Society for Popular Astronomy

In August 2013 I purchased a Meade 8" LS.....it promised so much, mind you, I paid for it so I expected it to live up to the hype in the advertising. It started out very well but within 6 weeks malfunctions and software crashes became the norm. Alignment errors were so numerous that I ended up ...

Hi Guys, I have just taken delivery of a single stacked PST together with a DMK21 mono imaging camera. I was blown away with the results of my first solar imaging session. I have attached a few files which show what I achieved with very little technique. I'm looking forward to much more as I learn a...

Just managed to finally get the imaging set up to do some solar pictures. It was at all easy as the PST has in built focus problems when imaging.

These are a couple of test shots just to see how things work

Hi Guys, I recently had an issue with an Orion StarShoot IV Planetary Camera (video). The device seemed to sporadically capture data and then lose signal. It was only £89, I say only, but it didn't seem to be that robust. I decided to take it back to Telescope House and swapped it for an Orion 5MP p...

Would there be room to throw a few politicians in with it? It's all surplus to requirements after all

I'm pleased to say that my home Obsy has now been completed. I've attached a couple of pictures. The main aim is to provide a place where two of my three telescopes could be left set up (fully covered and protected of course) and when needed, simply lifted a couple of feet onto preset marks on the v...

Hi Guys, Last night I stayed up to witness and capture images of the double transit on Jupiter. I began at 6.27pm when I captured the GRS well placed and what seemed to be a shadow preceding the main even which tracked across the Jovian disc ahead of the GRS. An image is attached below. I then spent...

Thanks guys. The information about the thickness of the base is quite useful. Because of the light polluted skies in my area, I'm not going to be doing Deep Sky Imaging. That will be done from a darker sky site with my new refractor. I didn't want to go to the expense of a roll off roof. The idea wa...

Hi Guys, Looking for a little advice. My intention is to set up a garden shed to act as a home observatory. The plan is to buy a 6X4ft Apex Keter Shed and put it on a 6X4ft concrete base which has a 4x4ft flat concreted area leading out from the door. The 4x4 area will be permanently marked with the...

Thanks Brian. I finally decided on a Starlight Xpress CoStar as an autoguider. It seems a good price and the feedback on Stargazers Lounge is very positive. It also works very well with PHD software I'm told. I think I've finally got the whole set up sorted and am looking forward to it arriving tomo...

Hi Guys, After struggling with my Meade LS 8" (alt/az is only possible with this scope), I have made my mind up to purchase a Skywatcher Evo 80ED Pro and place it on a new HEQ5 Pro Synscan. The LS has been great for visual, Lunar and Planetary photography, but it just can't cope with long expos...

Many thanks for the advice Brian. I could see the £ signs mounting up but I think I really need to have a clear idea what I need to do before splashing out any more money. I was toying with the idea of getting a descent refractor and an HEQ5 or 6 pro and using that as my main imaging scope for deep ...

I have an old 10" LX50 which as I am sure most are aware is normally mounted on a Meade field tripod. I have been told that if it is fitted to the appropriate Meade equatorial wedge, this will over come the problem of field rotation which normally accompanies the Alt/Az fork mount for Astrophot...

Hi and welcome, When I started out I remember spending a lot of time looking at the Moon which got me used to the basics. Luckily Jupiter and Saturn were about at the same time. That gave me some wow moments early on. I was also a frequent visitor to M42. Many people move on from the Moon to other t...

It's very interesting and a little sad to hear the different experiences above. The really sad bit is that new members must be walking out of the door never too return. I do wonder how the future for the less than hospitable societies will fair. I do agree that our own demeanour can affect the way o...