Ians #2 AG (our fourth in total) Loughton Pride

[macleanb]

Hi

I live in loughton Essex, just a few miles outside London. I have a slighter smaller one (ooer) an 8" Meade LX200 GPS, and ditto alignment is basically automatic - it even figures out where it is and what time it is.

The pics of plantets are via a webcam (modified toucam) the nebulae are either via my old FujuFinepix or my new Canon D400 (though not many as its been a shite year both weather wise and time wise).

I have quite a big collection of pics must upload some more - particularly proud of my Mars which I just uploaded...

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/susybum/Mars

The webcam stuff uses whats called off chip integration. Rather tqan taking a long exposure with all the issues that presents, basically you take a movie of the object, then use stacking software to combine the images, this increases the signal to noise to a point where you can producr some really nice piccies...

Its no where near dark, dull orange most of the time, but its amazing waht you can do with filters & software...

Apart from the initial setup, and for major slews, I generally sit in my astronomy shed with a beer (even tea sometimes) and work everything remotely...

[macleanb]

I really like your Saturn adm (thank god it wasnt another planet).

I also added:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/susybum/FannyMagnet


Just in case any girlies come onto the forum, want to make sure they are on the hook

In my defense - this picture is taken the day it aririved, and I was rather excited...

[richard_senior]

You have an astronomy shed!?
I'm green with envy!
Have you tried to see the ISS (or any satellites)? I know it was visible in transit with the naked eye the other week from where I live, for about 30 seconds
I thought at the time it would have been nice to have a telescope that would just point at it for me
As I said to ADM by PM.. when my boy is old enough to understand.. I'm going to shell out for one I think. Would love to be able for him to see saturn with his own eyes.
EDIT : Wow your mars photo is even red! Superb!

[adm]

I really like your Saturn adm (thank god it wasnt another planet).

I also added:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/susybum/FannyMagnet


Just in case any girlies come onto the forum, want to make sure they are on the hook

In my defense - this picture is taken the day it aririved, and I was rather excited...

Hehehe....those Mars pics of yours are neat as well. Looks like we were both out doing astrophotography during the 2005 opposition!

I got some good Saturn images last year, but I'm really waiting for the next time Jupiter's in a good position.....Saturn may be beautiful, but Jupiter is BIG!

[stevezx7r]

Yes yes but can you take a pic of Earth, now that would be cool

[macleanb]

Thats just so... Google Earth Steve!

[macleanb]

Adm, the focus on those saturns is fantastic, did you use a hartmann mask ?

[richard_senior]

I've got some closeups of earth.. Took me ages to find out what the RA and D were, but I got there eventually.

[adm]

Adm, the focus on those saturns is fantastic, did you use a hartmann mask ?

Actually no. I did making a few different styles of Hartmann masks, but never really got on with them. I just do the best I can with the coarse focus, then zoom the image from the Toucan and go back and forth on the microfocuser until it's as good as I can get it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't!

I think the problem I may have had with the masks is that I used a 10mm thick foamboard, and maybe they need to be made out of a thinner material. Who knows? But I'll experiment again when the nights start drawing in.

[Iank]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... took a reading this morning and looks about 1.014. This after only 2 and a bit days. yeast head all gone - a bit of trub floating around on top, but not noticably more than on previous brews. Took a sample on a spoon and that looked clear enough. Tasted OK too. With the cooler weather the freezer isn't having to do much so settled down about 21.5c.