September DSC - Rother/Kelling ??

[Carole]

the white beams in that spaceweather image are similar to what we saw, but not sure if it was bright enough for a photo.

carole

[Fay]

Carole you are getting to be a trouper, like Mark!

[JohnP]

but not sure if it was bright enough for a photo

Carole you take photo's of objects millions of miles away I am sure if you could see the aurora with your naked eye taking a photo wouldn't have been an issue...? or am I missing something?

[Mac]

 

[Carole]

Another clear night last night all except for about 3/4 hour of whispy cloud around midnight when I snatched an hour of sleep.  then stayed up until 6am!!!!  That's four nights out of six I've stayed up all night, beginning to feel like a zombie.

Still can't complain, fabulous skies (no aurora last night), absolutely stunning at 2 - 3 am.

Have managed 10 1/2 hours actual imaging time so far plus the same again with darks and setting up setting down etc.

I've spread this over several objects doing a bit for each each night:

M101 - 1 3/4 hours so far (it's low and sinking so can only do it early if the skies are clear).
M33 - 3 1/2 hours so far
M81/M82 - 2 1/2 hours so far (can't do this until after 1am as too low before that)
M31 - 2 1/2 hours so far (wasted 2 hours when the dew heaters failed) now wrong scope on so will finish at Marks.
M42 - couldn't resist starting this as the skies were so stunning, will have to finish at a later date.

Hoping to get more on all of these except M31 tonight - my last night.
Coming home for a rest!!!

Carole

[Carole]

I am sure if you could see the aurora with your naked eye taking a photo wouldn't have been an issue...? or am I missing something?

The only thing you are missing John is my inexpereince at using the DSLR for stand alone use i.e. getting focus and using it manual with a normal camera lens on and at night.  As said before, need to learn this before we go to Iceland.

Carole

[Carole]

BTW, found some interesting animal poo just inside the entrance to my tent this morning, and it wasn't rodent poo, I know what that looks like.  Wonder what wandered into my tent, must try to google it.

Carole

[mickw]

must try to google it

Now this will be interesting, how will you be Googling "animal sh1t" ?   

[Fay]

Hope you took a good image of it Carole!

[Carole]

how will you be Googling "animal sh1t" ?

UK wild animal faeces/images - it's there if you want to find it 

The choices seem to be stoat or hedgehog, I think probably the latter.

Carole

[Carole]

Finally home after 7 days.  Of which 5 out of the 7 were clear 95% of the time.
Had a blast.

Was a bit worried about driving all that way home after 5 out of the last 7 nights up all night until 6am with only occasional cat naps while the subs were "cooking".

Now need a couple of nights sleep to recover before Saturday.
Managed quite a bit of imaging:
M101 3 hours
M33 5 hours
M31 2 1/2 hours so far (to be completed)
M81/M82 5 hours
M42 (1 hour to be completed)
Some solar images

Will take a few days to process it all.

Carole

[Fay]

Gosh Carole, you deserve some good results after becoming Kellings resident hermit!!!!!!!

[Carole]

Quite a few Astronomers stayed on, but we had to "politely educate" the new arrivals about light pollution and once they understood they were very co-operative and some had a look through the scopes.  However why some people find the need to arrive or depart a camp site at 2 o'clock in the morning all lights blazing is beyond me.  I just stopped the sub and re-started when the lights had gone.  

I was quite snug in my tent with my wind shield/observatory conversion which worked really well - I guess I'm now spoilt with an observatory at home and if I can sit inside with my laptop rather than out in the damp I'd prefer it.  Here's a picture of it during the day for those who didn't go to Kelling.  It certainly helped protect the mount/scopes and guiding from the occasional wind that arose.  Also with it being enclosed I could go to bed while the images are running and leave the side door open and peep out from my sleeping compartment (without having to get out of bed) if I am waiting for the skies to clear as well.  

[Mac]

i am disappointed i thought you would have taken your skypod there 

Mac

[MarkS]

A very nice arrangement you have there Carole!