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duodenum posted:B&H has a used 6" dob up for $180 and free shipping.
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Nov 26, 2021 23:28
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GWBBQ posted:Got this today. I figure I'd have to fix it up a bit, but I'm pretty sure it was opened and never used. I'll lug it down to the park this weekend if skies are clear. Enjoy. A 6" f/8 dob is a whole lot of fun.
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Nov 27, 2021 02:40
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It's my first Dob, and I think I'm also going to see if I can get any interest in a local Sidewalk Astronomers club. It's been long enough, I promised John Dobson I would bring out a telescope or two and get people looking at the skies at his 90th birthday party.
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Nov 27, 2021 18:16
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Appreciate those of you posting deals in here, gonna jump on one of those before long.
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Nov 27, 2021 18:24
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GWBBQ posted:It's my first Dob, and I think I'm also going to see if I can get any interest in a local Sidewalk Astronomers club. It's been long enough, I promised John Dobson I would bring out a telescope or two and get people looking at the skies at his 90th birthday party. Let me say this; a 6" f/8 dob was my first "serious" telescope in 1998. Other telescopes, including larger dobsonians, have come and gone from my life, but that 6" dob is my daily driver and still gives the sharpest views of any scope I've ever owned. I'll never part with it and it's still the first scope I reach for. It's a "forever" scope.
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Nov 28, 2021 00:19
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Enos Cabell posted:Appreciate those of you posting deals in here, gonna jump on one of those before long. Photo Pills (photo planning app w/ AR) is $5 during BF sale. I'd forgotten I had a random $3.74 balance on my app store wallet so score.
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Nov 28, 2021 00:24
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After a closer inspection, I'm going to have to revise my initial assumption about this telescope. It looks like someone opened the box, had no idea what they were doing, took it apart, and then put it back in the box. After 15 minutes of carefully bending the spider for the secondary back into shape (they just stuck it in the tube to bounce around), I got it attached. I'll have to collimate it, but it looks like there's miraculously no damage to the optics.
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Nov 29, 2021 22:52
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Phanatic posted:If it handles ASCOM drivers (and it claims to) you should be able to get a DSLR working with it. Are there ASCOM drivers for any DSLRs? Canon & Nikon seem to be the most popular options and I've only ever seen Backyard EOS/Nikon recommended for them. Otherwise, yeah, Sharpcap (and Firecapture) are designed for use with dedicated astro cameras, in general.
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Nov 30, 2021 05:38
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Wait, what the gently caress did they do to to this poor thing? How do you bend thumbscrews so much? This can't be post-consumer damage, it must have been an accident in shipping. At least it looks like less than $10 of damage but JFC, how do you even manage to do that? I might need to to drill and tap the focuser to make sure I can put lenses in,
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Nov 30, 2021 18:41
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hannibal posted:Are there ASCOM drivers for any DSLRs? Canon & Nikon seem to be the most popular options and I've only ever seen Backyard EOS/Nikon recommended for them. https://github.com/FearL0rd/ASCOM.DSLR https://github.com/FearL0rd/ASCOM.DSLR/wiki/Installation FWIW, although I haven't had a clear night to get outside and work with it yet, last week I installed EQMOD (for USB from my laptop out to my EQ-G mount), ASCOM, the ASCOM drivers for my D850, and NINA, and everything worked perfectly on the first try. Now I just need to install plate solving, and I really want to get outside and see how the polar alignment NINA plugin works.
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Nov 30, 2021 18:56
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 Scored what seems like a super good deal at work tonight! $78 for what is, according to Celestron's website, a 900mm focal length at f/13 doesn't seem too bad at all. I'm excited to try it out in place of my current Meade Infinity 102 for lunar images, and since I already have a 2x Barlow I might even have an excuse to try and view Jupiter finally! 
