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Re: August 27th, observing at FLO
I can appreciate that astrophotography with laptops and visual observing are not compatible. For sure when i am running a photography session in my backyard, i pay no attention to dark adaptation since i am not looking though the scope trying to decern a barely visible DSO from the light polluted background. While in the field, i use a red screen and shroud the laptop in a tupperware bin, but i don't think it's completely affective.? I have two suggestions for FLO.? 1) if people are using their own equipment, i suggest prioritizing a mound that is for astrophotography and the other mound for visual work.? 2) on nights that are club members observing nights, i think the 18" star master should be prioritized for visual observing.? Stephen J McIntyre Mailto: McIntyre_SJ@... www.Flickr.com/McIntyre_SJ
On Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 10:14:33 p.m. EDT, Matt Weeks <northern.stargazer@...> wrote:
My understanding is this was an exceptionally busy night.? There were a few late arrivals, a bit of leakage of white light from the roll-off roof observatory and the odd laptop monitor (most were doing their best to shroud their screens) during the night, so my night vision did get disrupted a few times.? In hind sight, I likely would have been better off setting up over on the north mound.? As a visual observer who is trying to maximize/maintain dark adaptation, I can see how it might be hard to coexist with? astrophotographers.? The imagers seem to need to use their laptops to run their imaging rigs and I need nothing more than faint red light to maintain my dark adaptation.? However, I'm not ready to give up on FLO just yet.? I suspect this was a bit of the "worst case" (at least I hope so).? But yes, if more often than not I have difficulty maintaining dark adaption, I may need to find somewhere else to observe, which would be a shame as I'm not sure where else I could go.? Any ideas?? Matt |
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Re: August 27th, observing at FLO
My understanding is this was an exceptionally busy night.? There were a few late arrivals, a bit of leakage of white light from the roll-off roof observatory and the odd laptop monitor (most were doing their best to shroud their screens) during the night, so my night vision did get disrupted a few times.? In hind sight, I likely would have been better off setting up over on the north mound.? As a visual observer who is trying to maximize/maintain dark adaptation, I can see how it might be hard to coexist with? astrophotographers.? The imagers seem to need to use their laptops to run their imaging rigs and I need nothing more than faint red light to maintain my dark adaptation.? However, I'm not ready to give up on FLO just yet.? I suspect this was a bit of the "worst case" (at least I hope so).? But yes, if more often than not I have difficulty maintaining dark adaption, I may need to find somewhere else to observe, which would be a shame as I'm not sure where else I could go.? Any ideas??
Matt |
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Re: August 27th, observing at FLO
14 laptops. ... Sounds like a good reason for dark-sky visual
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astronmers for avoiding FLO. On Tue, Aug 30, 2022 at 9:16 PM Dave Anderson <canddstt@...> wrote:
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Re: August 27th, observing at FLO
Great report . good to know I am not the only visual observer . it was a great night to be out ,I was at the North Frontenac dark sky site using the old FLO 16 inch scope , cool scope to use nice views? ?I counted 14 photographers on the pad .All staring at there laptops.
shared views of Saturn , Jupiter to some people that came all the way from Kitchener to see the milky way and had never seen the planets before. Dave |
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Re: August 27th, observing at FLO
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýThanks for your report Matt. I¡¯m glad you got out to FLO and enjoyed yourself! Great hobby we have isn¡¯t it! Jim On Aug 30, 2022, at 7:45 PM, yeldahtron <keith_hadley@...> wrote:
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August 27th, observing at FLO
I noticed on the RASC's website that the night of August 27th was a member's star party night at FLO.? So, at the last minute, I decided that it would be a great night to get reacquainted with the site.? I'm glad I did, as it turned out to be a night of very good seeing and transparency (but very heavy dew). Very fine views of Jupiter and Saturn were had.? Although I only planned to stay until 1:00 am or so, I ended up staying until sunrise.? There were at least 15 people on site at one point in time.? I met a handful of new people, most of whom were doing astrophotography.? It felt a little odd being the only one without a camera/laptop etc...but I was welcomed warmly.? The Mike Worth's 18inch was in action, but I didn't get a chance to have a look though it as most of the time cameras were being attached and images taken.?
I enjoyed some old fashioned visual observing with my ancient C-8 for the night, a few views shared with others when they weren't busy with their endeavors.? I was certainly a lot "rustier" than I expected.? The first thing I noticed was that I've lost a bit of my sky knowledge, specifically which constellations were where.? Of course, the common bright ones came quickly to mind and were easily found, but compared to my past self, who instinctively knew where most constellations were and could find them easily, I struggled to even know what was up and well placed for viewing.? Then, when I figured out which constellations to look for, I had a hard time finding them.? I think this has a lot to do with now having to balance using one set of glasses to read star charts and another to look up, so there was no easy looking back and forth from a map to the sky as I tried to get my bearings again.? I'm sure this can be improved with a proper pair of eye glasses and a few more nights under the stars to help dredge up all that past knowledge. I tried my hand at some astro-sketching, which I'm hoping to make part of my routine observing going forward. I've never seriously tried sketching at the eyepiece before, and I hope taking the time to sketch will bring enough of a sense of 'newness' that I won't miss my C-11 too much.? Before going out, I found a few online resources to give me a basic process to follow, and for the most part they were very helpful.? Reviewing my first attempt (of M27) the next day, I was pleasantly surprised not to hate it right away and found that the urge to crumple it up in disgust was only mildly present.? Comparing it to a view in cartes du ciel, I did an ok job.? And although not a perfect representation, it adequately conveys what I saw with stars placed fairly accurately (both position and magnitude) and the nebula softness/brightness was representative of the view in the eyepiece.? All in all, a good first step back into the hobby, I think. Cheers! Matt |
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Re: Returning to the fold!
