What do you do while waiting for a target to break the horizon?

AlexN · #1 31-12-2008, 01:54 AM

Hi everyone...

Well... For the first night in well over a month, here I sit, beside my EQ6 + C11, crystal clear skies waiting for saturn...

I set up tonight at 6.30pm got collimation nailed by 7.10... did about 1hr gazing at Orion, then an hour at tarantula, then about 20 minutes on Eta Car. did a few checks of laptop, focus, capture settings etc... that got me till about 10pm... Its now 12:42am.. Saturn will cleared the roof of my house about 5 mins ago.. going to give it another 20 minutes to avoid the heat haze coming off the roof...

Thats daaaamn near 3 hours doing... well.. Nothing.... Unfortunately skyglow here precludes me from hunting faint fuzzies, star clusters are uninspiring in an SCT (too narrow field) etc. etc.

So, as the title states.. What do you do while waiting for that target??? I have had WAAAYYYY too many coffee's, smoked too many ciggarettes, witnessed a few nice meteorites, but nothing spectacular... apart from that.. bored..

Cant go in and watch TV, because brisbane weather at the moment can not be trusted... I'd come outside to find a destroyed laptop, and a Schmidt Cassegrain Bucket. AALLLL full of water..

Well... thats filled in 6 or 7 minutes... (twidles thumbs...)

matt · #2 31-12-2008, 01:56 AM

Ian Robinson · #3 31-12-2008, 02:05 AM

Listen to ABC News Radio , that's usually interesting.

Nibble on something tasty --- chippies maybe ....

When we had a cat , if puss wants to spend some quality time with you, nurse it and stroke it's back and rub it under the chin , make puss purr.

Doze off in the campchair next to the telescope.

Tandum (Robin) · #4 31-12-2008, 02:20 AM

I have a brand new wallace and grommit to watch on your laptop

Errr, it's clear outside ?

AlexN · #5 31-12-2008, 02:31 AM

is where I am Robin..

Saturn is looking a little wobbly at 6m focal length, but hey.. Its Saturn!! My first tracked saturn imaging!

I care not for a good image.. just an image will do me fine.

I Have now noticed why I should have got a DBK/DMK 21 instead of the 31.. 15fps sucks... Meh.. what can you do!

Craig.a.c (Craig) · #6 31-12-2008, 02:42 AM

I usually try to find other constillations in the sky that I have never found before. I am starting to surprise myself at how easy it is to find my way around when you know what constillation your looking at.

Tandum (Robin) · #7 31-12-2008, 02:42 AM

I can't believe it's so clear outside. I've been in here working all night. After that rain this arvo you should get some nice shots. I miss out again

Ian Robinson · #8 31-12-2008, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tandum

I have a brand new wallace and grommit to watch on your laptop

Errr, it's clear outside ?

That'll kill your night vision , but the laugh might be worth it.

AlexN · #9 31-12-2008, 02:47 AM

Man..... 22gb of saturn data already

Seeing is not perfect, but it will do.. The sky is so clear that I can see the LMC with averted vision from the suburbs!!!

Weeee!!! Astro-Fix!!!

Ian Robinson · #10 31-12-2008, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

Man..... 22gb of saturn data already

Seeing is not perfect, but it will do.. The sky is so clear that I can see the LMC with averted vision from the suburbs!!!

Weeee!!! Astro-Fix!!!

Beauty of a lot of rain , it cleans a lot of the dust and atmospheric pollution from the atmosphere and can produce very clear skies for several days afterwards.

KenGee (Kenith Gee) · #11 31-12-2008, 04:16 AM

Alex ever thought of taking a pic of Eta Car?

AlexN · #12 31-12-2008, 04:19 AM

I've taken one or 2 before... but once set up for planetary imaging... I just couldnt be bothered getting all the deep sky gear too Ken.. (I know, it sounds slack... but you try setting up in 33 degree heat.)

theodog (Jeff) · #13 31-12-2008, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

I've taken one or 2 before... but once set up for planetary imaging... I just couldnt be bothered getting all the deep sky gear too Ken.. (I know, it sounds slack... but you try setting up in 33 degree heat.)

What about small bright planetary nebula Alex?
They are usually bright enough and should give good scale in the 11".

Double stars maybe??

jungle11 (Greg) · #14 31-12-2008, 10:28 AM

I was up waiting for saturn last night (first sight of it!), half a dozen galaxies along the southern border of Leo, a planetary in Corvus, and, of course, the Sombrero.

Spent maybe 2 hrs just lounging in my chair in the backyard taking in the Milky way overhead and wondering at the scale of it - it's what i always do. Gorgeous dark skies here and the view never fails to inspire. LMC looked so bright it was unbelievable.

Eventually all my targets were abouve the pine and gum trees and all were found (except the planetary). Need a barlow to add to my 9mm, Saturn was beautiful, but not big enough for the greedy eye!

My first impression of the planet was that it looked contrived. So perfect looking - the rings much brighter than i expected them to be at their angle. Three moons as well i think - 2 right next to the rings and one further out. Sounds wierd but ...yeah...contrived somehow

Great night

kinetic (Steve) · #15 31-12-2008, 10:48 AM

Hi Alex,

I know Saturn is not quite high enough, but you
would be better off waiting and try to get it closer
to dawn.
I'm not sure about Brissy, but here in Adelaide, the
air is the best in the few hours before dawn.
Trying for it when it's just a few degrees over the
first trees/ houses etc is just going to probably end
in disappointment, unless you have exceptional seeing.
My best Mars results were in the loneliest hours in the
coldest part of winter

But as for killing time, late night redneck AM radio is a good
laugh....or classical music and a beer or glass of port

Steve

andrewk_82 (Andrew) · #16 31-12-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

When we had a cat , if puss wants to spend some quality time with you, nurse it and stroke it's back and rub it under the chin , make puss purr.

Last night I pointed my laser collimator at the ground and the cat chased the dot around. That cat could go for hours doing that. Once I switched off the laser the cat spent the next 1/2hr or so look to see where the dot went

(probably wasted the batteries a bit but it kept me occupied for a little while waiting for Taurus to come out from behind the tree next door).

jungle11 (Greg) · #17 31-12-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewk_82

Last night I pointed my laser collimator at the ground and the cat chased the dot around. That cat could go for hours doing that. Once I switched off the laser the cat spent the next 1/2hr or so look to see where the dot went

(probably wasted the batteries a bit but it kept me occupied for a little while waiting for Taurus to come out from behind the tree next door).

Iv'e got a pet bird who loves talking to toes. I spent many a day tucking my toes under the carpet and watching the look of shock in his eyes, then pulling my toes out again - the great magic trick!

Love pets

xelasnave · #18 31-12-2008, 07:01 PM

Of late its repairs it seems..everything has broke..genny, an inverter, stuffed batteries...and with stuffed power supply its not easy to find a moment where I am waiting for anything..survival is there to fill in the waiting moments... but guitar is neat if all is ok..but clear as last night and tonight it seems...might skip the party it looks so good.
alex

TrevorW · #19 31-12-2008, 07:05 PM

Drink a few more reds and talk to you guys and the Jens on IIS

Cheers hic

mill (Martin) · #20 31-12-2008, 07:08 PM

Well it is cursing at the computer because phd doesnt guide and locks up after working perfectly for a long time.
Rebooting puter and try again.
Then go inside muttering words unspeakable here and just goto bed without any imaging done.
But will try again tonight