15 replies to this topic

[Rouzbeh]

Looks like the BC star parties are on this year.

 

I believe they are both in the end of August, any guides on the differences between them?

 

Merritt is about 2 hours closer to me.

 

Also, I'm assuming we have to bring EVERYTHING? Don't have camper so considering getting a motel close-by to recharge my batteries and myself!

 

Would be nice to meet fellow BC imagers, any tips would be great.

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

[scopewizard]

Looks like the BC star parties are on this year.

 

I believe they are both in the end of August, any guides on the differences between them?

 

Merritt is about 2 hours closer to me.

 

Also, I'm assuming we have to bring EVERYTHING? Don't have camper so considering getting a motel close-by to recharge my batteries and myself!

 

Would be nice to meet fellow BC imagers, any tips would be great.

 

 

 

Thanks,

I have been to the Merrith star party. I do believe it has been moved as the site permit has been cancelled, mostly due to forest fire and the site to return to wilderness.

The organizers are looking for an alternate location. It is my intent to attend.

Mount Kobau star party maybe on. Hotel is not feasible as the climb to the summit every day can be over one hour. I have always set camp at the top.

BTW, I am in St Albert.

[Rouzbeh]

I have been to the Merrith star party. I do believe it has been moved as the site permit has been cancelled, mostly due to forest fire and the site to return to wilderness.

The organizers are looking for an alternate location. It is my intent to attend.

Mount Kobau star party maybe on. Hotel is not feasible as the climb to the summit every day can be over one hour. I have always set camp at the top.

BTW, I am in St Albert.

 

Thank you for the tips. I wouldn't have guessed its that long a drive up Kobau.

 

Looking at the light pollution maps, both seem to be as dark, Bortle 2 but Kobau is higher in elevation.

 

I spoke to some RASC members at a recent event and they did say the Merritt organizers are looking for a new location. 

 

I'm setup in a home observatory with a large setup, so needs quite a bit of works to go mobile.

 

Hope we have some more updates soon.

 

St. Albert is a long drive!

[scopewizard]

Thank you for the tips. I wouldn't have guessed its that long a drive up Kobau.

 

Looking at the light pollution maps, both seem to be as dark, Bortle 2 but Kobau is higher in elevation.

 

I spoke to some RASC members at a recent event and they did say the Merritt organizers are looking for a new location. 

 

I'm setup in a home observatory with a large setup, so needs quite a bit of works to go mobile.

 

Hope we have some more updates soon.

 

St. Albert is a long drive!

My first time at KSP was in 1994. I have attended at least 10 times. Last trek was back, 2013.

It is almost 13 hours to KSP for me and 10 to Merrith.

 

I started in 1992 with a Meade 2080 8" than in 1996 I build a 16" F5 dob (Barry Arnold optics). I used this scope until 2021.

I now focus on imaging with the equipment listed in my signature block.

 

My setup is mobile

[Rouzbeh]

My first time at KSP was in 1994. I have attended at least 10 times. Last trek was back, 2013.

It is almost 13 hours to KSP for me and 10 to Merrith.

 

I started in 1992 with a Meade 2080 8" than in 1996 I build a 16" F5 dob (Barry Arnold optics). I used this scope until 2021.

I now focus on imaging with the equipment listed in my signature block.

 

My setup is mobile

Ah so must have a lot of experience there! I personally never have been to either.

 

I started in 2002 and at one point did build a 10" newt with a Royce conical (great optics) for imaging.

 

I'm now imaging exclusively with CDKs scopes and like the results.

 

Just swapping out this 12.5 for the larger CDK14", the gear is quite large and heavy.

 

12v power is a concern and I suppose Ill need a generator to recharge batteries.

 

I emailed the Merritt organizers, no reply yet.

 

 

Gallery here:

https://www.astrobin.../users/Rouzbeh/

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[scopewizard]

Ah so must have a lot of experience there! I personally never have been to either.

 

I started in 2002 and at one point did build a 10" newt with a Royce conical (great optics) for imaging.

 

I'm now imaging exclusively with CDKs scopes and like the results.

 

Just swapping out this 12.5 for the larger CDK14", the gear is quite large and heavy.

 

12v power is a concern and I suppose Ill need a generator to recharge batteries.

 

I emailed the Merritt organizers, no reply yet.

 

 

Gallery here:

https://www.astrobin.../users/Rouzbeh/

That would be a heavy setup for sure.

As for power, these locations have none, not even water. Hotels in Merrith are available and were 15 mins from the site but now who knows where it will be.

Operating a generator is highly regulated as people want to sleep in the morning.

I have solar panels on my travel trailer so I can recharge my batteries easily.

I also use LiFePO4 batteries which will last for almost 3 long nights of imaging.

My setup is controlled remotely inside my trailer.

