I was inspired by Roger's time lapse a short while ago of his scope zooming around the sky doing supernova searches. I captured this time lapse of my scope doing pointing calibrations and polar alignment before settling in for the last of three consecutive nights imaging of NGC 247 Needle's Eye Galaxy and Burbidge's Chain in Cetus over the long weekend.
The title photo in the video shows RobF's kit (the two mounts in the foreground), my gear (mount in the centre/far background), and RickS' beast (mount in the middle/right). DavidTrap makes a cameo appearance as red ghosts around 0:19.
Thanks for sharing your time lapse Dave. Makes me wish that I was there. I would like to visit Leyburn. Are members from all astronomical societies welcome?
Can I ask what where the stats on the individual frames?
Thanks Jay-qu. I used a Canon 5DmkII + 14 mm f/2.8L lens with 30 sec exposures, f/2.8, ISO 3200 (facing west) and ISO 6400 (facing east), triggered by a remote shutter release.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shark Bait
Thanks for sharing your time lapse Dave. Makes me wish that I was there. I would like to visit Leyburn. Are members from all astronomical societies welcome?
Thanks Stu. The site is frequented by Southern Astronomical Society members (including the President and Vice-President last weekend), so perhaps it's best to get in touch with them and have a chat?
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickS
Great time lapse, Dave! Almost like being there
Thanks Rick A shame that I wasn't organised enough to have the time lapse working on the second night to get both our RCs into the one FOV!
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobF
Wow, you've really excelled on that one Dave. So beautiful - loved watching the milky way set, and the final scene finishes it beautifully.
Thanks for all the hard work putting it together!!
Thanks Rob, it was great weekend! A shame that I couldn't join you earlier, and that you couldn't stay longer. Oddly enough, I don't think it would have been as interesting without the alignment bit at the start... which ironically was only needed because I whacked my head on the mount trying to plug in the dew heater for the time lapse camera, thereby knocking out the PA by 1 degree!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bender
Nice work as always Dave
Thanks Martin! Hope to see you out again there soon with your EQ8.
Thanks for sharing your time lapse Dave. Makes me wish that I was there. I would like to visit Leyburn. Are members from all astronomical societies welcome?
I am sure Mark Bolton the owner of the site wont mind me responding here.
Leyburn is non denominational, so there are people from varied societies and some from non, so yes you are welcome.
We are there on every dark Moon weekend, sometimes the weekend before also.
There is a $ 5 per night fee and its an honesty system (ya throw ya moola in the tin).
The site is 80 acres, its flat and we have about 5 acres mowed well.
Seeing is generally very good and transparency is mostly excellent.
We have no power or running water. So bring everything as if you were camping. Batteries are fine as is a VERY quiet generator. Some of the guys are very generous and have facilities to recharge your batteries if needed.
It gets VERY hot in summer and Very cold in winter.
There is a well equipped local store that does great burgers and $10 meals as well as $2 showers, There is a pub that does great meals both are 5 minutes drive away.
There is some accommodation in town (5 minutes) and info on this can be found at the SAS website Dave points to, look under Event Horizon.
There are BIG mozzies and flies.
But there are BIG skies at Leyburn.
Thanks Peter & Mike. I've been thinking that it'd be fun to choreograph multiple mounts slewing around the sky in sync (like DavidTrap mentioned in another thread) but set to ballet music
Yeah I enjoyed this too, out in the open under a dark sky watching well oiled imaging gear work well...makes me long for no more domed observatory ......naaah
Yeah I enjoyed this too, out in the open under a dark sky watching well oiled imaging gear work well...makes me long for no more domed observatory ......naaah
Mike
Thanks Mike! I stay inside my tent during cold weather, and thanks to an all sky camera I only duck my head out like a meerkat occasionally If I feel like being especially civilised, I boil myself a cup of tea using an electric kettle off the gennie
I've been asked to put together a short presentation for approx. 70 Grade 3 kids. The theme is how the Sun, Earth and Moon interact and why we have Seasons, Day / Night etc.
Do you have any objections to me using your timelapse to capture their attention during the introduction. I would credit the work as belonging to you and I am helping out at no cost to the school.
Hi Stu, that sounds like a wonderful idea! Yes, I'm very happy for you to use the timelapse any way you see fit. I'll upload the 1080p video file to DropBox and PM you later tonight.
I received your message letting me know the dropbox file was ready. I will speak to the people in the library today to ensure it can be shown through their projector. The Gr 3 teachers booked the presentation for Friday 1st Nov. I will let you know how it goes.
I received your message letting me know the dropbox file was ready. I will speak to the people in the library today to ensure it can be shown through their projector. The Gr 3 teachers booked the presentation for Friday 1st Nov. I will let you know how it goes.
Regards, Stu.
No worries at all, Stu.
Quote:
Originally Posted by astronobob
Neat stuff Dave, rather dramatic also, well done !
Today I used your timelapse as an introduction to my Sun, Earth and Moon presentation for approx 90 Grade 3 students. It was their last lesson on the last day of their school week. Maybe it wasn't the best time to try this.
Thanks for the higher resolution timelapse file. After lots of oohs and ahhs, most of the kids were in the right frame of mind to try and get their heads around the movements of the inner solar system. A couple of the students were able to explain what was going on with your EQ mount.
I used Starry Night V6.3 to show them some animations of how our Sun, Earth and Moon interact. I guess around 75% of the group left with a good grasp of the topics covered. The remainder were listening but probably didn't quite get it and would have trouble explaining it to others. The teachers were given some detailed notes and pictures which they can translate into an age appropriate format for those that need a little help.
Thanks again for the timelapse. It was the star of the show.
...
...naaah 
If I feel like being especially civilised, I boil myself a cup of tea using an electric kettle off the gennie 
