3075 replies to this topic

[acrh2]

Me sitting in recliner watching while the Horsehead came in, it was in the 20s last night …. I had Vespera out there for about 5 hrs so I set the umbrella up for dew shield, worked well, she stayed dry while frost was forming on stuff nearby, I only let it run on batteries for 2 hours and decided to plug it in…. I think it still runs on batteries but charges at same time, battery is rated for 4 hrs

Your living room version of Horsehead looks better than the one you posted in #25,

What is the light pollution in your area?

 

And could you show the Horsehead without clipping noise to black?

Thanks.

[GSBass]

It is what it is , we all have our different taste for how we like our images to look, I liked it, I have bortle 5 skies

Your living room version of Horsehead looks better than the one you posted in #25,

What is the light pollution in your area?

 

And could you show the Horsehead without clipping noise to black?

Thanks.

[Melgabean]

Just thought more about the timer thing, that would be a nice update to be able to select 4 or 5 targets with predetermined exposure times and just let it run… but as it is right now everything is manual, even saving the photo you just completed requires a manual save,there is a button on the main page to save in to a gallery within the app, but you can also click the right hand corner and save to your camera roll .

 

this brings up one issue that I wish didn’t exist… obviously if your capturing your wifi is connected to Vespera, so if , for example you wanted to save the photo you just took to iCloud to edit on your laptop or other device then your out of luck, all images are stuck on your device until you disconnect from Vespera and get back on your network, I may try saving to a usb-c thumb drive next time. You kind of feel like you should keep the robot busy while it’s set up… as soon as you finish one you are sending it to the next immediately so it keeps your device offline for quite a while

Is there no way to bridge the Vespers to your home network? This would allow you to be connected to both the internet and the Vespers at the same time. If it's not included out of the box I wonder if they can fix that with an update.

[acrh2]

It is what it is , we all have our different taste for how we like our images to look, I liked it, I have bortle 5 skies

So, no on posting the original picture?

[GSBass]

If there is then I don’t know how to do it, I suppose it’s really no big deal to just use a thumb drive, I had just gotten use to using iCloud , I usually save to a folder there and then can access it from the laptop because some of my editing tools are windows based

Is there no way to bridge the Vespers to your home network? This would allow you to be connected to both the internet and the Vespers at the same time. If it's not included out of the box I wonder if they can fix that with an update.

[GSBass]

Btw I am using a wifi extender that works well, Vespera wouldn’t quite make it from the driveway to the living room so now I can place it about anywhere in the yard and have a strong signal

Is there no way to bridge the Vespers to your home network? This would allow you to be connected to both the internet and the Vespers at the same time. If it's not included out of the box I wonder if they can fix that with an update.

[nwcs]

Btw I am using a wifi extender that works well, Vespera wouldn’t quite make it from the driveway to the living room so now I can place it about anywhere in the yard and have a strong signal

If you are using an iOS device with cellular data you can do it. While connected to Vespera (or Stellina) on wifi you can still do whatever you like with the internet via cell. But if your device is wifi only then that is a limitation.

[GSBass]

I don’t have cellular on the iPad but I think it’s worth the limitation if you enjoy watching the image come in, 12.9 is a good size for this, I thought about running the program on my phone though and seeing if I could mirror it on the tv with airplay 

If you are using an iOS device with cellular data you can do it. While connected to Vespera (or Stellina) on wifi you can still do whatever you like with the internet via cell. But if your device is wifi only then that is a limitation.

[GSBass]

Ok.. so just tested and the app mirrors fine, only draw back is Vaonis decision to make the app portrait mode only limits you to get to enjoy the middle third of the big screen, but if you have a 55” or larger tv that’s still a huge image and looks nice…. I bet an oled screen would look outstanding…. So anyway if your not interested in watching tv while imaging then it is a nice option, you can surf and edit while just looking up at your tv to watch current image come in

———

p.s. obviously this requires you have an appletv to do this, I’m not sure how android works but they probably have similar functionality with other streaming devices

Edited by GSBass, 05 January 2022 - 09:34 AM.

