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Post by Bill W on Jul 29, 2008 9:11:59 GMT
Hello, With darker skies approaching I thought I would give a plug for the Scottish Astronomers Group. This is a fairly informal get together with has been around in various guises for around 40 years. I know several members of this forum are associated with the SAG and Tom has also put on a SAG forum at sagforum.proboards79.com/This looks like a "Bills Blog" at the moment but I'm ever hopeful a few more people will join in. So this is a general invitation to everyone who is in the vicinity at the time to come along to the first SAG get together for 2008/2009 at the Finlas Forest Road, Loch Doon on Saturday 9th August for a (pre) Perseid observing session. All are welcome. If anyone would like more information then feel free to contact me via the usual means. Cheers, Bill. |
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Post by Bill W on Aug 21, 2008 14:15:40 GMT
Hello All,
Due to the ongoing spectacularly poor weather the first SAG get together of 2008/2009 was canceled. However the next is planned for Saturday 27th September. Taking place at the ASE observing site to the south of Addiewell. The location is Pearie Law. This is a central but dark location.
All are welcome.
Directions and updates to be found on the SAG forum as detailed in the first posting.
We can but hope that the weather will give us a break at some point!
cheers,
Bill.
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Post by Bill W on Oct 1, 2008 8:25:06 GMT
The last SAG get together aka an observing session, was a great success despite what was the worst dewing problems I think I have ever encountered! The weather had been lousy but it cleared and we had a nice clear sky. There was a little mist/haze which floated around but it didn't cause any problems. The dew on the other hand was appalling. I've never actually had condensation inside a lens before. I found this a bit alarming actually... However a good time was had by all.  This is one of only a couple of successful pictures I got before I gave up. This is of some clusters in Cassiopeia, NGC 654, NGC 663, NGC 659 and M103. As an added bonus it appears we also observed a possible "out burst" of the minor meteor shower the Alpha Aurigids. There were many comments about the number of meteors that were being seen. After checking a list of meteors this was the closest listed shower which had it's peak a couple of days before. Of course it could have just been higher than usual sporadic activity but it was a nice extra to the nights observing. If anyone wants to come along to the next SAG observing night then keep an eye on the SAG forum. Cheers, Bill. |
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Post by markt on Oct 3, 2008 15:05:10 GMT
Sounds like you had a good get together Bill - if it wasn't so far away for me you'd find me there too. Thats a cracking picture btw Bill - what setup did you use to get it? Cheers, mark  |
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Post by Bill W on Oct 7, 2008 8:14:33 GMT
It a combined exposure of 8 x 1 min through a 300mm f4 lens.
The camera is an astro modified Canon 350d sitting on top of a Takahashi Teegul mount.
It's an unfortunate paradox which affects all my old Pentax lenses that by improving the red sensitivity of the camera by replacing the filter dramatically reduces the performance of the lenses as it reveals their poor chromatic correction (everything has a red halo now!)
Swings and roundabouts I suppose...
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Post by markt on Oct 7, 2008 21:27:18 GMT
Chromatic aberation or not it's still a great shot!  |
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Post by Bill W on Oct 28, 2008 11:55:26 GMT
With the prospects of a decent weekend the SAG is having a get together at one of it's regular sites next to Loch Doon this Saturday, 1st November 2008.
As usual all are welcome to come along.
The directions are elsewhere on this thread but if anyone needs some specific information juts get in touch.
Check back in case things go downhill weather wise on Friday.
Cheers,
Bill.
PS the moon will be out of the way around 22.30ish and there is the prospect of some Taurid meteor activity.
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