Show us your set up in action at night.

[Norris Adams]

Plus, if I post this, it makes 3,000 replies on this subject!

Norris

[Sunshine]

Well, almost night, but I’ll have to move the big boy onto the grass and away from the pergola lol. Bertha is somewhat of a brute, but she is pretty. 😍 

Edited July 2 by Sunshine

[josefk]

Happiness is...

...taking a coffee and messing about with a camera while hoping a thin layer of high cloud would be temporary and it ACTUALLY was so i could get going again after this! Yay!

I don't bathe myself in this much red light really BTW.

Edited July 7 by josefk

[Froeng]

Quick snap of my newly acquired 300mm Cassegrain, with a minimalist construction. Note, I bought this as shown, so not my DIY effort. First proper attempt at collimation. M13 looked very good and sparkly. Also some of the planetarly nebulae (cats eye, M57, blinking planetary, NFC 6210) were marvelous, with hints of colour.

I still need to sort out the focuser, so I can use 2" eyepieces and I need to build or purchase a dew shield. Fortunately, we had some light wind last night, so dew was not an issue!

Edited July 7 by Froeng

[PatientObserver]

On 07/07/2024 at 01:37, josefk said:

Happiness is...

...taking a coffee and messing about with a camera while hoping a thin layer of high cloud would be temporary and it ACTUALLY was so i could get going again after this! Yay!

I don't bathe myself in this much red light really BTW.

What are you using for light sources? My own red light photo looks nowhere near as nice:

[josefk]

well the first thing to say @PatientObserver is i don't really use anywhere near that much red light normally but in that pic the kit is illuminated from behind the camera by a nitecore head torch with the red beam on "full" (i normally use it on "low") and clipped on the side of the  picnic table in the pic is one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amber-Reading-Lights-Books-Bed/dp/B0B12TR9GR/ref=asc_df_B0B12TR9GR/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697203194286&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10280793246545104428&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006984&hvtargid=pla-1675635658934&psc=1&mcid=f13afb7e791232fdae152f24ca8c18df&gad_source=1

i bought the clip on light for sketching just recently but haven't used it in anger yet - i think it is probably too bright "off the shelf" and i will modify it with an extra layer of red film to dim it down a bit.

[bosun21]

Dismal failure last night unfortunately. Sky was nice and clear so I set up my 120ED on the AZ-EQ6 under blue skies. Went indoors for a sandwich and a cup of tea and on my return there was virtually 100% cloud cover. The photo show the difference in 30 minutes. Oh well that's how it goes sometimes.

 

 

 

Edited July 11 by bosun21

[Vroobel]

Registering startrails for the first time. 

 

 

 

Edited July 15 by Vroobel

[whooshbang]

On 28/06/2024 at 23:42, WolfieGlos said:

All ready to go, when some pesky clouds rolled in…!

Although I quite like the noctilucent variety 🙂

Not just any any old cloud.

Nice shot!

 

Edited July 15 by whooshbang

[Emperor!Takahashi!]

🌛🔭

[Vroobel]

New posts in this thread have become rare. Two cameras are looking sadly somewhere at the Cygnus through the clouds. 😕

 

 

Edited July 24 by Vroobel

[Paz]

I noticed clear skies so put a scope out. I continue to use this all-in-one set up to very good effect, being able to take advantage of small opportunities. I'm swapping the scope I'm using but the principle of everything-on-the-scope-or-on-the-tripod-and-ready-to-go remains.

Tonight was the MC127 with a 25mm SLV for some open clusters and 15mm SLV for some doubles, I even persuaded one of my boys to come out for a brief look.

[markse68]

It’s been a really long time! so long in fact  that I’ve completely forgotten how to use this imaging stuff!  And my sharpcap license ran out. Renewed now so just waiting for some stars to polar align off. M13 will be the target

And while that’s doing its stuff, this one will keep me entertained- don’t think i forgot how to use this one though  

Mark

[daz]

After what seems like months - well, that's because it IS months - I finally got round to dragging out the HEQ5, Esprit and ASIAair..

I have a new tablet so needed to get that set up, and update the firmware, and relearn how to use the app!! Luckily, as ASIAir owners will know, it's very easy to use!!

Time to get ready for the coming season!

[Vroobel]

Three rigs in action. Actually four, one is capturing this picture (smartphone with tripod, 8s, ISO3200). 😁

Edit. 

Unbelievable, it looks like 4.5h of uninterrupted imaging with quite good seeing tonight. 😲

 

 

Edited July 28 by Vroobel

[Martyn87]

Currently taking my first ever photo of a DSO...

[melsmore]

Woohoo a clear night! SD115S looking at Saturn.

 

[markse68]

I thought Saturn would be boring with its rings edge on but it’s pretty cool! nice ring shadow line but it’s going to be tricky to see the Cassini division!

[CraigT82]

13 hours ago, markse68 said:

It’s been a really long time! so long in fact  that I’ve completely forgotten how to use this imaging stuff!  And my sharpcap license ran out. Renewed now so just waiting for some stars to polar align off. M13 will be the target

And while that’s doing its stuff, this one will keep me entertained- don’t think i forgot how to use this one though  

Mark

I would 100% break my shins on those beams and cable trays trying to move around in the dark!  How did the M13 imaging go? 

Edited July 28 by CraigT82

[markse68]

4 minutes ago, CraigT82 said:

I would 100% break my shins on those beams and cable trays trying to move around in the dark!  How did the M13 imaging go? 

Hi Craig, ha yes- i did manage to bash my shins last night and it did hurt quite a lot! Imaging went surprisingly well after a couple false starts cos I’m dumb (mixed up RA and dec motor connections 🤦‍♂️) and i forgot how temperamental APT can be about connecting to things! But once it got going it seemed to behave very well. Managed 2 hrs in red. I’m going for a different approach this time doing batches of one colour and focussing for each to try for tighter stars as i don’t have a motorised focuser- hope it works out. Tonight is clear forecast too so might get some more 👍

[Vroobel]

Not the night yet, three setups are cooling down from around 6pm, but the sky doesn't look like from the forecast displayed for three days. 🙄🤔

Edit. 

The clouds gone quite quickly. 🙂

 

 

Edited August 2 by Vroobel

[Sunshine]

59 minutes ago, Vroobel said:

Not the night yet, three setups are cooling down from around 6pm, but the sky doesn't look like from the forecast displayed for three days. 🙄🤔

 

 

Three! you’re a monster! 

[Elp]

1 hour ago, Vroobel said:

three

I havent done this in a while, it takes some doing, just knowing you have to take flats (probably darks too if using uncooled) and bringing it all back in during the early hours.

[bosun21]

Out once more on Wednesday night with the 10" dobsonian. Going to have a prowl around Cygnus.

 

[bosun21]

Out tonight again to primarily image Saturn. I will occupy myself on a host of targets until the wee hours when Saturn can be imaged 

 

Edited August 6 by bosun21
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