[Aworonow]

Got my Vespera out last night for the first time. I was very impressed with the results. I also have a Stellina, and, frankly, the Vespera real-time pictures are just as good for real-time sharing. I did want to process the images from the FITS files, but could not figure out how to save them. Reviewing the above postings, it appears that Vaonis has not figured out how to save them either...is that correct? Why doesn't a statement of that accompany the scope?

 

How does one save a TIF? (or is that not possible either?)

 

Will there ever be a useful user's manual for the Vespera and the Stellina?  -- here's hoping --

 

One other thing...the bubble level on mine is inserted at an angle into the holder. There does not seem to be a way to pop-it-in into a flat orientation. Anyone else with that problem and/or a suggestion? I wrote to Vaonis a couple of weeks ago and never got a response. They certainly need more than Agnes handling customer needs.

 

Alex

[GSBass]

Hi, to try to answer your questions

1) yes Vaonis has not finished writing the software for the fits software, spoke with them yesterday and they are shooting for 60 days to get this out

2} open your singularity app without Vespera connected, click on right hand corner, go to parameters and enable tiff save. Now when you connect Vespera if you click in the right corner you will have the option to save tiff. …. But just understand the tiff is an unprocessed stack, I tried to manipulate by stretching etc but really got no where close to the quality the robot did, but it’s mostly due to my inexperience and why I would prefer to just save a tiff of the robots image instead of doing the processing manually… the fits files will be different because you will be able to choose which ones you stack and that should give more creative control.

3) I’ve seen the complaint of no instructions before with Stellina, it’s just the companies mode of operation, they have a knowledge base on their website but don’t expect an official how to guide… they don’t do that lol…. Although it may not be completely correct, they believe they have met the simplicity goal…. No instruction required

4) I saw your comment on the level the other day, hopefully you reached out to Vaonis and they have already put a replacement in the mail…. Mine is fine, however it’s small, I thought right away I wanted a better solution. I still thinking on this but I think I would like a 14” round board the I could put leveling knobs on and a giant bubble level in the center, that way I can plop it down anywhere in the yard and level it and then just place Vespera on it and be good to go…. That’s the simplest solution, would probably cost me 40 bucks for the hardware.

5) write Vaonis again about your bubble, it must have gotton lost in the shuffle, they will send you another asap

Got my Vespera out last night for the first time. I was very impressed with the results. I also have a Stellina, and, frankly, the Vespera real-time pictures are just as good for real-time sharing. I did want to process the images from the FITS files, but could not figure out how to save them. Reviewing the above postings, it appears that Vaonis has not figured out how to save them either...is that correct? Why doesn't a statement of that accompany the scope?

 

How does one save a TIF? (or is that not possible either?)

 

Will there ever be a useful user's manual for the Vespera and the Stellina?  -- here's hoping --

 

One other thing...the bubble level on mine is inserted at an angle into the holder. There does not seem to be a way to pop-it-in into a flat orientation. Anyone else with that problem and/or a suggestion? I wrote to Vaonis a couple of weeks ago and never got a response. They certainly need more than Agnes handling customer needs.

 

Alex

Edited by GSBass, 05 January 2022 - 10:35 AM.

[GSBass]

My Robot has inspired me to try to image the flame nebula sometime with my edl, that was my first time imaging it, a very cool nebula, lots of structure even at 50mm, all kinds of cloud animals in there when you zoom in on it

Edited by GSBass, 05 January 2022 - 11:21 AM.

[GSBass]

Just to expand on what I had in mind for the leveling pad, basically it would be three of these, could use either a round or triangular pad with one of those 3 inch precision bubble levels they have on Amazon in the center, I dunno, I just like simplicity and I don’t have any level surfaces 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Aworonow]

#1 thanks for your reply to my earlier email

 

#2 the leveling board is a great idea. Also, I have a pretty nice tripod for my 35mm camera that I think might match the threaded bottom of the Vespera. If not, there are thread converters. And the camera tripod has levels.

