Warning! Awesomeness ahead.

[troypiggo]

Firstly, if you are susceptible to heart attacks or your head explodes when exposed to too much awesomeness, best you stop reading now. This news is just that awesome. Awesome.

This weekend I'm going to a dark site at Leyburn to do nothing but take astro photos. Awesome.
The weather reports are saying that it will be clear skies, no clouds. Not scattered clouds, not passing clouds, but NO clouds. Awesome.
It will be a near new moon. Awesome.
I'll be there with some fellow astrophotogs like Andrew (astro_south from here) who I'll be able to glean some more knowledge from. Awesome.
Since getting my original kit about 3 months ago, I've only really been able to take 2, fairly crappy (let's be honest), images. Reason was most of the few clear nights I've had were taken up with getting used to the gear, practising setting up, drift aligning etc. I now feel comfortable doing all that so can just focus on imaging. Awesome.
Speaking of focus. I made a Bahnitov mask last night so my focusing should be awesome. Awesome.
We'll be getting there in the afternoon so I can set up in daylight. Not time wasted trying to set up in the dark. Awesome.
With my gear set up in daylight, I'll finally be able to take some photos of my rig. Awesome.
My gear list has grown a little and now have much better guiding setup to make things quicker and easier. Awesome.
Also with my grown gear list is a Logitech Cordless Rumblepad so I can wirelessly remote control my mount using EQMOD. Awesome.
I've also narrowed down a software list that I know how to use and will make things quicker and easier. Awesome.
Using some of the above software, AstroPlanner, I have planned the whole night in terms of what I'm going to shoot and when. Awesome.
My batteries are all charged and ready to go. Awesome.
I'm camping overnight in a tent that will be right next to my scope. I love camping. Awesome.
My new wife will be in that tent, so she can't accuse me of staying overnight somewhere she isn't with some whore that doesn't exist. Awesome.
My new wife will be in that tent, so while the camera is doing it's thing and if I want some warming up I can sneak inside for some lovin. Awesome.
I have nothing to do on Sunday but sleep, so I can stay up all night. Awesome. That's like 17 on the AWESOME scale. How awesome is that?

I'm pretty sure that a night that rates 17 on the AWESOME scale can only lead to totally mind-blowingly awesome photos. Be careful when you do come to view them.

You have been warned.

[toryglen-boy]

dude, you gotta stop smoking crack ...


;)

[Octane]

Awesome. :D

Regards,
Humayun

[troypiggo]

LOL @ crack - I'm high on life, mate. Although I might have some beers while I'm there. Awesome.

I forgot to add another couple of awesomeness points.

While shooting some deep sky targets with my 30D on mount, I'll also set up my wife's 350D on a tripod and get some star trails for the first time. Awesome.

[erick]

You'll probably run out of petrol on the way there! Gruesome! :P

[h0ughy]

mate you need a new dictionary

[omnivorr]

sounds splendid to me! good onya mate!

[troypiggo]

@Eric - Just got the car serviced and petrol paid for by company. No chance it'll break down. Awesome. :)

@Houghy - If I use different words to describe my thoughts on the weekend, it's too hard to accumulate awesomeness points. :)

Ok, so maybe I'm getting a little carried away. It's just that I've been trawling this and other forums, accumulating gear and knowledge, just waiting for an opportunity to just focus on actually DOING the imaging. This is it.

[Rick Petrie]

Awe gee....that's pretty awe inspiring. I'm awe struck.:rolleyes:

[toryglen-boy]

Troy, i am just jealous of you. Have a great time fella, and if you take some good shots, share them with us

awesome

;)

[troypiggo]

What do you mean "if"!? All the foundations are laid. Nothing can go wrong. I'm gonna take these shots, and people's optical nerves are actually going to melt just by viewing my images. I'm actually going to be afraid to post them in case I get sued for compensation or something.

[toryglen-boy]

"if" my friend, is the middle word in life

i know your game ... just take a boatload of crisps and chocolate with you


;)

[astro_south]

Nice one Troy.

I know the feeling mate. Last time I was out there was October last year...I am desperate for some dark skies.

