Allsky Star Trails

[Jonk]

The widest of widefield. Just because...!

 

This was from the 10th of February 2021, and consisted of about 8 hours of 30 second subs. There are some gaps due to clouds passing which ruined the look, so I took them out.

I'm hoping to get an all nighter with perfect conditions, but that isn't likely any time soon!

[happy-kat]

Nice and a full circle too

[Jonk]

....and a timelapse of the same night... Still deciding how to best use this setup in a permanent way.

 

[Paul M]

46 minutes ago, Jonk said:

Just because...!

The best reason!  I'm a big fan of all-sky time lapse. Well done!

[happy-kat]

Looks like you are using the fujinom f1.8 180 degree lens as the edge profile looks similar to how mine looks on an image, only I am now using the 150 degree lens as I haven't yet got the camera outside and top of window frame is somewhat rubbish.

[Jonk]

37 minutes ago, happy-kat said:

Looks like you are using the fujinom f1.8 180 degree lens as the edge profile looks similar to how mine looks on an image, only I am now using the 150 degree lens as I haven't yet got the camera outside and top of window frame is somewhat rubbish.

Yep - 1.4mm f1.8 on a ZWO 178MC.

I'm using an Rpi 4 with an allsky software package and the camera and lens combo are just on a tripod for now, with a dew heater round the lens. I take it outside if it's worth trying, so that#s only been 3 times this year so far!

I'm currently drawing an enclosure to 3D print, and will have a bit of cooling and a dew heater. The plan is to get it high up in a permanent position.

[happy-kat]

Are you using a loft window inside then? I thought of placing inside the lean2 as has a glass roof but it freezes in this weather, lovely patterns though.

 

[Jonk]

No, whilst under test it just sits looking out of a window 24/7- but when the weather is clear, I take it outside on a tripod and put it in the garden somewhere. The rpi runs from a POE hat, so it's 1 POE network cable back to the house and that's all it needs.

Long term, it'll go up on the roof or something. As you can see by the timelapse, I have a couple of neighbours with nasty floodlights that are enough to be very annoying.

If you put any 180 degree lens looking through a window, it will certainly show the window frame and you'll lose the whole point of 180 degree wide view. Of course, for testing you could try, but the stars will also be out of focus and possibly distorted.

Ultimatley it has to be outside, fairly high up to maximise the sky view and with as little between the lens and the sky - for example, some acrylic domes cause really bad scatter, whereas quality glass domes aren't as bad.

I have a Vicon CCTV dome which looks promising, but not yet built - all part of a very slow project!

Edited February 13, 2021 by Jonk

[Tomatobro]

Meteors from the other night

[Jonk]

I don't think I captured any meteors that night but having looked again, I did seem to capture something odd.

What do you make of this? Watch the head area of Leo.

[Tomatobro]

sometimes meteors come towards the camera head on. I caught one the same night.

[Jonk]

True - possible I suppose.

Still, it looks spooky!

[Tomatobro]

I find the high entrance angle ones are most likely to occur just after midnight and the longer trails just before dawn. Reviewing the images does occasionally produce a "what the...." response!