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Old 18-09-2014, 08:59 PM
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pmrid (Peter)
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Seeing in SE Qld

Hey guys, is it just me or are others experiencing unusually bad seeing in SE Qld lately? I am really struggling to find guide stars lately whether it's with my SX Lodestar or the old faithful QHY5 - and with 10 second integrations and Binning x2 - I am still struggling more times than not to find something to guide on.

Is there an unusual amount of dust in the upper atmosphere or perhaps jetstreams from Hell? What's going on?

Peter
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Old 18-09-2014, 09:21 PM
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Tandum (Robin)
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There's scrub fires on Bribie Island today. I can smell the smoke from here.
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Old 18-09-2014, 09:34 PM
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LewisM
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Really poor here. Eyes are even stinging. A laser shone into the atmosphere is FULLY illuminated - and that's a low power instructor's red laser. Cloud free in entirety, but for the smoke haze (and harsh inversion layer)
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Old 18-09-2014, 09:47 PM
Chard (Richard)
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It's been absolutely horrible for the last couple weeks. Lots of smoke due to bush fires and burn offs, and the jetstream has also been really bad.
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Old 18-09-2014, 10:05 PM
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codemonkey (Lee)
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Interesting... I wonder if this is actually the cause of all my guiding woes. It would explain why the stars are bouncing around all over the place, no?
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Old 18-09-2014, 10:11 PM
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LewisM
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Indeed. Seeing plays a significant part of good guiding.

PHD shows the preview quite well, but MaxIM is even better - it zooms RIGHT into the guidestar and boxes it in. You can watch the waltz live (MaxIM also has an algorithm that will temporarily/intermittently stop exposure DURING a run when scintillation is bad, and resume when it improves)
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Old 19-09-2014, 07:07 AM
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Octane (Humayun)
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I have noticed issues with CCD Commander taking ages to lock in on guide stars, too.

I've been imaging my RGB bin 2x2 sub-exposures unguided.

My G-11 is producing perfect round stars in 5+ minute exposures. Albeit it, I'm imaging at 530mm. Still, great result!

H
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Old 19-09-2014, 12:28 PM
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jjjnettie (Jeanette)
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There's been bush fires all around Kilcoy of late. As soon as one is put out, another starts.
I've lost my astro mojo atm anyway, so it's not been affecting me.
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Old 19-09-2014, 01:41 PM
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pmrid (Peter)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jjjnettie View Post
There's been bush fires all around Kilcoy of late. As soon as one is put out, another starts.
I've lost my astro mojo atm anyway, so it's not been affecting me.
Wow!! Astro Mojo - I can't get the image of Austin Powers and Dr. Evil out of my head now. Curse your Astro Mojo!!

Peter
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Old 19-09-2014, 01:44 PM
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astroron (Ron)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jjjnettie View Post
There's been bush fires all around Kilcoy of late. As soon as one is put out, another starts.
I've lost my astro mojo atm anyway, so it's not been affecting me.

Same here JJJ
Cheers
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