How bright are you

[thunderchildobs]

and your lights?

Image A: The Qld Astrofest imaging field. Not my setup.
Image B: Testing a new observing tent. There is a laptop with a white image on the screen. The laptop is in a box. The light is still to bright.
Image C: A simple solution a tarp over the tent. Also do not point the laptop screens towards the open tent door. Even with the tent covered I would still put a red filter over the screen.
These images were all at 30 seconds at 1600ISO.


The following show how bad a red led torch can be. The torch was a Celestron firecell which has 4 led lights in it.

Image D: For reference picture of my house from 20m away with no torch lights.
Image E: The torch unmodified, 15 seconds held at head height.
Image f: The torch covered in black tape with a 5mm x 5mm hole over 1 led. Still to bright.
Image G: The torch unmodified looking directly in to the camera.
Image H: The torch with a covered lens.

The images are 15seconds at 1600ISO.

Obviously what you do in your backyard is not a problem, but at astrocamps it is another issue. Do you really need a torch that can light up buildings, telescopes and eyes from 20m away?

I wont be using the Firecell torch anywhere near any observing fields.

[Granada]

I recently went to the ASV's LMDSS and used a red bike light as a torch to find and set up my equipment. Got politely told that if there was an event there that someone would probably complain about the intensity of the light, and it was suggested that I consider getting a lower powered red light. Although I understand and respect the comment, I also want to be safe when moving around and not lose anything accidentally, so it's a really fine balance between those two things.

[Wilso]

I don’t really like the bright red led lights either and I mainly observe by myself.
Pick up an army helmet light last year off an eBay auction (they are too dear to buy new) Has white, red, blue and ir light with 4 brightness settings.
The low red illumination is only 1.5 lumens which is very dim and has over a 100hr runtime. Can be clipped to your jacket, case etc
Perfect!
Streamlight Sidewinder compact11

[astroron]

after you are dark adapted you should not need a light to walk around.
because you are so reliant on your red light,you are losing the value of the darkness.
try doing it sometime,it really works.;)

[Granada]

Not sure how you drew this conclusion, I said I used a red light to "find and set up my equipment". I then let my eyes adjust to the dark just like everyone else

[Tropo-Bob]

Answer- Not very bright:- Because I thought that was going to be an IQ Test. :rofl:

[N1]

I haven't convinced myself yet to attend an astro meet in the field. I view them as compromises of being social versus observing versus imaging. That's fine if you aren't too worried about exhausing each of these to their full potential, but if you do, my experience is that nothing trumps being alone.

[gaseous]

Those last 4 words sum up everything I love about astronomy.