Search found 1328 matches

by oopfan
Sun Dec 10, 2023 6:32 pm
Forum: Solar and Lunar Imaging
Topic: Tips needed for imaging the 2024 solar eclipse
Replies: 15
Views: 14375

Re: Tips needed for imaging the 2024 solar eclipse

Since you are new to scripting, I'd suggest not trying to script it until you become more familiar with it. Instead, use SC's "Start Capture" tool to capture 4 minutes of fixed-exposure frames. What exposure? It's the minimum exposure that pulls the light energy away from the left-hand-sid...
by oopfan
Sun Dec 10, 2023 6:03 pm
Forum: Solar and Lunar Imaging
Topic: Tips needed for imaging the 2024 solar eclipse
Replies: 15
Views: 14375

Re: Tips needed for imaging the 2024 solar eclipse

I'm also from the Northeast. The NE is not the greatest choice for clear skies. I was hoping you would say Texas. See if you can find a website that can give you the probability of cloud-free skies in Stowe on that date, then compare it to say Waco, Texas.

Brian
by oopfan
Sun Dec 10, 2023 4:07 pm
Forum: Solar and Lunar Imaging
Topic: Tips needed for imaging the 2024 solar eclipse
Replies: 15
Views: 14375

Re: Tips needed for imaging the 2024 solar eclipse

You are on your own with what exposure to choose for the second-contact Diamond Ring. Like a lot of things it comes with experience with what works and what doesn't. However, once you get past second-contact when the Diamond Ring subsides, in my opinion it is a simple matter of experimenting to find...
by oopfan
Sat Dec 09, 2023 1:27 am
Forum: Solar and Lunar Imaging
Topic: Tips needed for imaging the 2024 solar eclipse
Replies: 15
Views: 14375

Re: Tips needed for imaging the 2024 solar eclipse

I've photographed two eclipses in my lifetime: 1973 in Africa and 1991 in Mexico. If you are in the path of totality be prepared for a stunning experience that no words can express. Place a white sheet on the ground and watch what happens at the moment of totality. I used Kodachrome slide film (a sl...
by oopfan
Sun Nov 26, 2023 3:40 pm
Forum: Deep Sky Imaging
Topic: Excessive Star Glow
Replies: 9
Views: 7500

Re: Excessive Star Glow

I'll hazard a guess: 1. Moisture. 2. Chromatic aberration. If possible try shooting through different colored filters to see if it mitigates the effect. I have a 400mm refractor that can't focus Blue to save its life. Ended up having to shoot with a Wratten #12 (minus Blue) for luminance. If it's #2...
by oopfan
Sat Sep 30, 2023 5:04 pm
Forum: Planetary Imaging
Topic: x2 Barlow v. Frame Rate
Replies: 10
Views: 8861

Re: x2 Barlow v. Frame Rate

Mike, Frame rate is primarily dependent on exposure, so if the exposure is 1 sec then frame rate is 1 per sec. However, 1 ms exposure doesn't yield 1000 fps! Why? It depends on the time it takes the camera to clock the pixels out of the sensor and over the wire to the laptop. That's why you will fin...
by oopfan
Sat Sep 30, 2023 12:01 pm
Forum: Planetary Imaging
Topic: x2 Barlow v. Frame Rate
Replies: 10
Views: 8861

Re: x2 Barlow v. Frame Rate

Hi Mike, The point I wanted to make is if your camera had larger pixels and the resolution without the Barlow was 1.0 arc-second per pixel, then yes definitely go with a high-quality Barlow, however, that is not the case. The other factor is your seeing conditions. If you are on a mountain top, then...
by oopfan
Wed Sep 27, 2023 4:15 pm
Forum: Planetary Imaging
Topic: x2 Barlow v. Frame Rate
Replies: 10
Views: 8861

Re: x2 Barlow v. Frame Rate

I'm not the expert on planetary but I think I'm in the ballpark with my analysis. The bottom line is that you are better off without the Barlow. For a 10" aperture (254mm) Dawes' Limit is 0.46 arc-seconds, Rayleigh Limit is 0.54 arc-seconds. So given exceptionally stable skies and perfect optic...
by oopfan
Sun Sep 24, 2023 8:19 pm
Forum: General Discussions
Topic: Minimum RAM for SharpCap
Replies: 4
Views: 3176

Re: Minimum RAM for SharpCap

The Sv305 uses the tried and true IMX290 sensor. I have one but it's from Altair Astro. It is a 2 mega-pixel sensor (1920 x 1080). My Windows laptop has 4GB of RAM but I don't LiveStack. Works great. I can't say if 4GB is enough for LiveStack, so I'd recommend 8GB of RAM to be safe. However, if you ...
by oopfan
Sat Sep 16, 2023 10:59 pm
Forum: Gallery
Topic: Salt and Pepper Cluster + Bubble
Replies: 2
Views: 5849

Re: Salt and Pepper Cluster + Bubble

Hi Nick,

Great image! Very nice kit. Love the mount! You invested some serious money and it shows.

Brian