How to Optimize Your Astrophotography Trip | 12 Tips for When You Drive to Dark Skies

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  • Опубликовано: 20 дек 2024

Комментарии • 91

  • @shubinternet
    @shubinternet Месяц назад

    @14:04 - that “adjustable clamp” is also called a “crescent wrench”, after the company who popularized that style. There are many types of adjustable wrenches now, including some with “no mar” plastic jaws. If you’re interested in that sort of thing, I’d encourage you to check them out.

    • @shubinternet
      @shubinternet Месяц назад

      Oh, and some of those adjustable wrenches can now be had in fiberglass or carbon fiber styles, so that you wouldn’t be putting metal close to your equipment.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  Месяц назад

      wow thank you so much I need to get one immediately!

  • @AsKyOdA
    @AsKyOdA 2 месяца назад +3

    Thank you for the informative video Luca. I will try out the bubble wrap and glove will be a new addition to my offsite cargo. Another privacy option i feel is important is to have the ability to take a look outside car without the need to take down privacy screens or wake up fully. I have a discrete mini 360 cam with magnetic attachment i can connect through my phone if i want to investigate noises or check surroundings with minimal disruptions to sleeping 😅

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      wow that sounds super fancy! Is it battery operated? How long does it take for you to install this?

  • @franksittinger4639
    @franksittinger4639 2 месяца назад +1

    Hi, greetings from Germany. Great tips, my favorite is the bubble wrap. So far I always modified the foam inside the bag when I changed equipement, your idea is what I was looking for. On my list - yes, still have one - is also a second set of all cables I use and - this is serious - a big sun umbrella... It's perfect to cover the equipment against humidity, if you not shooting directly to the zenith.
    Best, Frank

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      I know some people use camping tents and align the opening in the direction of the shooting for this

  • @WilliFromEarth
    @WilliFromEarth 2 месяца назад +2

    I love the tripods!

  • @otrondal
    @otrondal 2 месяца назад +1

    Very practical tips. I am a dome-less amateur astronomer so I use semitransparent plastic-bags over the telescope to take flatfields. The only dome I have is a con-dome, way to small for a C14.

  • @billkonkel6325
    @billkonkel6325 2 месяца назад +1

    Two small strap wrenches are good tools to have to unstick stuck adapters.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      Can you recommend a good strap wrench? The one I have is only really good for larger objects not for small adapters

    • @PantherBlitz
      @PantherBlitz 2 месяца назад

      @@the_space_koala Try Baby Boa.

  • @Birko64
    @Birko64 2 месяца назад

    Thanks Lusa. Some great ideas that will definitely help people make the correct choices. I like the motorbike stand idea. A lot better than the broken roof tiles I have used in the past. Also woodwork clamps can be useful to hold things down. Those tripods look the business. I havn't seen them at the usual astro shops I use.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      Thank you! Yes the Supermount is not very mainstream but from the moment I found out about them I needed them in my life 😁

  • @billvinson7859
    @billvinson7859 Месяц назад

    Very smart. Great tips. ❤

  • @dm1787
    @dm1787 2 месяца назад

    really enjoyed it. I can personally say how useful it is to be able to rotate the mount on the tripod when your alignment is not quite right. I wish bigger mounts would have that option even though they have lot of room in their screws. great tips.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      I'm glad I'm not the only one who needs this! I think these small harmonic mounts have a way smaller azimuth adjustment range than traditional mounts, too so it is really needed

    • @dm1787
      @dm1787 2 месяца назад +1

      @@the_space_koala i looked up the tripods. Their price shocked me a bit. Where do you buy them? Directly from Korea? Did not find sellers in the US.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      @@dm1787 yes they are on the pricey side. I live in Switzerland near the Italian border and I got them from a telescope store there called Artesky. I bought the tripods from them and then I ordered the other pieces directly from Korea. I did a quick google search for "supermount dealers" and a number of US based outlets came up as well!

  • @muayaddrdentist2313
    @muayaddrdentist2313 Месяц назад

    It's preferred to get a strong case to carry the precious RASA othe wise you may smash the camera with corrector place because I drop sweat during attaching my RASA to the mount.good luck😊

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  Месяц назад

      really? It is only like 8 kilos. If i have everything installed it is 10kg. How do you mount it? It is so much easier to point the DEC to due east or west and then you just gently place it on

    • @muayaddrdentist2313
      @muayaddrdentist2313 Месяц назад

      @the_space_koala AM 5 mount but I consider the scope as brittle glass , I dropped (horrible mistake) 70 mm svbony scope because the mount nobes not fastened well (forget doing that) and the scope sloped down withe the 1/10th focuser bending mechanical damage but the optics was fine and the result the scope without fine focuser, I am very careful after that lesson to deal with RASA,my greeting to you.