If you get there earlier enough and set up we might get some time for some bug macro shots as well :thumbsup:


p.s. I wouldn't rely on me for astrophotography advice (remember I am a visual observation guy ;) ) but I can introduce you to a few guys (just about every one else in the field) who knows way more than me.

[mrsnipey]

don't forget your power source.

[bloodhound31]

Have you got one of these?

[RB]

:rofl: Bazza !!!

[troypiggo]

:lol: good one Baz.

@Andrew - yeah mate. Take your macro gear. Might get an opportunity Sunday morning before Kristy wakes up. If I'm up early enough after a big night...

[toryglen-boy]

LOL

up to 11, in true Spinal Tap fashion

;)

[spacezebra]

Hi Troy

I like your enthusiasm! Awesome!:D Have great night.

Cheers Petra

[bloodhound31]

but wait....there's more....

[jjjnettie]

Have a great time Troy.
If you're keen you should get along to the Barambah Dark Sky Camp in April. It's awesome.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=41669

[telecasterguru]

Troy,
The Macquarie Dictionary defines "awesome" as "inspiring awe" and I reckon that is what is going to happen when we all see the images.
I hope you have Eta Carina on the list. It always inspires awe.
Frank

[troypiggo]

Thanks for the encouragement all.

@Jeanette - I'll pencil it in. I'm sure it'll be awesome, but I'll have to deduct some awesomeness points because this weekend will trump it with a few firsts for me. :)

@Frank - I hope so. Sadly Eta Carinae isn't on my current plan this time around. Not sure if I should share my awesome plan with you at this stage. Bit worried about introducing too much awesomeness to one thread, the forum servers might not be able to take it and crash.

Ok, I'll only tap the keyboard gently so as to not stress the server...

I've always liked Pleiades, I know it's pretty low at the moment, but I want to have a crack at it.
I have a project/task to get some good shots of M42 before the end of the month. I'll be spending couple of hours there I think.
I like the name "Jellyfish" IC443. Have a go at that one. Not as common as M42 etc.
Then I want some galaxies - M83 Southern Pinwheel or M66 Leo trio.

Any suggestions? Additions/deletions/substitutions? My SLR is unmodified, so bit worried about which ones will work better than others.

[bloodhound31]

Troy, I would hate to take you down an awesomeness peg or two, but if you try and get greedy and image too many things in one night, then yes, collectively there may be a few "firsts" awesomeness points.

However,it would be much more awesome to dedicate your hours on just one or two objects so that they turn out smoother, less noisy and overbrimming with awesomeness.

Just a tip.:thumbsup:

Baz.

Amateur apprentice awesomeer

[telecasterguru]

Troy,
I'm in the same boat as you are. I have a brand new mount and scope (2 weeks now) and nothing more than setting up in the backroom to learn how it goes together. Have read all the threads I can and hopefully will get a start on slewing, tracking and maybe a few shots on the back porch tonight weather permitting. Will be taking it to the golf course down the road (or to the pony club at Mangrove Mountain if possible) on Saturday and using a guide scope for the first time. Looking forward to it immensely. Your plan looks pretty cool so have a great weekend.
Frank

[troypiggo]

Thanks guys.

@Baz - I hear you and that thought had crossed my mind. I thought I'd just spend an hour or so on Pleiades from 8pm, couple of hours on M42. That might take me to midnight or so, then the others will just be assessed on how I feel. I'm kind of committed to M42. Do you think I should spend more than 2hrs on it alone?

Just say I was to shoot M42 and one or 2 other awesome things, what would you pick?

[bloodhound31]

As it is so bright and easily aquired, that should be fine mate. Just make sure you take a few short subs and matching darks to capture the core without burnout, and a few longer exposures to capture the fainter extremities (with matching darks also).

First, take your short darks and then your short images. Then when the night cools down further, take a couple of longer darks, to match the long exposures you will take next. Finally, when you have taken your last image, take some more matching darks at the cooler temperature.

Stack them using something like Deep Sky Stacker (http://deepskystacker.free.fr/english/index.html)and this will really fix up your digital noise during this warmer time of year.

You should wind up with plenty of awesomeness then.

Baz.

