Hark! I hear the sound of photons splatting on detectors

[RobF (Rob)]

All over the country tonight, I expect there must be happy astronomers viewing and imaging. Brissy enjoying our 4th? night of clear skies - number 2 for me anyhow.

Hope everyone is having fun?

[RickS (Rick)]

Yep, having fun over here! I have 6 x 10 mins luminance on the Antennae galaxies so far.

Cheers,
Rick.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I don't know about splattering Rob, my camera sounds like its slurping them up. I'm trying out the 60D matched to the VC200L draining Eta Car atm. I've had the camera since xmas but this is the first real chance I've had to try it out over consecutive nights. I'd almost forgotten how much fun it is to do DSLR imaging, once I got the sulking guidecamera to work. WinXP

[technofetishism (Nick)]

Clouds came back just as i started polar alignment, they may be clearing again, but I packed up to go warm back up as I had no faith that It'd clear in the next hour.

[DavidU (Dave)]

Here in Melbourne the only thing that would splat onto my detector would be rain.
Enjoy it up there.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'm starting to feel the effects of all these long nights.
But am soldiering on. Getting in practice for Astrofest.
I'm collecting more data on NGC 4945 right now. The run is nearly finished. I'll have close on to 4 hrs total.
Next target is the Prawn. I already have 3.5hrs on it from last night. So should tack another 3.5 onto that.
Gear is all working smoothly.
What a beautiful night.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Gear problems Spat the dummy and going to bed early.

[DavidTrap (David)]

Hmmmmmmm,

First clear weekend in ages and I'm working!!!

Congrats to all who are gathering photons.

DT

[RobF (Rob)]

Sorry to hear weather and gear problems in places guys. Not good

Rick, I just realised I've been shooting NB again to complete my first multi-hr NB image, and there's no moon yet! Hope the antennae galaxies work out.

JJJ - you never seem to have any trouble at AF - find it hard practice is required

Peter - gear troubles not good - beauty sleep may help sort out what it was in the morning perhaps......

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Bloody Perth weather. Got some lovely footage of the sun today, and no sooner had I eaten, chased the carpet rats off to bed, set up the FSQ with new D800 up on the mount to try it out: clouds moved in. Looks like its time to uncork a bottle and watch some sci-fi.
bum.
Andrew.

[h0ughy (David)]

high cloud here

[Nico13 (Ken)]

Vewy vewy cwappy here in good old Bannockburn.
Will probably clear up when I go back on afternoon shift

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

10C here. It feels a lot colder.
The weather man says it's going to be a lot cooler next week. We may even get the first frost of the season.
I think it may be a cold clear Winter ahead of us.

Rob, you know my setup. It's as basic as you can get. But I have had my share of dramas with it. When it's good, it's very very good, but when it's bad it's horrid. LOL

[pgc hunter]

Nothing but a multi-week vomit-o-thon here in Antarctica. Forecast says we can expect more vomit in the near and distant future. Anything but fun here

Make the most of the clear skies you lucky buggers!

[Adelastro1 (Wayne England)]

I managed to collect a few photons on my new D800E tonight (only about 45 mins worth) until the clouds rolled in. I'm in the country for Mother's day tomorrow and will try to get a few more shots tomorrow night before heading back to Adelaide.
Hopefully post a few shots soon. In camera they look great, due both to the new camera and new fast lenses.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

sigh....I lost the last 40 minutes of data on the Prawn. I forgot to turn the power on to the Kendrick.

[stardust steve (Steve)]

Been cloudy on and off, so i have had to grab most opportunities as they arise. Both scopes are 1 meter from the back door, nail polished marked on pavers for polar align. All set to do 1-2 sec exposure images
....manual eq3 and eq5
good fun though

[whzzz28 (Nathan)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

sigh....I lost the last 40 minutes of data on the Prawn. I forgot to turn the power on to the Kendrick.

Yes i have decided to wait to do any further imaging until my kendrick set arrives.

Got a tad annoying having to run outside every 30-45mins with a hair dryer.

Apparently 6x10min subs @ 1600, and 4x5min @ 3200 were not enough for NGC4038
Must get more data.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Originally Posted by stardust steve

Both scopes are 1 meter from the back door, nail polished marked on pavers for polar align.
good fun though

Sounds like my place. I renewed teh nail polish marks a couple of weeks ago as the old ones had faded.
I even have the tripod legs marked so I know how far to let them down so as to be level.
I can do 5 minute unguided wide fields without doing a drift align this way.
I just have to roll down the ramp from the laundry and I'm there. LOL

[RobF (Rob)]

Yes, I'm similar to JJJ - marks on the rear tiles and marks on each leg for level at that spot. Roll the power and usb leads out from the dining room and I'm off (except for occasional minor problem with weather )

Hmmm, nail polish - last longer than Nikko pen? What colour?