Anybody like a Free Remote Shot? - Page 2

Garyh · #21 28-04-2008, 07:56 AM

Awesome Pete!
Can`t even imagine how much work goes into setting up a GRAS!
cheers Gary

Aussie Pete · #22 09-05-2008, 02:39 PM

Gday G13 testers

Ok, strictly speaking this post is aimed at the many G13 Beta testers hereabouts...hi guys.

Also this saves me sending out many many separate private emails all over the globe, to give you this 'nearly there' message..my apologies & thanks to IIS mods :|

G13 is plugged in and within the next few days we will be letting you rip. Hopefully all of you have the InfoCenter application and are familar more or less with the interface and stuff.

I will be sending a link to you soon so you can enter your beta registration, then your in. You will receive an activation email immediately so check that Inbox.

50 points on G13 (1hr of exposures) to use up on the 'One Shots' at your leisure when she opens.

These are 5 minute, single shot RGB intergrations on a SBIG ST2000XMC. So get that FOV setup going in your planetarium software. Full Colour in hi-res 800x600 JPEG format emailed direct to you on completion. Its a pretty simple way to take snap shots of currently visible southern objects. This imaging option will be for future young users at schools and 'Astronomy Lite' casuals.. I know you guys are nothing like non-astronomers but have some fun...though with your critical eyes and experience you can tell us if its working.

Keep those outright beginners your test piloting for in mind though. I'd prefer your personal feedback PM'd to me please, but your free to discuss results in public i imagine. The images are your property after all. This might hurt..

Keep the scope busy and have fun together too

I will post the starting link very soon. Thanks all of you team, and my gratitude to the IIS community.

Clear skies and enjoy a taste of pure remote...

Pete
PS. New Online InfoCenter. Once you login you can dump the old application guys.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #23 12-05-2008, 09:34 AM

Pete - I've taken you up on your generous offer and taken two shots. I like the interface, as it's intuitive enough not to have to delve through tons of instructions just to get going.

I also like the fact that you see the script running in real time. There's a lot going on! I'm not sure that you can as a registered (read: paid-up) user, but what would be nice is to have the ability to have the system send you an email or SMS as soon as the scope is free - if you haven't booked it in advance. Otherwise you sit there and refresh your screen until you see it's free. Maybe a display of who's in the queue would be a nice touch. It's all just development of an already fine product.

The Sky90 gives a nice wide aspect, but am thinking that it'd also be nice to have sample "one-click" shots that show the expected FOV with that scope superimposed on the sample thumbnails. I took one of M104 and it's pretty small in the image frame - to be expected if you know the Sky90, but maybe a surprise to others.

I also found it a little confusing to get my hires image from the FTP section. I can't find my user name listed so I can't download it. I got the low-res 800x600 email attachments OK, but would like to see the larger files. I'm sure I've done something wrong in the way I tried to grab them.

Here are the two samples I took. 10 minutes each and supplied back via email. 800x600 and about 150kb.

1) M104

2) NGC4038

AlexN · #24 12-05-2008, 10:33 AM

I have not yet been able to access G13 at all... cant find any link or reference to it in the gras info center, apart from when i log in it says Membership level : G13 Trial.

Any ideas?

h0ughy (David) · #25 12-05-2008, 11:41 AM

Chris I havent had time to test it yet but looking at the field of view i look forward to doing a bright area to compare with a dslr. I would have thought there would have been a booking system that was viewable though, i was unaware of that aspect?

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #26 12-05-2008, 11:44 AM

Alex - when G13 changes its status to "Free", then click on that link to it. You'll then be taken to a new page after logging on that displays a menu on the left. Take the "single shot" option and choose a target. You only have access to these established targets as a trial member, or that's the impression I'm under. Choose one and see it all happen!

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #27 12-05-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Chris I havent had time to test it yet but looking at the field of view i look forward to doing a bright area to compare with a dslr. I would have thought there would have been a booking system that was viewable though, i was unaware of that aspect?

David - I gather that you have booking access privileges after you actually join up for real - but not as a trial user.

AlexN · #28 12-05-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Alex - when G13 changes its status to "Free", then click on that link to it. You'll then be taken to a new page after logging on that displays a menu on the left. Take the "single shot" option and choose a target. You only have access to these established targets as a trial member, or that's the impression I'm under. Choose one and see it all happen!

This is where the problem comes into play... The ONLY place where i see anything about the G13 scope is where it says my membership type as G13 Trial.

There is no other reference to the G13 ANYWHERE in the info center.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #29 12-05-2008, 12:35 PM

Alex - I take it you're on the right page, and already logged in:

http://gis.global-rent-a-scope.com/Default.aspx

See the attached screenshot - I've circled where it will say "Free" when it is. At this very moment it's daytime so the shop is shut - so it says "Closed: Day Time". When it says "Free" in green it is a link.

AlexN · #30 12-05-2008, 12:39 PM

I was using the gras info center program installed on my computer... the web address you've provided shows G13...

Cheers Chris

mark3d · #31 12-05-2008, 08:31 PM

as soon as i saw this i thought it was an awesome idea. just signed up and took 2 images.. very impressive! thanks!

at some stage i will definitely sign up and play with some of the other scopes.

all the best with the venture.

AlexN · #32 13-05-2008, 12:08 AM

Well... I'm very impressed at how easy it all is... and am seriously considering buying some more time!

I imaged IC4592 as there was no image of it in starry night pro, and now I can add one

Thanks

EDIT::

Had plenty of spare time... Took one of M20 as well.

Aussie Pete · #33 13-05-2008, 01:52 PM

Hi G13 testers

Well its gone pretty well so far, though Houghy has not logged on yet. So G13 is still in one piece at this stage

Firstly i'd like to make a correction and an apology. I wrongly assumed that the developers would have a FITs file for users to access, I was wrong.

