You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar

Speciality Forums >> Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties Previous   Index   Next   Threaded

Pages: << 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 | 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 113 | 114 | 115 | 116 | 117 | 118 | 119 | 120 | >> (show all) Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Stacy]       #5072129 - 02/14/12 01:25 PM Attachment (10 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That was a sweet setup! Post Extras:       Tanveer Gani scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 11/02/06 Loc: Washington State Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Stacy]       #5072144 - 02/14/12 01:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You've made me miss my AS-GT It seems so petite compared with my current CGE. I have the official, machined metal version of the Wilcox ring on my MN-66 but it never worked too well because the friction between the ring's painted metal surface and the tube rings was too much. With a plastic ring, I can imagine it being smooth. Though to their credit, Intes Micro had put three small knobs to hold on to when turning the OTA. Tanveer. Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Tanveer Gani]       #5072206 - 02/14/12 02:18 PM Attachment (9 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: You've made me miss my AS-GT It seems so petite compared with my current CGE. I have the official, machined metal version of the Wilcox ring on my MN-66 but it never worked too well because the friction between the ring's painted metal surface and the tube rings was too much. With a plastic ring, I can imagine it being smooth. Though to their credit, Intes Micro had put three small knobs to hold on to when turning the OTA. Hmmm... I can't believe Wilcox missed that when he copied my design. There should have been a felt GASKET between the upper ring and the tube ring. Also, I increased the felt LINING of the tube rings themselves slightly for buttery smooth performance. It's hard to see (which may be why Erik missed it) but you can just make out the brown felt in this picture. This adhesive felt can be purchased at Michale's or just about any craft store if I recall... Post Extras:       square_peg Postmaster Reged: 03/26/04 Loc: Maple Valley, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Stacy]       #5072702 - 02/14/12 08:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Also, I increased the felt LINING of the tube rings themselves slightly for buttery smooth performance. When we did my buddy's we bought slightly oversized rings and lined the inside of them with the fuzzy side of some self adhesive velcro. Talk about buttery. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: square_peg]       #5073570 - 02/15/12 11:29 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: My back yard is truly useless for a goto GEM setup unless I just track a planet or moon with very rough polar alignment estimation. Jackie, it might make a fun project to cobble together a setup for better-than-good-enough polar alignment, without the benefit of seeing Polaris. (1) Mark repeatable location for tripod feet; (2) Set up near & far "gunsights" to be superimposed for setting RA, using a compass and incorporating correction for magnetic declination from polar north; (3) From a location where Polaris is visible note the mount setting for correct Dec. I would think something like that would be much more than simply "adequate" for strictly visual use. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Spaced]       #5074042 - 02/15/12 04:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   There are canon IS 15x50 binoculars on AM for $700 right now. Post Extras:       Tanveer Gani scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 11/02/06 Loc: Washington State Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Spaced]       #5074369 - 02/15/12 07:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: My back yard is truly useless for a goto GEM setup unless I just track a planet or moon with very rough polar alignment estimation. Jackie, it might make a fun project to cobble together a setup for better-than-good-enough polar alignment, without the benefit of seeing Polaris. (1) Mark repeatable location for tripod feet; (2) Set up near & far "gunsights" to be superimposed for setting RA, using a compass and incorporating correction for magnetic declination from polar north; (3) From a location where Polaris is visible note the mount setting for correct Dec. I would think something like that would be much more than simply "adequate" for strictly visual use. I don't know how good Orion/Synta GOTO is but with the latest version of Celestron's NexStar, you can polar align using any star in the sky (typically the last one used to align the mount). Polaris need not be visible at all. Perhaps EQMOD supports such a function but then you have to operate with a PC. Tanveer. Post Extras:       Dragonwatcher Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/21/08 Loc: Kirkland, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Sean Puett]       #5074373 - 02/15/12 07:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: There are canon IS 15x50 binoculars on AM for $700 right now. It's pending. But there are a pair on Craigslist for $800 that might have some bargaining room. No shipping fee & you could check them out first hand. I am not in the market myself... Post Extras:       Dragonwatcher Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/21/08 Loc: Kirkland, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Dragonwatcher]       #5074380 - 02/15/12 07:34 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for the alignment suggestions. I think I am pretty happy to use the DM-6 with DSC mostly while at home. I perhaps exaggerated a bit - I can see Polaris but I have to get in far parts of my yard that aren't ideal viewing areas for various and sundry reasons. Polaris is not visible in my favored observing areas. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Sean Puett]       #5074385 - 02/15/12 07:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   There was a break in the gloom last night out here in the Lake Goodwin area!! I got to hook up my AT6RC with the Televue Focal Reducer. Got a few sub exposures before the clouds filled back in. http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/5074361-M45.jpg http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/5073161-Orion.jpg Post Extras:       Tanveer Gani scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 11/02/06 Loc: Washington State Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: zerro1]       #5074395 - 02/15/12 07:43 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: There was a break in the gloom last night out here in the Lake Goodwin area!! I got to hook up my AT6RC with the Televue Focal Reducer. Got a few sub exposures before the clouds filled back in. http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/5074361-M45.jpg http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/5073161-Orion.jpg Niiiice. Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: zerro1]       #5074456 - 02/15/12 08:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: There was a break in the gloom last night out here in the Lake Goodwin area!! I got to hook up my AT6RC with the Televue Focal Reducer. Got a few sub exposures before the clouds filled back in. http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/5074361-M45.jpg http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/5073161-Orion.jpg Sweet! Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Stacy]       #5074520 - 02/15/12 09:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank You Tanveer and Stacy! it's mosty clear right now but there are some bands of high thin clouds moving through... maybe tonight...maybe I really wanted to go after the Cone Nebula, but need a nice stretch of clear sky, not 20 minutes here and there Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: zerro1]       #5075513 - 02/16/12 01:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Those are nice shots. How long do images like that take? Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Sean Puett]       #5075562 - 02/16/12 01:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank you Sean! Orion was 4 x 5 minutes + 17 x 15 seconds and m45 was 3 x 5 minutes. All was taken with a QHY8 color cod camera. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: zerro1]       #5075666 - 02/16/12 02:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Did you use color filters or is that color from using larger aperture? I am a visual only guy and my wife asks me these things. Some day i would like to take some easy images but, nothing that takes too much focus away from visual. I could also get my wife to come out with me if she could take some photos. Imaging would be cool in that you could share images with people who are not into astronomy and maybe spark some interest. My dad Aaron an example, is into space and scifi. He would enjoy the seeing the images. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: Sean Puett]       #5076150 - 02/16/12 08:28 PM Attachment (8 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Sean It's actually a color CCD camera. The QHY8 uses the same sensor that was used in the Nikon D50 DSLR camera. It has what they call a bayer array, that is essentially a multitude of mini filters in a film that is overlayed on the sensor at point of manufacture. I started out using a Canon DSLR for imaging. That is the beauty of the DSLR cameras; versatility. You can do some pretty wonderful images with a DSLR. It doesn't have to interfere with visual work. You can keep it at an easy level with just a tracking mount with a camera and a lens and a remote timer/shutter control, or go to a refractor + guide system. once it's going and taking pictures, it's pretty much hands off. Check it every once in a while and make sure it's still doing it's thing, you don't really want to hang too close anyway as to avoid vibration from foot steps. but there is also often some nice pictures that can be captered in single shots. like this one from Slate Peak looking west accross the North Cascades National Park. Ross Lake is on the other side of two prominent mountains. that light dome is from Vancouver Canada. Moon was out but I went anyway...I didn't go away empty handed. If you look close (just left of center) you can see Mt. Baker. (Maybe a 10 second shot) Edited by zerro1 (02/16/12 08:32 PM) Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: zerro1]       #5077009 - 02/17/12 12:58 PM Attachment (9 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Hi Sean It's actually a color CCD camera. The QHY8 uses the same sensor that was used in the Nikon D50 DSLR camera. It has what they call a bayer array, that is essentially a multitude of mini filters in a film that is overlayed on the sensor at point of manufacture. I started out using a Canon DSLR for imaging. That is the beauty of the DSLR cameras; versatility. You can do some pretty wonderful images with a DSLR. It doesn't have to interfere with visual work. You can keep it at an easy level with just a tracking mount with a camera and a lens and a remote timer/shutter control, or go to a refractor + guide system. once it's going and taking pictures, it's pretty much hands off. Check it every once in a while and make sure it's still doing it's thing, you don't really want to hang too close anyway as to avoid vibration from foot steps. but there is also often some nice pictures that can be captered in single shots. like this one from Slate Peak looking west accross the North Cascades National Park. Ross Lake is on the other side of two prominent mountains. that light dome is from Vancouver Canada. Moon was out but I went anyway...I didn't go away empty handed. If you look close (just left of center) you can see Mt. Baker. (Maybe a 10 second shot) All of my images are single shots..and I use an unmodified Cannon Rebel DSLR with my homemade remote cable. When I see something I want to take a picture of..I simply slide the camera with its *T* ring adapter into the filterwheel or the draw tube depending on which focuser I have on the scope at the time...and shoot away. Generally short one single exposure images. And I'm primarily a visual guy myself...but some shots are nice to show my sweetheart..since she rarely come out to the OB..in the dark...while it's cold. Here is what you can do with a single short exposure image. Just a couple...we begin with the moon and Clavius Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: rwiederrich]       #5077026 - 02/17/12 01:03 PM Attachment (8 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A quick 5 second shot of Orion Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 5 .... [Re: rwiederrich]       #5077042 - 02/17/12 01:08 PM Attachment (9 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A very fast single exposure of Jupiter. Post Extras:       Pages: << 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 | 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 113 | 114 | 115 | 116 | 117 | 118 | 119 | 120 | >> (show all)

Previous   Index   Next   Threaded

Extra information 2 registered and 0 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  csa/montana, darklighteditor  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 68628 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Celestial Events*General Astronomy* -----   Beginners Forum   General Observing and Astronomy   Outreach   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Speciality Forums* -----   Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo   NEAF (Northeast Astronomy Forum) and NEAIC (Northeast Astro Imaging Conference)   AstroArt   Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties   Astronomy Software & Computers   AstroWebsites   Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and Others   Space Rocks   Stellar Media*Swap and Shop* -----   Shop and Swap Audio Components*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   IYA Archive Info

CN Forums Home