24 replies to this topic

[auroraTDunn]

OK, that title will age many of us and yes it's misquoted but thou knowest the reality!

Now for the feature attraction.

 

I propose we start a movement to put a light switch on the moon to turn it off and forbid clouds at night!!!

 

I have been trying since January to just get a measly 16 hours of Ha and a few R,G,B hours on a target and still can't. Now I get less then an hour a night before trees become an issue on that target.

Last night I attempted yet another 11 300sec frames (kept 6!) then moved to Markarians Chain for last months Goofi challenge, because all total I had less then 45 hours LRGB, and took 94 180sec images yet thanks to clouds we should not have had, forecast wise, I kept 34.

Naturally the only decent nights, all night I EVER get is when the moon is a major stopper, even with Ha. Then moon dims down and clouds assault us. If I was a kid in school I'd be screaming "Mother Nature is bullying me!" I've had so few decent nights since before the end of November that I just want to cry. Sadly with the current state of things we are headed straight into fire smoke season. We can not win!

 

Is it me or is it just so much worse now, then when the title phrase was in theaters. Is it my memory or was our time just limited to hyper-gassed film availability and film processing time and not the sky itself? I know back then, where I still live, it was Bortle 2 skies now I'm cursed with entering Bortle 6. Not the increase we want to see!

Is it time we start building remote sites in orbit

 

Now the real question, did venting help me feel better this morning and can now get my mind back on work???

[Bob Campbell]

OK, that title will age many of us and yes it's misquoted but thou knowest the reality!

Now for the feature attraction.

 

I propose we start a movement to put a light switch on the moon to turn it off and forbid clouds at night!!!

 

I have been trying since January to just get a measly 16 hours of Ha and a few R,G,B hours on a target and still can't. Now I get less then an hour a night before trees become an issue on that target.

Last night I attempted yet another 11 300sec frames (kept 6!) then moved to Markarians Chain for last months Goofi challenge, because all total I had less then 45 hours LRGB, and took 94 180sec images yet thanks to clouds we should not have had, forecast wise, I kept 34.

Naturally the only decent nights, all night I EVER get is when the moon is a major stopper, even with Ha. Then moon dims down and clouds assault us. If I was a kid in school I'd be screaming "Mother Nature is bullying me!" I've had so few decent nights since before the end of November that I just want to cry. Sadly with the current state of things we are headed straight into fire smoke season. We can not win!

 

Is it me or is it just so much worse now, then when the title phrase was in theaters. Is it my memory or was our time just limited to hyper-gassed film availability and film processing time and not the sky itself? I know back then, where I still live, it was Bortle 2 skies now I'm cursed with entering Bortle 6. Not the increase we want to see!

Is it time we start building remote sites in orbit

 

Now the real question, did venting help me feel better this morning and can now get my mind back on work???

noticed the same.

 

It will be interesting to see when the solar cycle comes off its peak and moderates will the clouds/haze subside? It's probably wishful thinking.

 

Lots of particulates in my sky which in effect amplifies the already severe light dome.

 

You could take up a parallel hobby that keeps you occupied in the evenings that does not require a clear sky and no moon. Back in the day I took up the guitar.

 

Bob

[David Ridge]

Yeah, but no - it didn't make you feel better. But get to work anyway. 😂

[hyiger]

If I move to the Atacama dessert and start setting up my rig, it'll probably start raining for the first time in 100 years.

[Oddyse]

Yep, Murphy's Law was probably invented by astronomers. Weather, clouds, cold, moon, Bortle, finicky equipment, etc. And I read this morning Space X just launched 20 more satellites. Tennessee

[BKMaynard]

It’s maddening. And what the weather forecast calls ’clear’ is laughable. Forecasters should be upfront and just say they don’t know

[Arie]

Got myself a TAK for Xmass. Took a first light a few days later.
That was it . . . . . . 
Not a decent clear night ever since.

[hyiger]

Got myself a TAK for Xmass. Took a first light a few days later.
That was it . . . . . . 
Not a decent clear night ever since.

I lived in Amsterdam for 3 years so I feel your pain with regard to the weather. 

 

Was planning to go to my dark site this Saturday for club night. So I just bought an EvoStar 100ED yesterday as a visual only scope to give me something to do while imaging. I paid an extra $50 so it will arrive on time. Yesterday it was sunny and 23C with no clouds. Saturday night it will be 0C and it might snow............. 

Edited by hyiger, 03 April 2024 - 01:39 PM.

[auroraTDunn]

It was supposed to be clear tonight too. Now I'm having to move my mount in because of incoming rain.

I guess that's what I get from whining!

[Sam Danigelis]

I'm quoting from someone on CN:

"The moon is waning, the clouds are waxing."

[John Berger]

Imagine you drive 7 hours to get to Bortle 1, and then once all your equipment is set up and running, you think "pffft, nothing can stop me now!", then a meteor strikes you.

 

Or a Bigfoot starts growling at you, or a crazy clown swinging axes comes running at you, or some random guy with a beard down to his feet runs out of some bushes and yells out that you're on private property.

 

Or, more probably, 40mph gusts of wind happen all of a sudden, without stopping, or, the fog starts coming in, out of nowhere, or, a black widow bites you, out of nowhere, or you sneeze and ruin your 1000 second exposure.

