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Post by howie1 on Sept 24, 2019 23:19:04 GMT
Is it just me, or is VA / EAA slowly dying?
As there's no way to tell if anyone is actually on NSN, I always just try it during our afternoon (when the US are in darkness and might be broadcasting). It used to be every time I tried NSN I'd see someone on. Now I hardly see anyone on there. And the few I do catch on there are always the same few people.
Perhaps it is because those few who are broadcasting are really IMO doing live astrophotography! Dark, flats, autoguiding, cooled cameras, and even filters in some cases. Last bloke I watched was doing 56 minutes of stacking per object! Crazy! I think DonBoy still limits it to 10 frames stacked. But sometimes even he goes to 120 second frames so that's 20 minutes of stacking on one object.
I think the biggest (?) VA / EAA forum (CN) is suffering this same ridiculous trend. Many people I've seen on there over the years who have great experience and advice no longer post. I occaisionally do but my comments are swamped by other posters saying crazy things to the original noob query. So much crazy advice from others, that I think us old wise-heads are probably seen as not knowing what we are talking about! This results in some crazy posts where absolute noobs say .... "So excited ... thanks to everyones advice, my first EAA rig has arrived. I've got an 8" SCT with hyperstar and a CGX eq mount, with a cooled ZWO nnn camera and an eFocuser, and the AISAIR to run the auto guiding camera wirelessly on my iPad. I've put Stellarium onto my laptop but still have to install ASCOM to slew to objects I select off the laptop. Also I have to download platesolving so I can find stuff. So excited ... can't wait to see my first image using this gear!"
OMG!
Anyone else have a comment? Am I just being a grumpy old man?
ps. I still havent gone further into the 'dark side" (as I was going to progress into proper AP). And I won't be doing that at all! In helping to sell son's Orion XX12GT scope, I took it out the other night to check it still working as it hasnt been out for years. In testing it out I (once again) found the excellent optics on that 10+ year old goto dob to be superb! And as we'd drilled extra holes in the 8 V shaped strut braces so it could bring to focus DSLR sensors .... well I cannot help but think about taking it out to Wyaralong Dam next clear night with the 650D inserted and do some Alt Az VA! Plus go back to my way-back-when original fav of single frame shots! No darks, flats, etc. IE .... really simple basics. So simple to setup a goto dob too! Can't wait!
cheers
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Post by davy on Sept 25, 2019 6:50:58 GMT
Not Shure about dying think that the new equipment,, digital over analogue has changed astronomy,, I think AP and VA has drifted together somewhat and it's all mingling,, video astronomer's have always taken an image of what they captured but I think video as a pure form has few purist's,, short exposure stacking for near live view,,seems the case. We as a forum have slowed down and I think it's because folk believe we just do video,, I use byeos but on live view and capture live view,, I believe it still to be video ,,
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Post by davy on Sept 25, 2019 7:28:52 GMT
It's certainly something to think about as a video forum. We should all put in our thoughts on the subject How do we now do astronomy,, Do we change the name of the forum. Do we reinvent what we do.
More and more Facebook groups are appearing in every section and sub sections of astronomy, techniques and equipment. I get suggestions every other day on Facebook for astronomy sites,, Joined and left most
I like the format we have here that folk can drop in and chill but we hardly set the heather on fire now.
What does everyone else think
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Post by ChrisV on Sept 25, 2019 12:49:09 GMT
As Howie says there's some crazy stuff said on that other forum nowadays. And a lot of the posters with real knowledge have dropped off.
I don't post much on live viewing anymore and only do it every few months. Stupidly more interested in AP (I'll go out of it). But this website does have some really useful info and there's plenty of people who contribute very sensible comments.
So from me, it's - don't change the forum. There seems to be quite a few joining, just need them to speak up
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 25, 2019 15:04:37 GMT
I totally agree with you Howie. But VA isn't dying. Far from it. It is growing, and the more light Pollution takes over the suburbs the more people are turning to our alternative just so they can see anything. And it will get worse (the light pollution I mean).
Davy, don't change anything about this Forum. It works and it gathers new members (as Chris said, it would be nice if they spoke up).
I am so fed up with the direction Cloudy Nights has gone that I haven't posted over there for about a year and a half! They are doing Astrophotography! and even the Admin over there feel like pulling the pin on it.
As for NSN, yes, another member and I were discussing it only a few nights ago about your exact thoughts. Looooooooooooooooooooong wait to see something. It's NOT live astronomy. It's Astrophotography.
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Post by davy on Sept 25, 2019 16:45:10 GMT
The forum was done to promote video astronomy and that's what it says on the tin lid,, Yeah we all do things differently and that's the beauty of this forum,,and the fact it hasn't any bell ends in it, Dear o dear,, reprimands myself 😭
It's never been as busy as cloudy nights or sgl,, but hey I'm happy to be here .
