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Posted by Andrea Tasselli at 14:53 on 2013 Aug 31
Hi All,I’ve an somewhat oldish TAL-1 telescope on a pillar stand. Fit and finish not great (some paint chips/ flake-offs) but fully working. I modified the primary cell to extract the focus in order to use modern EPs. Also tried to fix the focuser with some but not complete success (mostly because it was half wrecked when I got it). I think it came with 1 or 2 EPs and you’ll get ’em too. Optically speaking is in very good order however keep in mind it’s 4" newt. Should be suitable for a DIY project or for spares. Also a 1.25" spare focuser from Celestron, if you fancy replacing the old focuser.Collection only.Reg’sAndrea
Posted by M C Butcher at 16:32 on 2013 Jun 21
I have a aspiration to image M16 and in particular the ‘Pillars of Creation’. My camera is an unmodified Canon 40D. I have achieved such an image by piggy backing the camera with a 200mm f/2.8 lens on my unguided Meade 8" LX-90. Using ISO settings of 800 and 1600 together with 30 second sub-exposures I have recorded the ‘pillars’ but the image was very small and you had to know where to look to see them!My next attempt will at Prime Focus on the telescope using an f/6.3 Focal Reducer. Has anyone out there achieved a useful result with such an equipment configuration? If so could they describe the settings that they employed?Martin Butcher
In reply to: Re 1998 QE2
Posted by Martin Mobberley at 20:04 on 2013 Jun 11
Nick,The basic answer to your question is YES. If you go to: http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/Ephemerides/SoftwareEls.htmlyou will see a list of orbital elements which can be downloaded for use in various popular software packages…. My favourite is Guide (now at version 9.0). Every package has its own way of uploading NEO data, which will be covered in the manual. If all else fails orbital elements can be typed inmanually for a specific object by going to:http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/MPEph/MPEph.htmland entering the object name plus selecting a format for elements output.HOWEVER, planetarium packages become inaccurate if the NEO is passing so close that the Earth’s gravity starts to dominate. In this case using that MPEph web page above is more accurate than a planetarium package if the object is, say, closer than the Earth-Moon distance. It is also important to specify your exact location on Earth as clearly the Earth’s radius of ~4,000 miles can cause a significant shift in apparent position if an object is within a few hundred thousand miles of us!If by ‘plot’ you also mean ‘plot a track’, then certainly Guide 9 can do that too, once the orbital elements are installed. But again, the observer’s location on Earth needs to be accurate and for very close NEOs the track may be inaccurate by a significant amount. For NEOs that are more than, say, half a million miles away the track should be accurate enough for all reasonable telescope slewing purposes…….Martin>Please advise if any planetarium software will give a plot of an NEO. Cheers Nick<
Topic: Chilean skies
Posted by Jeremy at 20:09 on 2013 Jun 08
Josch Hambsch posted to the Center for backyard Astrophysics user group a time-lapse video of his remote telescope operating in Chile 3 nights ago. I found it absolutely mesmerising – especially the views of the southern Milky Way:http://www.spaceobs.com/perso/images/Mad%20Telescope.mp4Enjoy!Go well!Jeremy
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Posted by John ONeill at 21:13 on 2013 May 16
Hi,I am a problem with Occult 4.1.0.8 occultation software. Many (but not all) of the edit boxes seem to be covered with their adjacent lables and other buttons are hidden or covering other objects. For example in the Site Editor the label "Telescope Aperture (cm)" covers its adjacent edit box, making it impossible to use.I am using Windows 7. Maybe I am missing some screen setting?Any ideas would be appreciated, as over the years I found it a great program.John
In reply to: My 14 inch AE in Horace Dall’s dome
Posted by Mark Stuckey at 11:09 on 2013 May 13
Thank you to all the kind comments from the memebers, I hope that when the original telescope is installed that some members on holiday in Norfolk will be able to pop over to take a look. Regards Mark
Posted by Martin Mobberley at 16:34 on 2013 May 07
