The Astronomy hobby thread

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Trying to get my mind wrapped around what 26 Quadrillion Suns looks like. Yes that's the number 26 with 15 zeros behind it.......



https://www.space.com/einasto-supercluster-galaxy-26-quadrillion-suns?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_content=space.com&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR1PlIhMTx3AsylU32DLdbmg8tj6bf-0Tm1uNNiAQVGuZY2S2r0pea3gXZs

Cool article, thx for posting. The scale of many things is hard to fathom, but once you leave the planet, the scale of the scale gets out of hand.

[wcc]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

8 inch Edge fast and light to set up? You must be a body builder!!

My CPC 800 is at the absolute limit of what I consider "portable".

You're in for some beautiful views with the Edge. Saturn will blow you away and it's not too late to grab the Trapezium in Orion . That cluster glows like diamonds.

I'd suggest joining the Cloudy Nights forum. You won't find a more knowledgeable group anywhere.

Well, compared to the weight of a skywatcher or Advance VX mounts or mounts with counter weights this is a lot lighter. With the OTA I think mine comes in at a total of 40-45lbs which isn't that heavy. So it's easy to just pick up the whole thing and move it around.

Thanks for the tips on what to look at. Assuming we don't have clouds in MI. It may may always be sunny in Philly but it's allways cloudy in MI. lol

I've lurked around Cloudy Nights and found most of my answers but you're right I should join it.

[masraum]

eclipse from ISS

[Eric Hahl]

Originally Posted by wcc

For years I've had this little 4.5in Orion telescope with a manual eq mount. It's served us well for all that time. The whole family was into it at first then it was to cold out, to late, etc. But my son and I kept going with it. It's just kind of a pia with a manual mount because it gets out of view so fast. It's really unbelievable how fast things move out there. Here's a recent pic of the moon I took through that 4.5in and a cell phone through the eye piece.



So that brings me to today. A few months ago I decided I wanted a better scope and mount that I can start and stay with for years. I ended up with a Celestron 8in edge HD with an AM5 mount. I wanted something that's light and fast to setup and get going. Still we only used it for vewing but it's been a night and day difference obviously. Not sure why I waited this long. First time using it with a cell phone camera again so not the greatest pic but it's a start.



I consider myself a complete amature in this hobby so I have a lot more to learn about. But it's been a fun hobby up to this point. My wife and daughter like to view through the cell phone instead of the eye piece when I get it in view and focus.

That'll be a great setup for ya!

[Zeke]

When I was little we had stars in the sky in SoCal. Most of the time when it wasn't cloudy. Some nights the smog didn't blow out so the sdy was dim. It was never like out in the desert or in the mountains.

It doesn't matter what time, day, month, now, there are no stars due to light pollution. At best we see 3 planets and maybe 2 of the closest stars. IDK, I haven't kept track. What's the point?

In 6th grade we had a visiting teacher that taught astronomy of I never would have been exposed to it. We make constellation maps out of the old blue-blueprints and cardboard pinned with a brass folder pin.

I did have a 6" reflector scope when I was a kid. I'd go out at night and set up and just look around. Even though my folks bought it for me, my mother was not interested in chilly nights and my dad sometimes just made fun of the whole thing calling Orien O'Reilly.

I guess that's funny. Wasn't to me.

[Eric Hahl]

Headed to the Alvord Desert in SE Oregon this weekend for some astro and landscape photography close to the new Moon. Probably has some of the darkest skies in the U.S.

I'm excited. Hopefully all me gear works as it's supposed to. Wish me luck!

[Scott Douglas]

Good luck Eric.
Looking forward to seeing some really cool pictures from you.

[Rusty Heap]

I once stayed on a remote Island far off shore of Belize. Talk about DARK. The night sky stars were the most intense I ever have seen.

[Eric Hahl]

I’m back from the desert. Got a few good shots.

[Pazuzu]

So...
5 years ago, somewhere in this thread you guys inadvertently put a bug under my skin, and I ended up making a small company to fix and upgrade telescopes. It was a night and weekend thing, and basically lost me money because I'd do a few a year, and put WAY too much work into each one for what I charged. I even almost quit completely about 2 years ago when some a-hole sued me because his mount wasn't back in the time I had quoted. That cost me about $1000 and a few years of sanity, being sued is surprisingly crappy.

Fast forward 5 years, and I decide to (VERY suddenly) quit my daytime job and go full time with telescopes. Pretty stupid move, but it's my move. That was 2 months ago.

Now I've nearly got 2 local colleges paying me an annual contract for upgrades and maintenance on their campus observatories, a consistent line of individuals that need telescopes worked on, a few small products that I'm gearing up on (custom communication cables), and I am in collaboration with a well known local shop to do all of their mount repairs (they want to stick to optical stuff).

THEN, a well known NATIONAL telescope retailer contacted me and wants me to examine and perhaps fix all of their customer return scopes. Perhaps 10-15 a month. Receive them, check for operation, diagnose, then repair as applicable, so they can resell as seconds.

