Urban Astronomy II

[nevers]

It's my 4 year Anniversary today...! I mean tonight <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[bad_drawing]

Awesome. I too have an XT10 but it still is on the dob. I'd like to get into more digital astrophotography (I take pix occasionally but of course they're relegated to moon and the brighter planets.) I can see nothing that would help me capture [photographically] deep sky objects better with my little light bucket than a mount like that. My wheels are now turning.Question. In that shot, were you actually observing the sun on your deck, or did you set it up out there to take the photo of it (of the scope). I ask because my new home is on a wooded lot and the area that has the best view of the sky is the deck (naturally). Do you regularly observe off your deck, and if so are the results satisfactory for you?

 

[eosophobiac]

A bit late, but congratulations on four years of great pix! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br />I don't believe I'd ever have the patience (and from all I've read, money!) for astrophotography, but I sure like to look at the many pix and to follow lots of the links that are made available here. It is nice to see what 'ordinary' folks can do with their equipment.<br />Thanks again for sharing!<br /><br />EDIT: Thanks to <b>all</b> who share their pix and viewing experiences! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[nevers]

Thanks eosophobiac! Hopefully this next year will be better then the last - it's been an unually cloudy year. Not so much big billowy clouds but annoying thin whispy things - just enough to turn my already light polluted skies into something that's not even worth setting up a telescope.

 

[nevers]

It was clear this weekend with low humidity and no winds, so, I set up my smallest 'scope in the backyard. It's Orion's f/5 ST80 Refractor. I set it up on the AstroView mount. Here it is...

 

[nevers]

Pleiades through the Canon G5 piggy-backed on the 'scope...

 

[nevers]

And lastly - Luna.

 

[toothferry]

nice pics. Did you check out Mars recently?

 

[nevers]

Yes, but only through my 5" Refractor. Somewhere in "AstroPhotography" I posted a picture I took. It's not very good compared to some other pix of Mars I've seen but I was amazed at the difference between a single frame and them multiple frames stacked together. I have a tendency to over-sharpen on my pictures.<br /><br />One of these weekends I should take a look at Mars through my 16"er. But it's a Dob and does not do photography very well. Glad you liked the pix...thanks!

 

[nevers]

I have a new page at my website and I couldn't think of a better place to put a link to it.<br /><br />Free Wallpaper, Desktop & Screensaver Photos from StarNevada.com<br /><br />During my "adventures" I've taken some what I think are pretty cool pictures. Not all of them are Astronomy related but mostly have something to do with Nature and Landscapes. When I got my website I got the most available storage & bandwidth the company offered. To date I've just made a dent in it so I thought I'd upload the original images that a lot of my webpages already have but so small they don't really show the true beauty of the subjects. The link above contains A LOT of photos that I've made to be used as Wallpaper, Desktop &/or Screensaver images. I'd really appreciate some feedback if you care to give it a view. Thanks...!

 

[nevers]

Will somebody please inform my weather forecaster that this is not "clear" skies...thanks.

 

[eosophobiac]

NEVERS, <br />they may not be clear skies, but those airplane trails sure made for an interesting pic!<br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[bbrock]

Brad<br /><br />It's refreshing to see a post related to amateure astronomy, rather then things like the speed of light, does time exist, nothing colliding with nothing etc. Then again, it's nice to see photos from out west. <br /><br />While I'm here, I thought I'd share my latest images of Saturn, and I took a cool image of NGC891. <br /><br />Bill

 

[bbrock]

I don't know what happened to Saturn. I think they dropped it. Here is an attempt to attach NGC891. Opps, file is to big. Back to the drawing board. I'll be back later. <br /><br />Bill

 

[bbrock]

OK<br /><br />Lets try Saturn again. <br /><br />Bill

 

[bbrock]

NGC891

 

[bbrock]

Wrong Label

 

[nevers]

It's even nicer to see somebody is getting to do some observing! I swear, it's like a conspiracy or something. For over 6 months, the minute I have a day/night off, something happens to the weather. My first 3 years were nearly flawless - like I was living in some magical, blessed land. Now, I get either high wind, dust, smoke or mostly those kinds of clouds pictured in my photo - not really cloudy, but certainly not clear. Last summer I almost broke down and got the Atlas tripod for my XT10 - like you have. Now, I'm glad I didn't spend the money, I'd have pulled my hair out by now!

 

[bbrock]

Brad<br /><br />That Atlas is the trick. The truth be known,, I was having a small problem with periodic error in RA. But I lived with it. Kept my exposures under 20 seconds and the error wasn't bad at all. Last December I baught the upgrade kit to the Atlas G. The new drives and controller are Celestron technology. ( I think ). The Atlas now has no periodic error at all that I can tell. With careful polar alignment, the image is rock stable and there is no need for guiding. This is a great mount. I even baught the rings to mount the 120mm AstroView on it. If you get the chance and the funds to do so, look into the Atlas. I could not have produced the images above without it. <br /><br />Clear Skies<br />Bill

 

[nevers]

Sorry, no "Urban" updates but...! The other day the weather forecasters predicted a 40% chance of rain. Well, it was clear with 40 mph wind gusts. Today, this morning actually, they predicted rain showers. And guess what - it rained! I'm so happy, maybe now we're on the way to recovery!

 

[plutocrass]

Bbrock - Excellent photo of Saturn! Reminded me of my first viewing from a telescope, while we searched for UFO's, my dad was spending his time trying to figure out how to get the telescope to see Saturn...it ended up on top of the car hood viewing the planet over the top-right edge of the basketball hoop! I could see Saturn's rings, but everything appeared bright white! That probably helped to sear the memory.

 

[bbrock]

Brad<br /><br />You seem to have this problem every year. In Kentucky, it rarely clears up. If the clouds clear, the wind is high or the humidity is high. <br /><br />Did you ever buy an Atlas Mount?<br /><br />I finally managed to buy a Nagler (13mm). T6. Great EP. <br /><br />Clear Skies<br />Bill

 

[nevers]

I know...Feb-Mar is usually the "wintery" months here in the desert. This year it's been an ongoing occurance since last July. Either high-thin clouds or high winds which is unusual for the desert. My big grip was that the forecast either bad or good has almost NEVER been correct for the last year. I was just excited that it actually did what they said...I'm hoping this will be the new trend.<br /><br />No, I never got the atlas mount. I bought a 4x4 ATV instead. At least that way, I can't be blamed for the bad weather <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> and I can use the ATV no matter what the weather! I figured I'd just look at your excellent pictures instead.

 

[newtonian]

Brad - Hi! <br /><br />A couple of nights ago I saw a very bright meteor in the northern sky - fairly slow for a meteor.<br /><br />Have you seen any unusual meteors recently?

 

[bbrock]

Brad<br /><br />Now that you mention it, I do have a new image I'll share. Last Saturday I managed to image M100 and the supernova SN2006X. I had to wait for the galaxy to clear the trees, the moon was rising and a cloud bank approaching from the north-west. But it would be my best chance for several days according to the weather. BUT -- I got the rascal anyway. <br /><br />Bill