Ha! ?Yeah I freely admit to wanting a 36inch! ?I figure I¡¯ll creep up to one 2-4 inches at a time, that way no one will notice. Adding all that aperture in one shot would be a shock to the system and my SO would surely notice. But slowly, over time, stands a much higher chance of success.
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Re: Returning to the fold!
36¡±!!! (I thought it was 24¡± last time) I¡¯ll be at starfest with, in comparison, tiny 8¡± & 51mm scopes. Hoping to do some southern wide field and maybe some planetary (living beside Lake Ontario is not great for planetary imaging). Clear Skies, Graeme On Fri, Aug 19, 2022 at 10:10 PM Ingrid <iao@...> wrote:
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Graeme Hay Photographer / Cinematography / Astroimaging EmberSkyMedia.com |
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Re: Returning to the fold!
Ingrid
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýHi Matt, ? Are you sure you wouldn¡¯t want a 36¡± instead? ? ? Cheers, ????? Ingrid ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Matt Weeks
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2022 11:15 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [OAFs] Returning to the fold! ? Hi Attilla!? Very nice to hear from you.? My best memories of observing were with fellow Oafs.? Endless Monty Python quips, Nirvana observing trips (the old Irvine lake airstrip) and pre-RASC meeting dinners.? Ah, the good old days.? I actually visited the old airstrip last year while on a camping trip to Bon Echo.? Nostalgia hit hard!! haha. It doesn't look much different, a little more overgrown (without Mike's mower the place has gotten out of hand).? ?The hill up to the strip itself is a little more rutted, and although my truck had no issues, I'm not sure a car could do it anymore..but I may be wrong. I would love to have a "reunion" of Oafs sometime out there, but recognize that may be a little on the optimistic side.? Beat up?
Btw, some of us are going to starfest (comming real soon now). Unfortunately, I can't make Starfest this year, though it is an event I'd like to get to in future years.? We'll have to see what next year brings. |
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Re: new star fest
Unfortunately that is the same weekend as the Fall'n'Stars star party in Prince Edward County, put on by Belleville and Kingston Centres.? It's a must-attend for me.
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Rick On 2022-08-17 01:25, Attilla Danko wrote:
More details on Frontenac's star party on Sept 23 here: |
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Re: Green Laser
This might be more Albert's style:
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<> On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 7:37 PM Mike Wirths <mikewirths1@...> wrote:
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Re: Green Laser
You should get this one Albert, 1.75 watts!! On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 6:41 PM Stephen J McIntyre via <mcintyre_sj=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: Green Laser
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýPersonally, i find the use of green lasers by other people very annoying. While it¡¯s a great tool for pointing out objects to an interested group, it¡¯s distracting and annoying to anyone not in that group. So a huge modicum of discretion is required, especially at public telescope nights. And any reasonable person would never point out flying aircraft.Then there is the frequent misuse. I was at the beach in the Lake of Two Rivers camp ground and small group of, i would guess non-astronomy people, armed with a couple of green lasers proceeded to play light sabre tag. I did voice my opinion, but it was not welcome and they did not stop. Stephen J McIntyre mailto:mcintyre_sj@... https://flickr.com/mcintyre_sj On Aug 18, 2022, at 2:04 PM, Attilla Danko <danko@...> wrote:
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Re: Green Laser
It's illegal to project any concentrated light source into canadian controlled airspace. especialy lasers > 1 milliwatt. Some think this is reasonable to protect landing aircraft. But check the fineprint: everywhere in canada above 30000 feet is controlled airspace. Mark Garneau's law restricting hobby drones is equally excessive. On Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 13:56 PolyWogg <thepolyblog@...> wrote:
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Re: Green Laser
fyi you may be hard pressed to find much legally since TC rules are quite precise on power prohibition. On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 12:09 PM Mike Wirths <mikewirths1@...> wrote:
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Re: Green Laser
I would suggest not a 5mw laser, go for 10mw the 5's are hard to see in light polluted skies! On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 11:57 AM Richard Harding <r.elleray.harding@...> wrote:
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Re: Green Laser
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On Aug 18, 2022, at 9:49 AM, ALbert <alboodie@...> wrote:
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yeldahtron
Richard Harding