First Use Star Tracker

[JS_Photo_Hobby]

Going out tomorrow night to try out a Star Tracker for the first time.

I'm going to try to get an image of Lemmon.

Any common mistakes or last minute advice?

Sky-Watcher 2i

A7RIV

2x teleconverter

SEL200600G

 

[nighthiker]

Going out tomorrow night to try out a Star Tracker for the first time.

I'm going to try to get an image of Lemmon.

Any common mistakes or last minute advice?

Sky-Watcher 2i

A7RIV

2x teleconverter

SEL200600G

First time use of a tracker with a 200-600mm lens plus 2x teleconverter (for an object which covers 12-15 deg)!? I guarantee you a failure, but gather your own experience!

 

[JS_Photo_Hobby]

Going out tomorrow night to try out a Star Tracker for the first time.

I'm going to try to get an image of Lemmon.

Any common mistakes or last minute advice?

Sky-Watcher 2i

A7RIV

2x teleconverter

SEL200600G

First time use of a tracker with a 200-600mm lens plus 2x teleconverter (for an object which covers 12-15 deg)!? I guarantee you a failure, but gather your own experience!

Ok, what focal length would you recomend?

 

[Sittatunga]

Going out tomorrow night to try out a Star Tracker for the first time.

I'm going to try to get an image of Lemmon.

Any common mistakes or last minute advice?

Sky-Watcher 2i

A7RIV

2x teleconverter

SEL200600G

I'd have thought 200mm focal length for a first attempt with that tracker is doing things the extremely hard way, so forget about the teleconverter. There's some good advice in the first 3* review here; https://www.firstlightoptics.com/st...watcher-star-adventurer-astronomy-bundle.html

Have you read the posts on Lemmon in this forum? Particularly this thread; https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68477076

 

[JS_Photo_Hobby]

Going out tomorrow night to try out a Star Tracker for the first time.

I'm going to try to get an image of Lemmon.

Any common mistakes or last minute advice?

Sky-Watcher 2i

A7RIV

2x teleconverter

SEL200600G

I'd have thought 200mm focal length for a first attempt with that tracker is doing things the extremely hard way, so forget about the teleconverter. There's some good advice in the first 3* review here; https://www.firstlightoptics.com/st...watcher-star-adventurer-astronomy-bundle.html

Have you read the posts on Lemmon in this forum?

I've read some of the posts. I will get through more today before I head out.

I just read the reviews from the link, about what i expect after a few weeks of reading and watching videos on aligning the tracker. A friend was going to coach me through setting up his tracker and telescope tonight and then my tracker and camera, but the weather is poor and he doesn't have time tomorrow. I expect my first few attempts won't work as expected becasue the tracker's adjustments don't seem fine enough to get a close alignment with the celetial pole.

I tried shooting a comet last year with a 24-70 on a regular tripod and had to crop severely to even find it in the image, not that all comets are created equal.

I tried looking for Lemmon last night from 39,000 ft, though I understand it probably isn't viewable with the naked eye. Had no problem finding the big dipper and serpens, but couldn't find Lemmon. Plenty of satellites though.

Anyone know which satellite conselation crosses around 65 north? The sun bounces off of them around midnight.

I will pack both the 24-70 and 70-200.

 

[nighthiker]

Going out tomorrow night to try out a Star Tracker for the first time.

I'm going to try to get an image of Lemmon.

Any common mistakes or last minute advice?

Sky-Watcher 2i

A7RIV

2x teleconverter

SEL200600G

I'd have thought 200mm focal length for a first attempt with that tracker is doing things the extremely hard way, so forget about the teleconverter. There's some good advice in the first 3* review here; https://www.firstlightoptics.com/st...watcher-star-adventurer-astronomy-bundle.html

Have you read the posts on Lemmon in this forum?

I've read some of the posts. I will get through more today before I head out.

Just do it!

I just read the reviews from the link, about what i expect after a few weeks of reading and watching videos on aligning the tracker. A friend was going to coach me through setting up his tracker and telescope tonight and then my tracker and camera, but the weather is poor and he doesn't have time tomorrow. I expect my first few attempts won't work as expected becasue the tracker's adjustments don't seem fine enough to get a close alignment with the celetial pole.

You should always test a tracker at home first as the usual problems are details which can easily be overlooked. Knowing the handling at night - and in the cold - is extremely helpful.

Make the best polar alignment possible and take some test images like 15, 30, 60 and 120 sec. That should give you an answer. You can also compensate for a poor PA with a shorter exposure time (quick & dirty solution).

I tried shooting a comet last year with a 24-70 on a regular tripod and had to crop severely to even find it in the image, not that all comets are created equal.

Recent focal range for LEMMON is 85-135mm for many pictures.

I tried looking for Lemmon last night from 39,000 ft, though I understand it probably isn't viewable with the naked eye. Had no problem finding the big dipper and serpens, but couldn't find Lemmon. Plenty of satellites though.

