Show us your set up in action at night.

[Vroobel]

1 minute ago, Paz said:

I drove out to a spot to observe venus this evening. The clouds roll over and I had a Hamlet moment thinking to get back in the car and go home. In the end I set up anyway and had a look through thin cloud.

My friends said that sometimes thin clouds or light fog make the air more stable and details are unexpectedly great. I never experienced it as I have planetary setup from last summer. This year I'm going to spend a liitle bit more time with my Planet Killer, possibly while imaging.  

[neil phillips]

my new setup i call it the hernia. Has to be moved every time i image 

[Ratlet]

37 minutes ago, Paz said:

I drove out to a spot to observe venus this evening. The clouds roll over and I had a Hamlet moment thinking to get back in the car and go home. In the end I set up anyway and had a look through thin cloud.

Clouds can make great filters.  Only filter I've not managed to get a thumb print on too.

[Paz]

42 minutes ago, Vroobel said:

My friends said that sometimes thin clouds or light fog make the air more stable and details are unexpectedly great. I never experienced it as I have planetary setup from last summer. This year I'm going to spend a liitle bit more time with my Planet Killer, possibly while imaging.  

Yes some types of cloud can make the views better by steadying the air but this was the kind where you can tell a cloud bank is imminent because the image starts to swim.

[bosun21]

The best nights seeing I have had seem to be when there is a low fog forming. Fog seems to only form when the air is nice and still. Is this only me?

[powerlord]

It cleared up!!

 

[Franklin]

On 07/04/2023 at 00:43, Ratlet said:

Also featuring the other game changer the astronomy chair.  You can just about see the cushion on it from the mother in law. 

I've got one of those Nadira chairs and it's great, but you're right it does need a cushion!

[Ratlet]

1 hour ago, Franklin said:

I've got one of those Nadira chairs and it's great, but you're right it does need a cushion!

They're fantastic.  It makes it so much more comfortable.  Not thrilled by the strap arrangement, but it works.

I'd say that an observing chair is so good that I wish I bought one before I went off the deepend with eyepieces.

[Franklin]

13 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

Not thrilled by the strap arrangement, but it works.

Yes the strap can get in the way but it's that long so you can open it right back and put the seat on the lowest level and in this way you can lay back and observe with binoculars. I was a little apprehensive when I first tried this but it all works great and I'm 6ft 2" and about 100kg (shouldn't have eaten all the pies). If you only want to use the chair at the scope then you could cut the length of the strap down I guess.

[Vroobel]

2 hours ago, Ratlet said:

They're fantastic.  It makes it so much more comfortable.  Not thrilled by the strap arrangement, but it works.

I'd say that an observing chair is so good that I wish I bought one before I went off the deepend with eyepieces.

It's one of the "must have", I realised it playing with my F/11. When I observe something near the horizon, I seat on the top level (Baader prism and binoviewer) , when it's near the Zenit, I seat on the bottom level or on the 2nd one. All the time it's very comfy, even it it's a cheap (?) one. 

Edited April 14, 2023 by Vroobel

[Vroobel]

Hi,

Right after the rain, hoping for clear skies: preparing for the Markarian's Chain.

On Thursday last week I bought a Celestron CGX mount and an ASI 2600MC-Pro camera from our fellow  @Hogarth. I've already made one picture ( https://www.astrobin.com/fqnvf5/B/ ), so it's not the first light in my garden. I love my ATM EQ fork mount, but my children grow and I can expect some nights elsewhere more or less soon. Unfortunately, my fork mount isn't portable with its 90kg. So, I have the CGX and want to learn it. The camera as well. 

I like compact structures, so everything is piggyback. Only two cables go down from the setup: power cable and USB one to the NexStar+ controller. My old friend Raspberry Pi with Astroberry system got a new housing with power distribution. I didn't need any USB hub, as the camera has 2-ports hub for guider and EAF. The efficient Xbox power supply provides 12V 16.5A power for all devices. 

 

Edited April 14, 2023 by Vroobel

[RafalT73]

from my backyard

 

Iris Nebula

[Sunshine]

1 hour ago, RafalT73 said:

from my backyard

 

Iris Nebula

Wonderful image! The blue is beautiful 

[Pixies]

From the other night.

 

[powerlord]

An actual clear night forecast here - so 3 mounts and 3 asiairs all pressed into action !

 

[John]

Clear but blustery winds here. Venus quite nice all the same at 225x 🙂

Skytee II is quite a sturdy mount with a light 100mm F/9 refractor on board.

 

 

[Vroobel]

Another approaching the Markarian's Chain (learning of the ASI 2600MC-Pro and the CGX mount).

 

Edited April 20, 2023 by Vroobel

[Dave scutt]

First light for the televue ethos 21mm.

 

[JeremyS]

It’s been a while since I’ve had Dizzy, the Tak FC 100DZ, out for action. Grab and went with ScopeTech Zero and Berlebach Report.

[Sunshine]

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

It’s been a while since I’ve had Dizzy, the Tak FC 100DZ, out for action. Grab and went with ScopeTech Zero and Berlebach Report.

When you look at your collection of Tak's trying to decide which to take out do you sometimes feel dizzy? 🤣

[SamAndrew]

First light for my FSQ-106 😁

Was just hoping to get it at least focused on the moon between clouds, but it's actually been clear for 2 hours!

[WolfieGlos]

Took delivery of my new scope yesterday thanks to the, as usual, great service from FLO… the excellent Starfield 102 ed.

Had a chance tonight to try it out, between the half Moon and loads of clouds….I reckon no more than about 30 minutes worth. So much for BBC weathers “clear all night”. But my, what a step up from the Evostar 72ed! Clouded over now, can’t wait for a properly clear night.

[Zermelo]

Conditions were rubbish here tonight, but I wanted to give the new AZ-GTiX and tripod a first outing.

I'm very pleased with it so far, it feels very solid. It was tracking well, even at x500.
As a bonus, the finder shoe on my Mak is now in the right place!  The Telrad is now underneath, but I can sort that.

 

[Stu]

The 8” f8 out for the first time in a while on Friday night. Wonderful lunar views.

It looked a bit spooky before I took the eyepiece caps off!! Like a big robot staring at me 😱🤣

[Dave scutt]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

The 8” f8 out for the first time in a while on Friday night. Wonderful lunar views.

It looked a bit spooky before I took the eyepiece caps off!! Like a big robot staring at me 😱🤣

Reminds me of bad robot.