Hark! I hear the sound of photons splatting on detectors

[stardust steve (Steve)]

Originally Posted by RobF

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?

I use hot pink, very bright against the cream coloured pavers. I did leave the nail polish out overnight to find my 7 yo daughter trying to do her nails in the morning hahaha

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I use a rich red with sparkly stuff in it. I use Nikko pen on the legs though. That needs redoing frequently as I spray the legs with rp7 from time to time to protect them from the weather.
I also mark the draw tube of the focuser with the focus points of my various cameras, eg 550d with flattener, 550d with power mate, spc900 with focal reducer etc etc
It sure saves a lot of frustration and time.

[RobF (Rob)]

Thanks guys - will have to see what colours wife and daughter have in stock. I've bought all sorts of unexpected things for my astro needs, but I draw the line at going out to buy bright red nail polish for the scopes

[RickS (Rick)]

The wind is giving my AO a workout tonight!

[swannies1983 (Dan)]

Looks like you guys have flicked the cloud down south. Do you want it back?

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

It's windy here too, but my house is blocking the worst of it. All my leads and cables are securely velcroed to the mount. The PHD graph is steady as.

[RobF (Rob)]

Yeah, I'm up early and shouldn't me mucking around again tonight, BUT.....a bit of breeze isn't enough to make me call it quits.

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by swannies1983

Looks like you guys have flicked the cloud down south. Do you want it back?

We just lent it to you until the new moon

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

It's windy here too, but my house is blocking the worst of it. All my leads and cables are securely velcroed to the mount. The PHD graph is steady as.

A wind break has to be a better solution than an extra piece of hardware, but AO seemed like a good idea at the time I'm keeping my RMS wander down to 0.3" during the biggest gusts, so it's doing it's job!

[pvelez (Pete)]

Trying to get a spectrum of a mag 15.2 quasar - a tough ask. Have pushed the subs out to 15 minutes binned x2. No joy yet. Can get something at 10 minutes binned x3 but the resolution then goes.

Oh well - at least its clear in Sydney

Pete

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

well tonight in perth its clear now only had to wait a few hours after dark but its very tasty.

Now im biding my time till nebulae ville rolls out of the soup so i can work on my new image "Ghostly Twins"

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

ha.....just wasted 2.5hrs.
I forgot to hit the go button on the remote timer. LOLOL I had guests this evening so was a bit distracted.
Still will get in nearly 2hrs before the target hits meridian. I'll have to make up for it tomorrow night won't I.

[RickS (Rick)]

Don't you hate that! I spent a couple of hours chasing a gremlin that just went away when I power cycled everything.

[RobF (Rob)]

It's good to get some practice. Last time I was out managed to "collect" data for 3hrs without actually saving any of it

[RickS (Rick)]

I have an early start tomorrow so I'm processing tonight...

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Man o man, it's 9.18pm and it's down to 6C already. They predicted 3C minimum, but I reckon we're in for a cold and frosty morning. brrrr
My fingers....I can't feel my fingers!!!!
Looking forward to my USB powered fingerless wool gloves to arrive this week.

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Looking forward to my USB powered fingerless wool gloves to arrive this week.

In the meantime you could improvise with a couple of dew heater straps, Jeanette

[RobF (Rob)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Man o man, it's 9.18pm and it's down to 6C already. They predicted 3C minimum, but I reckon we're in for a cold and frosty morning. brrrr
My fingers....I can't feel my fingers!!!!
Looking forward to my USB powered fingerless wool gloves to arrive this week.

Ok, I'll bite - is this for real JJJ !??
Will they also allow you to do image processing in mid-air ala "Minority Report"?!

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by RobF

Ok, I'll bite - is this for real JJJ !??

USB only provides 500mW of power, so if they are real they won't be terribly warm.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'm thinking of buying a couple more pair to use as back up dew control,
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/usb-hea...ted-pair-30366

Even if they only warm up to 20C, it's enough to keep the fingers thawed.

[RobF (Rob)]

I'm still not sure I'll believe it until I see you tethered to a laptop at AF.
If I hear a ruckus at 3am I'll know you've tried to work away half asleep without unplugging