robrj
Member
Posts: 248
home town/country: Escondido, CA
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Post by robrj on Feb 17, 2017 15:28:59 GMT
There's a new Sharpcap forum that has just been started by the developer. It indicates there's a manual coming. forums.sharpcap.co.uk/
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Feb 17, 2017 16:01:41 GMT
I would definitely support an area for unrestricted results. I think it would benefit those of us who like to experiment and push the boundary. And just because most Video Astronomy methods and workflows aren't focused on "pretty pictures" there is no reason why someone who want's to try that can't post their results in an area dedicated to that.
I agree that trying to set boundaries can seem silly, but there are some benefits to doing so:
- There is the competition thing and splitting results into different groupings allows for folks to really compare results from different equipment and methods under the same conditions. I dont think that we have these types of members here, but it also prevents criticism or comparing unequal methods (your image isn't as pretty as mine, even tho you did no stacking and 10s exposure and I did 120 stacks of 2 minute exposures with all this processing).
- People sometimes are looking for a specific solution. Some are looking for a computer-less solution or something that is live with no waiting (outreach). Having different categories can help them find what they're looking for.
- Managing newbie expectations. Hubble images on google is bad enough. Nuff said.
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Post by davy on Feb 17, 2017 20:15:17 GMT
Unrestricted astronomy,, I like the sound of that. So would it be only video astronomy or astrophotography as well.
I also agree with rick that the expectations of new astronomers is high and images that the Hubble put out though stunning are not helping there expectations. There should maybe a new twist to astronomy,, putting up videos of astronomy disastrous nights.
Somebody giving a right moan about astrophotography or video astronomy, I'd be good at that.
Think it would go something like this.
Good evening folks, I've took nearly an hour looking at weather reports and at the clouds and it looks not bad, it's now nearly an hour later and I've set up the scope and got the camera set up to the laptop and all looks well, It's getting dark, moon is just coming in to my field of view,, AND THEN IT ALL STARTS TO GO WRONG
Can't see Polaris,, so we guestimate it's position,, yip should be ok
Three star alignment,, dam can't see any of the stars the hand set tells me to use.
Do a Davy special,, Select the moon from the handset, and slew to it,, then move the scope till you see the moon. Mmmm that will do Camera ,, set it up on the moon ,, For crying out loud, Moon is a bit blurry,, focus must be off Tweak focus,, not bad Back to camera and take a test image,, Too bright,, adjust settings
Oh no,, clouds appearing,, Àaaaargh can't get video settings right
To hell with it ,, I will do astrophotography,, good shout as I roughly know exposure settings.. Couple of photos later. Not bad , not a complete waste of time.
Mount losing tracking,, re adjust Ok,, Image not too good on live view. Scope Dewing up And it's freezing.
Time to pack up, Recollections About fours hours work, nose running like a river ,, frozen solid,, another hour getting kit dried off and put away.. End result 2 pretty crap images of the moon
Welcome to the real astronomy forum 😂
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Post by Dragon Man on Feb 18, 2017 8:14:00 GMT
LOL!!!
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Post by ChrisV on Feb 18, 2017 9:55:04 GMT
Love a good disaster story - as long as it doesn't end in disaster.
First night I tried to use my asi071. Had it for a month, but garbage weather. Then late one night it cleared so I rushed out and set up quickly. Started to do start align and the mount just went running along the RA axis and crunched into a tripod leg.
Stupid. Hadn't put on the counter weight. Lucky though, the usb cable hit the leg. not the camera. So all I lost was a cable not a new camera.
Now to self. Never rush setup. Never again.
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Post by davy on Feb 18, 2017 10:55:53 GMT
The disaster stories are good learning curve for new video astronomers and astrophotographers to read.
In my opinion it's a reality check to the stunning images and videos produced by astronomers who have spent time practising the craft,, get me wrong I'm not trying to put folk off,, it's encouragement,,
Going out and spending a thousand pounds won't guarantee stunning images from first light,, unless you are getting tutoring from a seasoned imager,, It takes time and as experience builds the image quality does as well.
The main purpose of this forum was to help new video astronomers and promote video astronomy and have a laugh at the same time and I think we achieve these goals..
So if you are thinking of getting into astrophotography or video astronomy for every great image put on a website or forum there are as many hard luck stories. But if we all chip in we get there in the end.