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Dec 2, 2021 10:07
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California Nebula (NGC 1499) 4k California nebula is in a prime spot for me to image right now so I got 4 nights in a row. Based off of some other users of the Sony IMX571 sensor, I decided to forego using darks on these images and I think it really paid off. I've been using the sky flat mode of NINAs flat wizard and it rules. I usually wake up right around dawn anyways thanks to nature's alarm clock, the 3 year old. So I just wake up, push a button and I'm done. The lights and flats were only calibrated with a bias as the read noise level at -5C (even at 10 minute exposures) is statistically similar to the bias frames anyways. In other words, the IMX571 rules. pre:Target: California Nebula (NGC 1499)
Dates: 2021-11-29 - 2021-12-02
Coordinates:
RA: 04h 02m 40.190s
Dec: +36° 13' 10.908"
Rot: 150
Location:
Desc: Phoenix, AZ
Bortle: 8/9
Scope:
WO GT81
Mount:
Skywatcher EQ6R Pro
Lens:
WO Flat 6AIII 0.8x reducer
Camera:
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Subs:
Ha - 49 x 10m (8.2 hrs)
OIII - 79 x 10m (13.2 hrs)
SII - 46 x 10m (7.6 hrs)
Total - 29 hours
Processing
PixInsight
Photoshop
Notes:
Built luminance from Ha and a hyper stretched, starless version of O3.
Emphasized the main nebula on the O3 luminance with the PixelMath formula "iswitch(lvar( $T, 591, krn_gauss()) < 5.5e-4, 0, $T )".
Then applied a bit of convolution to it and added it with the Ha
simble fucked around with this message at 06:38 on Dec 7, 2021 |
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Dec 3, 2021 20:53
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That is absolutely breathtaking. Your photos are always incredible!
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Dec 3, 2021 21:29
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That's loving pornographic, sir.
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Dec 3, 2021 22:34
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Dec 3, 2021 22:41
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simble posted:Bortle: 8/9 Are you sure you're not reading the scale backwards? I've seen space telescope images that aren't that pretty. 
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Dec 3, 2021 23:12
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You're all far too kind. Thank you.Captain von Trapp posted:Are you sure you're not reading the scale backwards? I've seen space telescope images that aren't that pretty. The wonders of narrowband imaging. Especially somewhere with pretty good seeing and transparency.
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Dec 4, 2021 00:18
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Observed tonight until the pages in my notebook started to get frosted over at around 2am. Stunning views. Unusually good seeing for Colorado in November, accompanied by truly killer transparency. Made a lot more progress in the AL Urban program, with some Herschel 400 along the way. Killer night.
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Dec 4, 2021 10:18
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Really liking NINA so far, but one thing I can't figure out how to do: Is there a way to tell it to just leave sequence images on my camera? The laptop I use to run NINA and control the mount/camera is not the desktop I use for actual image processing, so the way NINA seems to work I have to plug a flash drive into the laptop, move my images to it, and then plug it into my desktop and do it again. If the images just wrote to the CF card in the camera in the first place then I'd only have to move them once.
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Dec 13, 2021 23:45
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8” f/6 dob for $300 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802419414-USE/sky_watcher_s11610_old_8_f_5_9_traditional_dobsonian.html
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Dec 15, 2021 20:45
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Dang, missed it! Hopefully someone ITT managed to snag it.
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Dec 15, 2021 21:27
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So I'm looking to use a telescope from home and also to travel to outside. Got these books coming: National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Night Sky, 2nd Edition and Turn Left At Orion: Hundreds of Night Sky Objects to See in a Home Telescope - and How to Find Them. Don't want any electronics on it. Should I learn to collimate well before I get a thing with this price tag? Could I see things well enough that are beyond our solar system with this? Would this be way to advanced for a beginner? I used to charts and maths. https://www.amazon.com/Gskyer-Professional-Astronomical-Technology-EQ-130/dp/B083NPL73W?ref_=ast_sto_dp
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Dec 27, 2021 05:09
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Phanatic posted:https://github.com/FearL0rd/ASCOM.DSLR Huh, I had no idea these existed. BackyardEOS can get funky at times (I had some issue with it during the partial lunar eclipse when I was trying to take snapshots through the whole duration) so I will definitely check these out. It'd be nice to use the DSLRs with other software like Sharpcap or SGP (or NINA, something else I need to look at).
