Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: Daniel on Dec 20, 2009, 11:05:41

Title: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Daniel on Dec 20, 2009, 11:05:41
Don't want to jinx it but, the weathers looking pretty good for today and tonight, think I might be seeing the sun rise tommorrow!

Daniel
:O)
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Dec 20, 2009, 11:51:26
Hya,

I have a new dedicated flattner for my ed80 I'm going to try out, lets see how it goes, narrowband here we go.

Chris
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Daniel on Dec 20, 2009, 12:06:48
I'll be very interested in the results, I love the FOV my ED80 gives me but can't stand the coma you get on them.

Daniel
:O)
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: MarkS on Dec 20, 2009, 13:36:00

Which flattener is it, Chris?

I use the WO MkII 0.8x flattener.
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Dec 20, 2009, 15:01:18
Its the skywatcher .85 made for the ed80, i had a wo Mk 3 useless, so i swapped it for the dedicated one, just set it up and its solid as a rock as well, all ready to go. 

http://www.harrysastroshed.com/skyflat.html
http://stargazerslounge.com/sponsor-announcements-offers/89898-new-skywatcher-focal-reducers.html

Now where it the hair dryer, must get dew heaters this christmas...
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: MarkS on Dec 20, 2009, 15:45:25
I don't believe it! Just after I buy a WO Mk 2 for my ED80 they go and produce a dedicated one.  

But I wonder how it performs in the corners of a DSLR FOV?  i.e. I wonder if it actually performs better than the WO Mk 2.

BTW, I had read that the Mk2 works better with the ED80 than the Mk3 - that's why I went for the Mk2

Mark
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Dec 20, 2009, 15:59:12
Will find out tonight mark, I'm going to do some test imaging with it on the QSI583, currently the ED80 is pants with it the edges suffer big time.

If this works then I'm going to get a ED120 as well, the review on these has been good, then I'm all set scope wise.


Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Daniel on Dec 20, 2009, 16:03:48
Well, im all set up, just waiting for Polaris and Kochab to make an appearance............



(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/4199760117_9d1fcd51a6_o.jpg)



............is it me or did I just set myself up for an awful night of imaging??
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Daniel on Dec 20, 2009, 16:06:39
Chris, I have an ED120 myself, it's a fantastic scope, have a look at my pre-hyperstar images, there's barely any coma even with an APS-C sized sensor.

Daniel
:O)
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Dec 20, 2009, 16:33:56
ok out I got, just need to polar align, its the 1st time my mount has been on the pier this year!!!
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: MarkS on Dec 20, 2009, 16:36:04
Quote from: Daniel
Well, im all set up, just waiting for Polaris and Kochab to make an appearance............

Ditto!

I can't believe this is the first (and possibly last) imaging I've done all December ..

Moon and Jupiter look fab!
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Rick on Dec 20, 2009, 17:36:54
Jupiter and Neptune are quite close together at the moment. See this bulletin (http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=5589.0).
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Carole on Dec 20, 2009, 17:58:43
I was out last night in minus 1.5 degrees and guess what? The clouds rolled in before I could get anything useful done.  
Tonight (as normally happens when an UDSC is suddenly announced) I have something arranged.

Anyway, had time to take Jupiter and the Moon.  First time I've used my DSLR for normal photgraphy, if you can call this normal.  I think I haven't quite got the settings right.

(http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/albums/userpics/10047/normal_Jupiter_and_the_Moon_20_12_09.jpg)

Carole
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: JohnP on Dec 21, 2009, 11:51:29
Carole - what part of the country were you in.....??????

Looked crystal clear in Bromley from when it got dark to when I went to bed about 12'ish.....??????
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Carole on Dec 21, 2009, 22:29:55
QuoteInsert Quote
Carole - what part of the country were you in.....??????
Looked crystal clear in Bromley from when it got dark to when I went to bed about 12'ish.....??????

I did that post yesterday, and was referring to the night before that when it was minus 1.5 degrees i.e. (Saturday), but I did set up early as I was trying to catch Jupiter before it disappeared.  But the clouds rolled in before I had completed what I was trying to do.  I stayed up for around another hour hoping to try out guiding (just as an exercise), but it was still cloudy, so as it was minus degrees, decided to pack up.  Might have cleared later on though.

However last night (Sunday) my husband had arranged Christmas drinks with friends, so annoyingly had to miss the best evening for ages, but managed to take the Moon and Jupiter before we went.

Carole
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: MarkS on Dec 21, 2009, 22:58:00
Quote from: Carolepope
... managed to take the Moon and Jupiter before we went.

I was looking for Moon and Jupiter - couldn't find them anywhere.  Didn't realise someone had taken them  :D

Mark
Title: Re: Looks like a Good 'un tonight!
Post by: Carole on Dec 21, 2009, 23:27:43
QuoteDidn't realise someone had taken them
It's wind up Carole time again I see!!

Carole