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Old 16-01-2019, 02:19 PM
Pepper (Steve)
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going in blind, chronicles of a noob...

hey all.
thought id make a thread about being a noob to this, maybe it will help other noobs, maybe not.
Anyway, I got my scope at Christmas time from my lovely partner. A skywatcher ED100 on a eq5pro mount.(yeah, she wouldnt spring the extra bucks for a bigger mount but beggars cant be choosers and all...)
thus far i love the thing. It truly is a magnificent sight some of these things that lurk up there, the goto works really well and sure makes what could be a difficult thing easy.
Took a couple of nights to get the goto to work properly and get my poor little brain around it, and then polar alignment for a beginner like me is a bit of a trick too. I seem to have that bit worked out pretty good though, can get it to stay on a star for long time without drifting away now using the synscan polar alignment.
Up until a few days ago i spent most nights outside just gazing and using the synscan library to get around and get familiar with different things. Had a zoom eyepiece and a barlow come in the mail a week ago.
the moon when its been around has been great, got a couple of good snaps with my iphone which left me wanting more.
Enter cameras and computer...........eats up the bucks quick this hobby!
ordered a couple of cameras,(asi224mc and 120mm and a zwo guidescope from John at bintel (very helpful guy and got it posted out to me asap), they turned up on friday and ive spent a few days getting accustomed to them and the software required to work it all.(im not a computer nerd by any means so im new to that side of things too)
took some snaps of the moon which i reckon look great but probably unlookable for most of you more experienced chappies..
have to get the guidescope and camera sorted out yet, need to see me engineer mate to make me a nice aluminium mount to fix it to my tube rings.
ill put a couple of pics up soon so i can have you guys pick em apart and let me know what im doing wrong.
i apologise for grammar and whatnot in advance too... im a shocker .
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Old 16-01-2019, 02:44 PM
Pepper (Steve)
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Spent today organising all this stuff into some cases.
Went to Bunnings and grabbed a hard case and a toolbox for the mount head.
All the other bits went into the hard case.
Bloody foam was near 70 bucks though.
Much better.
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Old 16-01-2019, 05:17 PM
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multiweb (Marc)
ze frogginator

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Well it look like you're well underway. Looking forward to the first pics.
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Old 16-01-2019, 05:52 PM
Pepper (Steve)
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Still not sure how to add pics yet. I’m on it
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Old 16-01-2019, 07:59 PM
Ukastronomer (Jeremy)
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Still not sure how to add pics yet. I’m on it
Simple, go to advanced and manage attachments
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Old 16-01-2019, 09:41 PM
Ukastronomer (Jeremy)
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If you want cases for gear get ally ones (large) from Amazon and "foam board"

easily adjustable, NOT block foam, once used that is it
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Old 16-01-2019, 10:15 PM
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Camelopardalis (Dunk)
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Congrats Steve, ED100 on an EQ5pro is certainly not a beggars rig, your partner must think the world and the stars of you
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Old 17-01-2019, 08:22 AM
Pepper (Steve)
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Originally Posted by Camelopardalis View Post
Congrats Steve, ED100 on an EQ5pro is certainly not a beggars rig, your partner must think the world and the stars of you
Haha, yeah, sometimes she does, other times she don’t!
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Old 18-01-2019, 09:36 AM
Pepper (Steve)
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ok i think ive managed to be able to upload a pic..

here is the moon from last night.

to me, looks grouse, but what can be done to better this?
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Old 18-01-2019, 09:39 AM
Pepper (Steve)
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and just for practise, while the moon was behind my roof, took a snap of this nebula. thats as small as i could get them stars to go.. look prety fat to me.
how, if possible, can i make em nicer than that?
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Old 19-01-2019, 06:19 AM
RyanJones
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Hi Steve,

Firstly let me congratulate you on your new scope.

Secondly welcome to the world of Astrophotography or as most of us like to call it " empty my bank account "

The image you've taken of the keyhole nebula is really good for a first go. Don't be hard on your self and don't look for instant perfection. It will only serve to discourage you. I'd like you to take a look at my recent Keyhole nebula.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...e.php?a=238727

In particular note the double stars to the right side of the ball shaped bit. Your stars in your image are better resolved than mine.