They designed the G13 system to deliver the simple and economic JPEG format instead. No FITs files or FTP folders for the tests. Sorry guys. But if your a non-astronomer I still think the you'd would be happy with the snaps.

Some of the targets will need to be edited we feel, as the scales are all over the place. Many targets are too small. I have asked the IT guys to increase the image size a little as well. Or are we just spoilt?

We also upped the exposure times from 300 to 600 seconds in order to get a little more colour and depth.

Thanks to all of you for the great feedback so far, and i hope you get a few more shots in. Save a shot or two for a futire comet or nova

xcross fingers..

I'd just like to say that although it would be a pleasure to take on testers as full members, that was NOT the intention here at all. We really needed a bunch of old hands to log onto the scope and give it a good wringing out that first night or two. And you did that very well with over 26 IIS'ers going at it during the first night. Thanks.

Cheers ...Pete

h0ughy (David) · #34 13-05-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussie Pete

Hi G13 testers

Well its gone pretty well so far, though Houghy has not logged on yet. So G13 is still in one piece at this stage

Firstly i'd like to make a correction and an apology. I wrongly assumed that the developers would have a FITs file for users to access, I was wrong.

They designed the G13 system to deliver the simple and economic JPEG format instead. No FITs files or FTP folders for the tests. Sorry guys. But if your a non-astronomer I still think the you'd would be happy with the snaps.

Some of the targets will need to be edited we feel, as the scales are all over the place. Many targets are too small. I have asked the IT guys to increase the image size a little as well. Or are we just spoilt?

We also upped the exposure times from 300 to 600 seconds in order to get a little more colour and depth.

Thanks to all of you for the great feedback so far, and i hope you get a few more shots in. Save a shot or two for a futire comet or nova

xcross fingers..

I'd just like to say that although it would be a pleasure to take on testers as full members, that was NOT the intention here at all. We really needed a bunch of old hands to log onto the scope and give it a good wringing out that first night or two. And you did that very well with over 36 IIS'ers going at it during the first night. Thanks.

Cheers ...Pete

Hey i did log on -although it wasnt as straight forward as i thought I decided to do what most normal people would do - and not read the instructions.

the point and click scripts were good - but very limiting. Looked for some regular bright objects that are up (apart from eta) and would have liked m20 et al to select but that were not available. so I took these.

Disliked the booking system and the fact you cant stack shots - but i suppose that was built into the test

Aussie Pete · #35 13-05-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

...would have liked m20 et al to select but that were not available. so I took these.

Disliked the booking system and the fact you cant stack shots - but i suppose that was built into the test

Onya Houghy.. brutal..thanks..

I must have missed your session..but she survived it huh? .. hehe

Well I think the reason M20 was not on the One Shot list was that scope's AI had it below its minimum horizon when you got on..can you tell me what elevation it was?

Booking system is a high level user (time critical) service for the most part.

Stacking subs is not really part of the G13 mission.

Cheers mate..thanks

Pete

h0ughy (David) · #36 13-05-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussie Pete

Onya Houghy.. brutal..thanks..

I must have missed your session..but she survived it huh? .. hehe

Well I think the reason M20 was not on the One Shot list was that scope's AI had it below its minimum horizon when you got on..can you tell me what elevation it was?

Booking system is a high level user (time critical) service for the most part.

Stacking subs is not really part of the G13 mission.

Cheers mate..thanks

Pete

around 20-25 degrees? it was about 10pm

Brad Moore · #37 13-05-2008, 03:13 PM

Hi All,

I would firstly like to thank Pete and Mike for allow me to offer this beta trial to you guys.

For those who don't know me I'm the guy who has put this service together. I have been reading the feedback and its very helpful.

If you have any questions you want answered, fire away I would only be to happy to answer.

Best Regards
Brad Moore

Aussie Pete · #38 13-05-2008, 03:20 PM

Ahh well...

RTFM Houghy..

hehe

Min Alt for imaging is 30-35deg sir. What you live on the Nullaboor??

visit the FAQ if you get the chance:
http://gras.gras.wikispaces.net/FAQ+

Thanks for being a pain

lol

Pete

middy · #39 13-05-2008, 03:22 PM

I signed up last night and took this image of M83 (the best image I have ever taken of M83, even with the JPG compression artefacts

). I found the whole process easy to understand and follow. Pick a target from the list and press a button. The ultimate in armchair astrophotography, I didn't even have to put down my latte.

The status update page looked impressive and obviously a lot of work has gone into it.

I have now used up my free trial subscription and have 4 images of M83.
The first image is a single shot of M83, the second is a stack of 4 images using Iris (Note: the images are JPEG with heavy compression)

netwolf · #40 14-05-2008, 01:09 AM

Firstly thanks Pete for this great opportunity to use this service.

I logged in just now and did 2 images.

Very easy system to use. Can be warm and comfortable in my room and use this service, no cold or polar alignment and setup of equipment.

Couple of suggestions, need some kind of realisitic preview of the object in the current FOV. The Thumbnails are misleading, better to have a popup when you mouse over the thumbnail that displays a realistic version from a library.

Perhaps a 2nd level could be access to raw data, this would help people in my situation a lot. Where I am learning to Image process, but dont have access to good data yet from my own instruments. So while i work on getting my own data, i can at least learn to process with some good data from your equipment. This will also help us learn a bit about the Target object.

Is there a Reason why Omega Centauri is not on the list? Its so close to Centaurus A and yet not there to select.

Lastly the formating of the automated emails could use some work. The receipt is very confusing as the columns etc are all over the place.

Thats about it really. Again thanks for the opportunity. I will try again if i have any balance left in the next few days.

And here are my pics. Centaurus A and Cats Paw Nebulae.

Regards
Fahim