 

Impatient people wont survive in this hobby.    

 

Many almost maddening things have happened to me too, but I still persevere up to this point.

[dnrmilspec]

The secret to near professional results in astrophotography is to hire a professional astrophotographer to do the work.  This person would have learned all of the tricks of the trade.  He/she would have their own equipment and, like many employees these days, work remotely.  As a contract employee you would not have to pay for their health care should they be bitten by a rattlesnake.  Indeed you would not have to pay them at all until they recover from the rattlesnake bite and take the pictures they promised to take before they carelessly crossed paths with the aforementioned snake.  They could go where the results are best or even live in Arizona (rattlesnakes notwithstanding)  where it is only cloudy at night about every coronation or two. 

 

But then some would say that you could not claim the work as yours but I say that is clear nonsense.  Of course the employer can claim the work of the employee.  It stands to reason.  And paying someone, say $50.00 an hour to do the work (you only have to pay for the setup and post production because it would be unfair for you to pay when the scope is just sitting there.  At that rate of pay it would be many years before you paid for that dream AP rig you know you would eventually get. 

[Bob Campbell]

The secret to near professional results in astrophotography is to hire a professional astrophotographer to do the work.  This person would have learned all of the tricks of the trade.  He/she would have their own equipment and, like many employees these days, work remotely.  As a contract employee you would not have to pay for their health care should they be bitten by a rattlesnake.  Indeed you would not have to pay them at all until they recover from the rattlesnake bite and take the pictures they promised to take before they carelessly crossed paths with the aforementioned snake.  They could go where the results are best or even live in Arizona (rattlesnakes notwithstanding)  where it is only cloudy at night about every coronation or two. 

 

But then some would say that you could not claim the work as yours but I say that is clear nonsense.  Of course the employer can claim the work of the employee.  It stands to reason.  And paying someone, say $50.00 an hour to do the work (you only have to pay for the setup and post production because it would be unfair for you to pay when the scope is just sitting there.  At that rate of pay it would be many years before you paid for that dream AP rig you know you would eventually get. 

humorous, but what FUN would that be? Is there someone who is a professional astrophotographer? I guess if someone sells his/her prints somewhere, I guess that could qualify.

 

Half the fun is doing it all by your own hands so to speak.

 

I know you were being sarcastic, so that didn't fly over my head (yet)

 

Bob

Edited by Bob Campbell, 05 April 2024 - 09:00 PM.

[auroraTDunn]

Rant take 2!

Should be a nice night tonight - BUT way to many people are burning their ditches and slash today and air quality sucks (and stinks). Did anyone burn the last 2 days when it was cloudy NO! Will they burn tomorrow when it will cloudy? NO! Will they burn on Sat when it should be clear again PROBABLY!

 

Here's praying for a slight westerly breeze this evening (just don't let XCel know or I'll be without power for a couple days again!)

[IanCass]

You should try living in UK. I've had just a a handful of nights so far this year

[Rasfahan]

Here it just cleared up - 1h before sunrise. Also, still some Sahara dust. Only 5 nights so far this year.

Edited by Rasfahan, 11 April 2024 - 11:45 PM.

[AdrianoMS]

Clouds are terrible. I hate them when I go out to take some astrophotos and they pass in front of the telescope.

[F.Meiresonne]

It has been like  like that here  for ages.

 

Also, KMI which is national  Belgian forecast just sucks. they predict clear skies for tonight. A blind can see it is not going to happen. Just look at Sat24 and you see it. Ventusky reports just thesame 70-80 percent clouded. Maybe i should apply for a job there at KMI..i just might do as good as them

Edited by F.Meiresonne, 12 April 2024 - 02:09 PM.

[flightlogic]

Just returned from the Netherlands...   all I heard was about the three months of rainy weather.  What a frustrating year, so far.

I hope the Europeans have a better summer.

[auroraTDunn]

Can someone please just flip a switch and turn all the fire smoke off for the night?!?!?

 

(If you think this is a stupid statement it's a lot more sane then compared to some of the things I have heard people seriously demanding from rangers up in Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone)

[Chaser of Photons]

I need an off switch for marine environments.

[ngc2218]

What’s the big deal about the moon? Sure the background electron rate gets bigger but I take good images regardless of moon age

[ayadai]

Welcome to the rainy season. Most likely little to no imaging for the next 2-3 months:

 

[Oort Cloud]

Can someone please just flip a switch and turn all the fire smoke off for the night?!?!?

(If you think this is a stupid statement it's a lot more sane then compared to some of the things I have heard people seriously demanding from rangers up in Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone)

Being under the jet stream, the smoke kills me. The fires aren't even anywhere near me, and yet their impact is still enormous. There's pretty much no point to imaging during the summer anymore; a fact I should have thought about before buying a new telescope, mono camera, and narrowband filters to use during the summer.

[blue25]

Being under the jet stream, the smoke kills me. The fires aren't even anywhere near me, and yet their impact is still enormous. There's pretty much no point to imaging during the summer anymore; a fact I should have thought about before buying a new telescope, mono camera, and narrowband filters to use during the summer.

I hear ya. I was setting up for a good imaging run but alas...smoke from all the wildfires has ruined it all!