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Post by davy on Feb 18, 2017 11:11:30 GMT
Another story of woe
Comet panstar,, And the Moto for this one is Fail to prepare.. prepare to fail
I have the scope set up,, think it was the eq3 pro with the old 8" newt and I was just setting up,i had my canon 400d on a photography tripod to do some selfi or something and I'm only set up for visual astronomy and I hear the sound of what I thought was the old German v1 doodle bug coming from behind the building,, so I'm standing there freezing my family jewels off looking in the sky for this noise.
Had no idea about panstar,, what it was ect, so I'm standing there like the proverbial bunny rabbit caught in the car headlights watching this amazing light and sound show,,, dopey here tries to follow it wth an 8" newt on a motor driven mount.
Lucky I came to my senses and jumped on the dslr and got some images.
So a lesson learned,, learn the night sky,, a bit,, don't always rely on a goto mount,, check out what will appear in the night sky a month in advance and plan how you will observe it,, check the percentage of the moon ect to pick the best night and a back up night if the weather is crap.
Fail to prepare.. prepare to fail
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Post by davy on Feb 18, 2017 11:36:00 GMT
More Woe's
Had a free astronomy pass from Carol. No where to go,nothing she wanted done.
Why don't you go play with your perving scope she say's... yes dear we spend thousands of pounds,, erm,, I mean hundreds of pounds getting astronomy kit to look in old Mrs Jones bedroom window 48 mile away,, I honestly can't be the only one who gets the,, hey hey you got a perving scope.. I hope.
So early lunchtime , sun out , all the kit is out mount battery full charge, laptop full charge and on mains as well,,no taking any chances,, were all set up in an hour,, and I have set up the finder and main scope on furthest away object, camera taking some test shots, I'm loving it.
Free pass, no grief I'm all set up,, and nothing to do. I'm bored out of my head,, free time ,, what is that,, usually running around like the headless chicken.. What do I do,, can't leave the kit lying in back garden the local sticky fingers will be off with it.
So I mess around with the camera for a bit more,, I get brave, I go in the kitchen and leave the door open,, back out with the burger and irn bru, mess about more with the scope n camera.
It's now twilight, moon is starting to peak through the bottom of the trees, scope is tracking it, it's taking ages to clear the trees,, like a week in the jail, the expression is.. Finally moon up enough to start imaging. I'm about 30 images in and the camera battery dies,, puts spare in,, no worries I had it on charge... Disaster no2 ,, battery has went faulty must be discharging itself.. No video camera with me. Pack up and go in a huff And it's all carols fault for giving me a free pass ..lol
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Post by howie1 on Feb 18, 2017 20:45:21 GMT
davy, you should write a book mate! I love reading your tales. Maybe extremely frustrating for you at the time ... but boy they make a great humorous story. And, at the same time, stick in peoples memory so next time we head out and have something go wrong, we don't end up tossing the whole kit in the Lake but are able to giggle it off and keep going at our hobby.
cheers mate
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Post by davy on Feb 18, 2017 23:48:26 GMT
Howie, nobody would believe it,, it would need to go in the fiction category.. A life in the motor trade ,, you don't get bored.lol. We had a laugh the other week,, a mechanic from one of the companies we do work for brought a car in for diagnostic check. He had the radio on and Elvis Presley was blaring. The boss started laughing and the mechanic was giving it,, it's no my car. The boss said it's not you I'm laughing at,. It's the prank Davy played on the young work experience boy.. So I had to tell the story. The boy was very shy but eager as hell, he was worried about getting the wedding tackle greased,, told him it was against the law and health and safety. The plan was hatched..... Every time the boy came over to help me I was singing Elvis songs softly,, he finally bit and asked what I was doing,,, I told him I was practising for the works karaoke on Friday,, he bit again. He asked what I was in a bout,, I told him as a stress release from a busy week, we had a karaoke contest and the winner git a silly plastic cup painted silver and that big John won it last week,, big John then gets to pick the following weeks artist we have to sing as,, and he picked Elvis,, I said I'm brilliant at Elvis and a shure winner,, So all week I kept it up and let the rest of the guys in on it,, and they would say to him,, Davy still practising and he would laugh and nod the head. By the Thursday he asked what song he should sing,, I was coaching him along..
Friday afternoon the workers from the drainage mob in the same yard were in on it as well.. Big John says to the boy,, since I won last week,, I can pick the first singer,, and your it,, we had him on top of the battery box belting out love me tender and doing Elvis moves, We could not move for laughing,, I was trying to video it in my phone but couldn't for laughing,, he finally stopped and said,, who is next..we just laughed and said he won..
He now knows why they call me the barsteward 😉
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Post by Dragon Man on Feb 19, 2017 9:17:42 GMT
LOL!!! You barsteward Davy Funny story!
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