i'll be sure to geta photo Geoff, maybe even a group shot of all freezer suit wearers if you like
only taking one mount this year - the EQ8. its untried be cause of weather and health so no better way to test it out eh? also be taking the C11 and the hyperstar setup and a solar scope. I will bring the little meade i bought last year as backup, but no mount for it. will take the polarie and the losmandy starlapse for some widefields. there thats it!! travelling light
Oh BTW i just bought a Celestron Nightscape CCD to use on the hyperstar, hope it fits and doesnt need any adapters? more new software and new gear - i will be a complete newbie this year
edit - just found out i do need an adapter for the nightscape - just orderded it from starzona today (16/07/2013) - hope it arrives before 31 july
Hey guys, I'd like to come out and have a look or a night or two, its not far up the road from me so I won't need a campsite or anything, do I need to book in? (I tried the website but it keeps crashing on my phone).
i am going to try and sneak up on the first weekend. No promises but here is hoping... if i do come will come up Friday night, attempt set-up in the dark, fail, go into Allan's tent for some remedial massage then set-up Saturday for an all nighter Sat night then pack up Sunday...
If i come i will be bringing my new toy... QHY9 mono with 7pos SX filterwheel with Baader filters and OAG >_>
probably be my first outing with it <_<
oh and a small thermo nuclear computer possibly lol
i am going to try and sneak up on the first weekend. No promises but here is hoping... if i do come will come up Friday night, attempt set-up in the dark, fail, go into Allan's tent for some remedial massage then set-up Saturday for an all nighter Sat night then pack up Sunday...
If i come i will be bringing my new toy... QHY9 mono with 7pos SX filterwheel with Baader filters and OAG >_>
probably be my first outing with it <_<
oh and a small thermo nuclear computer possibly lol
well Grady there is nothing like trying something new, for me it will be the complete hyperstar setup and eq8 - all from scratch so you are in good company
Two weeks to go, and I thought I'd remind everyone of the power issues a couple of years back due to damp conditions and some sloppy electrical work in the field.
Well, its certainly been a wet winter and the dew levels have been very high. If you can run off a car battery plugged into a charger for your critical equipment - scopes and cameras for eg, you will probably save yourself from a lot of heartache as I expect that there will be some brownouts due to hairdriers and short-circuits!!!!
Two weeks to go, and I thought I'd remind everyone of the power issues a couple of years back due to damp conditions and some sloppy electrical work in the field.
Well, its certainly been a wet winter and the dew levels have been very high. If you can run off a car battery plugged into a charger for your critical equipment - scopes and cameras for eg, you will probably save yourself from a lot of heartache as I expect that there will be some brownouts due to hairdriers and short-circuits!!!!
i am going to try and sneak up on the first weekend. No promises but here is hoping... if i do come will come up Friday night, attempt set-up in the dark, fail, go into Allan's tent for some remedial massage then set-up Saturday for an all nighter Sat night then pack up Sunday...
If i come i will be bringing my new toy... QHY9 mono with 7pos SX filterwheel with Baader filters and OAG >_>
probably be my first outing with it <_<
oh and a small thermo nuclear computer possibly lol
Brave boy, young Grady. You will have to set up near Houghy so we won't have to swivel arond to get the full impact of your frustrations with the new gear.
Do you want scented oil and candles this year or will the old mood lighting from last year suffice in the Scargo?
Should have some fun with the new camera, and I do mean the QHY9.
How is the observatory going?
Allan
Speaking of dew, might I remind you most prepared of gents that Duck Smuth has some nifty outdoor plastic power protection boxes as per this thread. It's also worthy of note that these boxes will hold 2 of the az-EQ6 counterweights and so can double as a carry box on the way up. They even have Velcro!!!!!!
Over the last few days, I've got the newt wired for travel and have even bolted on the robofocus which has been sitting here for months. Found a dud usb port on the laptop so had to order an express card to usb adapter off fleabay. I hope that fixes it. There once was a time when all this stuff was always ready to go ...
Brave boy, young Grady. You will have to set up near Houghy so we won't have to swivel arond to get the full impact of your frustrations with the new gear.
Do you want scented oil and candles this year or will the old mood lighting from last year suffice in the Scargo?
Should have some fun with the new camera, and I do mean the QHY9.
How is the observatory going?
Allan
The less said about the progress about the observatory the better lol. Just have had no time on weekends to do anything.
