Scott, regarding the "smudge" statement. This is really in reference to nebulae and not planets. Observation of planets, particularly Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn can be quite satisfying.
Doug N.
Search found 18 matches
- Sat Oct 28, 2023 10:40 pm
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: A Few Newbie Questions
- Replies: 9
- Views: 3957
- Fri Oct 27, 2023 5:03 pm
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: A Few Newbie Questions
- Replies: 9
- Views: 3957
Re: A Few Newbie Questions
Hi Scott. From your post I take that you are interested in observation rather than imaging. They require different equipment. Also be aware that what you see in the eyepiece is different than what the camera will see. Where the pictures are clear with lots of details, you will probably see a smudge....
- Mon Jan 24, 2022 10:44 am
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: Polar alignment newbie question
- Replies: 6
- Views: 7179
Re: Polar alignment newbie question
Hi Fred, I have two CEM mounts. A CEM40 and a CEM26. My polar alignment process is similar to Mark's. The solar finder works very well. I do have the app you mentioned. It works well. I put it in the saddle to get the altitude closer. Be careful of trusting the compass reading. I think they use magn...
- Thu Dec 02, 2021 3:23 pm
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: New member, imaging with loaner scopes?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4444
Re: New member, imaging with loaner scopes?
Yes, watch the CGO forum. I will be posting the next training session there. It will likely not be until Spring. In the meantime I hope to have some zoom sessions where the imagers within MAS can answer questions from those wanting to get into astrophotography or better their skills. Over the last c...
- Thu Apr 29, 2021 10:01 am
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: New member, looking for advice on purchasing DSLR
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2200
Re: New member, looking for advice on purchasing DSLR
Given Suresh's list above avoid the D5100. It has the Exceed 3 software and the camera cannot be controlled through the USB port. A separate cable is needed. That may seem a bit odd for advice at the moment, but you will have found it useful several years from now. Still, I recommend going the route...
- Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:49 pm
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: New member, looking for advice on purchasing DSLR
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2200
Re: New member, looking for advice on purchasing DSLR
Here is my recommendation. Don't by a camera yet. Instead do the following. The society has an imaging rig with excellent equipment on it. It has everything you need to take images. Instead spend your money on a program called PixInsight to process those images. Cost for PixInsight is $300 last I lo...
- Sat Sep 12, 2020 11:13 am
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: 1st Telescope recommendations
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1575
Re: 1st Telescope recommendations
I will speak to the astrophotography part. The telescopes/mounts recommended will work fine for visual, however the long focal lengths for beginning astrophotography gives you a very large learning curve. Since you own some DSLRs and some lenses I suggest you use those to start the astrophotography....
- Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:52 am
- Forum: General Astronomy
- Topic: Cord Wrap
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1198
Re: Cord Wrap
I use velcro to make sure there is proper slack in all my cords.
- Mon Apr 15, 2019 7:34 pm
- Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
- Topic: Cedar Creek Science Reserve
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1540
Cedar Creek Science Reserve
I just heard that there was a star party at Cedar Creek Science Reserve recently. I didn't see any postings about it. Did I miss the announcement?
- Fri Apr 13, 2018 12:04 pm
- Forum: MAS Star Parties and Events
- Topic: Messier Marathon NO GO for this weekend.
- Replies: 3
- Views: 622
Re: Messier Marathon NO GO for this weekend.
I just schedule an IISP for Monday night, and I was planning on using Casby. The only thing we ask is the judicious use of laser pointers. Particularly on the objects we are imaging. There is room for all, though there may be a pile of snow out there to negotiate.
Doug N.
Doug N.
- Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:50 am
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: Cannot Connect Scope to Windows 10 PC
- Replies: 5
- Views: 796
Re: Cannot Connect Scope to Windows 10 PC
Great to hear. Good luck. Post if you need any help.
- Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:46 am
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: Cannot Connect Scope to Windows 10 PC
- Replies: 5
- Views: 796
Re: Cannot Connect Scope to Windows 10 PC
Tugger and I have been talking about this off-line. He indicates that it may be a USB interface depending on the age of the mount. As he indicated you may need EQASCOM installed and running. I remember getting my computer to work with the my mount. There were several hoops to jump through and it inc...
- Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:12 pm
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: Cannot Connect Scope to Windows 10 PC
- Replies: 5
- Views: 796
Re: Cannot Connect Scope to Windows 10 PC
I took a quick look at the manual and it indicates that the connection on the hand controller is RS232. Did you use a USB to RS232 cable?
- Sat Feb 24, 2018 4:11 pm
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: Help assemble my telescope please
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1451
Re: Help assemble my telescope please
I have set up the last several and do those through the Imaging SIG forum.
viewforum.php?f=8
Doug N.
viewforum.php?f=8
Doug N.
- Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:31 am
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: Help assemble my telescope please
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1451
Re: Help assemble my telescope please
Reed, Just a quick note that we cancelled tonight's imager's meet.
Doug N.
Doug N.
- Wed Feb 21, 2018 5:54 pm
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: Help assemble my telescope please
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1451
Re: Help assemble my telescope please
Hi Reed: We are having an imagers meet in Baylor Regional Park Park at the Eagle Lake Observatory (7:00 pm on Saturday the 24). Since the moon is bright we are not likely to take images, but I do hope some will come out and set up their rigs. If you can bring your equipment maybe we can help you get...
- Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:16 pm
- Forum: Beginners SIG
- Topic: December BSIG -- Intro to Astro Imaging - Sat. Dec. 9th - 2:30pm
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1258
Re: December BSIG -- Intro to Astro Imaging - Sat. Dec. 9th - 2:30pm
The 19th is a Tuesday not a Saturday. Did you mean the 9th?
- Sun Sep 24, 2017 8:56 am
- Forum: Forum Help, Comments
- Topic: Attachment problem
- Replies: 4
- Views: 6185
Re: Attachment problem
Also, this was a problem just be the migration.