ballaratdragons
18-08-2006, 02:19 PM
It has been over 2 months now since I finally finished my EQ mount so it can take the 12" and get some tracked 12" capturing done. In the meantime I have been able to quickly set up the ED80 and get some tracked images, but not the 12". The weather has not played the game.
I have been very patient waiting to try it out. :(
Well, last night I gave up waiting and bit the bullet!
With fierce icy winds blowing, I spent at least 2 hours making sure everything was set up correctly, all plugged into what they are meant to be plugged in to, scopes and finders aligned, collimation checked, yada yada yada. All was ready to go! The 12" tracked Maiden Voyage.
OK, Joop is an easy target to start with. Turned the tracking on, located Joop in the finder, yep it was in the ED as well, then into the cubby and it was dancing around in the centre of the screen from the Toucam in the 12". :thumbsup:
Open up the capture 'record' window, all is ready . . . lights, camera, . . and before I could say 'Action' Joop dissapeared! :shrug:
'What tha!' Not again!!!!
I stuck my head outside and I couldn't see Joop at all. It had clouded over!!!!!! :mad2: Typical with our hobby!
I left the mount running and came inside very dejected (again). A few hours later I went back out to check on it and to my suprise Joop was still dancing around on the monitor!!! I didn't know my polar alignment was that good! :eyepop:
The cloud was gone but so was my chance to capture Joop. It was now only 5 degrees above the Horizon and had that horrible low horizon 'Blobby' shape.
But I was determined to use the 12" whilst tracking regardless of the wind, the freezing temp, and the lateness of Joop.
Below is my effort from being impatient. :D Probably my worst Joop yet!
The wind blew it around the screen so much that Registax had trouble following it, and it danced the 'Blobby Egg' disco so well you could've played music to it.
I gotta learn to be more patient. I need to stand there like Dorothy, click my Red shoes together and say: "the weather will improve, the weather will improve" :lol:
I have been very patient waiting to try it out. :(
Well, last night I gave up waiting and bit the bullet!
With fierce icy winds blowing, I spent at least 2 hours making sure everything was set up correctly, all plugged into what they are meant to be plugged in to, scopes and finders aligned, collimation checked, yada yada yada. All was ready to go! The 12" tracked Maiden Voyage.
OK, Joop is an easy target to start with. Turned the tracking on, located Joop in the finder, yep it was in the ED as well, then into the cubby and it was dancing around in the centre of the screen from the Toucam in the 12". :thumbsup:
Open up the capture 'record' window, all is ready . . . lights, camera, . . and before I could say 'Action' Joop dissapeared! :shrug:
'What tha!' Not again!!!!
I stuck my head outside and I couldn't see Joop at all. It had clouded over!!!!!! :mad2: Typical with our hobby!
I left the mount running and came inside very dejected (again). A few hours later I went back out to check on it and to my suprise Joop was still dancing around on the monitor!!! I didn't know my polar alignment was that good! :eyepop:
The cloud was gone but so was my chance to capture Joop. It was now only 5 degrees above the Horizon and had that horrible low horizon 'Blobby' shape.
But I was determined to use the 12" whilst tracking regardless of the wind, the freezing temp, and the lateness of Joop.
Below is my effort from being impatient. :D Probably my worst Joop yet!
The wind blew it around the screen so much that Registax had trouble following it, and it danced the 'Blobby Egg' disco so well you could've played music to it.
I gotta learn to be more patient. I need to stand there like Dorothy, click my Red shoes together and say: "the weather will improve, the weather will improve" :lol: