Has anyone been to Sancton recently??

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[rhubarb]

So, as the title suggests, who has recently been to Sancton on a Friday???

Well, i can say i havent been there for months really, too cold and a mountain of other things to do have prevented me from going there.

Something always seems to come up!!

Hopefully this Friday cloud-free permitting, i shall make the extra special effort to get there, if its clear it should be quite nice apart from the bright old moon.

Last time there i saw around 4 shooting stars in about 3 hours, not from any peticular comet trail, just randoms.

Does anyone else want to join me there???

If you havent been before and want to go, the directions are on this site, bring something warm because it gets VERY cold quite quickly!!

My number is 07976 880339 if you want to arrange a time, or ask directions. I only live about 5 or 6 miles away, so can get there quite soon if anyone goes.

So hopefully ill see someone there this Friday.

Mark.

[flamencopaul]

You're definately right about the cold at Sancton, last time I was there was for the Perseids last august, and after only a couple of hours I couldn't feel my fingers...

I gave up winter nights at Sancton when I joined BLAS. Obviously there is a major trade-off between dark skies and battery operated gear at Sancton, compared to the more light-polluted skies at BLAS, but with warmth, a kettle, a microwave and a big telescope...

Good luck with the weather at Sancton though, because I can't wait to see the results you get taking photos through your Williams Optics lens...just wish I had one myself.

Paul.

[rhubarb]

Well, as far as imaging with the williams goes, i have been trying, when the weather permits, though i must admit its much more difficult than i had imagined. Focusing is a bit of an issue at the moment, things look fine throught the viewfinder, then on the PC theyre terrible!!

Thought i might pop down to BLAS if that would be ok and pick your brains on that one.

I have got a CG5 mount now, so im still getting used to that. From being used to an Alt-Az mount, using an EQ is strange i think!!

I might bring it all down if thats ok and get some helpful tips maybe??


Mark.

[flamencopaul]

Hi Mark...focusing is always a problem!!

There are a few solutions though...The simplest being to ALWAYS focus on the brightest star in the sky, before you go to the object that you're trying to image...

If you're feeling rich, you could get a 'knife-edge focuser' this is basically a gizmo that has a knife-edge set at the same distance from the t-connector as the focal plane of your camera, focus first using the knife-edge, then just pop your camera on, and in theory you are in perfect focus.

A cheaper alternative is to use a Hartmann mask...this you can make at home, it's basically a sheet of stiff card with 2 or 3 holes/slits in, that you put over the lens aperture. When you look through the viewfinder, you see separate images, twiddle the focus until the images come together, and agin in theory, perfect focus.

The most cost effective method is to use trial and error through the viewfinder, then use the preview screen and zoom in to check the focus, and then adjust as neccessary...this normally just takes a few test shots, which you can delete 'cos you wont be using them later.

After a while, you'll find that you can get pretty close 'by eye' with just minor corrections...and don't forget that unless the seeing is perfect, then your focus wont be quite so critical.

Are you sure too, that it is a focus problem and not tracking errors? or maybe a mixture of both?

I'm assuming the Williams isn't a massive thing, so you could also get focussed up on a distant street light first if that's more convenient.

You are welcome to come down to BLAS, there are usually people there on clear nights...Alternatively, come to the next club night (monday 28th) and meet the gang.

Paul.

[rhubarb]

Thanks for the info, ill look into making a mask, but the knife edge solution....money...trying to stop spending at the mo!!.


To be honest, it could possibly be a mix of focus / tracking problems. The williams is a tiny thing but weighs a lot. I used it piggybacked on the LX90, but to tell you the truth, i think that lot is a bit over loaded especially with the camera attatched. The LX did seem to struggle a bit.

I guess trial and error really are the best ways of learning and working through the frustration only makes your skill better in the end.

Ill make a note of the 28th and hopefully pop down and meet you.


Thanks

Mark.

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