BAA Gallery visitors might have noticed three pictures taken by Mark Stuckey showing his remarkable restoration job on Horace Dall’sobservatory which has been unused since Horace died in 1986. The buildingwas originally built around 1937 with help from Eric Perry (Dall’s Lutonneighbour) and was acquired by Jim Hysom (the optics man of AE Optics) before Mark finally acquired it in 2012. When Mark acquired the observatoryit was in a truly appalling state and looked almost beyond salvage![The BAA gallery pics are stored under Meetings,People,Places]Mark’s ultimate aim is to restore and install Horace’s original 15.5"DK Cass inside Horace’s dome, but in the interim he has a numberof old AE telescopes to use which he has also restored to a pristinecondition. One of these is my old 14 inch AE Cass/Newt which was mymain instrument from 1980 to 2003 (I also had another AE instrument, a19.3 inch Newt, which I gave to Glyn Marsh in 2008). Anyway, I gavemy 14 inch Cass/Newt to Mark in 2009 and he has also restoredthat to an amazing condition……it currently sits inside HoraceDall’s old dome! Given the connection between Horace and the Hysom brothersthis is not inappropriate! Mark sent me some pics of my gleaming 1980 vintage 14" inside the Horace Dall dome (now in Norfolk) and I have uploadedone to my website for perusal at this link:http://martinmobberley.co.uk/images/14inch_in_Dall_Dome_MarkStuckey.jpgAll in all a magnificent double restoration job…..My old 14 inch looked nothing like that when Mark acquired it and Iam amazed at the incredibly shiny and new looking telescope that hasemerged from under the rust and cobwebs and corpses of tarantulas andgrime!Regards,Martin
Posted by Callum Potter at 21:09 on 2013 Apr 22
Itagaki has identified a potential supernova in NGC 7331, the brightest galaxy of the so-called Deer Lick Group of galaxies.This galaxy is to the north of Pegasus, but will be available early morning.Martin Mobberley took this image using a remote telescope this morning. Martin estimates the supernova to be about 16th magnitude – so a bit faint, but perhaps it’s on the rise.More observations would obviously be welcomed.Callum PotterDirector, Deep Sky Section
In reply to: 2012 DA14
Posted by Richard Miles at 23:32 on 2013 Feb 28
Nick,Very close-approaching asteroids are accelerated / gravity slingshot by the mass of the Earth and no ordinary planetary programme can deal with this without a dedicated fix for each object in question. You need to use precise obtain your local topocentric RA and Dec coordinates from websites such as can be found at:Minor Planet Center ephemeris serviceJPL HORIZONS Web-InterfaceNEODyS-2Bill,Have put in a couple of links to your YouTube video on the ARPS webpages. Let me have some details about your location/telescope/ camera used – nice animation I must say. Thanks.Richard Miles
In reply to: 2012 DA14
Posted by Nick Atkinson at 19:50 on 2013 Feb 28
Hoping for clear skies but only to be disappointed I pointed my telescope at a predicted point on the trajectory.This has left me thinking about the ability of planetarium software to be able to do positional calculations rather than simply showing the trail. I use Carte Du Ceil and connect this to my mount allowing tracking on 500 minor planets. I notice that Stary Night Pro 6 can show the trajectory of 2012 DA 14 but cannot predict positions. Do you think there any of the sky charts out there that can do this?
In reply to: A comment on The Sky at Night ‘The Sun King’…
Posted by Marlyn Smith at 09:30 on 2013 Feb 11
Of course you are quite right with your warning that the Sun should be treated with respect and any method of observation should be well checked out and made completely safe.I watched the programme and thought the presenters did emphasise the dangers. Many solar observers use a mylar/cardboard type filter (including myself on occasions) as it’s the cheapest method for direct solar viewing. A good fit is essential and the filter should not be loose or "flapping about". The presenters commented on wind blowing the filter loose and suggested sellotaping the filter to the telescope tube as a precaution. I thought this was entirely sensible as the filter is light and any additonal method of securing it to the telescope would enhance safety. I didn’t get the impression of a "Blue Peter" type fix!Solar projection is a very safe method for solar observation but of course the observer still has to "find" the Sun safely. During projection, the telescope is NOT "safe" and there is always the risk that someone will try to look through the eyepiece. At least with a filter in place, this danger is eliminated. Solar observing is a very rewarding aspect of astronomy but the observer must be aware of the dangers and take proper precautions. I wouldn’t recommend any method of solar observation as safer than any other and I have no criticism of the Sky at Night team.