 

BTW, I was able to take dark frames on the Stellina, in doors, without opening the scope, using the advanced mode, as I recall. Is there a simple way to take darks on the Vespera? As I've read, it does not have an advanced mode, right?

 

alex

Edited by Aworonow, 05 January 2022 - 01:13 PM.

[GSBass]

I do not believe it does yet … I’m still exploring all options, I did just go in to manual mode and “if” this is available when I connect Vespera then I think it’s pretty wonderful because I can make duplicates of objects near zenith with a shorter exposure to help keep the stars nice …. Some thin clouds moving through the area tonight but I may have a couple hours to try to image some more… 

#1 thanks for your reply to my earlier email

 

#2 the leveling board is a great idea. Also, I have a pretty nice tripod for my 35mm camera that I think might match the threaded bottom of the Vespera. If not, there are thread converters. And the camera tripod has levels.

 

BTW, I was able to take dark frames on the Stellina, in doors, without opening the scope, using the advanced mode, as I recall. Is there a simple way to take darks on the Vespera? As I've read, it does not have an advanced mode, right?

 

alex

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Aworonow]

Thanks, I'll go through that menu and see what's available. Still struggling my way through the menus!

 

Here's what I've done... many leveling options!

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[GSBass]

I did just update to v2.1 , I went in to plan a session and was able to input a few objects for auto capture but at the end it did say not yet available for Vespera… that verbiage sounds like it’s coming though, I did however successfully add a manual version of the triangulum galaxy and set it at 5 sec exposures… I left it at default 20 db gain since I’m unfamiliar with that but it’s nice to know I have at least some manual control….. it’s just my back up plan in case I get unacceptable Star drift…. That’s how I fix it in sharpcap anyway…cool breeze

Edited by GSBass, 05 January 2022 - 02:29 PM.

[GSBass]

So what is the thread, did you need an adapter? I think I have a tripod in the garage I’m not using so that’s definitely another option to consider

Thanks, I'll go through that menu and see what's available. Still struggling my way through the menus!

 

Here's what I've done... many leveling options!

[Aworonow]

I needed an adaptor because the tripod's interchangeable head uses 1/4", I guess, and the Vespera is 3/8". Some tripods are native 3/8". Adaptors are cheap and the rig seems totally stable. I'll let you all know if suddenly the scope falls off!!!

 

alex

[GSBass]

No worries, the attachment point seems pretty robust

I needed an adaptor because the tripod's interchangeable head uses 1/4", I guess, and the Vespera is 3/8". Some tripods are native 3/8". Adaptors are cheap and the rig seems totally stable. I'll let you all know if suddenly the scope falls off!!!

 

alex

[Aworonow]

Vespera specs say it uses a 10s exposure. I timed it, and it seems more like 6 or so seconds between updates on the exposure slider. Anyone else noticed that?

Alex

[jprideaux]

I was hoping Vaonis would not simply turn off certain software features for the Vespera just to have the Stellina be able to do more (like some manual features).  

Sure there will be some things the Stellina can do that the Vespera can't due to hardware differences but I hope the Vespera is not limited to what the software could do.  

 

I'm encouraged for what GSBass has found so far about features turned on for the Vespera for the manual mode.  Hopefully the Software for the Vespera won't be limited for marketing reasons.

 

As for using a taller tripod, Vaonis has said they will be providing a taller tripod for those with the delayed orders (like mine).  It is a fact that dew seems to occur lower-down first so getting it higher off the ground would have some advantages if your location is prone to dew up.  Good for Vaonis to provide 3/8" as opposed to 1/4".  Bigger is better in this case.

[GSBass]

Trying Stephen quintet now, I think she was ready for a challenge , this target will be very small in the fov so will be in testing to see how much it can pick up, also it’s pretty high in sky so interested in how the stars will look

[GSBass]

The little robot that could

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[GSBass]

Stephens Quintet and ngc-7331 Vespera 1/5/22 1 hour exposure

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by GSBass, 06 January 2022 - 12:15 AM.