I must admit I prefer using my DSLR these days and use backyard Eos and bi love it. I can do astrophography from it. I can live view frame and focus Or do planetary,, which is basically video astronomy Only function I don't use is drift alignment,, probably one I should be using. I'm not fussed about using my zwo 178,, to be honest I've never liked it,, most expensive camera and when I set it up ,, I find I want to put the DSLR back on,,, All my stuff is short exposure and tried stacking ,, but too slow for me,, I want instant gratification 😁 live view all the way for me lol
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2019 22:15:06 GMT
I agree with everything that has been said.This is a friendly forum and dont change anything.The boundaries between VA and AP have become blurred and this forum cuts a bit of slack when the rules of VA are not strictly adhered to. I think this is healthy.
Posts from very experienced people have dropped off on CN which is a pity. A recent aggressive post by an administrator basically threatening to beat us with a stick if we dont post strictly according to the CN EAA rules ,is far from welcoming.
I agree with Ken that VA is growing. Cameras are cheaper and software is powerful and user friendly. VA is looking good. Some of the forums are not.
cheers Paul
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Post by davy on Sept 26, 2019 6:44:48 GMT
Not been following cloudy nights for a while,, shame about the stance they are taking,, each to there own. Yeah we are very relaxed on here,, and that's the way we will stay,, it's a hobby and hobbies are meant to be fun and relaxing,, 🤣🤣🤣 And who are we to criticize folk for doing what makes them happy. Saw a post in a Facebook group that a chap was thinking about jacking it all in,, lost his mojo for astronomy,, things were not going as expected with new techniques he was trying. We all can relate to that,,,folk have came and went in the hobby since I started ,, I always looked at it as a long term gig ,play around with it till I retired give me something to look forward to doing,, I've went very low tech lately,,DSLR and byeos and I'm loving it,, the zwo camera was stressing me out,, pushing I get great results,,now I'm happy getting what I get with the DSLR,, sometimes it's good just to chill and keep it simple
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Post by howie1 on Sept 26, 2019 13:42:47 GMT
Whew, thanks guys! I thought it was just me wondering where the old experienced VA/EEA'ers had gone ... guess they're all just having fun and not bothering to post nor broadcast anymore.
No, don't change a thing on our forum davy! Didn't mean to start you wondering about that. Sorry.
Glad to hear you are having good times using the DSLR too.
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Post by davy on Sept 26, 2019 18:44:22 GMT
Foul weather but getting the odd night,, bought a new video tripod a will use it with the star adventurer ,,lot sturdier,,
Busy time daughter going in tomorrow night to get induced,, hopefully 2nd grandson very soon.
Pipe band AGM a week on Monday so no rest for the wicked
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elpajare
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Post by elpajare on Oct 14, 2019 7:35:42 GMT
I have detected this problem myself in CN ... and in other forums that are dedicated to video astronomy.
It seems that the important thing is to buy expensive equipment (also for NVision) and they have forgotten that the VA is the opposite, simple equipment and simple techniques. In CN it is impossible to publish anything decent because they are prohibited from retouching the photographs, poor people. NV has gained importance and cornered the VA.
Where are the people? I don't know, maybe hiding in their homes practicing VA secretly.
The desire to publish great photos that Astrophotographers have is not shared by VA practitioners, we are more humble and maybe we do not need anyone to recognize our work and that is why we remain silent in our home and our family environment
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2019 9:29:18 GMT
Good to hear from you ,Carlos. Your input is valued and I hope you continue posting to this forum. I see you have changed some of your equipment this year. I have changed a lot of mine as well. I have a better idea now what works for me but it has been expensive way to do it I dont know what has happened on CN. Some of the most experienced videoastronomers have just stopped posting. There still appears to be plenty of interest in VA,but not many posts cheers Paul
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elpajare
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Post by elpajare on Oct 15, 2019 7:33:13 GMT
My unused device drawer is full. This is one of the reasons why I have moved away from the forums and focused on my own experience.
At this time I use a single camera and two telescopes to observe the sky. A UVIR filter and occasionally a UHC for weak nebulae.
The equipment is not expensive but until I got here I spent a lot of money.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2019 9:51:06 GMT
Keep posting Carlos! I presume the single camera you use is the 294. I need a fast scope with 8" aperture and a small refractor. A UVIR and a IR filter. That leaves me with a lot of equipment that I dont really need. I am a slow learner. cheers Paul
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elpajare
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Post by elpajare on Oct 15, 2019 10:26:15 GMT
Yes, it is the IMX294 without refrigeration.
I bought it on Risingcam because they are the cheapest and its software is doing very well.
I have been using it for years and I know it quite well
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