First with FSQ - M8 and M20 (yawn)

[pvelez]

Now that I am on semester break from SAO, I decided to give the new (to me) FSQ106N a whirl. Its been sitting in its pelican box waiting to be taken out for the last 2 months.

I have a QSI583 wsg and it worked a treat - autoguiding was a snap with that new acrylic disk in the imaging train and with pulse guiding. (Damn dodgy ST-4 cable led me on a merry chase of my own tail!).

Anyhow, here is that windy night from last week - 50 minutes L, 15 minutes each RGB. Stars are fat and the whole picture is a bit noisy. But as a first shot with the new scope, I am a v happy camper.

Pete

[renormalised]

Picture might be a bit noisy, but the stars look OK to me (at least in this small piccie). Nice work Pete:):)

How are you going with the SAO (which course are you doing??).

[Hagar]

Looking good Pete. I'm sure you will enjoy this scope. Guiding is so forgiving but focus is a real bug bear as temp changes move it about quite a bit.

Have fun.

[oosh]

Looking great Pete, very inspiring mate :)

[pvelez]

I started with the Grad Certificate course - choose any 4 subjects. I finished that last year and have kept going so I guess I'm now moving on to the Diploma and if I am patient enough, finish off with the Master of Science.

So far I've done the introductory solar system, stars and galaxy subjects (just finished the galaxy one). These are all mandatory for the MSc I think. Also done the radio astronomy subject which was a real challenge but fascinating. The astrophotography subject was also good - I (foolishly) thought it would be a softer option. Not so of course.

I'm looking forward to the cosmology/relativity subject next year as well as the particle physics subject. Next term is observational astronomy. Hopefully familiar but I expect it to be challenging nevertheless.

To be honest, I am loving it. 1 subject a term is plenty - it can be a demanding course in terms of hours and trying to squeeze it in among full time work and family commitments is a challenge.But its well worth it

Pete

[pvelez]

Thanks Doug - agreed. I installed Robofocus which makes a big difference. Now all I need to do is work out the temperature compensation feature

Pete

[multiweb]

That's a cool shot Pete. Would be nice to see more and a bit bigger. Kudos to you with your courses. I don't know how you can juggle all that. :thumbsup:

[avandonk]

I cheat Pete by using dew straps to thermostatically heat my 300mm lens just above the ambient temperature before an imaging run starts. Focus once equilibrium is reached, and that way focus is maintained all night no matter what the ambient temperature does.

In Melboune 'summer' ambient on a clear night can be from 25C down to about 5C. In winter it can range from 16C to 1C. I leave the heater on 24/7 as that way my optic never gets condensation on it and it is always ready to roll at a moments notice.

This should work for your FSQ.



Bert

[renormalised]

Great to hear you're liking it:)

If you can, try and get your masters. Then, if you want to go all the way, your masters will get you into a PhD course. Then you'll be a professional astronomer!!!:)

[Lester]

Wonderful FOV, thanks for the view.

[Ross G]

Nice wide shot Pete.

Looks good.


Ross.

[pvelez]

Thanks for the tip Bert - I'll give that a go

Pete

[pvelez]

Carl,

I think the divorce will come before the PhD! Actually its my kids who jack up towards the end of semester

I have to say, its great the way the course is laid out. 12 weeks of "lessons", 2 weeks to finish off the project (always needed and usually accompanied by lousy weather) and then 2 1/2 months off to recover and remind the family what I look like.

At this rate I have only 3 1/2 years to go

Pete

[renormalised]

:D:P

They wouldn't get to see you all that often anyway, being a solicitor:)

I can just see it now....SWMBO: "Peter, if I hear another word about laminar flow, mesoscale turbulence, adiabatic lapse rates, atmospheric temperature profiles and giant planet atmospheres, I swear, I'll.......!!!!":):P

[pvelez]

My house has been bugged!!!

Pete

[renormalised]

Maybe the idea of a "flying saucer" would become a familiar concept within the above scenario:):P

Then you could snap some piccies of really close by "stars":):P