Another hello. Hi from Derbyshire

[VinceN]

Hello all,

A very  brief intro. I have been browsing here for a while, but now feel brave enough to say hello.

From Derbyshire. In my 50's.

Complete novice to all things astronomical, although always had an interest since being young.

Interested in photography, generally.

Now been bitten by the astrophotography bug "big time"

Probably made the classic newbie mistake,  jumped straight in and bought a 2nd hand telescope & mount.

Skywatcher 200P & EQ5 mount.  Love it already.

Had so much fun already with the scope and playing with Stellarium to see where things are up there, and also some very modest success with images of the moon.   

Have managed to catch a very small image, but definitely was, of Jupiter and the moons on a very clear night.

That really was a buzz. I didn't get to sleep until about 3.00 am and on a work day, wow.

I've never noticed how few clear nights we get here in Derbyshire. We have had precious few of those since I bought my scope.

Now have so many questions about this fantastic hobby.

Thanks for all of your helpful contributions, they really are very informative and helpful.

Edited June 3, 2019 by VinceN

[johninderby]

Welcome to SGL. 🙂

You only realise how often it’s cloudy when you get into astronomy. ☹️

[Adreneline]

Welcome to SGL - from south Derbyshire! Enjoy!

[Mr Spock]

Hi Vince, welcome to SGL

[sloz1664]

Hi Vince, and a very warm welcome to the Lounge

Steve

[ronl]

Hello Vince, and welcome to the community, hope you enjoy your time here in SGL,

see you around the forums.

Clear Sky's.

[PeterCPC]

Hello Vince and welcome.

Peter

[laudropb]

Hello-and a warm welcome to the SGL 

[banjaxed]

Hi Vince, welcome to SGL, you have come to the right place for help and advice.

[Floater]

Welcome. Have lots of fun. 🙂

[David Hardie]

Welcome! I know what you mean about the buzz. My heart still skips a beat or two each time I look at Orion nebula!!

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi Vince, welcome. 

[cletrac1922]

Vince

Welcome from Land Down Under

John

[JRM]

Hello Vince, welcome to the lounge.

Rick

[Demonperformer]

Hi, Vince, and welcome to SGL.

If AP is your passion, it is worth getting a copy of this book. The 200p will serve you well visually, but I feel is a bit "in the middle" for AP - not enough magnification for planets, but a bit unweildly for DSOs. You may find yourself buying a small refractor in the future (many of us have done it this way!) - but get the book first. [This paragraph is my opinion and others' may differ - so feel free to ignore it, I won't take offence ]

Enjoy the journey.

 

[VinceN]

11 hours ago, Demonperformer said:

Hi, Vince, and welcome to SGL.

If AP is your passion, it is worth getting a copy of this book. The 200p will serve you well visually, but I feel is a bit "in the middle" for AP - not enough magnification for planets, but a bit unweildly for DSOs. You may find yourself buying a small refractor in the future (many of us have done it this way!) - but get the book first. [This paragraph is my opinion and others' may differ - so feel free to ignore it, I won't take offence ]

Enjoy the journey.

 

Hi Demon ( hope that's not too over familiar 🙂)

Thanks for the info about the book, I will be adding it to my collection.

And also the tip about the "next scope".  I am starting to see that owning a telescope is very similar to the gag about being a cyclist.

"How many bikes does a cyclist need.......Always one more....."

I imagine that I will be needing the link to the "Buy & Sell" section on SGL very soon 😉

Cheers,

Vince

Edited June 3, 2019 by VinceN

[SIDO]

Welcome to SGL, Best of Luck and Clear Skies of course :-)

                        Freddie.

[Pete Presland]

Hi welcome to SGL from Peter in Bedfordshire 

[Tommohawk]

Hi and welcome to SGL - from the depths of East Sussex (where it's also cloudy most of the time!)

BTW I've been into astrophotography for about 5 years now. Over that period I've owned a Tamron 300 F2.8 camera lens, a 72mm apo refractor, a C9.25 SCT, an OMC200 Rumak, and a Quattro 10", a Skywatcher 150P ….. and a Skywatcher 200P. And TBH I've had more consistent success with the 200P than any of the others. 

Enjoy!

[des anderson]

A warm welcome from Essex. Des

[VinceN]

On 04/06/2019 at 10:33, Tommohawk said:

Hi and welcome to SGL - from the depths of East Sussex (where it's also cloudy most of the time!)