I just setup, polar align with Sharpcap, go in and get sequences going, go out and enjoy the night using my bino.

I use a laptop for RDP to control the minipc on the scope to start imaging (NINA) and monitor the progress from time to time on my Android tablet later.

Low power solution for sure.

Edited by scopewizard, 06 March 2022 - 06:36 PM.

[Rouzbeh]

That would be a heavy setup for sure.

As for power, these locations have none, not even water. Hotels in Merrith are available and were 15 mins from the site but now who knows where it will be.

Operating a generator is highly regulated as people want to sleep in the morning.

I have solar panels on my travel trailer so I can recharge my batteries easily.

I also use LiFePO4 batteries which will last for almost 3 long nights of imaging.

My setup is controlled remotely inside my trailer.

I just setup, polar align with Sharpcap, go in and get sequences going, go out and enjoy the night using my bino.

I use a laptop for RDP to control the minipc on the scope to start imaging (NINA) and monitor the progress from time to time on my Android tablet later.

Low power solution for sure.

 

Nice setup, I pretty much have the same thing and recently got a tiny micro PC that will be mounted on the mount using 10w of power to run NINA as well.

 

I got a 13" portable monitor that can run off a small powerbank to try to not use the laptop all.

 

I looked at solar chargers, looks like that is the way to go. I also looked ay DC to Dc chargers to perhaps run my car for an hour during the day to charge the batts.

 

I'm not sure of the battery size needed, looked at 50 and 100mah LiFePO4s (not cheap!).

 

That picture was the older 12", the next one will be an 14" (below) not sure if its a smart idea to carry that to a mountain top!

 

Do you happen to know the approx seeing range there?  Its about 2.25 to 2.5" here in West Vancouver

 

 

Still no reply from the Merritt team.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Rouzbeh]

No food and water is also something to consider!

 

Another concern is that it takes a god 3 to 4 hours to set the rig up, polar align and build a pointing model. We only have a few hours of darkness and then the sun comes up. 

 

I really wouldn't want to tear everything down, and probably best to buy a canopy to cover it during the day. Hopefully it not windy and that solution will work. If that's the case, it wont allow me going to a motel in Merritt and kind of stuck at the site.

 

 

Quite a few things to work out, a "regular" person wouldn't understand why we put ourselves through all this trouble

[scopewizard]

With such a long setup, taking it down every nights and back up the next session would be a pain.

 

If you plan a hotel, a LiFePO4 battery is very light, 18lbs, 60 amps is more than enough if you recharge it every day at the hotel.

 

I don't do any model, polar align with Sharpcap and plate solve the target with NINA.

 

Here my setups,

GT71 and FLT132, also not shown C8 EdgeHD.

My guidescope, minipc and power control/dew ( build these) and camera setup, all mount the same way on all my scope.

Normally 15mins to setup focus and PA, ready to image a target 5mins later.

These photos are a few months old, some minor changes have been made on the GT71.

 

 

 

[Rouzbeh]

Nice compact and efficient setup. I bet thats a lot more fun to set up compared to to big heavy reflector.

 

 

"With such a long setup, taking it down every nights and back up the next session would be a pain."

I'm sure it will be, Im wondering if its better to get a canopy to protect during the day and stay on site for several day. 

I don't have a camper so it will be sleeping in the back of the SUV, don't sure how practical that would be. Easier said than done!

 

 

 

 

"If you plan a hotel, a LiFePO4 battery is very light, 18lbs, 60 amps is more than enough if you recharge it every day at the hotel."

 

I'm thinking if no hotel, then maybe a 100amp batt would last several days, perhaps will still need a solar charger. 

 

Quite a lot of logistical issues to work out.

[scopewizard]

Nice compact and efficient setup. I bet thats a lot more fun to set up compared to to big heavy reflector.

 

 

"With such a long setup, taking it down every nights and back up the next session would be a pain."

I'm sure it will be, Im wondering if its better to get a canopy to protect during the day and stay on site for several day. 

I don't have a camper so it will be sleeping in the back of the SUV, don't sure how practical that would be. Easier said than done!

 

 

 

 

"If you plan a hotel, a LiFePO4 battery is very light, 18lbs, 60 amps is more than enough if you recharge it every day at the hotel."

 

I'm thinking if no hotel, then maybe a 100amp batt would last several days, perhaps will still need a solar charger. 

 

Quite a lot of logistical issues to work out.

A 100 amps LiFePO4 battery will stay above 12vdc until 80+% drain. Deep cycle is more like 45-50%.

 

On average 7 hours of imaging drains the battery of 20 amps. you would be good for at least 2 nights. At the end of August, 7 hours would close to the average possible imaging time.

 

A small 1000 watts generator would recharge the Lithium after a couple hours, a 100 watts solar panel in full sunlight maybe 3 hours.

