Some photos

[Xelasnave.1947]

Here it is with colour backed off..

 

[Truck Captain Stumpy]

but they said they had been working since 7 am and needed a break...she went off at them and threatened to go public and left...when she returned to the house two days later expecting it to be gone it was clear that they had second thoughts cause the house was saved as well as a car

wow... this really surprises me. were they volunteers or pros?
And not in their defense, but, wildland firefighting is a hard job. The beer-drinking is absolutely wrong though considering the heat, work and other factors. Personally, if I were working the scene and I saw some firefighters drinking beer on the scene, they would be fired and possibly charged.

I don't have any photos of the fire but here is a photo of the pump

ah! When you said "a fire pump", I was assuming it was something like a portable bush-pump that had a 1,000 gpm minimum rating.

And here is a photo with the new scope (115 mm)

That is f*cking AWESOME! I love moon pics. Most of mine involve security footage and streakers (joking - LOL - I don't have any moon pics of my own)

dont worry about the colour. I find that a little green helps a bit with details

I wasn't worried. like you said: it helps with the details.

 

[James R]

Alex,

You take some great astronomical photos. Have you ever entered any into competitions?

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

Alex,

You take some great astronomical photos. Have you ever entered any into competitions?

Thank you James. Competitions. I..am still very much still getting stuff together both with gear and processing.
There is a big deal comp out here called the David Marlin Awards, a guy who is on the astronomy forum I frequent won it...I don't know but my guess is he has $100k in gear,....at the pointy end it goes like this...$25k for a mount, up to $50k for the scope, $35k for the camera...and the dome ...maybe $20 or $30 and add some flash computers.
I am happy to be doing this at 72 years..the manuals I have to learn is rather taxing and I still have much more to learn.
Thanks again.
Alex

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

were they volunteers or pros?

Volunteers but real turkeys.

And not in their defense, but, wildland firefighting is a hard job.

I know particularly if you are the only one.
I had to rally 20 guys once and ...well you know how difficult it can be to take leadership and still get the job done. We put it out and then the captain came along and praised me for the statagy I implemented.
I love it..it's like a military battle...attack the weak spots and let the stuff burn that you can't put out.

Personally, if I were working the scene and I saw some firefighters drinking beer on the scene, they would be fired and possibly charged.

They were lucky I was not there...you would have seen it on the news and YouTube.
Others complained about various crews...they don't like to back burn..and as they say..you fight fire with fire.

ah! When you said "a fire pump", I was assuming it was something like a portable bush-pump that had a 1,000 gpm minimum rating.

It's portable and probably more than you suggest...I just don't know any stats.

I love moon pics.

If you have a DSLR and a tripod I can show you how to get jaw dropping images.
You just take multiple shots on a short exposure and stack them...merge all into one...any lens will do.
I should start a thread maybe.

Thanks for all your kind and encouraging words.

Back in the city..just walked in..10 hours drive..

Alex

 

[Truck Captain Stumpy]

You take some great astronomical photos

I'm with James R on this one...

If you have a DSLR and a tripod

I'm still using flash powder - LMFAO
the only tripod's I have are for the rifle and the old transit (transit theodolite)

Volunteers but real turkeys

that's just too bad.

I should start a thread maybe.

That's not a bad idea!
Maybe you can talk @James R into creating a sub-group under astronomy where you can teach folk how to take the pics

 

[Write4U]

Any comments on this contraption? Maybe a low cost investment for beginners?

• Fun and useful USB Eyepiece Camera allows you to transmit the real-time view through your telescope to a laptop or PC, and capture great digital movies and images

• Share the view of bright planets, the Moon, and terrestrial targets through your telescope with friends, family, and fellow astronomy enthusiasts.

• An affordable introduction to the rewarding hobby of astrophotography. Great for lunar and planetary shots - not suitable for deep space imaging

• Very versatile - Fits into any 1.25" telescope focuser or 1.25" step-down adapter

• Includes Orion AmCap image video capture software - compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7/8 Operating Systems

• https://www.telescope.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=102083&msclkid=2c8b6e43c5d01161a72333dec5b51f6e&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SHOP - Branded&utm_term=4580565443337990&utm_content=Accessories - Telescope

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

I'm with James R on this one...



I'm still using flash powder - LMFAO
the only tripod's I have are for the rifle and the old transit (transit theodolite)

that's just too bad.


That's not a bad idea!
Maybe you can talk @James R into creating a sub-group under astronomy where you can teach folk how to take the pics

One page may see me done.
Alex

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

Any comments on this contraption? Maybe a low cost investment for beginners?

View attachment 2772

• https://www.telescope.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=102083&msclkid=2c8b6e43c5d01161a72333dec5b51f6e&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SHOP - Branded&utm_term=4580565443337990&utm_content=Accessories - Telescope

Great for the Moon , Jupiter Saturn and Mars...I doubt it could do deep sky although maybe possible.
Alex

 

[paddoboy]

Another that I like is referred to as the Eagle Nebula. The "Eagle"is at the centre and is what we all know as "the pillars of creation" the most famous Hubble image.
It suffers from downsizing so I hope it shows on your screen reasonable...
Alex

Nice stuff Alex!! The "Pillars of Creation"is my favourite Hubble photo. It says heaps. Again nice stuff and keep it up. Oh and Hi, how have you been!