Posted by A R Pratt at 20:41 on 2013 Feb 07
Sir Patrick was always very cautious when discussing solar observing and he had one piece of advice for beginners – Never look at the Sun through a telescope!He would have been dismayed to see the solar filter (a thin sandwich of mylar and cardboard) loosely placed and lying barely inside the dew shield of a refractor! Just waiting for a gust of wind to displace it – then the observer would ask his friends to guide him to the nearest A&E Department.Solar projection with a small refractor is a safer option for beginners.If you use a solar filter make sure that it is securely fixed over the front of your ‘scope. Fiddling with ‘Blue Peter’ sellotape is not a method I would recommend.Please, never take any risks with your precious eyesight.
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Topic: The Sun Now 2013
Posted by Marlyn Smith at 22:07 on 2013 Jan 12
If you have a gap in the clouds during the next few days, have look at the Sun (properly filtered telescope of course, or project the solar image onto white card). There is a large sunspot group on the disk AR1654 which is pretty impressive in white light. Peter Paice’s image in Calcium K-line shows the group in the NE quadrant in dramatic style. The group is firing off flares and could release a powerful X-ray flare in the next few days so observations are requested by the Solar Section.
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In reply to: Observing statistics for 2012
Posted by Denis Buczynski at 15:06 on 2013 Jan 01
My observing statistics here at Tarbatness in Highland Scotland for the year 2012 are of the following order: Observations were possible on 91 nights when ccd images were taken. The months of May, June, July are unusable due to the presence of almost permanent daylight conditions (around 90 nights), so of the rest (275 nights) I was able to observe on 33% of nights (around 1 in 3).This does not count nights when I was away from home during the winter, spring and autumn months. So the clear night count is probably on the low side. Jan 11,Feb,11,Mar7,Apr7,Aug9,Sept8,Oct9,Nov16,Dec13During those clear nights I imaged a total of 606 objects, mainly comets, but some Supernovae, Novae, Variable stars and asteroids. These observing statistics are only related to my main imaging telescope and I have not counted the number of nights I used my secondary telescope. Nor have I counted in the number of images taken of the Aurora. So about the same number of nights usable in Highland Scotland in 2012 as in Cheshire where Jeremy lives, who would have thought it!Denis Buczynski
In reply to: Observing statistics for 2012
Posted by M C Butcher at 13:32 on 2013 Jan 01
Jeremy,Living off the west coast of Scotland we generally get less nights that are suitable for observing than in many other parts of the country with the most common problems being cloud cover and wind. Because the winds here can be quite severe I do not have an observatory and therefore have to set up my telescope afresh each night. In 2012, after setting up (polar alignment etc), I was able to image(I use a DSLR) or observe on 27 occasions for a total of 86.65 hours. Fortunately I am retired and so if it is clear I am able to stay out all night to maximise the opportunities presented. On 11 occasions I was able to observe for 3 hours or more including one night in December for 13.5 hours.Historically these figures for 2012 are down on the norm (about 100 hours per year) but they are at least up on 2011 when I achieved only 7 nights observing for a total of 9.77 hours with the longest session being only 2.75 hours. One learns to be grateful for any opportunity that one gets!Hoping that these statistics might be of some interest.Martin Butcher
Posted by Jeremy at 10:30 on 2013 Jan 01
