The Official Astronomy Thread

Kalvaer said:
Even though I hate everyone else that does this to posts.. I am going to do it as well tonight

+1


They really are awesome shots
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Thanks.

The details in the first shot just blew me away once I stumbled through my first ever usage of Registax and got the end result. It's really down to Registax being able to work such amazing magic.
 
Crusader - Perfect spot in the Karoo with no light pollution. Great images - keep them coming.
Besides not having proper broadband there are some great pluses to live in the platteland

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexImage-Solar-System-Imager/dp/B0002X5Q72"]The Celeston Neximage is $86 from Amazon[/ame]
 
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Crusader, the links was for a reflector with an EQ mount and for a motor drive, which will allow me to auto-track. The difference in price is ridiculous, which is why I'd rather opt for the cheaper option. 24k is too much for me :p
 
Merc I misunderstood. The EQ5 mount would be better suited to astrophotography.

I got the 8SE mainly for visual use and because of the Go-to and tracking not for photography. It seems quite suitable for planetary images though. So I guess for R10k more you get Go-to and easier setup for visual use.
 
This thread has been severely neglected so I'm going to resurrect it.

I don't know about you guys, but I haven't had much chance this year to go observing. If it wasn't the windy weather preventing me from getting the scopes out, it was a lack of time due to other obligations. With winter (and more cloudy weather) steadily approaching the prospects don't look good either.

I think I just have to make it a point to get myself observing again regardless if the seeing isn't perfect. How have you guys been holding up?

P.S. Why is it that cloudy and rainy weather always give rise to window shopping and some severe new gear acquisition syndrome?
 
I know "fools never differ", but I would rather go with, "great minds think alike".

Last few nights I have been staring outside looking up and thinking I should get the scope out. The skies have been crystal clear and tonight I could see the milky way quiet clearly. The fact that I have a 5 day old baby in the house and I am up every 2 hours anyway , means I might as well use the time I have while up in between nappy changes constructively. Last night I was staring up at Scorpio on one side and Jupiter on the other for ages, makes me think that I need to do it tomorrow and get ready for the next 6 + n weeks.
 
Crusader said:
This thread has been severely neglected so I'm going to resurrect it.

I don't know about you guys, but I haven't had much chance this year to go observing. If it wasn't the windy weather preventing me from getting the scopes out, it was a lack of time due to other obligations. With winter (and more cloudy weather) steadily approaching the prospects don't look good either.

I think I just have to make it a point to get myself observing again regardless if the seeing isn't perfect. How have you guys been holding up?
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Same here. Don't know when last I had a look and I've been itching to do it at times. Problem is that we're experiencing Winter weather here in Cape Town, so like you said, the prospects aren't looking good. Been wanting to look at Mars as well but I don't see the little red dot anymore :P That was a few months ago when I wanted to have a look at Mars.

Do you guys watch any documentaries on the universe? I've had the privilege of watching many. I've seen the History Channel's, "The Universe". I've also started watching How The Universe Works and Into the universe with Stephen Hawking. All great series and I would highly recommend you watch them.
 
I've been watching "The Universe". I'm only up to season 2 now so I've got lots of catching up to do.

I also recently saw a PBS documentary called "Seeing in the dark". It focuses on amateur astronomers. Very good, especially since it has an interview with Rob[ert] Gendler in it. That guy is amazing when it comes to astrophotography.
 
Crusader said:
I've been watching "The Universe". I'm only up to season 2 now so I've got lots of catching up to do.

I also recently saw a PBS documentary called "Seeing in the dark". It focuses on amateur astronomers. Very good, especially since it has an interview with Rob[ert] Gendler in it. That guy is amazing when it comes to astrophotography.
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Nice. That guy has a wicked site! His pics are amazing but then again he does have a rather fabulous telescope and setup :p
 
Kalvaer said:
I know "fools never differ", but I would rather go with, "great minds think alike".

Last few nights I have been staring outside looking up and thinking I should get the scope out. The skies have been crystal clear and tonight I could see the milky way quiet clearly. The fact that I have a 5 day old baby in the house and I am up every 2 hours anyway , means I might as well use the time I have while up in between nappy changes constructively. Last night I was staring up at Scorpio on one side and Jupiter on the other for ages, makes me think that I need to do it tomorrow and get ready for the next 6 + n weeks.
Click to expand...

Congrats on the new addition to the family! I guess there's always an upside to unpleasant tasks ;)

Surprisingly on Friday night I had some clear and windless skies. I braved the cold and took the Dob out for some observing. Initially I struggled to find anything and then the old habits kicked in and I managed to visit quite a few targets before dew and high level clouds caused me to call it a night.

Got to see:
Mars and Saturn
M53 - Globular cluster
M64 Blackeye Galaxy
M65 - Leo Triplet 1
M66 - Leo Triplet 2
M104 - Sombrero Galaxy
Centaurus A
Omega Centauri
Jewel Box
Eta Carinae Nebula

It really felt good to be observing again. Too bad that the rest of the week seems to be booked for cloudy/rainy weather.
 
I just went out now and saw quite a bright star - white in colour, 2-3 times brighter than average star and close to horizon(not directly above me) - and I'd like to know if you
know what it is or its name?
 
jeremie said:
I just went out now and saw quite a bright star - white in colour, 2-3 times brighter than average star and close to horizon(not directly above me) - and I'd like to know if you
know what it is or its name?
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Which direction where you facing? My first guess would be that you saw the planet Venus. If you were looking to the NW - W then it definitely was Venus.

If you were looking to the NE it could possibly have been Arcturus, but chances are that it would have been too low on the horizon. So my money is on Venus!
 
It just looked very bright, I was going to go on the roof to see it better.
I'll find out if it's venus or arcturus, thanks.
 
jeremie said:
It just looked very bright, I was going to go on the roof to see it better.
I'll find out if it's venus or arcturus, thanks.
Click to expand...

If it was very bright, then it's definitely Venus. Venus is -3.9 in magnitude and Arcturus only clocks in at around -0.07 (the lower the number, the brighter the object!). Venus is around 40 times brighter than Arcturus and would be much more noticeable.

*Disclaimer: Apparent magnitudes used.
 
Hey Crusader

Thanks for all the help a few months ago wrt. all my questions when I was looking to buy my 1st telescope.
i bought everything u suggested, and have recently had a look through MUCH more expensive eyepieces etc etc.
And i must say your recomendations were spot on re the skywatcher 8-24mm. I saved myself R1500 on that alone.

Found my 1st galaxy the other night (smc & lmc dont count), nothing much compares to the feeling, its like finding a diamond in the sand.
 
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