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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 3, 2015 2:17:39 GMT
Over 90 minutes - unable to get aligned or focus / image tonight.
Feel like a rank amateur.
Hard not to just go list everything for sale and be done. Seems like I have more bad days than good days.
Sorry, just had to vent.
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Post by Dragon Man on Oct 3, 2015 4:15:29 GMT
It happens Rick. At Astro Camp I am amazed at the amount of so-called 'pros' still trying to polar align and set up on the second night, accompanied by a string of expletives across the field And there is always the small group of 'experts' trying to help Then, finally, about 2am of the second night we all hear "Hoorayyy" and we can all relax
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Post by davy on Oct 3, 2015 8:36:15 GMT
Permission to join your club rick. I was going for testing last night on new camera. conditions baltic equipment skywatcher allview goto mount ed80 off axis guider canonon 600d Qhy 5-2 new camera/laptop^sharpcap
outcome of test.. worse than useless, I pointed to a street light and could see its light. Stars..could not find focal point..stars everywhere as well on finderscope.need to do a daylight run on this set up..think I should have had a focal reducer on but never had it with me.
went to astrophotography set up .got andromeda galaxy as a consolation prize. .scope with canon 600d no barlow 3 expusures of 2/3 mins stacked..have a bit of field rotation with the az mount ..star movement but im happy.. it needed a barlow on the set up to get me closer..but it was just a test of equipment and it's been that long since ive been out with a scope ..im happy another learning curve..
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 3, 2015 13:58:00 GMT
It happens Rick. At Astro Camp I am amazed at the amount of so-called 'pros' still trying to polar align and set up on the second night, accompanied by a string of expletives across the field And there is always the small group of 'experts' trying to help Then, finally, about 2am of the second night we all hear "Hoorayyy" and we can all relax Ken, I will be the first to admit I'm not a pro, but heck if I should be able to string a three nights in a row of at least getting an image. The experience you have seen is exactly why I'm hesitant to go to a star party. --Rick
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 3, 2015 14:09:51 GMT
Davy, you know what they say, Misery needs company!!
At least you have the excuse of working on getting a new camera setup. I grabbed a cheap used SSI and it was sitting there but there was no way I was going to add something new to the equation!
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Post by davy on Oct 3, 2015 14:31:52 GMT
im going to set up in living room and test out the window,,she who must be obeyed has given me green light to do it... only cost me two packets of onion ring snacks.but seriously I know your pain,,all go's ok then bam,,,what the hell feels like you have been hit by the stupid stick and went totally dumb.i just wasn't in the mood las night to walk away with nothing,video side got packed away and I went solely dslr..I found I could see stars via live view but I need focal reduction too narrow a field to get large groups of stars and not enough magnification for Andromeda galaxy.
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Post by fondofchips on Oct 5, 2015 9:52:29 GMT
I've had the same Rick, seems to be worse after a prolonged cloudy spell. The setup routine is partially forgotten during that time. I went out one night in my early days with the Mallincam and made just about every rookie error possible, including not dressing up warm enough for the conditions. When you are cold and it's late there is no time to warm up again and it is game over.
I've started doing setup check lists, just something to read quickly before setting up, seems daft but it helps.
Hang in there.
I've had a really good week, been on holiday with clear skies every night and the lunar eclipse, you just have to remember the good times when it all goes pear shaped.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 5, 2015 18:36:34 GMT
I'm about ready to get out the spade and concrete and put in a pier. Probably against the neighborhood rules I'm quite sure that 95% of my problem is a bad alignment.
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Post by davy on Oct 5, 2015 21:02:09 GMT
REPEAT...its not a pier its a bird bath,,if a neighbour asks lol
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2015 0:51:01 GMT
Sit the bird bath on in the daytime, remove at night. Failure is the step before success !
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2015 1:01:48 GMT
Hey Rick, Don't give up on star parties! They are a great place to learn. Come down to the Deep South Regional Star Gaze in early November. We would love to have you. There are usually 40+ people, sometimes over 100 on the weekend. All are happy to share and teach. I've only been in this hobby for 4 years and I'm still learning every time I go out. Some nights are wonderful when everything goes right and others are fraught with frustration. Still a night under the stars is better than most anywhere else. Good luck and hope to see you at the DSRSG. Tim
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 6, 2015 3:24:02 GMT
Hey Rick, Don't give up on star parties! They are a great place to learn. Come down to the Deep South Regional Star Gaze in early November. We would love to have you. There are usually 40+ people, sometimes over 100 on the weekend. All are happy to share and teach. I've only been in this hobby for 4 years and I'm still learning every time I go out. Some nights are wonderful when everything goes right and others are fraught with frustration. Still a night under the stars is better than most anywhere else. Good luck and hope to see you at the DSRSG. Tim Tim, thank you! I haven't given up, but I recognize that the issues that I have not mastered added to my limited ability to control my light and I'm not sure I'm quite ready for a non-video centric star party! I dont want to be THAT guy, you know?!
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 6, 2015 3:27:36 GMT
REPEAT...its not a pier its a bird bath,,if a neighbour asks lol You guys literally made me laugh out loud!! Thank you!! You dont know how much I needed that!!!
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Post by Dragon Man on Oct 6, 2015 6:13:04 GMT
Rick, you have made me curious. How can there be a neighbourhood rule about not letting you concrete a Pier into your back yard? It's your back yard! It's not like it will be so high that it will block your neighbours view What kind of neighbourhood are you in?
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Post by davy on Oct 6, 2015 9:55:08 GMT
We concrete everything in at my place....stops it getting stolen...the cat wasn't too happy though lol
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Post by fondofchips on Oct 6, 2015 10:59:24 GMT
Rick, you have made me curious. How can there be a neighbourhood rule about not letting you concrete a Pier into your back yard? It's your back yard! It's not like it will be so high that it will block your neighbours view What kind of neighbourhood are you in? We have the same problem here Ken, the area is supposed to be open plan, so no fences or trees etc on the front gardens. I've got a tree in my front garden, plus fences and hedges, not had the open plan police here yet..... Not a problem with a back garden that is 35 x 12 metres, a 12ft x 8ft obsy fits in just fine.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 6, 2015 13:32:31 GMT
Ken, My only spot to setup is in the front, just to the side of the my driveway and right next to my property line.
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Post by Dragon Man on Oct 6, 2015 14:10:08 GMT
Well that sucks Harry and Rick! I can't see how anyone can stop you, but I don't know American laws. It sounds pretty stupid to me, It's your property. Seems like it makes it hard to do anything. Rick, now I understand your semi-permanent setup problem
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Post by fondofchips on Oct 6, 2015 16:49:06 GMT
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 6, 2015 21:59:06 GMT
Harry, have you seen those trees?!? I would have to have a space elevator to get a true horizon!
You wouldn't believe our squirrels - bad thing about that is they'll probably get all up in it and chew on some wires or something!
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