Getting back into imaging after a long break

[alacant]

6 minutes ago, Gina said:

capture that wasn't working

Yeah. I remember something similar. Was this a 'capture' capture or under the scheduler? IIRC, using the latter solved the issue; it kept retrying when capture gave up.

Cheers

[Gina]

There are effectively two schedulers - one which does all sorts and the other in the capture section.  I was using the latter.

[alacant]

7 minutes ago, Gina said:

the other in the capture section

I don't think that will retry anything, wheras the 'scheduler' scheduler keeps on trying.

Edited September 7, 2019 by alacant

[Gina]

No, I don't think so either.

[Gina]

The lens that got wet has now dried out and seems fine looking straight through it.  Looking at an angle the droplets seem to have left little marks on the coating.  Don't know whether that will affect the images until I try it.  Here is a photo, lit by my desk lamp.

[alacant]

25 minutes ago, Gina said:

droplets

Hi. It looks as if the front element is held by a simple retaining ring which is visible after the name plate ring is unscrewed.

http://whitemetal.com/pentax/smct_105_28/index.htm

HTH

[Gina]

This isn't the SMC version but may come apart the same way.  I'll test it for imaging first though, before trying to take it apart.  Might be fine.

[discardedastro]

I've had issues with Ekos getting wedged on a job before. Usually the capture module kicks off autofocus, I stop or pause the job while it's doing it to let me make an adjustment to the sequence, and on resuming the sequence it just sort of sits there. Normally I just restart Ekos - it only happens once a night at most, and if I set up the capture sequence early on and don't touch it it seems entirely reliable.

[Gina]

The tree pruner arrived about teatime and I've been pruning.  I didn't think to take a photo before doing the job - guess I was too keen to get on with it but I found a photo in my collection from earlier which gives a pretty good idea.  The apple tree on the right has been almost destroyed by the goat eating the bark but she hasn't touched the elder tree on the left which has been the main trouble.  Just taken another photo (after the prune) from the same location - the east window of my living room.

Edited September 15, 2019 by Gina
typos

[Gina]

A bit more pruning this morning mainly to tidy up the trees but removed a couple of branches that stood up above the rest as viewed from the observatory pier top.  The edge of the dew shield can be seen at the left edge of the image.

Edited September 16, 2019 by Gina

[Gina]

I might prune the elder tree a bit more yet.

[Geoff Barnes]

It's an elder Gina, you could chainsaw it almost to the ground every year and it would put 6 feet back on again.

If it's in the way give it a damn good seeing to!  

[Gina]

Yes, I think you're right, been thinking that myself in fact!

[JamesF]

Yes, elder is practically a weed.  Though it does at least have the benefit of providing the source material for elderflower cordial.

James

[Gina]

I like elderflower cordial but I also like astro imaging.  Going to chop a lot more off!  Down to the angle of the neighbour's trees from the imaging rig.  By next spring I would expect plenty of flowers.

[Gina]

Rain stopped play!!!  Taken a lot out but plan to do more when the rain stops.  There won't be much of it left by the time I've finished.  That pruning tool is marvellous!  Branches up to an inch or so with the hook and bigger with the saw.  Both are very sharp, the hook has a pulley system to increase the force and the saw has widely spaced very sharp teeth - it cuts through live branches quite easily.

Edited September 16, 2019 by Gina

[Gina]

Done as suggested with the elder tree - given it a damn good seeing to! 🤣  Removed a fair bit of dead wood from the apple tree too.  Photos when I've got my breath back!

[Gina]

Not a lot left!!  Needs a bit of tidying up but it's started raining again.

[Gina]

While I was at the pier with the camera I took some more widefield views.  It wants one more to the NE which I'll take shortly.  Had to stop before due to rain.

[Gina]

Continuing the FOV round to the north...

And finally, northern view showing the trees (or not).

[Gina]

Trees from east window.

[Gina]

I don't think that elder tree will trouble me this autumn and winter!  😄

[Gina]

Comparison - trees before and after pruning.

[DaveS]

You've got some very good horizons there Gina, much better than mine.

[Gina]

Yes, its a very good site.  Tim did a very good job in choosing it 😀