[Tom Moran]

Hi Grant.

I converted my NEQ6 pro with the Rowan kit. I was able to watch my good friend and telescope builder Len Clucas convert his. I am a total novice regards this sort of thing but even I was able to do it; slowly! It took me roughly a couple of days. The mount is quieter and smoother with improved pointing accuracy. My guiding graph on PHD is much flatter. It’s been installed for a couple of years now with no issues. Good luck. Tom Moran.

[Tom Moran]

That’s just the way of it. Speaking to Simon today he was was just setting up a test shot. Right place right time!

Attached is his image I forwarded to Bill Leatherbarrow. He is sending to Tony Cooke.

[Tom Moran]

Would you like the image from our Newcastle society member?

Tom

[Tom Moran]

Thanks for that Alex.

Tom

[Tom Moran]

I forgot to say that the three boards might take a month or so to arrive. Then I will begin my learning curve! I will post and update my progress as I go.

Regards.

Tom

[Tom Moran]

Wow.

Thanks for the replies guys. Some of it is way past my current knowledge. However I agree with Alex about the timing accuracy of this device being as good if not better than some commercially available. The total cost of the three main boards came to £35 so worth the risk. 

My Polish is non existant also. However if you open his web page (http://smopi.news.nstrefa.pl/index.php?pages/Video-Time-Inserter) in Google Chrome it will offer to translate the page.

Thanks again.

Tom Moran

[Tom Moran]

Great job Tony.

The fold in roof supports are clever. I think you had similar issues to me regarding the large foot print of a standard roll off design. I have attached an image of my solution.

I’m sure you will find working from the observatory will be far more rewarding.

Good luck.

Tom

[Tom Moran]

Hi Nick.

Just played around with the video mode on my Canon 100D. Yes! This is the answer for totality. Allows me to adjust the exposure from the touch sensitive screen and look at the eclipse via the mark 1 eyeball.

So my routine will be to image the partial phase as a series of timed still shots in raw mode. Just before totality take off the filter and switch to switch to video mode at 1 minute before totality, adjusting exposure on the touch sensitive screen of the Canon. I will ensure that the video is at its highest setting and it is shooting in raw mode.

Hope this works out.

Thanks again.

Tom

[Tom Moran]

Thanks for the information Nick.

I did watch the 1999 eclipse in France so this time I intend to get image it. I shall play around with live view and use it to adjust exposure accordingly.

Thank you for the advice.

Tom 

[Tom Moran]

Thanks Grant. I will have the camera on a tripod un driven. The fov with the 400mm lens is sufficient that even if the eclipse moves off centre I will have plenty of room to capture the image. At totality I will bracket exposures down from 1/1000 and keep doing so for the allotted 2 mins or so of totality.

Thanks.

Tom.

[Tom Moran]

Hi

Forgot to mention I would use 400 ISO setting.

Tom Moran

[Tom Moran]

Martin.

Absolutely brilliant! I thought I was on my own enjoying Will Hay films..obviously not.

Thank you.

Tom Moran

[Tom Moran]

Hi james.

I intend to use an old 350D (modified) with a fixed 200mm lens.

This will be attached to my imaging set up. The idea is to capture the variables at the start of the night then set away imaging.

However my 100D is attached to my 80mm ED refractor so I can catch fainter variables with that.

I like the idea of VW Ceph. It should allow me to develop the skills and maybe get enough data for a light curve in one night.

Regards.

Tom

[Tom Moran]

Thanks James that is very useful.

You have probably saved me some money because I was considering purchasing AIP4WIN. I am currently working through Muniwin which seems much easier than IRIS and will produce data that is compatable with AAVSO and BAVSS. 

Have you any suggestions as to some relatively easy targets to get started with?

kind regards.

Tom

[Tom Moran]

James

Looking at calibrating the images using Iris seems a little long winded. I currently use Nebulosity4 to calibrate my raw CR2 files into FITS with dark, flat and Bias calibration (post processing). Can I use these post processed fits files from Nebulosity in Iris?

Tom

[Tom Moran]

Thanks James that is much appreciated.

I am currently working through the IRIS tutorial. I am familiar with calibration frames but the Iris interface is somewhat strange to my eyes.

Regards.

Tom

[Tom Moran]

Gary.

Looking forward to the learning curve and contributing to the VSS. Thanks for the encouragement.

Regards.

Tom

[Tom Moran]

Thanks Jeremy.

Is the data suitable to be submitted to the VSS?

Regards.

Tom

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