Sooo many irons in the fire, and I have room for 4 times that. Hoping to parlay the observatory gigs to at least 2, if not 3 more local observatories over the next 2 years.

[RNajarian]

That is GREAT Mike! Congratulations!

Neil Armstrong was asked by Bob Hope in 1983 “Do you have any advice for any young person who wants to become an astronaut?”

Mr. Armstrong replied, “Study hard, be the best at whatever YOU want to do, and the program (NASA) will find you.”

I think his advice applies anyone following a dream.


. . . Oh Neil Armstrong then asked Bob Hope if he had any advice for anyone who wanted to become a comic. Bob Hope replied “Become an astronaut.”

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

So...
5 years ago, somewhere in this thread you guys inadvertently put a bug under my skin, and I ended up making a small company to fix and upgrade telescopes. It was a night and weekend thing, and basically lost me money because I'd do a few a year, and put WAY too much work into each one for what I charged. I even almost quit completely about 2 years ago when some a-hole sued me because his mount wasn't back in the time I had quoted. That cost me about $1000 and a few years of sanity, being sued is surprisingly crappy.

Fast forward 5 years, and I decide to (VERY suddenly) quit my daytime job and go full time with telescopes. Pretty stupid move, but it's my move. That was 2 months ago.

Now I've nearly got 2 local colleges paying me an annual contract for upgrades and maintenance on their campus observatories, a consistent line of individuals that need telescopes worked on, a few small products that I'm gearing up on (custom communication cables), and I am in collaboration with a well known local shop to do all of their mount repairs (they want to stick to optical stuff).

THEN, a well known NATIONAL telescope retailer contacted me and wants me to examine and perhaps fix all of their customer return scopes. Perhaps 10-15 a month. Receive them, check for operation, diagnose, then repair as applicable, so they can resell as seconds.

Sooo many irons in the fire, and I have room for 4 times that. Hoping to parlay the observatory gigs to at least 2, if not 3 more local observatories over the next 2 years.

Outstanding Mike! If you were closer to me I'd come work for you. Well, at least I'd apply.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Eric Hahl

Headed to the Alvord Desert in SE Oregon this weekend for some astro and landscape photography close to the new Moon. Probably has some of the darkest skies in the U.S.

I'm excited. Hopefully all me gear works as it's supposed to. Wish me luck!

That's DARK!

Originally Posted by Eric Hahl

I’m back from the desert. Got a few good shots.

WOW, nice shots, and great luck to have had it coincide with the northern lights, although that likely caused issues with getting good, dark shots of DSOs.

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

So...
5 years ago, somewhere in this thread you guys inadvertently put a bug under my skin, and I ended up making a small company to fix and upgrade telescopes.

Fast forward 5 years, and I decide to (VERY suddenly) quit my daytime job and go full time with telescopes. Pretty stupid move, but it's my move. That was 2 months ago.

Now I've nearly got 2 local colleges paying me an annual contract for upgrades and maintenance on their campus observatories, a consistent line of individuals that need telescopes worked on, a few small products that I'm gearing up on (custom communication cables), and I am in collaboration with a well known local shop to do all of their mount repairs (they want to stick to optical stuff).

THEN, a well known NATIONAL telescope retailer contacted me and wants me to examine and perhaps fix all of their customer return scopes. Perhaps 10-15 a month. Receive them, check for operation, diagnose, then repair as applicable, so they can resell as seconds.

Sooo many irons in the fire, and I have room for 4 times that. Hoping to parlay the observatory gigs to at least 2, if not 3 more local observatories over the next 2 years.

Wow, That's fantastic all around (except the one wanker that sued you. I hope he drops his OTA.), and it sounds like it's working out really well!

[Eric Hahl]

Originally Posted by masraum

That's DARK!

WOW, nice shots, and great luck to have had it coincide with the northern lights, although that likely caused issues with getting good, dark shots of DSOs.

Thanks. Ya know what really killed the chance of getting good, dark DSO shots? The power adapter I left at home...doh!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Eric Hahl

Thanks. Ya know what really killed the chance of getting good, dark DSO shots? The power adapter I left at home...doh!

Doh! Yep, that would do it.

[Eric Hahl]

My last trip out to Oregon's Painted Hills during the new Moon last Thursday.

[Scott Douglas]

Wow, I haven't seen stars in the sky like that since I was a kid.
Mind boggling to think about how many are out there.

[Eric Hahl]

The numbers are staggering to say the least.

From Wiki....
The Milky Way contains between 100 and 400 billion stars and at least that many planets. An exact figure would depend on counting the number of very-low-mass stars, which are difficult to detect, especially at distances of more than 300 ly (90 pc) from the Sun.

[flatbutt]

Keep your eyes on the Corona Borealis

https://www.space.com/new-star-night-sky-nova-explosion-rare

[Eric Hahl]

↑
Thanks for posting this. Didn't know about it. Sounds like it won't be much to see though. Only as bright as the North Star.