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Dec 27, 2021 05:39
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Some astronomers are tracking JWST: https://twitter.com/PlavchanPeter/status/1475293231118225408 Apparently around 14.8 mag right now, heading through Orion. This is with a 0.8m scope at George Mason University in VA. And before the sunshield is deployed. Wondering if I can pick it up with my 8-in... will have to wait until next week though because the weather is bad in MD all week.
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Dec 27, 2021 05:42
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Wife and I will be in Terlingua in late March and want to do some stargazing. Unfortunately, the McDonalds observatory is already booked for the dates we will be there but we figured we will do some stargazing at our rental as it is supposed to be amazing there. I know the naked eye will be great and I don't want a telescope, but I've heard binoculars can be good to get a decent view of some of the planets. Is this at all true? If so can anybody recommend some? I don't mind spending a few hundred on a decent pair because I can use them for other things.
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Dec 30, 2021 08:16
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Binoculars will be better for bigger things generally (the moon, some nebulae, some clusters, the milky way, Andromeda). Planets benefit from more magnification although googling suggests you can make out Jupiter's moons with binoculars which is cool.
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Dec 31, 2021 19:01
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You can even see the Galilean moons without binoculars. Maybe. Supposedly.
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Dec 31, 2021 19:08
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Well I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that almost all of the inner/visible planets will be in near conjunction in late March. The bad news is that they’ll also be in near conjunction with the sun. You’re also going to be there in a near full moon. Not a great setup for stargazing. Honestly any binoculars will make for some cool views just in terms of seeing more stars than you could imagine. Id say for this particular setup a lower focal length/magnification would be better.
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Dec 31, 2021 20:50
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Star Man posted:You can even see the Galilean moons without binoculars. Maybe. Supposedly. Good way to test out Lasik.
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Jan 1, 2022 00:42
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Do it when you're young because I can't see them anymore and I'm in my mid 40's. I don't even bother to protect my night vision anymore, at least when I'm alone. I see no more stars after 30 minutes of pure dark than I do 30 seconds after turning off the lamp.
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Jan 1, 2022 01:10
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simble posted:Well I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that almost all of the inner/visible planets will be in near conjunction in late March. The bad news is that they’ll also be in near conjunction with the sun. Nah we are there 31st-2nd and there will be wanting crescent or no moon so it should be primo viewing time. I'm just looking for a suggestion as far as brand and model of binoculars because I don't know poo poo about what's the right type for stargazing.
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Jan 1, 2022 04:30
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i'd be curious about binoculars also, i am interested in a telescope however, have my eye on the celestron nexstar 90 i know nothing about any of this stuff, had no clue binoculars were okay for astronomy. especially resentful of light pollution now.
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Jan 3, 2022 18:08
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Really dumb question about bahtinov masks: do they need to be square (perpendicular) to the lens exactly to focus properly? I got a 3d printed one that is too tight. I can put it on the very tip of my lens and get it off w/o disturbing focus (so probably not square), or I can sand the inside lip down some.
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Jan 4, 2022 00:18
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global tetrahedron posted:i'd be curious about binoculars also, i am interested in a telescope however, have my eye on the celestron nexstar 90 I don't have a specific binoculars guide to link, but there are plenty out there if you search (Sky & Telescope, etc.) The key thing to keep in mind is that the bigger you get, the harder they will be to hold steady. I have 10x50s I use for casual stargazing (these, they're nothing fancy) and they're fine. And even then, I bought a binocular adapter for a tripod to use with them from time to time. I would not recommend splurging on fancy ones nor image-stabilizing ones unless you're really sure you want to do that. (same advice we give people about buying telescopes) When you get into bigger ones you really need a tripod, and if you want to get fancy, a special binocular mount. We bought a couple for our club a few years ago (like these) and they're nice. But I wouldn't recommend them to beginners. The other thing I'd recommend is a good guidebook. This is one example but there are others. OK, I lied and did go poking around to see if I could find any good info. This post on Cloudy Nights looks good. They recommend 10x50s like I have. https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/...mers/?p=5184287 (Scroll down to "Binocular Astronomy")
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Jan 4, 2022 03:46
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I have an old pair (from my grandfather, and I am an old) of Sears 7x50s that are wider angle than ideal but work great for the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn. Only downside is they are HEAVY (with a metal body) so hard for my partner to hold, so I would love to find the right adapter for our tripod. Also need to get the prisms realigned at some point.
