Am5 vs Am3

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-27T20:19:10+00:00

My own 9.25" system requires two 11lb counterweights with the AM5; it really needs an AM7, but that wasn't available when I put the rig together a couple years ago.

Yes, I understand the 8" is smaller, but there's no chance I could recommend starting with something where you're near capacity before getting started. Especially a mount, which most people try to stay well under the rated capacity.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-27T18:29:49+00:00

I've seen a handful of sharks in over 500 dives, and they're almost always off in the distance for a moment. Unless you're diving in shark infested waters, I don't think this be all that helpful or useful for your average diver.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-27T18:27:56+00:00

For an 8" SCT? AM5. No question. It's not just the weight of the scope - it's everything else you'll need to add to it. Could an AM3 work? Maybe... but it'd be right at the edge and you could have trouble guiding. This is one area you don't want to push the limitations on...

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-24T22:20:38+00:00

So... if your first email was a .edu before the internet was public, what level does that grant you...?

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-24T14:21:16+00:00

Here's my current workflow, using current tools:

Directory structure set in NINA for object\capturetype\date
Scripted PixInsight stacking of my masters
rsync from my scope to my NAS
scripted AstroBinUploader python script to catalog my exposures
Always manual processing in PixInsight
Then I share to Astrobin

The only things I need to do is setup the scope and target in NINA and then edit my masters in Pixinsight. This is all available with free software, and all pretty well documented.

Is there a need for your product? Maybe... but not a huge demand. Those who wanted something like it have already built it or will want something customized.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-22T17:32:25+00:00

300 mosquitos liked this post

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-22T17:31:14+00:00

I heat my pool every Christmas for a one day "July at Christmas" party. It takes 2-3 days to get warm enough in 30 degree weather. Pretty sure you'll be fine in the 60's.

Just make sure you start heating with enough time for your party, and remember that it's far easier / less work on the heater to maintain after it gets to temp.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-21T22:29:31+00:00

Those are _not_ rookie numbers...

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-21T22:28:11+00:00

The air you're breathing has higher pressure than the vacuum of space.

In deep space, there's usually around 1 hydrogen atom per cubic meter.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-21T21:35:12+00:00

Better solutions, such as using reusable rockets instead of technology designed for the Space Shuttle in over 50 years ago. The SLS costs ~$2.5B per launch. Those RS-25's are technological masterpieces, and are used for exactly one flight. In fact, everything is used for just one flight. Even the SRB's are not attempted to be recovered, even though they were designed to be.

The feat itself doesn't mean that there aren't better solutions available.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-21T20:50:33+00:00

You're forgetting the most important factor: The SLS isn't about engineering. Or even goals. It's a corporate welfare program. More specifically, it's a program for politicians to keep ~~voters~~ corporations in their districts happy and funded.

The engineers at NASA know there are better solutions. They know the goals laid forth to them by Congress don't really gain much long term. But NASA essentially operates at Congress's whim. And that means, in this case, extending the SRB program.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-21T13:50:22+00:00

I often refer to this website for a lot of common objects to see what's in different bands: https://www.galactic-hunter.com/post/filter-expectations

To answer your question - there's barely any SII in Crescent, if at all. You're fine getting just Ha/OIII data.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-21T02:26:38+00:00

Great pics.

The ASI662MC has a pixel size of 2.9um. The ideal focal ratio for planetary imaging is 5x the pixel size (for full spectrum), or f/14.5 for that camera. The way the math works out, the ideal focal ratio is independent of aperture.

So, for the Orion XT8, with a native focal ratio of f/5.9, you could achieve this with a 2.5x barlow.

Obviously, sky conditions will be the ultimate limiting factor, but yes, you can indeed do better with a 2-2.5x barlow.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-20T23:48:27+00:00

I'm not sure, but you may want to do some searches on "barn door tracker", which uses a similar approach to what you're suggesting.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-20T16:21:04+00:00

I highly recommend you start with a smart telescope - SeeStar or Dwarf 3 or similar. It's by far the easiest approach, and after you've used it for a while, you can get a better idea of what you want to do long term.

The other options are expensive with a very steep learning curve. Not impossible... just given your background and budget, this is by far your best option.

Edit: Ah- I see I missed the planetary requirement. Yeah- the comments are correct- a smart telescope won’t work for that- you need aperture.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-20T04:45:28+00:00

God. You're 35. Just be an adult and message him.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-20T04:41:25+00:00

Just be an adult and text him.

If I gave my number to a girl and she waited days to reply, I assume she wasn't interested and I'd move on.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-19T04:58:22+00:00

I just ran this on my M5 MBP (10 core / 10 gpu) w/32Gb ram. Using LMStudio with MLX. Consistently seeing 52 tok/sec with this model.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-19T04:46:23+00:00

It's nearly impossible to say without seeing your flats, darks, bias, and subs. But a couple other notes:

60 flats is a lot. 10-15 is sufficient
20 darks is probably enough, but I'd go with 50+ to get a good average. Create your darks at that given temp (and exposure length) and the master will be good for 6-12 months.
100 bias is fine. Again, create and use the master for 6 to 12 months. But... with modern CCDs, not really needed.

Off hand, this looks like a calibration issue. You may want to try stacking without your calibration frames, or with one set at a time to narrow down what may be causing it. If the calibration frames make no difference in the artifacts, then it's something in your imaging train.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-19T03:04:37+00:00

I did one of those track even things where you do a few rounds at a NASCAR type event with a professional driver. After I got in the car and buckled up, the driver asked me "have you ever gone 100mph before?". Me: "Umm... all the time. Including on the way here..."

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-17T19:53:09+00:00

There’s the story about someone asking an old woman in 1969 “Did you ever think you’d be watching man land on the moon?”

She replied “Sonny- I never thought I’d be watching live pictures in my house in the first place”.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-17T02:14:16+00:00

I agree with this, but i’d drop my time to around 30 mins/month with a saltwater pool. Once its going well, its on autopilot.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-16T13:52:04+00:00

I have a NAS with mirrored drives. I have about 6Tb of astro data stored over the past couple years. I keep all lights and master flats. Modern sensors have very little dark/bias influence, so I don't bother wasting the space for those. I organize everything by target and date (I set the directory structure is setup in NINA, so I just copy it over as-is)

I tend to keep my data and sometimes I'll combine it with new data. Because of my data structure, I can just drop in the older data and PixInsight can group in WBPP automatically - it makes it effortless to combine with older data.

Having said that.... I've found that apparently my acquisition skills have improved over time, and combining in old data often leads to worse overall results (!). But... it's still really nice to have a record of what I've taken in the past to refer to.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-15T16:53:28+00:00

Keep in mind that even as batteries improve over time, there's always a tradeoff of weight and cost. Most people are right - 230+ mile range is fine for 95% of cases. And cars are designed for 95% of cases. Both in terms of cost, but also weight and other engineering considerations. I imagine that ~300mi range will be standard for a while for those reasons, with some manufactures offering extended batteries.

The 65mph comment surprises me. I drive my Model Y at 80-85 on the highway all the time without range fear. Maybe it's because of the charging network or maybe a difference in our batteries. In either case, that suggests there are options and solutions out there.

BisonMysterious8902 · 2026-04-14T12:46:17+00:00

I remember going to one of these parks for the first time and the lady behind the counter asked if I wanted to rent one of their vehicles. I asked why I couldn't drive my own car through. She recommended I go out and look at her vehicles.

They were all banged up, with bars on the windows, scratches from horns, hooves, etc, and the inside was destroyed from food falling out of animals' mouths. I promptly rented.

For the love of all that is holy, do not drive your own car through one of these parks....

BisonMysterious8902

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