Some Thoughts on Automation, and My Build of a Homebrew Stepper-Motor Auto-Focuser
In the latter part of 2018, I got to the point where I wanted to up my imaging game. The main way I could do this was more data (i.e. more sub-frame exposures =...
Category: Technical
Skywatcher Mount Power Woes (and a Way to Solve Them!)
For the last few years, I’ve had what I like to call the ‘Flash Gremlins’ visiting me fairlyt regularly. This is how I dealt with them…
Atik 314L – First Light: Rosette Nebula in Ha – 18/04/2018
I recently acquired an addition to my astronomical imaging arsenal. A mono Atik 314L (not the 314L+), came up for an extremely good price on an astro-classifieds site, and finally, I bit the bullet...
Power Box Mk II – Power Box Strikes Back
I love a project. A few weeks ago, I was at doomed UK electronics tat-merchant Maplin, looking for some bargains in their closing-down sale. Incidentally, I love what Maplin used to be, but unfortunately,...
My First Tentative Steps Into Video Astronomy
The idea of sharing my hobby has always been something that appeals to me, hence the creation of this site, and my involvement in my local astronomical society. To me, the sharing of what...
Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro – Guiding issues, servicing, and the Rowan Astronomy Belt Modification
Ah! The good old HEQ5 Pro! A great mount at a very pocket-friendly (well, relatively) price. I’ve had mine for a few years now. It’s a very solid mount, with a lot of features,...
Project – Hybrid Wireless Router / Power Splitter Box
A while back, I posted about using Skysafari to control your EQMOD interfaced mount via a wonderful little utility known as ‘WiFi Scope’. In order to do this, you need some sort of wireless...
Saturn and the Curse of (Astronomical) Seeing
Last night, a clear night got me out into the garden to attempt a proper imaging run on Saturn. Unfortunately, the ringed wonder isn’t best placed at the moment for imaging from my...
My First Solar Images, and How I Got Them…
Today, I had an opportunity to go out and attempt my first solar imaging session. A couple of months ago I constructed a Baader Solar film filter for the objective end of my Starwave...
Firecapture – An Introduction
I’ve been asked recently to help a few people who are new to imaging get their heads around planetary capture. As a result, I’ve decided to produce my first screencast – an introduction and...
Jupiter – Colour and Mono comparison
A quick post to illustrate the differences between processing data from the same night from a Toucam Pro and a QHY5v Mono taken through my f/6 Newtonian with a 2x Barlow. The left pic...
Jupiter – 09/01/2014 – From Murky Capture to Reasonable Result
This is just a little experiment to see what I could get out of an extremely jumpy bit of footage I took through my 200p Newtonian with a 2x Barlow lens when up at...
Astronomik CLS filter – Initial Impressions
Last night was the first time I had a chance to try the Astronomik CLS light pollution filter I recently received. Overall, my first impressions are excellent! I’m absolutely amazed how much of the...
SkySafari Control Without a Router – Setting up an Ad-Hoc wireless network in Windows 7
An article to help with something a few people have asked me to clarify – setting up a network between a tablet/smartphone and a PC without the use of a router.
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