looking for a FR astronomy/astophotograghy hobbyiest.

9/28/18 | Vanity

[Fhios]

Hey, I'm looking for some amature astronomy / astrophotography hobbyists that can give me hints, links and recommendations to get started.and even used eqipment that may fit in with what I'm going to do.

1. I'm handicapped so my mobility is restricted I'll startiing in my driveway with pretty high light polutiing focusing on objects off in our solor system. Sun, moon, Jup, mar, saturn, uran, Merc venusm pluto, Moons of Jupiter, planets transiting the Sun and if they are resolvable, some of the bigger asteroids.

2. I would like take some time delayed photographs just for practice for upgrades I may do, Focusing on mounts and motor driven mounts.

3. Start taking pictures of some of the larger Nebula, binaires, galaxies and looking for upgrades I'll need to do this. With. Then finally upgrade to computer controlled/wireless telescopes where I can do all of the above and monitor from indoors

[Red Badger]

PING!.................

[100American]

I can help you with this including attaching computer it, automated tracking scope, photography etc

Send me a PM and we can discuss

[Reno89519]

I can help. We’ve got several telescopes, computers, cameras, and all.

[wally_bert]

Same here.

Where I live now, I have a decent view of the night sky.

My telescope almost requires a degree to run it.

I will get a camera for my Celestron scope. Eyepieces have become tough for me. An eye problem.

[dragnet2]

For bright objects such as planetary and lunar imaging, use an inexpensive webcam with the scope, which can be had for under a few hundred bucks or as little as 50 bucks.

Then get a copy of software for post processing which you can run the video through. The software will capture only the best frame/images and puts them together, aligns, calibrates and stacks them together into one image.

And webcam images can be spectacular!

Below is a basic information on webcams.

https://www.awesomeastronomy.com/tutorials/planetary-imaging/57-lanetary-lunar-solar-webcam-imaging

[TheNext]

Live on a boat in the center of the Pacific ocean where there is no light pollution.

[wally_bert]

Bookmarked for some day.

Thank you.

[dragnet2]

Btw, when you get to the point where you want to go for deep space objects, start with a simple DSLR camera and piggyback the camera onto the scope/mount which has a drive system. That way you're only using the scope/mount for tracking objects/targets, allowing the camera to capture wide field objects up to a few minutes exposures or more, depending how precise the mount is polar aligned and balanced etc.

But I would start with the webcam for brighter planetary/lunar imaging.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks RB, pinging the APoD list et al.

[dragnet2]

☺

[wally_bert]

My scope weighs a lot due to weighted base.

I’d like to build some kind motorized mount to point the thing that could live outside. The glass would be stored inside.

[dragnet2]

You indicated you're handicapped with restricted mobility. This below is a mount you can put a tripod/optical tube assembly on and it has wheels. That way it can be push out of the garage or patio for example and them can be locked into place for stability. There are many of these types of mounts available.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/568244-REG/JMI_Telescopes_TPWLW_5_Large_Wheels_for.html?ap=y&gclid=CjwKCAjworfdBRA7EiwAKX9HeFRmkXuG0i3of_n0sxvyck7sMTuvM9tS5arGJje-WfNB2nFF-_PYdhoCd7AQAvD_BwE&smp=y

[astrodude]

You can find all the help you will need by visiting

https://www.cloudynights.com/index/

Lots of information already there and they’ll be more than happy to answer any/all questions

[dragnet2]

I have no experience in building clock drive systems for an equatorial mounted scope. I would buy a used one one. But I'm not sure I get the question.

Are you looking for a shelter for the scope?

If you just want to leave the mount/scope outside, look at scope/mount solar covers like the one below.

[Astro31]

Warning: This can get VERY expensive, very quickly.

Normally, you’d want to use an equatorial mount to properly track objects across the sky, but those are heavy. An alt-az tracking mount is sufficient for bright objects, like the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.

Something like an Orion StarSeeker mount with scope and a ZWO planetary camera can get you started relatively cheaply.

I’d recommend heading over the the http://www.cloudynights.com forum and do a lot reading and asking questions. Feel free to PM me, if I can help.

You can see some of my work here - https://www.astrobin.com/users/CGV/

[dragnet2]

It can be expensive. And if he goes alt-az mount for tracking, he’ll need to purchase yet another mount when he’s ready to go equatorial for the low light long exposure deep space images.

I agree, start small to see if the interest continues, but that can also be an expensive route when one has to ramp up their equipment to extend their reach.

[dragnet2]

Er, alt az mount for imaging...☺

[Do the math]

Back in I think 73 I was tracking comet Kohoutek. My calculations were 1 degree off. I spent hours going over my calculations, but I could not find an error. I read the reference manual over and over until I was about to give up. Then I was working on an another problem that required a well placed reference point. My reference point was NO LA, which is
about 60 miles a way from where I live. Now, 60 miles is approximately 1 degree. After I adjusted my reference point I was spot on. I quit astronomy after that day,

[dragnet2]

I quit astronomy after that day

LOL! I about fell out of my chair reading that. I must be a glutton for punishment as I stuck with it. I recall when some years ago attempting to polar align a non-computerized scope. After about 2 days I was ready to use it as target practice. Then a few years later the digital world took over and had to learn to use the scope using a computer and then learn the software for post processing and all the techniques used to squeeze out the data. I was ready to give up more then a few times. Btw, I don't mean laugh, it just hit my funny bone. I can very much relate.