  • @WilliFromEarth
    @WilliFromEarth 2 месяца назад

    So true! I can fully relate! I only need to drive 30 minutes to the next dark site in the Jura mountains. Still if I forget anything…

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +1

      Oh, 30 minutes from a dark site.. you’re living the dream

    • @WilliFromEarth
      @WilliFromEarth 2 месяца назад

      @@the_space_koala Not very dark, but good enough. Not like going up to the mountains. That takes me 2h… I usually go into the Haute Valais for dark skies.

    • @WilliFromEarth
      @WilliFromEarth 2 месяца назад

      The area around Adelboden is surprisingly dark… but weather is not as good as the Tessin ;-)

  • @tostativerdk
    @tostativerdk 2 месяца назад

    Thanks for sharing :) I especially liked the bubble wrap trick

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +2

      Glad you liked it! Then you just have to resist the urge to pop the bubbles :D

  • @Miguel_Noppe
    @Miguel_Noppe 2 месяца назад

    Bubblewrap is a good tip. I have all my gear in cases too but when traveling with the family (wife + 2 kids) I needed to strip down everything. Thankfully we also have a Model Y which is extremely roomy and I confiscated the subtrunk for astro + 1 case in the regular trunk 😬 and the harmonic mounts are a blessing too.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      I have my blanket and pillows in the subtrunk 😁

  • @richardtucker6016
    @richardtucker6016 2 месяца назад

    Very good info.I have the ZWO AM5 mount and I like it very much!

  • @malcolm06768962
    @malcolm06768962 2 месяца назад

    Love your channel. So interesting and informative

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +1

      Glad you enjoy it!

    • @malcolm06768962
      @malcolm06768962 2 месяца назад

      @@the_space_koala plus I love Switzerland so seeing the incredible views on some of your videos is a bonus. Best wishes from Ireland

  • @jeffweiss2131
    @jeffweiss2131 2 месяца назад

    Great tips and very well done video. Thank you!

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      thank you for saying that, I appreciate it

  • @DaVinci39
    @DaVinci39 2 месяца назад

    Useful and simple ideas! Thank you so much

  • @michael.a.covington
    @michael.a.covington 2 месяца назад +1

    16:51 If there is wind, there is no dew, so that's a winning idea.

  • @Jcorban08
    @Jcorban08 2 месяца назад

    Brilliant ideas!! I especially love the bubble wrap - affordable and super effective. I haven’t tried it yet, but could an upside-down ice fishing tent work as a wind block? I really enjoy your videos - thanks so much!!

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +1

      thank you! I have never tried a tent but I do know that some people use them for this very purpose so I'm sure that the ice fishing tent would work as well! You do have to rotate it as the night goes on, I suppose.

  • @JamesJacobJoji
    @JamesJacobJoji 2 месяца назад

    Great tip on the rubber gloves! Now I'm feeling a bit stupid, having taken my shoes off last time to unscrew stuck adapters 😅

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +1

      haha no worries. I read it online a few years ago as someone said they removed a stuck adapter with rubber gloves and since then it's been second nature that I bring them around, they're so useful

  • @allenbaylus3378
    @allenbaylus3378 2 месяца назад

    I need to research the amperage draw from my setup - I have only run it on my Jackery 300 - EQ6-R Pro, ZWO cooled camera, heater, ASI AIR and an ASI EAF.
    I dropped from 99% into the 70s in an hour - when I lost my main target (I only had 1 or two images of my target before it went behind the trees),
    I need to see what the AMP draw on each of the items are to calculate how long it should run - or plug in the battery pack to the car/ car inverter to extend the usage.
    I do not think that I would go thru the trouble of running the setup for only 3 hours of pictures before the battery would die.
    This is a critical factor which I had not considered until August when I realized how much power my system was drawing.
    I may try to do the same setup with a different source for the heater and see if that helps.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      Which camera and how many degrees were you cooling to?

    • @allenbaylus3378
      @allenbaylus3378 2 месяца назад

      @@the_space_koala this I used to 2400 MC Duo and cooled to lowest setting - plus antidew was on.

  • @barrymunro6861
    @barrymunro6861 2 месяца назад

    You gave a good walk-through (lose the USB atomiser) and can tell you've done some hard nights out, so mostly agree with your vid content.
    Carrying around that EAF assembled scares me.
    And no mention of packing & then stowing very wet scopes, gear & mounts, as I saw your dew shield.
    At -3 some nights, I use similar gloves to pack with, don't mind the wet but the ice, no.
    Cheers.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      thank you! I don't quite get what you mean about the EAF being assembled? The EAF is the only part I would not remove even if I were to take it apart for transporting. In fact I never heard of anyone removing a focus motor just for transportation

    • @barrymunro6861
      @barrymunro6861 2 месяца назад

      @@the_space_koala
      I'm not being picky - just cautious, sorry if it came over like that. We clubbies carry everything about in cases or enclosures that support equipment. The idea of protecting your OTA & EAF with bubble wrap, meh. Anything for a trouble free night where everything comes together (well mostly).

