Ten Chain Hill New Moon nights

[RickS]

That's what I do with the FSQ-106ED, Peter. I rack the stock focuser right in and add a short extension so that the focus point is somewhere around the middle of the range of the Atlas. It works pretty well for me.

Cheers,
Rick.

[RobF]

I'm out this month alas guys.
Weather seems promising so far - best of luck :thumbsup:

[DavidTrap]

If it's the VC200L I used to own, the secondary is not spotted. You could use a standard laser to align the secondary, and then use the Tak scope to tweak the primary. This does imply you have an adapter for the Tak scope to the back of the Vixen.

I've just been using the Tak scope on my DSI RC10C tonight - nice bit of kit. I followed the collimating instructions for an RCOS. Nonetheless, DSI recommends an alternative collimation procedure. It's a several page PDF, but looks interesting. I might give it a go if CCD inspector tells me to try harder!

Hope the weather gods smile on you all - I'm planning to head up to Leyburn on Friday.

DT

[whzzz28]

I believe mine does have a donut, but not 100% sure.
I have tried using a laser to align the secondary but when i rotate the laser in the focuser, the beam moves. I thought this was just the secondary being out but no matter how many times i tweak it, it always is off-center when using the laser. All i can think of is that the FF is causing the issues. I have confirmed the FF is centered though (havnt touched it from factory).

Rick, if you could bring your Tak collimating scope, i will give it a try.
I went over it again last night. Followed procedures and "to my eye" it looks collimated. I got it close last time, just didn't have any way of getting it perfect.

BTW, what day are people looking at heading up, friday or saturday night?

Cheers.

[RickS]

You'll need a donut on the primary and a centre spot on the secondary to use the collimating scope. You also need to a way to attach it (it has a male M36.4P1 thread). I have a Borg adapter which will mate it to a female T-thread.

I'll come up on Saturday (unless it starts to look like Friday is going to be clear and Saturday won't be).

Cheers,
Rick.

[whzzz28]

Hate to be that guy but the weather isn't looking too promising. Skippy sky puts a blob of cloud, most likely rain over the area at 1am Sunday and patchy before that

:mad2:

[pmrid]

Yeah. It's hard to get excited about the prospects for tonight. It looks likely there will be showers during the afternoon possibly extending into the evening.

Last night was similar - a spot of rain followed by an hour of clear and then back again. This kept up most of the night. I went over about midnight but was in bed again by 2. You can't do much with that limited time.

Bugger!!

Peter

[Tandum]

I got trouble with this new sx wheel and over stuff here so I'm out anyway.

It's looking like sx wheels don't work reliably with 64bit windows 7 :(

[RickS]

Looks too iffy for me, I'm afraid Peter. I'll stay inside at home and play with the collimation of the AG12 some more. See you in May perhaps? The weather might be better by then...



I've never had a problem with mine, Robin, and I'm running 64-bit Win7.

[Tandum]

It's not just me Rick, there are quite a few with these issues on yahoo. Even peter has issues with his. Mine has to be unplugged and replugged after the pc boots to be detected and then it freezes maxim in a sequence with 'waiting for filter'. This is with a single short usb cable from the wheel to the pc. Replace the pc with a 32bit laptop and it's faultless. Platt has acknowledged problems with 64bit.

I'm going to put another drive in the pc, put 32bit on it to prove the pc hardware but the pc is brand new and 32bit will waste over half the ram :rolleyes:

[ozstronomer]

Looks like the weather is not on our side this month :(

Have a good break Pete, catch everyone in April

[pmrid]

THIS MONTH!!!!! Strewth. I can count on one hand (with fingers to spare) the number of usable nights I've had since about September. When it wasn't bushfires it was farmers burning off, or more bushfires or then, cloud, haze, heat to beat the band, storms, and finally, after much anticipation, actual rain - followed by more smoke, then haze then cloud and now drizzle.

But we tend to forget from one winter to the next how most summers for the past several years have been like this. Summers in eastern Australia have been generally a wipeout for several years now; and I think you have to expect that this will be the pattern for the future also.

That completes my misery-guts extended weather forecast for the summer/autumn season.

Peter

[RobF]

Hate to say it but think you're right Peter. I was genuinely surprised in 2008 and 2009 just how many good nights I had with my new 8" Newt, compared to the very early 80s "first time around". Back then I used to feel lucky if I got a decent viewing night once or twice in a one week period on hols. Of course 2010 and earlier was the depths of a major drought, which we hopefully won't see again for a while (even if the astronomer in us doesn't like a moist sky!)

