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Posts Made By: Guy Earle

October 19, 2009 09:14 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Need advice plz

Posted By Guy Earle
I'm out of my comfort zone here, and I need advice, please. I'm a long time dob user, who occasionally took snapshots of the moon and such over the years. I tried doing 25 second night shots with my Nikon D60, and got the following...



Any more than 20 seconds and I get trails, and as it is my stars are little blobs. I did find at a garage sale (for $3!!!) an 80mm Celestron Firstscope. I'm having a bit of trouble finding what model motor I can get...any ideas? Again, I've been a dob man for 17 years...lol



Instead of using a tele adapter with a 25mm eyepiece in it, how do I go about mounting the camera directly onto the refractor? Does that sound like a good idea?

Advice...please smile

Cheers,

Guy

February 20, 2010 10:14 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Beginner questions

Posted By Guy Earle
Hi, everyone

I've been a dob user for 16 years, and I'm putting a toe into DSLR astrophotography. Any specific beginner tips or links to good sites for reading would be appreciated. I've done webcam/registax planetary stuff with my dob, and nothing more than my D60 on a tripod with IR remote for 20-30 seconds. I just purchased a CG-4 mount to put an older 80mm Celestron on, with my camera piggyback. I've also got a 75-300 lens to go with Nikon's 18-55 lens.

As I said, all help is appreciated. I've attached a couple basic D60 photos from the last New Moon observing session.

Cheers,

Guy




February 20, 2010 10:29 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Refractor equipment advice

Posted By Guy Earle
Hi, all

I've got a DSLR that I want to do prime focus work with on an older 80mm f/11 Celestron Refractor. I've used the eyepiece adapter in my dob for years, but I'm wondering what parts I would need to attach the camera directly to the back of the refractor? It's got the 1-1/4" tube, with the 90 degree diagonal, and I imagine there's some way of attaching the camera instead of using that diagonal and such.

Thanks,

Guy

February 21, 2010 10:07 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Kendrick question

Posted By Guy Earle
Question: I've had a Kendrick VI for years now, with two 2" straps, one 1-1/4" and a telrad heater. During my last observing session I quickly found out, that despite the Kendrick's red light being on, my straps were as cold as ice. Here in Florida, dew is a constant killer for observing. I just hooked up the battery, after it's been on a trickle charge all day, and still no warmth. The light's on again, but nada...

Now, mind you, I have a GDT-11 digital multimeter, and "I believe" I have 8 amps on there. It has been so long since I've used the thing, I'm not sure if I'm reading it right. Could the Kendrick have something wrong with it, or is it more likely the battery? Can the battery have enough juice to turn the red light on, but not heat the strips (it's a 14amphr battery, gel cell)?

Cheers,

Guy

March 1, 2010 01:34 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

dark frame question

Posted By Guy Earle
This is going to sound really basic to those who have been doing this for awhile, but what is the typical method for taking/making a dark frame? I'm just starting out in DSLR astrophotography, and I'm interested in taking shots just with my Nikon D60 (I have the stock 18-55mm lens, and a Sigma 75-300mm). I've done webcam imaging and Registax for a few years, but this is new to me.

I gather that you take a blank, dark, shot to minus the noise that is inherent in the image. However, doesn't the camera do that automatically, and why does one need so many? From what I understand, the D60 takes as long to process the image as it took to take it, b/c it's doing the dark frames automatically--but I certainly could be mistaken. Lastly, what software do you like to use for these images? Like I said, I've used Registax for years, but never for star images...

Thanks,

Guy

June 12, 2003 11:13 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Mars Observation (June 11, 2003)

Posted By Guy Earle
What color do you prefer for your filter? I've been contemplating a red Hoya (sorry, don't remember the #), but I don't want anything too dark. I have a 12.5 f/6 with (shortly) a Denk II to observe with. Any comments would be appreciated.

guy

BTW, beautiful job on the drawing.

June 19, 2003 09:02 PM Forum: Binoviewers

BW Optik binoviewer has arrived!

Posted By Guy Earle
Victor,

"Anyone know what is the appropriate sacrifice to the Weather God?"

A virgin from the weather channel? ;-)

Guy
Tampa, Fl

June 22, 2003 07:10 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Mars Previewer Freeware

Posted By Guy Earle
Now this is really cool! Thanks so much for the link!

I've got a Moon tool like this, in addition to an old DOS based program on Saturn and its moons. I'll try and dig up an address is you want it.

Clear Skies,

guy

September 1, 2003 05:21 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

meade 4000 super and super wide eyepieces

Posted By Guy Earle
Tom,

I agree with Bret that the 24 Pans are optically better than Meade's, but for the money and the quality you get I love 'em. I use an older pair (no eyeguards) on my binoviewer and get great results. If you have the money get the Pans, but you won't go wrong if you buy the SWA's.

guy

September 3, 2003 09:04 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

[Lack of] atmospheric seeing and Mars

Posted By Guy Earle
Doug,

Oh, God, don't bother coming to Florida. I live in Tampa and observe with a 12.5 f/6 and I'm seeing the same stuff you are. I've tried to make up for not observing much in July this past month, and I've seen the same bad seeing. I mean, I can still push X250-350 some nights, but it is never crisp. I let my scope (which is a solid sonotube that seperates into two pieces) cool for an hour with a 3" pancake fan blowing the whole time, and I get the same results. I don't know if I'm going crazy, but when everything is all "heated up" at the start of observing I tend to get sharper images. I dunno why.

"Wet in Tampa"
Guy

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