  • @mariospenard5125
    @mariospenard5125 2 месяца назад

    Nice rig! ❤

  • @taras3702
    @taras3702 2 месяца назад

    I do much of my imaging at home, despite light pollution. I do keep my telescope assembled to not only speed up set up time, but I don't have to shoot flats for every session and I also protect the threads too.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +1

      these are both good points! I still do flats for every session (trust issues, I guess :D). I image from home a lot in the winter when the best dark skies are inaccessible, but I try to make the most of the warm period because there's a huge difference in the data, even in narrowband

  • @ferdigrafie
    @ferdigrafie 2 месяца назад

    Very nice video, thanks for your effort. Could you do some Vlogging on your trips? I am from south germany and i do at least one trip to the alps a year so it would be very interessing to know how others deal with the challenges =)

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +1

      thanks, this is a great idea and I wish I was always filming, but the act of having to place the camera/lights/microphone and trying to talk in a semi-organized way adds even more stress to an already difficult process :D a series called "spend a night under the stars" is an idea I've been toying with that would show the creation of a photo from start to end: the image capture process and then the processing. Maybe one day I'll get to it :)

  • @Macenzyee
    @Macenzyee 2 месяца назад

    Good idea thanks!👍
    PS: is it better to shoot many 30 min of 10 sec exposures or longer exposures that adds field rotation(seestar s50).
    2 x 30 mins x 10 sec without field rotation vs 1 x 60 mins x 10 sec with field rotation for example.
    Do I get anything more out of a 60 mins minus the field rotation?

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +1

      if you're using an altaz mount like the seestar field rotation will be a very significant limiting factor. In general longer exposures would be better in principle to capture faint objects as well as to minimize readout noise

  • @Ani17060
    @Ani17060 2 месяца назад

    Great informational video. What are the exact supermount tripod model for the RST-135 and the RST-300?

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +1

      I use the CYG48 and the CYG42 for the larger and smaller mounts, respectively. I cannot tell you the exact code because I got the parts separately, I have the RDL on both and I have the feet on the CYG48 only. I also have 2 half piers which I fitted with RDLs so it’s very modular

    • @Ani17060
      @Ani17060 2 месяца назад

      @@the_space_koala Thank you that helps. Good to know the 52 with the geared column is not required for the RST-300. Could you do a video on the how the two mounts, tripods collapse and compare with each for portable rig? Lots of videos of AM5s but not so much for the RSTs

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      @@Ani17060 it's a good idea! The RST135 has the weight/size of the AM3 and the performance of the AM5. That said, if I were to buy one today I would go for the AM5 because of the vast price difference. I have both and I'm very happy with the way the AM5 performs

  • @johndaley9188
    @johndaley9188 Месяц назад

    The background in this video is impressive. Putting some pieces together, are you maybe located in Northern Italy or Spain?

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  Месяц назад

      Northern Italy is close! I am in the south of Switzerland, in Ticino :)

    • @johndaley9188
      @johndaley9188 Месяц назад

      ​@the_space_koala After finding out where you live, I'm also impressed with your English. However, after doing some reading, speaking English in Switzerland is not uncommon. Living in Ticino there is Italian Swiss and a local dialect called Ticinese. You appear to be very intelligent so you probably speak it all. Here in USA (I'm in Delaware) most of us, like me, speak only English. Sad for us.

  • @tomhoskins4913
    @tomhoskins4913 17 дней назад

    Great job, common sense rules.😊

  • @alexandreastronomy8022
    @alexandreastronomy8022 2 месяца назад

    Thank you, good informations here :)

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      @@alexandreastronomy8022 oh I’m glad thanks!

  • @craiglowery4427
    @craiglowery4427 2 месяца назад

    Very nice video. Don't forget the snacks

  • @WillBendick
    @WillBendick 2 месяца назад

    What is the beautiful vista in the background?

  • @tomabxl4374
    @tomabxl4374 2 месяца назад

    Szia Luca, i personally already assemble the small setup at home and put it into the car like that (okay I have bigger car than Tesla), and when I arrive “the place” I just put it out, connecting the battery… what I can tell about the safety that last time I was in Spain alone in the dark, top of a mountain, there were two car occupying both lanes, standing in front of me, with full blast headlights, then very very slowly approached me. I don’t say I was not scared as sh*t ;) I decided I leave all the stuff there and run if they have bad intentions. But they were hunters wit two pickups, and just scared me to death.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +1

      I can 100% relate to being scared in the dark. I don't really meet people or if I do I wouldn't assume they have bad intentions, I don't think dark mountain passes are a breeding ground for criminals. That said, when I am alone, I never leave the vicinity of my car. I am more scared of wildlife (wolves) than anything else. I have yet to meet one but they are around so you never know.

