Sketching Contest

Recent Additions

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  Reopening of The WPF (When Pigs Fly) Observatory

  Yesterday, 03:13 PM by camper_david

  After quite a long time in limbo I recently began to rehabilitate my backyard observatory. It had lain fallow for a couple of years due to life distractions and the rationalization that I could go there any time I wanted. After shoveling out the POD from a recent mid-February snowstorm I went inside to inspect the mount, telescopes, and surroundings.

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  The Discoveries of Galileo – Part 4: Venus

  Mar 28 2021 11:46 AM by E-Ray

  Galileo’s discoveries of Jupiter, sunspots, and the Moon were covered in parts 1 through 3 of this series. This article will cover an important discovery that Galileo made in late 1610 of his observations of Venus.

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  How to Make a Flat Frame Panel for Dark Sites (Cheap)

  Mar 28 2021 11:16 AM by profdmt

  Having recently dived into astrophotography, I have found that most problems I face have been faced before, and have a plethora of solutions. Typically, those fall into a couple of categories – expensive, and cheap do-it-yourself. But backyard astronomers being the type of people they are, they tend to share one endearing characteristic – heavily over-engineered for the problem at hand.

Cloudy Nights Announcements

User Reviews

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  Astrotrac 360 tracking platform – first impression

  Jan 31 2021 06:33 PM by Magnar W.

  After some waiting my Astrotrac 360 arrived, and the drive looks great straight out of the box. Beautifully machined, light weight, and compact. Just what I was asking for, after moving to a city, leaving my fully equipped small observatory behind me at the countryside.

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  FIELD TEST: CARL ZEISS APOCHROMATIC & SHARPEST (CZAS) BINOVIEWER

  Jan 24 2021 07:12 PM by wapaolini

  This astronomical binoviewer is offered by Denis Levatić of Croatia (denis0007dl@gmail.com) as an after-market modification of new Zeiss binoviewer bodies. Mr. Levatić's value-added modifications to these Zeiss binoviewer bodies are then offered under the moniker of "The Carl Zeiss Apochromatic & Sharpest Binoviewer".

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  Omegon 32mm 70º SWA eyepiece review

  Jan 24 2021 06:29 PM by astrocanito

  There is no review of this eyepiece on internet and i bought it and found interesting to make a video about it.

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  Review of iPolar hardware and software for polar alignment

  Dec 05 2020 07:41 PM by stephen.kennedy

  iOptron’s iPolar upgrade, which replaces the optical scope on the iOptron SkyGuider Pro, does not accurately provide polar alignment when compared to results measured using identical equipment operating Sharpcap Pro and the specified guide camera and scope. Data was collected while simultaneously running both the iPolar alignment software and SharcapPro on the same equipment. The deficiency is consistent with an issue in the iPolar system’s calculation of altitude parameters in polar alignment after plate solving.

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  Review of the Hubble Optics 14 inch, f/4.6 Premium Ultra Light Dobsonian Telescope

  Sep 29 2020 06:35 PM by Chris Westland

  I looked at HO telescopes for some time before purchasing mine. On paper, the design is elegant, and takes advantage of the 6063-T6 aluminum alloy used in all of the telescope’s components. The sandwich mirror is innovative. The upper cage looks more rigid than a flat ring, but without being too heavy. In general the HO telescopes are unique and affordable. I am a previous owner of an Obsession Classic 20", and Dave Kriege’s scope set a standard for what I was expecting from a Dobsonian telescope.

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  My experience with the Starizona Landing Pad

  Aug 29 2020 06:31 PM by emgeesea

  I wanted to provide a review of my experience with a Starizona Landing Pad I recently purchased for my CPC 1100.

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  A quick Review of the MIGHTY MAX 12V 100AH BATTERY

  Aug 29 2020 05:20 PM by skunkwirks

  I would highly recommend this battery for your portable equipment, I am convinced.

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  Nexus II Review

  Aug 29 2020 04:54 PM by xrayvizhen

  SUMMARY: The Nexus II is an outstanding piece of equipment that allows anyone to use their Smartphone or tablet and see where their telescope is precisely pointed. It is an extremely cost effective and easy way for someone to add digital setting circles and a “Push-To” function to just about any telescope.

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  New Moon Telescopes 20”F/3.3 Review

  Aug 23 2020 06:37 PM by ilan_shapira

  This instrument answers to all my requirements from a big dob and is mostly used during my dark site trips. While double stars and planets are not the specialty of this scope, it handles them fairly well, but requires extra good conditions - backyard usage is not optimal as atmospheric disturbances dramatically affect the views. DSOs is where this instrument excels and provides the best performance under dark skies, especially with faint galaxies. During my last dark site session, after the COVID-19 restrictions lifted, I had barely time to observe myself as others lined up to view instead.

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  FIELD TEST OF THE BAADER MAXBRIGHT® II BINOVIEWER

  May 09 2020 07:38 PM by wapaolini

  Overall, using the MaxBright II Binovewer has been a transformative experience for me. I have been binoviewing with my telescopes for well over a decade, but the experience has never been what I would call a pleasant one due to the myriad of quirks I find when using the William Optics Binoviewers. However, with the MaxBright II Binoviewer all the issues I previously encountered are now fully resolved, making my experience binoviewing for the first time entirely enjoyable.

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  My Experience using SkyWatch for the Alphea All Sky Camera from Alcor Systems

  Mar 05 2020 02:17 PM by TeslaTrek

  The Alphea 6CL AllSky Camera is a well-made ruggedized outdoor color camera with equally ruggedized connectors. There is no bubble level to aid vertical alignment. The Alphea camera is very expensive given the accompanying SkyWatch software is not reliable and the user interface not well thought out. The software has the feel of an explorative research project into what can be done with an AllSkyCam. The overall slow performance is unimpressive. I discovered many bugs and quirks. It includes many features, which are not well documented. This along with almost non-existent user support makes for an expensive and frustrating AllSky Camera experience. Given the present state of the software, the user might want to consider AllSkyEye. In summary, given all the issues I found with SkyWatch, I would still look forward to a significant software update because SkyWatch does show much promise.

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  Astroart 7 - A Review and "How To" (Part 1)

  Feb 25 2020 09:29 PM by shadowoo2

  This tutorial/review will be a 2 part series. We will discuss in this series the capturing process from start to finish and then part 2 will delve into the processing of your acquired subs.