Adrena1in
5th of March 2009 (Thu), 03:36
So I look outside last night around 9pm and it's clear as anything. Lovely half-moon dropping in the west, Leo rising in the South East, Ursa Major almost overhead. "Perfect", I think to myself, "my first chance to image something with my new WO ZS70." But I take a quick look at Lulin first through my bins, and just about spot a blur which I assume is the comet.
I'm watching Grand Designs on telly, but in each ad. break I take something outside to get set up. Mount first, roughly polar aligned. Mat to sit on, power, get the camera ready, each time outside the sky is still beautifully clear. TV programme finishes and I'm outside...first time this YEAR with my scope actually!
Decide to do a drift align, as I've not done one since I serviced my mount at the end of last year. But first, I take a quick look at Saturn, use my 450D Live View and the micro-focuser to get it sharp, and fire off a shot. Then I think, "Hey, Lulin's near the Beehive Cluster, and hasn't passed behind my house yet...I'll try shooting that.........oh, damn, where did those clouds come from!?" Within about a minute the entire sky is covered with cloud and I can't see a damn thing. (Expletive Deleted)
So this was all I managed.
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9258/zs70firstlight.jpg
And yes, it really is Saturn.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4597/zs70firstlightzoom.jpg
Not a successul night. I'll record the telly next time! :rolleyes:
I'm watching Grand Designs on telly, but in each ad. break I take something outside to get set up. Mount first, roughly polar aligned. Mat to sit on, power, get the camera ready, each time outside the sky is still beautifully clear. TV programme finishes and I'm outside...first time this YEAR with my scope actually!
Decide to do a drift align, as I've not done one since I serviced my mount at the end of last year. But first, I take a quick look at Saturn, use my 450D Live View and the micro-focuser to get it sharp, and fire off a shot. Then I think, "Hey, Lulin's near the Beehive Cluster, and hasn't passed behind my house yet...I'll try shooting that.........oh, damn, where did those clouds come from!?" Within about a minute the entire sky is covered with cloud and I can't see a damn thing. (Expletive Deleted)
So this was all I managed.
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9258/zs70firstlight.jpg
And yes, it really is Saturn.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4597/zs70firstlightzoom.jpg
Not a successul night. I'll record the telly next time! :rolleyes: