Astrophotography set up

7 years 7 months ago #491057 by KENT MELTON

astrodave wrote:

James F wrote: Was that a food truck that you converted to the astrovan?  Does the top spin around? 


Yes it has a dome that rotates with the telescope. You can see the other observatory to the background on the left. I think it used to be a Laundry delivery truck at one point. 

To Alex it looks pretty cool. Lots of blinky things and wires. I don't think I have an inside view. Here's a timelapse i did in the other observatory if you want to see it.


Gotta love Frank Sinatra!  Excellent choice of tunes.  


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7 years 7 months ago #491058 by astrodave
Ha! the bright light is the very cresent moon about 5 in the morning. The spikes are refractions of light from the ice crystals in the air.

Ontherocks wrote:

astrodave wrote: No it actually looks like this. This was a test shot in March to see how my new imaging system would work this summer. That's the Astrovan in the foreground. It can be driven virtually anywhere but only up to 50mph.

Eliffman wrote:

astrodave wrote: Like everything else in life there is a need to know a budget. If you have unlimited budget I have a $25k mobile observatory with everything already to go. Top of the line gear and mobile. 

If not There are trackers for $300ish that work well at under 300mm. 

Additionally one of the major issues is weight the mount can care. For some of us its the amount of weight we can care. My main astro mounts can carry 250 lbs but they weigh in at 120 lbs so they are a pain to lug about hence my observatories.

For a DLSR setup a Star Adventurer or an Astrotrac are pretty easy to use and track well up to about 15lbs. I'd recommend either of those to someone wanting to "dabble".

Just my $.02



That mobile observatory sounds so cool, is that something you tow?




Ok, this is killer shot.  Now that light looks like something out of the movie "Thor" where Thor is getting 'shot' to Earth!  Really, what is that?



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7 years 7 months ago #491061 by Trisha.M

KENT MELTON wrote:

astrodave wrote:

James F wrote: Was that a food truck that you converted to the astrovan?  Does the top spin around? 


Yes it has a dome that rotates with the telescope. You can see the other observatory to the background on the left. I think it used to be a Laundry delivery truck at one point. 

To Alex it looks pretty cool. Lots of blinky things and wires. I don't think I have an inside view. Here's a timelapse i did in the other observatory if you want to see it.


Gotta love Frank Sinatra!  Excellent choice of tunes.  


I was thinking the same thing.  Went and turned on the whole song in my iTunes.  I have a brother and neighbor who have been tempting me with getting into astrophotography.  Just concerned about being a female and all the gear to carry!  That set up you have, looks incredible.  


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7 years 7 months ago #491153 by Peter Nunez
Excellent choice for music on both accounts!  


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7 years 7 months ago #491297 by Walter Tidwell
Have any of you tried those filters for cutting down light pollution effects on the cameras sensor?  It's a round thing that snaps in place right above the mirror?


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7 years 7 months ago #491338 by Rob Cline
Hey Dave, I was just looking at your photos.  How large are these shots when you are finished with them?  


BTW have you shot in the south hemisphere?  


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