker]

Great video - we ought to pin this on this forum too for new folks to look at. 

Just so I'm clear, OBS lets you do the live "recording" of your screen?  Is there a way to do voiceover to describe what you are doing?

 

Alex

 

[Astrith]

Enjoyed the video . Motivates me to get out again soon ( clouds permitting ) . I agree with Alex above . Pin to the forum , enables us to view your settings as  well . All the best Paul.....Alan.

[DoctorD]

Hi Alex

Yes, OBS allows you to record specific windows on your desktop (with cropping & scaling), switching between windows with transitions is also possible, and you can select an audio source, including a microphone - fantastic piece of software primarily aimed at on-line streaming but with file save available simultaneously.

HTH

Paul

[Ain Soph Aur]

Hi Paul. Very nice post, especially compared to all the negative posts lately. I am planning on eventually broadcasting and you info on OBS is very interesting.

[Spacedout]

On 4/12/2016 at 14:49, DoctorD said:

Hi Karl

Please feel free to use the video on VAL - let me know if you'd like the original (non Youtubed) version - it's about 500MB - I could probably put it on DropBox.

Thanks for the feedback Andrew - glad you liked it live and speeded up!.

CS

Paul

 

 

Thanks Paul, your edited version is best to use I think.  That said, since your last broadcast I have now set all channels to record auto so next show I'll have full version for those who miss the live version. 

 

Best wishes

 

Karl

[williamnohair]

Hi DoctorD

great video!

I am trying to get started in EAA and EAO and have got for casual use a Celestron 6 infinity with star sense automatic goto alignment (very useful at saving time) I also have an equatorial Celestron 9.25 on an advanced VX (in an observatory pod at the end of the garden) but I guess you could call me a 'casual' observer imager as I can't stand fiddling in the cold trying to get polar aligned etc I am sure you know what I mean. In retrospect a the observatory has been a waste of time and money . So here I am trying to get a setup going from the comfort of my house in front of a pc!

I am torn between the Lodestar x2 or the Atik infinity but I am sure that in the end I will make the right choice. The one question I would like to ask is this: you said the equipment you used included a Celestron 3.3 FR although I cannot find any mention of Celestron manufacturing one only Meade, and I am currently awaiting a second hand  one which I managed to find on Ebay, don't really like using Ebay but had no choice as they are rarer than hens teeth!

So is the FR you mention a Meade or did Celestron make a 3.3? your help would be much appreciated as from what I have read both the Lodestar and Infinity  require as fast an optical system as possible and the Hypestar route is a tad too expensive.

Cheers

 

Bill (Williamnohair)

[Keltoi]

as a new comer to astronomy  and hoping to start video astronomy soon lol, this is an awesome video very inspirational.

will be using a skywatcher 200p on a motorised EQ5 with a Samsung sb200 clone video camera. just hope I can get some where near what you get.

any advice on best software to use for recording the video ? will be using a laptop with windows 10.

thanks

 

 

[DoctorD]

Hi

I started with a SDC435 which is pretty much the same as the SCB2000 - fantastic on the brighter Messier objects, I think you'll get hooked pretty quickly.

Let us know how you get on.

CS

 

Paul

[johnfosteruk]

Stunning video mate. Thank you for sharing.

[DoctorD]

Hi Keltoi

Sorry I missed your question about video capture - I cannot help really as I use a Mac - however OBS is available in Windows and mac versions (free!) and  can capture a window and stream and.or save to a file but you'd still need a video capture program to work with your video dongle.

HTH

Paul