Skid
Super member
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the Daily hi thread
Anyone into Stargazing / Astrophotography etc?
- Thread starter UncouthJ
- Start date
My shopping list for a scope rig has wandered a fair bit further than current finances allow. So I've taken some advice and bought some big 20×80 binos to get me started. I had no idea you could see so much with binoculars!
Heading out to the park shortly to catch the moons occultation of the Pleiades cluster. Gonna be beautiful!
Heading out to the park shortly to catch the moons occultation of the Pleiades cluster. Gonna be beautiful!
Hollowpoint
Super member
I find it fascinating. I don’t have a telescope but would love to have one in the future. I do use high powered binoculars mainly but will watching this thread with interest for suggestions of telescopes etc.
Mounted the bins on the primos and the definition of the moon is incredible! Watched Electra and Merope blink out, next is Electra to reappear and Alcyone's occlusion a couple mins after. It's really weird being able to perceive the rotation of the earth in real time!
I haven't managed to convince the phone to get an image down the barrel unfortunately.
ATB
UJ
View attachment 1000012115.jpg
I haven't managed to convince the phone to get an image down the barrel unfortunately.
ATB
UJ
View attachment 1000012115.jpg
JollyGreenGiant
Well-known member
Who says you have to do stargazing during the day? I took a photo of the partial eclipse last Saturday morning. Obviously don't look directly at it with optics or you'll burn your brains out...
I held a 10 x 50 monocular to a piece of paper and viewed the projected image with sunglasses. It's bright on the paper, but safe to look at. It was quite hard to photograph well while holding the monocular with the other hand, but I proved I saw it. Had the sky been clear (this was taken through thin cloud) you might be able to see sunspots. There is some mad sunspot activity at the moment, responsible for the recent solar storms and aurorae.
Did anyone else catch the aurora last autumn? It was absolutely magical - I happened to be under clear skies in the Peak District and just sat out under the stars watching the fillaments dance while getting sozzled on scotch.
I held a 10 x 50 monocular to a piece of paper and viewed the projected image with sunglasses. It's bright on the paper, but safe to look at. It was quite hard to photograph well while holding the monocular with the other hand, but I proved I saw it. Had the sky been clear (this was taken through thin cloud) you might be able to see sunspots. There is some mad sunspot activity at the moment, responsible for the recent solar storms and aurorae.
Did anyone else catch the aurora last autumn? It was absolutely magical - I happened to be under clear skies in the Peak District and just sat out under the stars watching the fillaments dance while getting sozzled on scotch.
Attachments
The scope I'm fixing on has a solar filter. I'm quite keen to try and catch some CMEs.
Had a good look at Jupiter this evening and was gobsmacked to find I could easily see all four primary moons. I could make out some of the colour variation on Jupiter itself but nowhere near steady enough to make out the spot. I just need to figure out my positioning of the tripod to keep the bins steady and on target so I can creep up to the eyepiece without putting a crick on my neck LOL
ATB, UJ
whathesmeg
Member Extraordinaire
I went a bit over the top, as per usual. But when the price is right it's rude not to.
Got a 150 Mak on an HEQ5. Gonna look to piggy back a small widefield frac for fuzzy imaging at some point, but I want to see all there is to see in Sol planetary for now.
Got a 150 Mak on an HEQ5. Gonna look to piggy back a small widefield frac for fuzzy imaging at some point, but I want to see all there is to see in Sol planetary for now.
whathesmeg
Member Extraordinaire
Don't be tempted to buy the cheap telescopes like in Lidl/Aldi. Think of them as a very bad riflescope, and instead of 20 yards you are looking at an object thousands of miles away.
Seek out your local astronomy club and get to see through their telescopes.
www.astronomyclubs.co.uk
Seek out your local astronomy club and get to see through their telescopes.
Astronomy Clubs by County
Find astronomy clubs and societies in your county. Our list will help you find astronomy clubs near you.
Gap-Shot
Super member
I consider Observing to be a hobby of opportunity, considering the weather here in the UK. As a telescope never sleeps, it can be ready at a moments notice. My Observing mojo has waxed and waned over the years, but its a hobby that can last a lifetime; so I've never had the desire to give up and sell my scopes even though they languish unused most of the year.
Jack Doyle
Super member
There is zero light pollution where we live and the sky at night can be just mind-blowing. I keep meaning to download the App that you point your camera at the stars and it explains which constellations they are.
About 10 years ago a few miles down the road was recognised by the International Dark Sky Association as the only Gold Tier Reserve in the northern hemisphere and it is one of only 4 in the world.
I really should get into it as a hobby.
Anyone ever want to come and visit to see the stars feel free to PM me and if I can help in anyway I will. I know most of the business owners and farmers around here so can give good advice on travel arrangements, where to stay, where to go for best views and other stuff to do in the area.
About 10 years ago a few miles down the road was recognised by the International Dark Sky Association as the only Gold Tier Reserve in the northern hemisphere and it is one of only 4 in the world.
I really should get into it as a hobby.
Anyone ever want to come and visit to see the stars feel free to PM me and if I can help in anyway I will. I know most of the business owners and farmers around here so can give good advice on travel arrangements, where to stay, where to go for best views and other stuff to do in the area.