You only have to look at Aus zoomed out in Google earth to see where the most clouds and rain are (the green bits) :)

[Tandum]

Looks like I found the issue and it has nothing to do with 64bit windows. It doesn't work properly on H61 or H77 Intel motherboard chipsets. I'll have a Z77 here next week to test as well. Works flawlessly on all AMD machines and older core2 duo type machines with older chipsets like 945 etc.

I can't do much about it at my end except try and work around it :sadeyes:


ooohhh, look who's got a tak 106 in their sig ^ :thumbsup:

[RickS]

That's a pain...

Woohoo! Very nice, Rob :thumbsup:

[RobF]

And a single glorious 5min sub from suburbia (of Eta C) to show to date on the Tak :P :)

Your bloody fault Robin for harping on about refractors, not to mention Rick at AF :rolleyes: :lol:

[Tandum]

And no wonder, I'm coming up on 3 months trying to get this new newt to work :P

[pmrid]

Well, you just can't pick the weather can you. BOM, Skippy and so forth pronounced tonight a mess - but here I am, with the dog, running a series in Ha through the BabyQ and not a cloud in sight.
I'll be blowed if I will ever offer a weather forecast again.
This is the BabyQ's first night out with the PDF focuser and .73 reducer. So I'm doing the Chicken in widefield in the hope of capturing the WHOLE chook and not just the tail feathers.

Results will follow.
Peter

[DavidTrap]

I hear you brother!

The cloud forecasts said Friday night would be a train wreck at Leyburn, so I decided to do the right thing and stay home with the family, despite having a leave pass approved and finishing work at 3pm.

Drove out there on Saturday with 7Timer still forecasting that Saturday night would be clear until 1ish. Was greeted by those who had been there on Friday night saying they'd had a fabulous evening...

The clouds teased us all night until I went to bed ~1am. I woke this morning to clear skies - bet I'll hear that it fined up soon after 1am.

DT

[pmrid]

G'day Trapper. Good to hear from you.

Keep the faith!!

Peter

[BFUBBS]

try this: plug it in after booting. Instead of double clicking to open the program, right click it and select "troubleshoot compatibility" you will get two options from there. basically auto test best setting or you select from a list of older versions of windows to run it as. try auto, if that doesn't work select the most recent but not your current version of windows from the manual choice part. Repeat to the next oldest if you find it is unstable still, keep repeating.
Disclaimer: not guaranteed to do anything...

[Tandum]

This won't work, it's not a maxim or ascom problem, it looks to be a motherboard chipset problem. It works fine on an AMD or an older Intel machine but so far it has failed on 3 out of 3 Ivy Bridge CPU machines each with a different S1155 chipset. However all 3 have a C2xx series usb controller. I got around it by not running ascom on the wheel.

[pmrid]

G'day guys - I'm back in Oz and the rain seems to have stopped. After I slash the grass later today, I hope to find the observatory - the brass has grown more in the month I have been away than in the whole of the previous 6 months. Amazing but the place looks good.
April New moon - let's hope we get a good one.
Peter

[Tandum]

Welcome home Peter.
You've missed some incredible weather.
I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it.

[astroron]

:welcome:back Peter, Wow the month went soooooooo quick.:eyepop:
I hope you had a great trip :D
Cheers:thumbsup:

[RobF]

I think last night was the first night I've set up in the backyard for almost 8 months between the shocker summer and work/eclipse/hols before Christmas. No I lie, I did get a single 5min sub last month now I think back.

Fingers crossed we get rewarded in autumn and winter everyone!
Welcome back Peter.

[DavidTrap]

I went to Leyburn on Friday and Saturday. Scattered cloud interrupted some imaging on Friday night. Saturday offered some early cloud (after a clear sunset), it fortunately cleared to a great night. Transparency wasn't the greatest, but imaging was uninterrupted.

Fingers crossed this continues for the months ahead.

Hope you had a great trip Peter, excluding the pick pocket...

DT

[pmrid]

G'day guys. What a month!! Many nights, it looked almost as if I was going to get lucky but then, at the crucial moment, the Sky Gods "got a headache" and the foreplanning in setting up was all wasted. Sound familiar??

It really doesn't look likely that this weekend will be very different. I'd be happy to be proven wrong though!! Sky Gods please note!!

And if, by some miracle of miracles the weather does clear, you're welcome to dash up for a night of reckless abandon under the stars.

Peter

[whzzz28]

Sunday night might be alright.
Friday night is a complete goner. Nothing but red over most of QLD. Saturday night is clearing to a probably fine night on sunday morning.