    • @tomabxl4374
      @tomabxl4374 2 месяца назад

      @@the_space_koala Yes, but slowly approacing cars blocking the road :) that’s out of all movies :) yes other scary things the moving vegetation next to you :) it happend with me in Spain as well, it was a hedgehog :)

  • @AlexN-Astro
    @AlexN-Astro 2 месяца назад

    As accurate as your information is for the most part - I wouldn't be going anywhere with a rasa that has a camera hanging off a glass corrector plate.... One pothole and your very expensive telescope ruined.... I certainly travel with my refractors set up and ready to just put on the mount, plug in power and start shooting - but with a RASA? no way.....

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      I see what you mean. I think that the corrector plate is not as fragile as one would guess on a first glance. It is more than 6mm thick, that's quite a bit of glass. It is only the 8" one so also the distances involved are very small and therefore so is any torque applied by the camera. I do drive carefully as the last bit of my dark sky drive is a gravel road. It is not that much different than the extra pressure you apply on a focuser by leaving everything on (especially a heavier camera with filter wheel and possibly OAG). If you don't have a high end focuser it is the same type of risk in my opinion.

  • @gianlucabeccani6812
    @gianlucabeccani6812 23 дня назад

    Space Koala, I will end up buying one of those Supermount tripods, just because there are no real alternatives on the market for "heavy" loads like my C9.25HD; I am still waiting for my Wave 150i to become available here in Italy, and I plan to use it with the C9 and a counterweight bar. Not considering the original ZWO/SW carbon tripods (bundled with their mounts), you will find that EVERY carbon tripod available will never spread its legs enough. Multi angle spreader are always useless to astrophotographers, just because one angle is too "steep" and the other is too wide open to the ground, thus reducing strenght and stiffness. I could say that "a tripod is for always" just like diamonds, and even a crazy price (you know what I am talking about) will be perfectly justified to me. Yet I still don't know which leg size to buy: 42 mm or 48 mm...but maybe it's not so important at the end.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  23 дня назад +1

      they have 3 sizes I believe, I have the 2 smaller ones (42 and 48) and I think the maximum capacity changes only between them. For the C9 you can easily get the 42. I actually bought both of mine in Italy from Artesky - one was on sale in stock while the other one was ordered from Supermount - you can actually ask them to custom order it for you. Otherwise you can also order from Korea directly, they do ship to Europe.

    • @gianlucabeccani6812
      @gianlucabeccani6812 23 дня назад

      @@the_space_koala I just called Luca of Artesky several times in the last few days (we know each other pretty well now). It's nice that you think the 42 mm version would be good for imaging with the C9, as I am pretty sure prices will be greater now, and saving 200-300 euros would be good. Luca has no availability right now and I am still waiting for an answer about pricing. Finger crossed. You're great ;)...and thanks for the quick answer.

  • @anata5127
    @anata5127 2 месяца назад

    Some tripod, eh. More than 2K.
    Generally, looks very complicated and uncomfortable trips.
    Just buy land, and build remote observatory.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      that's an interesting take, I bet "just buying land and building a remote observatory" is not an option for 95% of the people doing astrophotography. Not to mention I live in Switzerland, the mountain regions are not private property, you can't just buy land

  • @santiagomadruga4298
    @santiagomadruga4298 2 месяца назад

    For me... I don't consider seriously to drive. I get very sleepy, next day I would be non functional.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      You must be fortunate enough to have decent skies at home!

  • @okeania
    @okeania 2 месяца назад

    We have to buy a Tesla also? Elon perfectly use this video for the company :) Thank you for the video anyway.

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад +3

      how do I contact him to start paying me? I'm sure he could buy me a space telescope... Jokes aside I went for the tesla because of the heat pump as it was always my intention to sleep in the car and I don't tolerate cold very well :)

    • @okeania
      @okeania 2 месяца назад

      @@the_space_koala I will try to find a way for you to reach him :) Thank you for the great videos but its way out of our (yes its beyond belief in my country) budgets.

  • @michael.a.covington
    @michael.a.covington 2 месяца назад

    17:48 Just don't use the car's battery to run the equipment during the session! That was a common practice in the 1980s and led to cars unable to go back home! (I mean a gasoline car, of course.)

    • @the_space_koala
      @the_space_koala  2 месяца назад

      of course I'd never do that with an ICE vehicle :D but I actually did this before with my electric car when I had battery trouble. In fact I recently ordered some 12V car plug splitters and a very long cable and I'll see how stable it is.