New Toy

EdBray

EdBray

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Edward Bray
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Got a new toy, chomping at the bit to get out and use it now.

newtoy1.jpg
 
I wonder how many "what's that" questions you'll get? If the weather's anything like it's been here recently, you may well be in for a bit of a wait ;)
 
Never seen a toy like that before, but it has an expensive look about it. The black thing on the left looks like it should be plugged into a barrel of beer.

Is there a red ring on it?
 
Astro Trac

Was looking at them a few months back - still wan't one!

drew
 
Doh...one of the few astro threads and Im late as usual...honest I knew what it was...

I havent seen the output from one of these...I sold my big scope (Meade LX90) to buy my camera gear...so never had both at the same time...

I still have my wee scope...and the Stargazer show on tv recently got me thinking about it again...was going to sell to buy some more gear...but may just hang on to it...and get the camera on it...

I imagine the small scope on the right is for lining up Polaris...so would I be right to say that its set up to photo the Southern Sky in the picture...?

STEVIER
 
Oi.. I got it first (see post 3) - I just didn't say what it was ;) :D
 
THE-BIG-MAN-SAYS said:
I imagine the small scope on the right is for lining up Polaris...so would I be right to say that its set up to photo the Southern Sky in the picture...?

STEVIER
Click to expand...

Yes, it's a polarscope, spot on :thumbs: in the picture the camera would be sort of aimed at the low Southern sky.

Never done anything like this before and have had a couple of tries at setting it up indoors.

You set the Astrotrac on the tripod facing North, then turning the polorscope align the Big Dipper and Cassiopea to where they are approximately in the sky, then using the tripod head adjustments adjust Polaris until it is in the gap in the scope, once Polaris is there you can the use the second star (Delta Ursa Minor) to get even more accuracy. Sounds good on paper doesn't it?

View through Polarscope

Polarscope1.jpg
 
Artyman...

I was down in Fareham with my work for about 12 weeks...nice place...

The Red Lion...Brass Monkey...Ask...!

And the weather was better down there than here...we have the fastest moving clouds tonight I think Ive ever seen...

Nice dark skies down there as well...I had my binos out in the hotel rear car park...

Bring on the frosty...clear nights...!!!


STEVIER
 
Glad you enjoyed yourself down here Stevie, it may be grim at the moment up there, but you have some great scenery nearby to make up for it.

Well the skies have just cleared here so dashed out for this 2X on the Sigma 150-500

IMG_3853.jpg
 
Lovely shot there Ken....love looking at the moon...every crater tells a story...
Back garden...binos deck chair...bottle of beer...thats the life...

Ed looks like some fun ahead...my first scope had a polarscope.and it was low down...so bloody awkward...that one looks well made and more in relation to the camera position...

And that astro law is squared up here as well...my big scope used to take at least 45 mins to settle...always cloudy after 44 mins...so it had to go...

Happy shootin guys...shoot for the stars...ok...you know all the puns...!!!

STEVIER
 
BandyQuill said:
im sorry... someone is going to have to explain how this works, is one piece attatched to the tripod and the other the camera and rotates it to follow the stars ?
Click to expand...
Exactly :) Look at the photo further on up the thread. There's a motor in the bit with buttons that makes the unit move at the same speed as the earths rotation.
 
Gutted, first clear night I am was unable to get out. Bit too late now.
 
Ed, tell me that it's worth the cash! I've been researching the Astrotrac TT320X-Ag all day and have only just stumbled across this thread!

Are you having much success with it? I can see me splashing out on one of these with polarscope (and a Manfrotto 410 geared head) in the next couple of months.
 
Wish I knew! We have had about 4 clear nights since I got mine and I was on standby for all of them so unable to go out. Since then the weather has been pants.

Having had a play with setting it all up, you need a decent tripod (I have a bloody great Manfrotto 058) with a good head (I have the 410 geared) and also a decent ball/socket head for the camera (I got a redsnapper specifically for it). It is also worth getting a car battery booster thingy for supplying the power(about £25) as although it will work comfortably on 8 AAs that could get expensive. You will also need a compass for setting it up (although I will use an app on my iphone).

I have set it up with my 1DsMk3, EF300L f4 IS with EF 1.4x extender and it takes (and moves) the weight comfortably using the powerpack thingy.

Just waiting for some clear nights now.
 
I think I'm going to order one. I've got the standard 284 Alloy 4-Section Redsnapper tripod with the Redsnapper ball head. Think that'll suffice or will I need something more sturdy?

I'm thinking the 24/70 will be good for wide angle shots and the 70/200 with 1.4x good for closer in stuff.
 
EdBray said:
Wish I knew! We have had about 4 clear nights since I got mine and I was on standby for all of them so unable to go out. Since then the weather has been pants.
Click to expand...
And this is why I traded astronomy as a hobby for photography ;)

That and the lure of warmth and a glass of wine ;)
 
Ed, come on, show us what you've got! My mouse is still hovering over the 'buy' button on one of these, so convince me theyre worth it.
 
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