From a plane by naked eye through the plastic windows? Good luck! Take a pictures with a wider lens and you will spot LEMMON immediately. Thanks to Musk & Cie the amount of satellites is overwhelming now. Sigma-clipping is your friend!

Anyone know which satellite conselation crosses around 65 north? The sun bounces off of them around midnight.

Not one, but several thousands. Sigma clipping ....

I will pack both the 24-70 and 70-200.

Do you know how to focus? What about dew formation? Is your clothing suitable for the location as it can get fresh at 65 north? Have you checked the moon phases? What about light pollution? Have you already processed comet pictures? What about the ugly green light pollution called aurora?

 

[JS_Photo_Hobby]

You should always test a tracker at home first as the usual problems are details which can easily be overlooked. Knowing the handling at night - and in the cold - is extremely helpful.

I've done as much testing as I can indoors, which is to say I've assembled the tracker on a tripod with the camera and balanced the camera on the declanation arm. I've also put batteries in it and let it run for an hour to just see it move the camera. Since the tracker arrived, I've had bad weather, so I haven't been able to go outside and try and align it.

I believe I do know how to focus for stars. I've done it a few times with this camera and lens. It is focus by wire and viewed on an EVF, so test shot and zoom on the screen or on my phone, make adjustment, repeat.

I'm only 40N. Light pollution will be an issue, not auroras sadly and luckily, it is a new moon. Despite all the recent precip, the dew point spread is 20C, the ground is dry and close in temp to the air, (low relative humidity and low to no chance of ground fog). The updated forecast today says tonight's weather won't be here until midnight, if that holds I should have just enough time, if the weather is early I won't see a thing. The forecast for the rest of the week is a mixed bag of overcast skies, fog and a narrow dew point spreads. I'm not sure I will be able to see it 10 days from now when it is forecast to be dry and clear again.

I've got a heavy jacket and gloves, good for extended period outside down to about -5C. I've had too many opportunities to test this.

 

[nighthiker]

You should always test a tracker at home first as the usual problems are details which can easily be overlooked. Knowing the handling at night - and in the cold - is extremely helpful.

I've done as much testing as I can indoors, which is to say I've assembled the tracker on a tripod with the camera and balanced the camera on the declanation arm. I've also put batteries in it and let it run for an hour to just see it move the camera. Since the tracker arrived, I've had bad weather, so I haven't been able to go outside and try and align it.

I believe I do know how to focus for stars. I've done it a few times with this camera and lens. It is focus by wire and viewed on an EVF, so test shot and zoom on the screen or on my phone, make adjustment, repeat.

I'm only 40N. Light pollution will be an issue, not auroras sadly and luckily, it is a new moon. Despite all the recent precip, the dew point spread is 20C, the ground is dry and close in temp to the air, (low relative humidity and low to no chance of ground fog). The updated forecast today says tonight's weather won't be here until midnight, if that holds I should have just enough time, if the weather is early I won't see a thing. The forecast for the rest of the week is a mixed bag of overcast skies, fog and a narrow dew point spreads. I'm not sure I will be able to see it 10 days from now when it is forecast to be dry and clear again.

I've got a heavy jacket and gloves, good for extended period outside down to about -5C. I've had too many opportunities to test this.

That sounds a little bit better prepared than your first posting!

I'm using duck tape to fix the lens after focusing with the 10x view and a magnification glass (my eyes are getting older ...). Don't forget to check the focus after temperature adjustment, so 15-30 min.

Without an electric dew-heater you can simply wrap a scarf around the front lens to delay the cooling. A rain-cap also works as a simple insulation.

I always carry a simple camping mattress with me to have a clean ground for my backpack and sort everything. Also helpful when I want to rest (with a sleeping bag as a simple blanket) at remote locations without car or shelter.

My weather outlook is even more rainy/cloudy, but I'm used to it.

Happy chasing

 

[JS_Photo_Hobby]

That sounds a little bit better prepared than your first posting!

I'm using duck tape to fix the lens after focusing with the 10x view and a magnification glass (my eyes are getting older ...). Don't forget to check the focus after temperature adjustment, so 15-30 min.

Without an electric dew-heater you can simply wrap a scarf around the front lens to delay the cooling. A rain-cap also works as a simple insulation.

I always carry a simple camping mattress with me to have a clean ground for my backpack and sort everything. Also helpful when I want to rest (with a sleeping bag as a simple blanket) at remote locations without car or shelter.

My weather outlook is even more rainy/cloudy, but I'm used to it.

Happy chasing

Love the tape idea. I have some painter's tape I will bring with me.

Luckily, I can work from the back of my car and I can setup on a paved surface.

I put the camera and tracker in the garage last night to try and get it closer to ambient and don't need to bring it back in until I put it in the car. I hadn't thought of wrapping it, I will do that for transport in the car so it doesn't warm up. I'll bring an extra blanket for myself just in case, but it should be 10 - 12C at 2000. I have a thermos of coffee, donuts and Cabin Pressure if there are any boring bits or if I have to wait for a cloud to pass Polaris.

Thank you for the help!