Some star time, AT LAST!

[LewisM]

Just got back in from star testing the VC200L after collimating it (got LOVELY concentric airy rings after only FINE tweaking what I had done during the day - VERY happy with that!) - really quite steady seeing, and I was able to observe Saturn for about 10 mins with nary a shimmer, using the 12.5mm EP. Antares was GORGEOUS and brilliant orange-red, and the Jewel Box was a gem (pun intended :) ) A very pleasing scope - much nicer than my previous 2 (not fluorite refractor perfect, but what is? :) )


I was very surprised how quickly the VC200L acclimated to ambient - within 40 minutes. Perhaps since I keep it in a plastic tub in the garage (which is not very warm) meant it was near ambient already anyway, but the coloured tube currents shimmer when looking at the airy disks were apparent (no, I of course did NOT alter the collimation until acclimatisation) for about 20 minutes before settling.

Not going to do imaging tonight, as I am awaiting some goto system spare parts, but the GPD2 working as a makeshift alt-az was VERY smooth - far easier than the NEQ6.

Going to HAVE to get an alt az mount so I can do visual while imaging with one of the others.

[naskies]

Yes, it's great to finally have a clear night again :)

I was completely set up for a night's worth of Cat's Paw imaging - just had to wait for it to rise above the neighbour's tree line - when I decided to plug in an additional dew heater for my all sky camera.

Unfortunately, that small 1.25" eyepiece heater tripped the 10 Amp automotive fuse on my 4-way splitter (I don't have a spare one) - game over :(

I was very tempted to jerry rig up my own splitter cable, but I've learnt my lessons the hard way doing this last minute and at night... at least I can have a good night's sleep!

[cybereye]

I was sitting at a soccer field last night watching my youngest son train. By the time we got home and had dinner I couldn't face the 60 minutes of setup time before I'd even be able to start imaging. Maybe tonight....:question:

[LewisM]

I think most of us have become a little blase about it, unless we have observatories or permanent setups:)

Maybe tonight, but I bet the parts still don't arrive from Tasco today. Getting very frustrated- been now 2 months trying to get this mount properly going (I could use Starbook, but...)

[rmuhlack]

I have been very happy with the visual performance of my VC200L too. Being a truss scope rather than having a steel tube means my cool down times are super fast as well.

Has been wet and cloudy of late down here too, but not complaining too much because for dryland farming the rain is very welcome. I saw that the forecast for last night/early this morning was due to clear up from about midnight-1am, so I took the lazy option and just setup for a milky way widefield with a camera lens.

[cybereye]

Yep, that would be right, 2:30pm and the clouds are starting to build here in Brisbane.... :mad2:

[LewisM]

High level yik up here. We'll see...

[Stardrifter_WA]

Star light, oh star light,

I wish with all my might,

To see your faint photons of light,

Out there in the deep dark black,

Oh please come back, please come back,

But alas, there are no stars to see,

For is true, that winter it be,

Now a veil does cover the sky,

No stars to see, no objects deep,

As we move into winters creep.


A new mount, I did buy

Silly me, for now I do cry,

To await the fading of the veil,

As winter moves on to springs prevail,

To once again to see the deep dark black,

And then I get the f**k out the back!

Stardrifter_WA

[blink138]

ha ha peter have you been studying vogon poetry!
pat