So three separate apps today told me there would be less then 10% cloud cover tonight. So I’m all setup and waiting but as you can see from my laptop screen it is not looking promising.
I hear you Gavin. All I can say is persevere because you'll kick yourself the moment you've packed up and it becomes clear. My last dark site visit was supposed to be clear and the cloud started rolling in from the moment I got there. I set up anyway and within half an hour, it was clear.
I’m down the coast near Ulladulla and all day it’s been picture perfect blue sky but at 5.30pm the clouds started rolling in from the west / south west and it’s still heavy cloud cover now.
Had an unbelievable night last Sunday night / early hours of Monday morning and managed to capture my first M42 , conditions were A1
Don’t know if I will wait up until midnight to check outside again, my rigs all set up with a cloak over it.
Haha me too Marc I got just enough time to get my alignment done before it rolled in. Just cleared up again so I hit start sequence and got this annoying error in my guiding which chewed up some time but I’m rolling now. Hope it stays clear long enough for plenty of subs.
There’s been so few clear nights lately that I’m desperate I’ll take even an hour if I can get it.
Nice setup and m42 Martin. What capture software is that?
Hi Gavin
I’m using EQMOD , Stellarium scope and Stellarium for goto and acquisition and Backyard EOS ( classic edition ) for frame focus and capture .Its a joy to use if your a DSLR user like I am
Haha me too Marc I got just enough time to get my alignment done before it rolled in. Just cleared up again so I hit start sequence and got this annoying error in my guiding which chewed up some time but I’m rolling now. Hope it stays clear long enough for plenty of subs.
There’s been so few clear nights lately that I’m desperate I’ll take even an hour if I can get it.
Nice setup and m42 Martin. What capture software is that?
I didn't even finish polar aligning before the clouds. Left everything running till midnight just in case. Saturday supposedly looks possible?
I stayed up but ot never looked good when I looked and I have to wait till 3 am for Orion it seems...
And its been so long, with my poor memory that I cant remember stuff...just wait till you are old and you know what I mean.
Maybe tonight???
Alex
Alex
Your memory must be good as you have helped me immensely with your posts and replies all year to get me set up and taking images, thank you !!
I’m really getting into Startools now and it seems to get easier the more you delve into it ( even with poor data you get a reasonable result )
Tonight down the coast looks ok after 10.00 pm and Saturday nights looking good, might be lucky and get +4hours ( might give M42 another shot with some short and long exposures )
Cheers
Weather report( south coast ) has changed since 3pm now its mostly clear instead of clear
The sky is 80% cloud cover at present with a light nor’easter
I’m going out at 8.30pm to image but it’s not looking great at the moment
I’ve got the 6” set up for imaging in the backyard and the 12” goto dob set up in the front drive just in case imaging becomes to frustrating to bother with.
The weather in Sydney is looking a lot better than down here at the moment, at least that’s what the report says
I’m at Narrawallee 5km north of Ulladulla and the cloud has just moved in from the west
Got 2 sync stars done around the Helix ready to centre and image and come to a grinding halt
Trying to find something in between the cloud patches, I’ll persevere for another hour or so , then if it doesn’t clear I’ll shut down and watch some telly
Trying Orion.
15 second luminance cause of a multitude of problems including filter wheel not showing in Sharpcap, auto guide not working.
And I think coma corrector slightly out of place and focuser slaps like a door in the wind.
Still some captures show the trap resolved so I will build on that...only going to get about another five minutes before it goes behind the trees.
Still great to at least have a go☺
Cloud moved in for a while when I finally got it together but I hung in there and it passed.
Alex