Gap-Shot
Super member
Thanks, I'll make a note of it.
I see you are only about a hundred miles or so from Rosslare Harbour where the Ferry lands. My Wife & I have been considering a holiday trip to rural Ireland, as I'm not the type that likes the touristy places. I've got a small grab & go telescope kit which I've sometimes taken on our travels.Edit: When I lived in California, I'd often take the jeep up the coast to the Big Sur area, and to the so called Plaskett Ridge campground, which was nothing more than a desolate dirt patch high up inland. It was a great dark sky Observing spot, and we never saw anyone else up there.
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Might take you up on that sometime.
We've visited the new forest this weekend, so I was quite looking forward to some Bortle 2 viewing, as opposed to my usual 5 area. Don't have a battery pack for the big rig yet so I only brought the 20x80 bins and a tripod. Didn't get any use though, typically thick overcast each night. Nemmind, such is the way of this malarkey, so I'm learning...
Can highly recommend some big bins as a relatively inexpensive entry point. You'd be amazed how much you can see. I use mine on my primos sticks with a swivel head mount. Its not the ideal mount for sure, something a bit taller and sturdier would be ideal, but it does the job. Can see Jupiter and the big four clearly, as well as some of the brighter Messier objects.
Stellarium is a fantastic app for it. It talks to most of the goto packages as well if you end up investing in a scope. I would certainly have jumped on it long ago if I had your sky!
ATB UJ
Pic from the Pleiades lunar occultation a while back
View attachment 1000012115.jpg
TonySTS
Member Extraordinaire
I always recommend a decent set of binoculars and a recliner as a starting point. If you get lost in the sky then move on to scopes.
I have the nexstar 925 goto which is great and easy to use for visual or photo.
Decent white light solar isn’t too expensive and I tend take the baader with me along with my TV85 which I use as my grab n go set up.
Solar scopes though are a bigger investment and I’d recommend Lunt.
If you have the space and darker skies then you can invest in something bigger and my retirement plan / dream incudes my own observatory so I can save my back…
I’m in bortle 4 skies with no lights behind my house. This is my big fella… with some added ice.
I have the nexstar 925 goto which is great and easy to use for visual or photo.
Decent white light solar isn’t too expensive and I tend take the baader with me along with my TV85 which I use as my grab n go set up.
Solar scopes though are a bigger investment and I’d recommend Lunt.
If you have the space and darker skies then you can invest in something bigger and my retirement plan / dream incudes my own observatory so I can save my back…
I’m in bortle 4 skies with no lights behind my house. This is my big fella… with some added ice.
Gap-Shot
Super member
Reading this thread has tickled my interest in getting a scope out again. I'm quite old school, in that I only enjoy real time Observing with simple equipment. I passed on getting into Imaging, as its too much like work. A relaxed couple of hours under the Stars is what its all about to me.
Edit: Waiting for a view of the Moon between the clouds.
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Edit: Waiting for a view of the Moon between the clouds.
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Not to mention cost! The cameras are near as much as the scopes. Then there's the control gear as much again! I'm seeing what I can do with the phone on an EP mount before I throw any dosh at imaging.Reading this thread has tickled my interest in getting a scope out again. I'm quite old school, in that I only enjoy real time Observing with simple equipment. I passed on getting into Imaging, as its too much like work. A relaxed couple of hours under the Stars is what its all about to me.
I would like to catch the T-CrB flare mind you, especially as it passes my garden FoV perfectly.
I do love just sitting out on the patio of a clear night, with a bottle of wine and a cigar or two. Bliss!
Gap-Shot
Super member
Yeah, the cost of equipment can be mind blowing, but then again, when I think about what others spend on smoking, alcohol, and other such things in a year with nothing to show for it, the price of some high end observing items can seem like a bargain in comparison.
Jack Doyle
Super member
There's also the option of flying into Kerry airport, a tiny airport about less than 40 miles from where we are. It connects with Luton, Stansted and Manchester airports. From there it's the most scenic drive in Ireland through Killarney, up past the Lakes and Ladies View and Molls Gap.Thanks, I'll make a note of it.
Edit: When I lived in California, I'd often take the jeep up the coast to the Big Sur area, and to the so called Plaskett Ridge campground, which was nothing more than a desolate dirt patch high up inland. It was a great dark sky Observing spot, and we never saw anyone else up there.
We have zero light pollution but from about 12-4pm everyday for 6 months there are up to 50 tour buses from all over the world pass the end of our lane completing the Ring of Kerry tour.
Sarge
Member Extraordinaire
We spent a couple of nights at the Kielder Observatory in what is the UK's Dark Sky Zone. Got to see some amazing sights and very distant galaxies and nebulae through their telescopes until the moon came up.
So we studied the moon instead. the moon instead.
If you ever get the chance, take a trip there, it's so dark you'll not see anything unless you look up.
So we studied the moon instead. the moon instead.
If you ever get the chance, take a trip there, it's so dark you'll not see anything unless you look up.
Frappy
Member Extraordinaire
I started off with a pair of binoculars, celestron 12x60 for stargazing, and use a tripod to keep them stable. not too expensive and can also be used for daytime bird watching, etc.