Given the past few weeks, this weather doesn't seem to be letting up. Thus i won't be attending this weekend.

Cyclone off WA as well.
WTF is with our weather. Its Autumn!

[RobF]

I was getting hopefully about Sat, but I see its slipped back into the red for Sat night according to tonights forecast. This onshore moisture is just so hard to predict, and I think the BOM Access guys pick it better than the NOAA. Still, I miracle might happen....!

[Tandum]

Gezz you guys are optimistic. You'll probably need a boat to get there :)

[RickS]

If it is any consolation the weather is bad here in Utah as well. Had a couple of nice days last weekend in the national parks near Moab but it has been overcast and raining since then. Cold again too...

[whzzz28]

You opening shop for May's new moon weakend Peter?
Weather hasn't been too bad lately. New moon on the 10th so 1.5 weeks away.

[pmrid]

G'day Nathan. Guys, I don't know yet whether I'll be here for the new moon weekend. Some crossed wires in the scheduling of an upcoming trip to Borumba Dam may mean I have to be away that weekend. I'm trying to get that sorted but as yet, the date seems immovable. So more likely than not, I won't be here for it.

Peter

[troypiggo]

The Sunday is Mother's Day ;)

[pmrid]

Weather seems to be clearing and the prospect for a clear Saturday night seems to have grown a lot. And my other plans for that weekend have been shelved so you're welcome to wander up Friday or Saturday if anyone wants.
Peter

[RickS]

I'm stuck in Brisbane with family commitments, Peter. Hope you get a good night or two. I might try for some NB at home...

[RobF]

I thought you might have been away so have locked in plans to head up to Leyburn for a couple of nights Peter. Fingers crossed for all for a decent weekend!

[ozstronomer]

Hi Peter

I'm unable to make it this weekend, tonight's looking good in Brissy, so far...

Fingers crossed for a cloud free night next month

Cheers Geoff

[RickS]

The clouds appeared here a few minutes ago just as I carried the scope outside :mad2:

[Tandum]

I'm out too. You can come here, drink beer and pull a motorbike to bits if you like :P

Found a stripped thread on one of the forks oil drain bolts today. I've already used extreme methods to remove 3 rounded Allen head bolts in that area. But this means pulling off the front end, stripping the fork and tapping the hole for a bigger bolt. If whoever stripped this thread and rounded those bolts was inside the forks, who knows what's going on in there :sadeyes:

[pmrid]

Hey guys, I know it's getting a bit "moon ish" but the coming weekend is shaping up as a corker?
Anyone, interested?
Peter

[RickS]

Would love to, Peter, but I have domestic commitments :sadeyes:

[RobF]

I'd be pushing it - wife sick currently.
Otherwise the soul is willing.

[DavidTrap]

Another action packed weekend for me at home, but I'm thinking about setting up in the backyard with CCD Commander and trying for some NB data...

DT

[ozstronomer]

Peter, Alas I have other commitments so I'm out this time. Sky looks awesome tonight, hope we all have some, very needed, clear skies :D

Cheers Geoff

[pmrid]

Strewth guys, what a cracker of a night that was - cold but not foggy - not a cloud in sight and the moon departing early enough to leave some time to play. And the forecast for tonight is for more of the same.
About time too!!
Peter

[DavidTrap]

Fantastic weather! Our house has a view to the western horizon over the d'Aguilar range. When we moved in 5 yrs ago, we had a seemingly endless run of crisp, clear days with fabulous sunsets. Haven't had many of those for the last couple of years, but we did last night!!!

CCDC worked well for me last night Peter. Only problem was I had to get out of bed at midnight to manually rotate the camera... Wifey didn't appreciate the alarm - tried to tell her it was all in the name of science...

DT

[pmrid]

I think I can guess her response to that. Something like "See if science wants to sleep on the sofa!"

Peter

[DavidTrap]

She had suggested that earlier in the evening when I told her of my cunning plan!

DT

[RickS]

Who goes to bed before midnight? :lol:

I spent the evening playing with my tilt adjuster. Got enough data for a couple of quick & dirty images but I still haven't sorted out the tilt.

[pmrid]

Right guys, since it's going to be raining anyway, let's make use of this New Moon by holding the first (and hopefully last) Gillard Memorial Imaging Festival. Instructions and inspiration available here:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tp1_llDdmfM?rel=0
Peter

[Tandum]

I've got a sick bike to console anyway. She's taken to wearing dresses, pissing in a bucket and hiding in corners :lol:

[pmrid]

Check out Skippy for this Friday and Saturday. I hesitate to utter the words "clear skies" but that's what I'm thinking.
Peter

[RickS]

That would be a novelty! We're entertaining at home on Saturday night. I might be able to skip out early on Friday if I can clean up enough stuff at work...

