Just wandered up the garden to see the situation after the deluge today. it is far too muddy and wet for me tonight. bit fedup about it. it will be a good night if no wind
Robert and I decided not to go to Cairds because of the wind. Though annoyingly it doesn't seem so bad now.
Carole
Yes the wind finally dropped but the sky quality was not very good - hovering around 20.5 (typically I get 20.8 before midnight and 21.0 after midnight)
Mark
Mark does 0.3 really make all that difference...? (whatever 0.3 is...)
Stayed up to 3.30 am, it was still clear but had had enough by then as I started at 6pm.
I did something I've never done before, in-so-much as my grandson has been in Farnborough Hospital this week having had an appendicectomy, and because of the dreadful parking costs etc my daughter hasn't been taking her car there to stay with him. So I left the imaging running while I went to Farnborough to pick them both up after having checked Sat24.
Did consider showing my husband how to close the dome in an emergency, but decided it was unlikely to rain (he doesn't drive in case you're wondering).
Carole
Adrian may not have been a good dome closer, Carole! :lol:
Yes, I thought "what is the lesser of two evils", Adrian bumping into my kit while he is trying to close the dome and damaging/moving cameras etc, or taking a chance on the weather which did look as though it would be OK.
Carole
I was out last night, had a lovely sky from 11:30 (10:30 in english). It was still good while I refined my polar alignment (0.01 armins off now according to PHD2 drift align 8) ) and focused, reset up the sky model. Then it all started getting fuzzy up there. I persevered until 03:30am (OK I fell asleep) and was woken by PHD beeping it had lost the guidestar. Not surprising considering the murk that had rolled in. But the time I had the obsy roof locked down it was completed clouded. Bang goes another opportunity to see comet Catalina :(
Finally got out at about 7pm and found I couldn't connect to the Obs computer; spent the next 40 mins rolling back and reapplying updates including camera drivers (the camera wouldn't connect) - not happy ! The sky wasn't the best but you have to take what you can. At least I have a few hours of OIII now; only 3 more to go. One last issue was that in the cold weather something either expands or shrinks and prevents the motor from closing the roof, a bit annoying at 2:30am. Oh and the lodestar driver decided to stop downloading subs requiring a reboot plus I forgot to turn the dew heater on but luckily the wind kept the optics clear (phew).
Robert
Blimey Robert gonna have to start calling you 'Fay' ;-)
QuoteFinally got out at about 7pm and found I couldn't connect to the Obs computer; spent the next 40 mins rolling back and reapplying updates including camera drivers (the camera wouldn't connect) - not happy ! The sky wasn't the best but you have to take what you can. At least I have a few hours of OIII now; only 3 more to go. One last issue was that in the cold weather something either expands or shrinks and prevents the motor from closing the roof, a bit annoying at 2:30am. Oh and the lodestar driver decided to stop downloading subs requiring a reboot plus I forgot to turn the dew heater on but luckily the wind kept the optics clear (phew).
Otherwise OK? ;)
Carole
Just joking, - what a catastrophe of problems Robert, so annoying when you only get rare clear nights.
Quoteprevents the motor from closing the roof
Now it has a motor, can it still be closed manually?
Duncan:
Quotewas woken by PHD beeping it had lost the guidestar
Did you drop off to sleep in the obsy, or by your remote computer?
Carole
The sky stayed pretty clear all night in Tunbridge Wells, I was fairly successful and managed to get 25 x 600 Ha of IC410. No idea when I'll get the other channels though.
When I set up my dual rig I usually try to align & orientate the cameras in the daylight/dusk, and point at a ground based object like a distant aerial or something, well at home I have to make use of the chimney pots at the end of our road.
It was gradually getting dark while I was doing it last night, and suddenly a neighbour 3 doors away leaned out of the Dormer window and took a photo of me in the obsy. I bet she thought I was being a peeping Tom or something with my scopes pointing towards houses. Was waiting for the police to arrive all evening. Lol.
Must get to know these relatively new neighbours and talk about what I do.
Carole
Hope your picture is not distributed throughout the area!!! :lol:
Quote from: JohnP
Mark does 0.3 really make all that difference...? (whatever 0.3 is...)
The SQM measures in visual magnitudes per square arcsecond of sky. A difference of 0.3 means the sky is approx. 35% brighter. This is quite noticeable visually and adds more background noise to an image.
At 4am when I was imaging the comet the sky was back to its usual 20.9
I had technical problems last night also. The camera froze (i.e. simply stopped working) twice and EQMOD lost connectivity once. Probably a USB issue caused by my failing 12volt battery. I need a new leisure battery. Can anyone suggest where I might find info on leisure batteries ;)
Mark
Batteries, mine went to the recycling before Christmas. Whenever I've had camera or mount problems it's usually power.
In my observatory I'm now using old laptop power supplies and ebay buck converters (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LM2596-DC-Adjustable-Buck-Converter-Voltage-Regulator-with-Voltmeter-5V-12V-24V-/321524713004?hash=item4adc5dc62c:g:dykAAOSwDk5UF6-N) with voltage readout to get the right output (just seen they are half the price I paid now!). They are more reliable than the PC power supply I was using. Loads of good power with reasonable protection for gadgets and resistant to moisture, they are well sealed and tough. I've used bungies to hold them against the pier (which is bubble wrapped against dew forming on it). I've modded the mount to use an aircraft style screw locking connector for the 12v feed.
QuoteA difference of 0.3 means the sky is approx. 35% brighter
Blimey - I didn't realize it was that much...
No I did not realise either!
QuoteI need a new leisure battery.
Why are you using batteries Mark? Now you have an obsy you can use mains, and when we are at camp we have hook up.
Carole
Like Duncan I use laptop PSUs but run mine through a Cyberpower UPS which has been hacked with a 115Ah leisure battery; that should allow an imaging session to finish even with a power cut. I like the idea of using those Buck boost units close to the equipment, they provide a bit of isolation and make sure it really is 12v at the equipment.
Carole: yes I can close the roof manually.
Mark, I got my latest leisure battery from halfords (good price in the sale).
Robert