In spite of all the bad weather we have experienced, 2012 yielded the highest number of usable nights in the last 4 years, with a total of 108 nights, or 30% of all nights. Compare this with last years 96 nights, for example. (Note that a usable night is when I was able to carry out any CCD imaging: it could be a few fields/frames or it could be many hours. The best month was December with 15 nights (4 consecutive over the Christmas period!), with January, March and September each yielding 14.However, 2012 was notable in one respect. This was the first year since 2005, when I started CCD photometry in earnest, that I drew a completely blank month with no observations whatsoever. That was June, the month of Jubilee and the Venus Transit (which I missed).I should add that inevitably there were some clear nights that I missed due to holidays, business travel or other commitments, so the totals are underestimates.The total number of individual stars observed this year was 6581 (one measure per star, usually as part of a patrol for outburst cataclysmic variables; this number does not include time series photometry, when I sat on a particular star for hours. A small proportion of observations were made remotely using the Bradford Robotic Telescope on Tenerife, but even this was not working in June!).My statistics, which begin in 2005, show that the best year was 2006 with 149, or 41%, nights usable.Happy new year!Jeremy
In reply to: Lap tops and observatory use
Posted by Dave Jones at 14:20 on 2012 Dec 20
Hi EricAt my local observatory (Norman Lockyer, Sidmouth Devon) we regularly use our laptops outside for our member’s telescope and camera control.We all use boxes to keep them in, large plastic boxes from a well known stationers, and if you can get one with clip on lids they are even better.We drill small holes in the sides for cable entries and have the box on the side so the lid is at the front. Once we have done all our setup and start imaging we snap on the lid and the residual heat from the laptop keeps the temperature high enough inside to prevent dew or frost forming. (it also helps to keep light pollution to a minimum if there are lots of members imaging or observing at that time)HTHDave
Topic: Lap tops and observatory use
Posted by Americo Watkins at 11:20 on 2012 Dec 18
Are laptops/tower unit Pc ok for use for telescope control in domed observatories-aside from power supply safty problems.I have used cheap re-furbished laptop for this purpos during the recent cold/ damp nights, but it performed poorly in use has failed on returning to the house. Might this be a problem associated with this particular laptop or is there a more general problem associated with such use?Cheers eric
In reply to: Three Telescopes For Sale
Posted by David Mottershead at 19:38 on 2012 Dec 02
HelloThe Celestron 102 is now sold, but I still have for sale the following two telescopes:Meade LX90 UHTC (the classic 8 model), GOTO mounted, Autostar hand controller, 9×50 finder scope and 26mm Meade lens, plus all original manuals. The scope also comes with a Crayford style 10:1 2 focuser, flexi dew shield and Hartman mask. Please note, the scope has a small dint towards the lower underside of the tube body, but which does effect the scope at all this is cosmetic only. Optics are excellent. £700 o.n.oSkywatcher Startravel 120mm short tube refractor telescope on EQ3-2 equatorial mount, (this is the latest version in the diamond black and white livery), the supplied red dot finder scope and the upgrade 9×50 finder scope, and complete with dual axis motor drives, manuals, slow motion controls and lenses as originally supplied. £280 o.n.oIf interested in any of the above, please contact me for more details/photos at david@dmottershead.co.uk I am selling these as rationalising my telescopes, and buying a large Newtonian reflector!!Many thanks.
In reply to: Exoplanet transits
Posted by Robin Leadbeater at 14:05 on 2012 Nov 21
TonyAngel wrote:
I am starting to get ready to try and do some radial velocity observations in the new year. This is a lot more tricky than transits. if i can do both a transit and a radial velocity on the same target, then it is possible to know the mass, size and orbit of the exoplanet.Hi Tony,you may have come across this already but if not you should definitely take a look at Christian buil’s work on exoplanet doppler shifts. http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/extrasolar/obs.htmAs far as I am aware apart from Tom Kayes’s Spectrashift team they are the only amateurs to have been able to do this and only on a few systems with the largest doppler shifts. I see you mentioned an SBig SGS. Unfortunately it is unlikely that you will detect expolanet doppler shifts with this instrument.The main issue is stability and this means an off telescope fibre fed spectrograph. A wide spectral range is also important so you can measure many lines simultaneously (using cross correlation techniques) hence the use of an Echelle design. CheersRobinwww.threehillsobservatory.co.uk
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