[ozstronomer]

Hi Peter,

Weather permitting I'll be up on Saturday , even if it's just to see what a dark sky looks like :lol:

Geoff

[Tandum]

Errr .. I don't think I can lift this tripod into the back of the Golf :lol:

[DavidTrap]

Thinking of ducking out for Saturday night Peter - need to do some testing with my DLSR doing widefield work.

Might be arriving after dark - do you know of any issues on the road out over Glorious??

Ta
DT

[pmrid]

G'day David,
Be glad to see you - and to be able to watch your widefield technique. I've decided that this astrofest I will only do time lapse and widefield stuff-no bulky tripods, mounts etc. I'm trying to refine a truly lightweight travelling rig for when I go off on a grey nomad thing next year. Picked up a good 40D and a 350D, plus a Vixen Polarie with all the usual accessories - good tripod, double ball heads, etc, AC power supply! DSUSB dongle and so forth. Haven't got any filters yet. But I remember that you use graduated ND filters and that's the kind of thing I need to see working. So come on up, but be warned, there will be questions afterwards.
Peter

[pmrid]

No known issues with the Mt. glorious road.
Peter

[DavidTrap]

Just so you're not disappointed, I'm definitely not an expert!!!

Also, I haven't got any graduated ND filters, but they sound interesting.

Hope the weather holds. Much fog out there?

DT

[pmrid]

Not this morning and it's quite dry tonight - and not as cold as predicted, so probably not tomorrow either.
Peter

[RobF]

How's it going out there guys?
Nice and clear in Brissy. Some high cloud threatening from west on the infra-red?

[pmrid]

Clear as crystal and not too cold up here- down to 13 in the obs.
Looks like an all-nighter!!

Peter

[astroron]

Nice here too Peter,:D
Temp outside at the scope 8.5 Brrrrr
But I am all rugged up so no problems :)
Could be the same re all nighter:eyepop:
Cheers:thumbsup:

[RobF]

Good to hear you're having fun Peter.
Nice night for sure.

[RickS]

Sorry I couldn't get up there tonight, Peter. I'm making the best of the second rate skies at home...

[pmrid]

Looking pretty marginal up here David. Clouds from the SW and looking reasonably lumpy.
Peter

[jjjnettie]

It's a stellar night out tonight.
I'm inside processing holiday pics in front of the heater though.
Tomorrow night should be a corker as well. I'm saving it all up for then. :)
I have a new lappy to break in to PHD, K3 and Backyard EOS, should be a fun (not) night. LOL

[RobF]

Welcome home Ms Hubble! :)

[jjjnettie]

:) Thank you.
Twas a blast. Am now saving up to do it all again next year. :)

[pmrid]

Have a look at Skippy. Saturday is clear according to the maps. Don't get too excited yet but there does actually seem to be a window of opportunity this weekend.
Peter

[RickS]

I'm keen if the weather is kind, Peter!

[ozstronomer]

I'm away on holidays, hope the weather clears for a great weekend, catch everyone at Astrofest:D

[whzzz28]

If the weather is looking good come Saturday, i'll be over.

[RobF]

I've been up at Leyburn for a few nights this week with the kids Peter so will try to behave and skip this one. Certainly looking good though.

[whzzz28]

How's the weather out there Peter?
Was rather wet out here last night, get much fog?

[pmrid]

G'day Nathan, sorry, I missed your posting until now - weather has been unpredictable. Fog this morning but clear all day until sunset when cloud started rolling in from the west. Managed to get about an hour in before the weather closed us down.
Peter

[RickS]

It cleared a bit around midnight. I got six hours of data. The first couple of hours were through cloud and sucker holes. I'm hoping the quality of the final four hours is better. Just about to take a look...

Thanks for your hospitality again, Peter!

Cheers,
Rick.

[RobF]

I was wondering how you were going out there guys. From the forecasts I thought it would be no worries all night, so a bit dismayed when clouds hit around 10pm. Stuck it out and managed to restart around midnight here too, then left it all running through to 4am. I ran out of time getting some RGB on NGC 6188 and the Veil at Leyburn. Gosh the Veil is tough in RGB from the 'burbs. What was I thinking :P

Be interested to see any pics from 10Chain.

[RickS]

I'll post my NGC 6559 in the next couple of days. It's looks OK but hopefully I can do a little better with additional processing in lieu of quality data ;)