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

Nice stuff Alex!! The "Pillars of Creation"is my favourite Hubble photo. It says heaps. Again nice stuff and keep it up. Oh and Hi, how have you been!

Thanks for your encouragement.

I have been busy and mainly well.

Very happy getting the van and the observatory going...only started back in May or June. Just keeping as busy as possible so I don't realise that I am a 72 year old cripple. Bought an automatic car with cruise control that has made driving less of a problem. And have times where I don't use my Walker just use a shooting stick...I only really need a portable instantly accessible something to sit on when my legs say no more.
I hope you and yours are well.
Alex

 

[paddoboy]

Thanks for your encouragement.

I have been busy and mainly well.

Very happy getting the van and the observatory going...only started back in May or June. Just keeping as busy as possible so I don't realise that I am a 72 year old cripple. Bought an automatic car with cruise control that has made driving less of a problem. And have times where I don't use my Walker just use a shooting stick...I only really need a portable instantly accessible something to sit on when my legs say no more.

Take it easy!

I hope you and yours are well.
Alex

All well. Being an old fart like yourself, I need to understand properly how old age can slow you down somewhat. Just recently had a 60th old boys reunion, and had too much Fosters...Mrs complained about me falling into our house, then tripping over the lounge, then sent me in the back spare room to sleep it off! Plus it took me three days to get over it.

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

Just received news that up North we are under threat from the bush fire which has taken off.
My nephew lost a camper van and a boat and a couple of houses in the area also lost.

Plus it took me three days to get over it.

Glad it only took three days.
Alex

 

[wegs]

These are beautiful. I bought a telescope, my first one recently, but I didn't realize that it didn't come with the phone adapter for pics. It takes some getting used to, using the telescope. I'm wondering ...how much is too much to spend for a beginner star gazer, would you say?

 

[Seattle]

These are beautiful. I bought a telescope, my first one recently, but I didn't realize that it didn't come with the phone adapter for pics. It takes some getting used to, using the telescope. I'm wondering ...how much is too much to spend for a beginner star gazer, would you say?

Have you been able to see Jupiter and Saturn with it yet?

 

[Seattle]

View attachment 2753 My journey with the narrow band imaging has been slow but here is an image of the Andromeda galaxy. Two million light years distant but visible as a naked eye object in a dark location. So if anyone asks how good are your eyes you can tell them you can see up to two million light years.
About three hours of exposure all up.

Very nice, M32, M31 and M110 as I recall.

 

[billvon]

These are beautiful. I bought a telescope, my first one recently, but I didn't realize that it didn't come with the phone adapter for pics. It takes some getting used to, using the telescope. I'm wondering ...how much is too much to spend for a beginner star gazer, would you say?

Start cheap, but get a good transit mount. That will help tremendously.

 

[wegs]

Have you been able to see Jupiter and Saturn with it yet?

No. It's been cloudy, rainy nearly every night since the harvest moon. Now, that...I could see, and it was beautiful.

Start cheap, but get a good transit mount. That will help tremendously.

Okay, thanks. I don't like this mounting, come to think of it. I have to literally stand over it, and tilt my head...over the telescope to ''position'' what I want to look at. Remember the one on the other forum that I linked? Well, I didn't buy that one lol I should have, damn!

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

These are beautiful. I bought a telescope, my first one recently, but I didn't realize that it didn't come with the phone adapter for pics. It takes some getting used to, using the telescope. I'm wondering ...how much is too much to spend for a beginner star gazer, would you say?

Thank you for your encouragement.
How long is a piece of string would be an easier question.

What scope and mount do you have?

Knowing what I now know...I would suggest a 8 inch f5 Newtonian. If not taking photos you use a dobsonian mount. I have an eight inch for photography.
With a coma corrector and additional tube rings it was under a grand...in Australia.
If you want to take photos you just buy a tube and a coma corrector but you need a German Equatorial mount. I have one mount..the cheapest at $1200 which carries the eight inch (HEQ 5)..(you can spend up to 25 K for a mount)....and with a DSLR ( I have a Nikon D5500) but even the earliest cheapest Canon does wonders, you get great photos.

If you want to get to the pointy end you go for narrow band imaging...the camera is cooled, to reduce noise, and has a filter wheel that houses seven filters..red, blue, green, luminance, hydrogen alpha, oxygen and sulphur...you take multiple images with each and combined them in photo shop or dedicated astro software.
Doing it this way is hard work but the detail is much better.
Here is a shot of the eight set up.
Alex

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

Have you been able to see Jupiter and Saturn with it yet?

Edit..I only now realised the question was not directed to me..sorry..but I will answer anyways.
It is probably a little short from a focal length point of view.
I have seen the various planets mainly using a 1200 mm refractor with a 3x Barlow ( multiples focal length and hence magnification) but I gave that scope away. Planets don't interest me these days..
But my first time out I pointed my scope at a bright star .turned out to be Saturn blew me away and then another bright star..turned out to be Jupiter. I was hooked. That was only a six inch scope.
Alex