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Jan 4, 2022 03:53
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I have a pair of those wide-field 'constellation' binoculars; they're pretty neat as a concept, but I can't actually use them because they don't have enough accommodation for my lovely, lovely eyes. I don't have contacts, and wearing glasses risks scratches and drastically decreases the FOV, so they've just sat on my shelf since I bought them.
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Jan 4, 2022 04:15
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Like owl eyes? I’ve got a set of those, shame they don’t work for you, they’re a hoot. Mine are 2.1x42, weird and fun, even just for looking around at night. Can’t wait until leisurely travel is really a thing again, head south toward the equator.
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Jan 4, 2022 04:18
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hannibal posted:When you get into bigger ones you really need a tripod, and if you want to get fancy, a special binocular mount. I've got an old pair of first-gen Fujinon 16x70 FMTs that end up on a monopod when I want to view long enough that the weight will become an issue and I don't want to bother setting up a tripod/full mount.
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Jan 4, 2022 04:35
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Bad Munki posted:Like owl eyes? I’ve got a set of those, shame they don’t work for you, they’re a hoot. Mine are 2.1x42, weird and fun, even just for looking around at night. Can’t wait until leisurely travel is really a thing again, head south toward the equator. Yeah, I think mine are "Kasai" brand 2.3x40s? They have a pair of 'goggle' holders to hold them against your face. They seem great, so I keep them around just in case I have friends over to look through them.
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Jan 4, 2022 05:14
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| # ? May 29, 2024 03:56 |
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Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) 4k Orion is never in a good spot for me due to some unfortunate trees in my backyard. Luckily, I can back my scope right up against the house on one of the patios to get a couple extra hours on it. This is mostly thanks to NINA's three point polar alignment process. Orion is in the southern sky, so when the scope is backed up against the house, I don't have a view of Polaris. I did the three point polar alignment basically at the celestial equator and it worked great. Tracking was easily sub pixel. In the middle of this acquisition, I decided to clean everything in my optical train. Everything was so dusty. My before and after flats are definitely a sight to behold. I think I'll take a crack at M42 next before the new/waxing moon ends. I have a pretty decent M42 already, but not with this camera and filter set. pre:Target:
Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33)
Dates:
2022-01-01 - 2022-01-05
Coordinates:
RA: 05h 40m 59s
Dec: -02d 27m 30s
Rot: 90
Location:
Desc: Phoenix, AZ
Bortle: 8/9
Scope:
WO GT81
Mount:
Skywatcher EQ6R Pro
Lens:
WO Flat 6AIII 0.8x reducer
Filters:
Chroma 36mm LRGB
Chroma 36mm Ha 3nm
Chroma 36mm SII 3nm
Chroma 36mm OIII 3nm
Camera:
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Subs:
L - 35x30s (17m30s)
R - 35x30s (17m30s)
G - 34x30s (17m)
B - 33x30s (16m30s)
Ha - 56x300s (4h40m)
OIII - 52x300s (4h20m)
SII - 55x300s (4h35m)
Total - 14h43m
Processing Notes:
NB and LRGB start combination
NB combination
R: SII*0.6+Ha*0.4
G: Ha*0.5+OIII*0.5
B: OIII*0.8+SII*0.2
Ha used for NB luminance
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Jan 5, 2022 23:35
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