I tried a promo subscription deal with Smithsonian magazine and I think it's awesome (you can get 11 months for $12 right now). Every month has 2-3 articles that are relevant and interesting. This month there's an article about a guy who among other things has studied Saturn's "ring rain." The rings are slowly disappearing (it'll take maybe 100 million years), but the material is being drawn to the atmosphere by its magnetic field at the rate of about 22,000 lbs/second. I did a search on their website and that article isn't there yet, but this older one is:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/saturns-rings-rain-organic-compounds-its-atmosphere-180970475/

Local Craigslist ad.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/for/d/north-lakewood-tpo-8-8-ritchey-chretien/6988021940.html

seems like a steal at $500


i'm not familiar with this full on type of tracking set-up.



So in a Condensed version what the heck am I looking at here?.

any guesses to all the add ons?

and model type / name of this stuff.


as I said. seems like a turn key setup for $500.





https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/for/d/north-lakewood-tpo-8-8-ritchey-chretien/6988021940.html

That is an ad for the Optical tube only. A fairly inexpensive Ritchey-Chretien design by Third Plant Optics...AKA, OPT backwards/ Oceanside Photo and Telescope.

Just a rebranded chinese scope.

No mount included in that ad.

well, i have an itch......


thx.

keep looking i guess

What do you have an itch for? What is it you want to see/do? Maybe we can help.

IDK where you are but my local shop is excellent

https://www.highpointscientific.com/

Also check classified here for used goodies:

https://www.cloudynights.com/articles

So what you're saying is that the equator is not the beautiful tropical paradise on Saturn like it is on earth unless you've got a REALLY well reinforced roof and tunnels to get away from your home?

FYI, I've had Smithsonian subscriptions a few times over the years (used to use frequent flyer miles to get it). You can also sign up for a free email. I think I get an email a day or every other day, and each email has links to about 6-12 articles.

Right, what do you want to do? Where will you observe from? Are you going to be mobile or just look from the back yard (or whatever) all of the time? What sort of things do you want to look at? How much time do you want to spend?

I'd consider myself an intermediate in the grand scheme (although compared to some folks, I'd probably still be considered a novice). Besides myself, we've got several extremely knowledgeable folks in this thread.

The Heart Nebula
 

6.2 hours of exposures of the Heart Nebula. Shot Wednesday night.

https://cdn.astrobin.com/solutions/5...1570846543.jpg

I'm always looking for parts and accessories, and whenever I travel now I start searching the web for things to buy wherever I go. Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, etc....searching for telescopes, mounts, whatever.

Well, this was sitting 10 minutes from my hotel in Chicago this past weekend, and I had to grab it. $90 later and I'm the proud owner of a circa 1961 AO Spencer Model #41 Metallurgical Microscope with a full compliment of accessories! Unfortunately, I ended up having to drag it all over creation during my trip, the damned thing must weight 35 pounds!

Time to strip it down, clean it up and flip it!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1571283173.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1571283173.jpg

I also just finished bringing this back to life for a friend, it's a Davidson Optronics Model #600 Autocollimator, used to measure flatness of surfaces (like granite measuring tables or optical tables). Came with a very high end mirror and an old illuminator. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1571283624.jpg

Love this thread, every time Eric has posts a long exposure image I know we’re not going to be disappointed.

Before my question . . . Here is my setup:

My hardware is what I call a robust starter setup. Celestron 5 SE, Celestron StarTracker, Celestron NexImage, Celestron WiFi module, Celestron Powertank, an assortment of different magnification eyepieces, the SkySafari 6 Plus app, and finally the Celestron Sky Portal app.

Naturally with the light pollution in Los Angeles and the limitations of a 5” scope I’m not going to achieve results like some of you guys, but I was wondering, is it possible to have my setup locate and real-time track (larger) Earth satellites in orbit with my computerized mount?

With the SkyPortal app, I can reliably jump from brighter magnitude star to star without problem. But I was hoping to catch and track the ISS or Cosmos 462 (Failed 1972 Soviet Venus probe in earth orbit) as it crossed the night sky.

Any suggestions how to do this?

I appreciate everyone’s help and patience throughout the years.

First of all you can do plenty with a 5" SCT, light pollution is the problem but the SE is portable. I don't know if the database has the ISS in it nor do I know if the SE drive can track at that speed so start here:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/664255-iss-tracking/?hl=%2Btracking+%2Biss#entry9428065

Register for the website and start searching for info. It's a great place.

Yep, what Flat said. I've never tried tracking sats but cloudynights website is a great place to start. Let us know if you have any luck.

Second hand knowledge, but a friend of mine is filtering light pollution.

Satellites (and there's a ton of them) move VERY fast. I would be surprised if the average mount could keep up with one. Certainly not easy if you were looking through the EP too.

I did once watch ISS through my 8" on a Dobsonian mount at it's lowest power, which I think was 50x. It was REALLY tough to keep ISS in view, but it was pretty cool seeing it's structure and even some color (some of the panels are golden/copper colored).

Thanks for the input guys.

I’ll play around with Cloudy Nights. I’m thinking i may be able to at least partially track a satellite in a highly elliptical at its apogee.

It’s going to be fun whether it works or not.

I got out last night and captured more data on the Heart Nebula. 10.5 hours worth.
https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/BMZ1...0_6gOgJc-O.jpg

Eric, what camera are you using? I have the ZWO183 mono that I'm learning to use for solar shots. Colorization occurs in processing.

Using an Atik 16200 mono. Chroma 50mm broadband filters.