 

100 w solar panels are a fair size to log around.  If Merrith Star Quest is on this year, I am planning on attending.

[Rouzbeh]

A 100 amps LiFePO4 battery will stay above 12vdc until 80+% drain. Deep cycle is more like 45-50%.

 

On average 7 hours of imaging drains the battery of 20 amps. you would be good for at least 2 nights. At the end of August, 7 hours would close to the average possible imaging time.

 

A small 1000 watts generator would recharge the Lithium after a couple hours, a 100 watts solar panel in full sunlight maybe 3 hours.

 

100 w solar panels are a fair size to log around.  If Merrith Star Quest is on this year, I am planning on attending.

 

It seems I will need a 50 or 100amp and in either case will need a solar charger. I would have guessed it takes longer than 3 hours with a solar charger to charge a battery, thats good news.

 

 

 

These can be sorted somehow, I can imaging sleep, food, water will be the bigger challenge!

 

 

Looking forward to seeing you there, lets see if its on. Will be in touch.

[cmdrkeen]

I am late to the discussion, but glad to find this thread. I am in Vancouver, BC where seriously cursed by heavy light pollution from newly built high rise condos (Bortle 9). Now it is tricky for me to find even Casiopea.

 

In addition to Meritt and Mt. Kobau star parties, I have heard about one star party at Porteau Cove (maybe this one: https://www.youtube....h?v=0wIPxWOaysw). While Meritt and Mt. Kobau are a bit challenging for me given the distance, Porteau Cove would be quite feasible for me.

 

Also, I found that Vancouver Island was a quite good place to seek places for stargazing. I camped at Long Beach this summer and was able to take good photos.

 

M33

 

Below M27 is a single frame photo (not stacked).

Edited by cmdrkeen, 06 November 2022 - 11:14 PM.

[Rouzbeh]

I am late to the discussion, but glad to find this thread. I am in Vancouver, BC where seriously cursed by heavy light pollution from newly built high rise condos (Bortle 9). Now it is tricky for me to find even Casiopea.

 

In addition to Meritt and Mt. Kobau star parties, I have heard about one star party at Porteau Cove (maybe this one: https://www.youtube....h?v=0wIPxWOaysw). While Meritt and Mt. Kobau are a bit challenging for me given the distance, Porteau Cove would be quite feasible for me.

 

Also, I found that Vancouver Island was a quite good place to seek places for stargazing. I camped at Long Beach this summer and was able to take good photos.

 

M33

 

 

Below M27 is a single frame photo (not stacked).

 

 

Nice to hear from you.

Yes, Vancouver light pollution is horrendous. I shoot from West Vancouver that is better but a proper dark site would be best.

 

I was giving a talk at Manning Park that was a 3 hour drive for me, they have some nice skies there too. I didn't make it to Mt. Kobau this year and Merritt was cancelled.

 

I hadn't tried the site at Porteu Cove, its a perfect spot for me if its actually dark. Its only a few hundred feet from the highway, hopefully that part is not lit up?

 

I did start a FB page - BC Astronomy and Astrophotography, you are welcome to join. Also, I have guides on shooting from light polluted skies for beginners (probably not you):

https://rouzastro.com/guides/

 

 

These are shoots from our backyard in West Vancouver (Nebulae and Galaxies):

https://rouzastro.co...trophotography/

 

 

CS

Rouz

[Rouzbeh]

I am late to the discussion, but glad to find this thread. I am in Vancouver, BC where seriously cursed by heavy light pollution from newly built high rise condos (Bortle 9). Now it is tricky for me to find even Casiopea.

 

In addition to Meritt and Mt. Kobau star parties, I have heard about one star party at Porteau Cove (maybe this one: https://www.youtube....h?v=0wIPxWOaysw). While Meritt and Mt. Kobau are a bit challenging for me given the distance, Porteau Cove would be quite feasible for me.

 

Also, I found that Vancouver Island was a quite good place to seek places for stargazing. I camped at Long Beach this summer and was able to take good photos.

 

M33

 

 

Below M27 is a single frame photo (not stacked).

 

 

Looking at this site on Google maps shows lights right next to the site, unless they don't work or are off?

 

https://www.google.c...!7i16384!8i8192

[chinaknight]

Looking at this site on Google maps shows lights right next to the site, unless they don't work or are off?

 

https://www.google.c...!7i16384!8i8192

Don't know if you've been to Porteau Cove Lookout since your posts here, but in reality, those lights really don't affect too much. There's usually a couple of cars parked there that block them since it's a starting off point for a long-distance hike. I go up to Porteau quite often, since I live in Central Coquitlam. Most of the light is, in fact, pointed down, and a few people have managed to take some quite nice photos from the parking lot. 

 

The last time I went to Mt.Kobau was, I believe, 1991. I'm planning on going this year (2024) if the smoke stays away.