P.S. I really would give Eta Carina a go, as it is nice and high in the sky all night at this time of year and a perfect target. Very easy to aquire and the star ETA itself is a good guide star.

Alternatively, Lagoon and Trifid come up early morning under Scorpius so you should get quite a few subs on them before the dawn takes over.

[Omaroo]

Ahhh.. too funny all! :)

Troy - looks like it's all going to fall into place. Have a good one! :hi:

[kinetic]

Troy , all,

what a good , funny read, thanks :)

Don't take it all too seriously I say...enjoy it...

You know what else is awesome Troy.....finishing an all night imaging session
cooking a toad in the hole on a gas bbq , watching the
sun come up....awesome :)

Steve

[troypiggo]

Thanks again guys.

Trifid - I like it. Might try that. It's perrrrdy...

[acropolite]

Sounds like it's going to be an awesome night Troy, just don't tell Jen, she could over-dose on smilies and have an awesome siezure....:P

[bloodhound31]

Troy, you have the same child-like enthusiasm that we all should take a good look at and aspire to mimic.

Good on yer mate, never lose that.

Baz.

[troypiggo]

:lol: child-like. I'm 38. I am passionate about my hobbies, though. Hobbies? Obsessions? Hmmm...

[jjjnettie]

Isn't it just the best hobby/obsession!
You can get as techo as you like or just sit back in a comfy chair and watch the universe pass over head.

[bloodhound31]

38, So am I mate, I love being a kid! I encourage others to be that way, no matter how old you get! It's just............AWESOME!:rofl:

[PeterM]

Geez, I have been going to Leyburn for 10 years and after reading Troy's posts I can't remember having looked as much forward to it as this weekend. Awesometastic. Looking forward to meeting both you and your wife Troy. I am sure you will have a great weekend.
PeterM

[troypiggo]

:) G'day Peter. Suppose the excitement/novelty does wane a little after 10yrs. Really looking for to it now. You going up Fri night, or just Sat night? I'm only getting there Sat a/noon.

[PeterM]

I will be there on Saturday afternoon, make sure you bring enough battery power for your gear. There will be a generator that you can use if needed, you may want to bring a long extension lead. When you get there find Ray or Andrew for a quick tour of the place, setting up, dunny etc.
PeterM.

[troypiggo]

Yeah, got Andrew's details and been talking to him :)

[troypiggo]

Well, got back around lunchtime today. Had an absolute ball at my first dark site. Met heaps of people, all very helpful and friendly. Especially some crazy Irish/Scottish guy named Duncan or something, who turned out to be PeterM wearing a hoodie and playing tricks on me. Andrew (astro_south), David, Darren, Kevin, Peter, Bob, and more whose names are a blur because I have had little or no sleep - thanks for all your tips.

So the awesome expectations delivered as far as I was concerned. Only thing that sent me to bed in the end was dew at around 2am I think.

I spent most of my imaging time on M42 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=417463#post417463) , then some M83 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=417469#post417469) , then a Lulin animation (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=417472#post417472) . I was going to hit Antares and nearby nebulae but the dew stopped me. Next time.

[peter_4059]

Sounds like a great night. I've got an awesome (read easy/cheap) dew solution for you - I'll show you next time you're over.

Peter

[astro_south]

Glad you enjoyed the night. Did you duck outside tonight and look skywards from suburban Brisbane and long for what we are missing here?

It was great to meet you and I really enjoyed your company observing and imaging. We will certainly do it again sometime soon.

Did you see the glow we saw to the west was seen in other parts of Australia too ... wonder what it was?

[troypiggo]

Yeah, looked outside and up and just shook my head. No comparison. Keen to do it again. Soon. And often. :)

Haven't heard any more about that glow. Curious.

@Peter - awesome! Tell me more :)

[bones]

Troy glad you had a great night. For a newbie those images are awesome. Keep them coming.

[telecasterguru]

Troy,
Glad you had such a fruitful evening. M42 looks sensational.
I spent both Friday and Saturday trying to work my way through drift alignment on the EQ6. I didn't do very well (not very well at all to tell the truth) but glad to say there will be many more nights and in the clear bright light of day I think I have my head around the issues.