What are you using to focus ? If it's sharpcap or similar I can't help because I haven't gone down that avenue yet. If not, a bahtinov mask is the thing to use. The shaper your focus, the sharper your stars.

Don't forget that you're using a reasonably long focal length, things are going to look big. I compare my 560mm images with my 1250mm images and in the shorter ones the stars look like beautiful pin pricks. Once you over double the focal length, everything looks big. Also the longer the focal length the more faults it will find and the more smooth and well balanced and aligned everything has to be.

You've done a great job Steve. Well done
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Old 19-01-2019, 07:50 AM
Pepper (Steve)
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Thanks for the input RJ.
As for focus, I just be using the focus knob while watching the image in firecapture. Can’t use Sharpcap. Can’t download it from the site.
Talk about a money sponge. Me missus is up me for spending 1500 bucks so soon after she bought it for me!
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Old 19-01-2019, 12:02 PM
RyanJones
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepper View Post
Thanks for the input RJ.
As for focus, I just be using the focus knob while watching the image in firecapture. Can’t use Sharpcap. Can’t download it from the site.
Talk about a money sponge. Me missus is up me for spending 1500 bucks so soon after she bought it for me!
Ok, first thing is first and this one is a good one. Get/make a bahtinov mask. Doing your focus by eye will suit your eye but not anyone else's or you camera sensor. This one is a good one for the missus because if you buy one, it's cheap, if you make one, it's cheaper. That is going to make your images instantly sharper. A quick Google search will show you what they are and how to use them. It's dead simple.
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  #14  
Old 19-01-2019, 07:52 PM
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Outcast (Carlton)
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Have a look on eBay; there is a guy in Melbourne who will 3d print you one & mail it to you for between $12 - $16 depending on what size you need.

Or, you can get one through an astro shop for about $30 - $40... the ebay one is good, he made me one for an 8" SCT recently & I echo Ryan's comment, very simple to use & makes for perfect focus...

What problems are you having downloading Sharpcap?

I downloaded it recently with no problems at all, Windows 10 64bit...

Cheers
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Old 19-01-2019, 08:08 PM
Pepper (Steve)
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Sharpcap won’t let me past the Captcha screen.
I need the windows xp version
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Old 19-01-2019, 08:59 PM
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Outcast (Carlton)
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Steve,

I've just successfully downloaded the file.. pm me your email address & I'll see if I can email it to you..

I'm not sure what the file size limit is for my email though... otherwise, do you have a drop box?
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Old 26-01-2019, 09:39 AM
Pepper (Steve)
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File worked ok on my poor little Eee pc.
However I’ll be receiving a new computer this week.
i7 8GB 256gb ssd and a couple of usb3 ports.
Should get me out of my computer doldrums.
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Old 26-01-2019, 12:47 PM
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Outcast (Carlton)
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File worked ok on my poor little Eee pc.
However I’ll be receiving a new computer this week.
i7 8GB 256gb ssd and a couple of usb3 ports.
Should get me out of my computer doldrums.
Glad to hear it...
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Old 01-02-2019, 09:18 AM
Pepper (Steve)
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New computer finally turned up after the long long weekend holdup.
Haven’t had a chance to get outside though as it’s been quite cloudy in the evening. Early am has been nice though to watch Jupiter, Venus and the moon come up together, before I head off to work.
Anyhow, just testing the new computer inside has revealed just how tough the eepc has been toiling. So fast!
Nice to be able to have the latest softwares too.
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Old 10-02-2019, 02:17 AM
Pepper (Steve)
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Had a bit of a storm this arvo but cleared up by about 930pm.
Got setup and at first I was experiencing the same issues as last time. I was ready to blow my lid and then I think I got it aligned properly.
All seems well now. Minimal movement.
I’ll give it a few more nights and then give phd2 a go to see if I can iron it out a bit more.
Took some pics but I really think I’m gonna have to eventually get a proper camera for dso for when there are no planets to do.
What would be a decent camera to look at bearing in mind $1500 bucks will be a hard sell to the accountant when we are meant to be saving for another house..... bit more budget orientated.
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