BTW I've been into astrophotography for about 5 years now. Over that period I've owned a Tamron 300 F2.8 camera lens, a 72mm apo refractor, a C9.25 SCT, an OMC200 Rumak, and a Quattro 10", a Skywatcher 150P ….. and a Skywatcher 200P. And TBH I've had more consistent success with the 200P than any of the others. 

Enjoy!

Hi.

Thanks everybody for the warm welcome. 

I agree about the 200P.  As a beginner's "workhorse", I think I did ok 🙂

I'm sure that for producing images such as some the stunning Deep Sky & Nebula that I've seen here & elsewhere I am going to need to spend a little more cash.

I have a few "newbie" questions about some of the images I have taken.  Is it ok to post the images here and ask the questions.

Or is there a forum etiquette about adding images.  I don't want to start breaking any local rules, before I've hardly got started 🙂

I also bought a Svbony SV105 webcam, as a reasonably priced intro. to get into image stacking but also as a way of getting live images on to my laptop. To try & pass on my enthusiasm to the rest of the family. Unfortunately they have shown zero interest in getting out in the back garden to look through a 1.1/2" eyepiece at 2am 😁

I bought the Svbony SV105 through eBay from HK or China.  Not sure if this was a particular wise move, as I cannot get any kind of image using the webcam in the 200P.  To be fair their tech support have been very good considering the distance involved.  They reply really quickly to any emails, with very positive assistance.

They advised that for the 200P with its spec. That a focal reducer was required. I have bought their reducer but still not had any success with the webcam.

I was wondering if anybody would be able to offer any advice about the combination of the Svbony SV105 & a Skywatcher 200p.

I could post some photos later of the setup I have tried with various combinations of extension tubes etc.

Sorry for rambling on about this here in an intro section.  If I need to move this post into the main forum, could someone please let me know and I will sort it.

Thanks for any help

Cheers, Vince

Edited June 5, 2019 by VinceN

[Tommohawk]

8 minutes ago, VinceN said:

Unfortunately they have shown zero interest in getting out in the back garden to look through a 1.1/2" eyepiece at 2am 😁

LOL! sounds familiar!

Re posting images it probably makes more sense to post them in the appropriate area - eg deep sky or planetary or lunar imaging. JPEG or PNG works best.

Can't help re the webcam, sure someone else will though. Are you seeing any "brightness" from the image at all? If there is light but no focus, you may need to alter focus position, but I don't think you would need a reducer - unless they are saying that that camera has very low sensitivity? You can work out the position more or less by checking where your eyepiece goes. If its a 20mm eyepiece, the image plane will be 20mms inwards from the lens - that's where the camera plane has to sit.

Just had quick look online -  so its an EVF type thing -  you need appropriate software of course. Looks like SharpCap works - that's good, its easy and well supported and used by lots of folk here including me. You  prob seen this already but if not look here: https://www.svbony.com/blog/how-to-use-SV105-astronomy-camera

 

Edited June 4, 2019 by Tommohawk

[Whistlin Bob]

Welcome to the forum @VinceN!

Great to see you're already getting lots of help and advice. Depending on where in Derbyshire you are  we have an active and enthusiastic club at Rosliston Forestry Centre in the south of the county with a number of keen astrophotographers (many of whom are also active here). We have practical sessions in the middle of every month- if you're still struggling feel free to bring your kit along and we'll try and help you.

[VinceN]

3 hours ago, Whistlin Bob said:

Welcome to the forum @VinceN!

Great to see you're already getting lots of help and advice. Depending on where in Derbyshire you are  we have an active and enthusiastic club at Rosliston Forestry Centre in the south of the county with a number of keen astrophotographers (many of whom are also active here). We have practical sessions in the middle of every month- if you're still struggling feel free to bring your kit along and we'll try and help you.

Hi, thanks very much for the invite.

I am very keen to meet up with some groups. It's great to receive all of the helpful comments and advice on this great forum. But I do understand that meeting up "face to face" and hopefully getting the benefits of your experiences is the way to go.

I am about an hour away, between Derby & Nottingham. But I know your area fairly well, as I worked in Swadlincote recently.

I will try my webcam again and be in touch, once we get some clear skies again.  

Reading some of the posts on SGL, it seems that there is "cloud penance" to be paid once you get your first scope. I will ride it out & wait for the clouds to clear 🙂

Cheers, Vince

Edited June 5, 2019 by VinceN

[Startinez]

Hi Vince,

 

Welcome to the site. A beginner myself and I'm moving to north Derbyshire (Ripley) this month so I'll be looking for a new astronomy club. Get in touch if you're local and want to check them out as newbies together!