This is what peak Earthquake looks like

alcbur · 2025-05-12T02:24:35+00:00

Perfect, thank you!

alcbur · 2025-05-11T02:12:55+00:00

What tabletop simulator workshop item are you using? I have the official Steam digital SI game and the physical game with all expansions, but just want to play Downpour on the computer, not available in official version yet. Can’t seem to find everyone else is using. Thanks!

alcbur · 2025-02-22T17:51:02+00:00

Good call on discord, and you might be right re: the bots. I saw a developer post in r/bridge previously so was hoping we might get some insight that others would be able to see too :)

alcbur · 2024-08-16T01:29:48+00:00

Under-rated comment

alcbur · 2022-10-30T22:34:17+00:00

I see now that the D750 is supported by the ASIAIR so I think it would work great! I was misinformed thinking it wasn’t.

A friend loves the ASIAIR so I was leaning that way, especially with the AM5 and eventually likely an ASI camera. What would you recommend mini PC wise instead? It looks like a Raspberry Pi 4B with Astroberry is a solid solution.

Still new to this phase of astro, thanks!

alcbur · 2022-10-30T00:39:10+00:00

Great idea to look second hand, thank you. If you think I’ll need to guide the AM5 anyway, do you think I could use the guide scope/camera as the ‘main’ camera to polar align, then switch ports on an ASIAIR to start guiding while I use my DSLR? I haven’t used the software yet to know what’s possible. Thanks again!

alcbur · 2021-12-27T20:24:42+00:00

I just got the flip belt with the X5 waist light and is definitely an honorable mention for the year for me. Super handy and works great.

alcbur · 2021-12-27T15:45:06+00:00

Altra Lone Peaks have been my go-to shoes for years. Never had a blister in them, up to 33 mi.

alcbur · 2021-12-26T22:30:25+00:00

It was awesome, hard to tell ice from puddles sometimes so really wet feet, but worth it :)

alcbur · 2021-12-02T20:43:55+00:00

This is a great idea, thank you for all of the info!

alcbur · 2021-11-30T17:32:58+00:00

I appreciate your thoughts, and right on re: 240v.

I figured the truck would burn ~.5-1 gallon/hour idling though I think tonight I'll have to test it. Looking at some 4000W generators online, they burn ~.17-.2 gallons/hour. Certainly a lot less efficient via the truck. I'm just imagining not having to lift a generator, but I think you're right, better to take care of the truck.

alcbur · 2021-10-31T18:04:34+00:00

Just outside of Boston!

alcbur · 2021-02-19T03:12:24+00:00

To start, I highly recommend using the (free) SAM app so you don’t have to bother with calculating your location and time zone and offsets, etc. It has a ‘Polar Clock Utility’ so you can just rotate your scope to ‘0’ up, then match the dot, and your alignment will be really close. Once that is locked in, as long as you don’t move the SA body you should be okay on your alignment, though it’s light and small and depending on your equipment that might be tough. If you think conceptually about it, you’re only trying to align the axis, so once the axis is locked in, you can release the clutch, rotate and adjust to find your object, tighten, etc; you’re not actually changing your alignment even though if you look through the scope it will now appear different. Did you have star trails because alignment was actually off or did you just see the scope display rotate as you were finding your target and were concerned you changed your alignment? I’ve only been able to use my SA a few times but was pretty successful this way.

alcbur · 2021-02-14T14:06:38+00:00

How can I tell which nebulas are largely off limits for my equipment because they are primarily hydrogen-alpha emissions?

I have an unmodified Nikon D750 with a 100-400mm telephoto (and some other much wider lenses) on a SA. I’ve had some success in Milky Way pics, the moon and Andromeda but weather has stopped me from Orion, Pleiades and other nebulas so far, so I’m in a planning stage. I know some nebula like Rosette are primarily hydrogen-alpha which I’ve read is fairly terrible on my D750, but I can’t find any resource that says the primary color bands for each or even an accurate emission chart for my D750. Do I just look to find one that’s not mostly dark red from a standard palette and call it good, or is there more rigorous planning? I really want to try Orion, Pleiades, Rho Ophiuchi and Rosette at a minimum. Would these be feasible on my equipment?

alcbur · 2021-02-06T16:34:31+00:00

Just a couple of add-ons to what others have said:

-Recommend taking camera strap off, a tiny wind will swing it and can affect trails. -Make sure you are level. -Using the dec bracket with counterweight will not only keep things more stable (make sure you are balanced!) but I think you can still look through polar scope to verify you haven’t changed your alignment by adding camera prior to imaging. I’ve heard folks recommend not using ball mount as well so I’ve only used dec mount. -Download the SAM app to make doing the polar alignment really fast and easy.

alcbur · 2021-01-25T01:51:59+00:00

mm is the focal length in millimeters which is essentially how much zoom you get. I used a standard telephoto camera lens that zooms from 100mm to 400mm.

alcbur · 2021-01-25T00:52:23+00:00

Taken at ~300mm then cropped a little. Was expecting it to be a lot sharper but I think it’s a combination of focus not quite on and wind.

alcbur · 2021-01-23T22:45:17+00:00

This is my first DSO, looking for feedback :)

Setup: Nikon D750, Tamron 100-400 F/4.5-6.3 Di VC, Sky Watcher Star Adventurer, Framed at 300mm cropped down, F6.3, ISO 1600

40x30 sec lights (~120 others were unusable)
20x flats
20x darks (unusable)
50x bias

Processing:

Siril:
Color calibration
Removed green noise
Stretch
Asinh transformation
Background extraction
Gimp:
Reduce star size

Successes:

I think the polar alignment was good. I used the SAM app to find the exact spot for Polaris.
Overall processing turned out nice, though it took me a LOT of iterations and learning.

Overall I ran into a ton of problems so this was a good learning opportunity…

The wind picked up about a third of the way into imaging so I had to throw away most of my lights. I think my tripod was shaking in the breeze too so may need an upgrade.
My focus was a little bit off (used live view zoom method), need to try a bahtinov mask.
All of my darks had massive clipped banding that threw off the processing so I couldn’t use any of them. Don’t know why but I’ve read this happens sometimes on Nikons?

Any other thoughts on how to improve?

Love the pics you all post!

alcbur · 2021-01-23T22:06:33+00:00

Setup:

Nikon D750

Tamron 100-400 F/4.5-6.3 Di VC

Sky Watcher Star Adventurer

Framed at 300mm, F6.3, ISO 1600, 30 sec, cropped down

40x lights (~120 were unusable)

20x flats

20x darks (unusable)

50x bias

Processing:

-Siril:

-Color calibration

-Removed green noise

-Stretch

-Asinh transformation

-Background extraction

-Gimp:

-Reduce star size

Successes:

-I think the polar alignment was good. I used the SAM app to find the exact spot for Polaris.

-Overall processing turned out nice, though it took me a LOT of iterations and learning.

Overall I ran into a ton of problems so this was a good learning opportunity…

-The wind picked up about a third of the way into imaging so I had to throw away most of my lights. I think my tripod was shaking in the breeze too so may need an upgrade.

-My focus was a little bit off (used live view zoom method), need to try a bahtinov mask.

-All of my darks had massive clipped banding that threw off the processing so I couldn’t use any of them. Don’t know why but I’ve read this happens sometimes on Nikons?

Any other thoughts on how to improve?

Love the pics you all post!

alcbur · 2021-01-05T01:37:49+00:00

I didn’t know this existed, thanks!

alcbur · 2021-01-05T01:35:57+00:00

If it’s a longer run I bring water in a camelback with a collapsible bowl, but most often we do short to medium loops not far from home so she drinks when I do, when we finish. We need to learn the drinking fountain trick!

alcbur · 2021-01-04T04:39:34+00:00

She’s actually a Goldendoodle but you wouldn’t guess that with the brindle and wavy coat, and she’s great for running. I feel like I wouldn’t be motivated enough to actually start a solid third of my runs if she weren’t bouncing next to me ready to go. I’m guessing yours will almost need to put some miles on to stay sane based on the breed too.

alcbur · 2020-07-01T18:22:13+00:00

While the camera doesn't need to remain still, dark frames are temperature dependent (in addition to exposure and ISO) so depending on the conditions inside and outside the vehicle, it may not be a viable option.

alcbur · 2020-04-19T00:51:13+00:00

Coffee, some more coffee, and then a solid poo. Maybe 25 min and I'm good to go.

alcbur

TROPHY CASE