http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7016020.stm
Recent annoucements from the labour party conference suggest plans for phasing out traditional lightbulbs by 2011
Recent annoucements from the labour party conference suggest plans for phasing out traditional lightbulbs by 2011
Not exactly an earth shattering revelation.
As the more advanced astrophotographers amongst you will have noticed, we don't stuff our optical tube assemblies with clothes and fill them with water. However, some people in our hobby have a mentality that telescope equipment should be like a washing machine. You bring it home. You install it. You read the instructions, and then it works first time and every time, performing its mundane task without variation.
As the more advanced astrophotographers amongst you will have noticed, we don't stuff our optical tube assemblies with clothes and fill them with water. However, some people in our hobby have a mentality that telescope equipment should be like a washing machine. You bring it home. You install it. You read the instructions, and then it works first time and every time, performing its mundane task without variation.
That first test with the Bubble nebula has come out ok.
You name it - tonight it has taken a chance a break down.
06/09: New toy: Tripod
I felt my new canon 350D DSLR deserved a tripod. Not for astrophotography (well, except for star trails) but for terrestial shots.
What is so fascinating about 80mm APO refractors? In recent years there has been a strong trend for buying 80mm refractors of varying apochromatic-ness. Personally I think it is getting a bit boring...
04/09: Bubble Nebula quickie
Got 4 frames of 20 minutes last night on the Bubble
5th Sept - and another 8 last night!!
5th Sept - and another 8 last night!!
Finally made some more progress on this project. The order of play is to get a conventional off axis guider system working (leaving space for the fast guider plate) and get it mounted and working on th telescope with my Coma Corrector and Artemis 285 using a webcam to guide. The deflector plate and mechanics will be added in once the first stage is proved to work.
The BBC have an intersting article along with some pretty pictures taken by Dr Craig Mackay and the Lucky Imaging team using techniques developed upon ideas usd in the QCUIAG group for many years as the basis for planetary capture using webcams.
BBC News Article on Craig Mackay and the lucky imaging project
BBC News Article on Craig Mackay and the lucky imaging project
There is something particularly attractive about this time of year in the world of astrophotography. After the perseids in mid August, we enter a period where there is sufficent darkness at night to actually get something done. However, there are serveral other features which make this a comfortable and time of year to pursue our hobby of astrophotography
