Back to forums

What does it need to start crowd projects?

Collaboration
Crowd imaging projects •5 replies•95 views
The reason why I haven't opened a project proposal is ... (feel free to add details to your reply by posting to this thread)
Multiple choice poll 7 votes
71% (5 votes)
14% (1 vote)
0% (0 votes)
14% (1 vote)
0% (0 votes)
You must be logged in to vote in this poll.
Björn Arnold avatar
Björn Arnold avatar
Hi,

I hope this isn't a double post, as I had written something but somehow it wasn't published. Maybe some tech issue on my side.

Since there isn't activity in this group at the moment, I though I'd ask how to get things started or why things haven't been starting yet. I'm just hoping it's not everybody waiting for me to propose some crowd imaging project since I created the group smile (that's called the Penguin effect btw.)

The reason I haven't placed any project proposal here is simply that weather hasn't allowed doing anything serious this year. Typically the cycle looks like this since January: 2 nice clear nights, min. three weeks of clouds and rain. If it continues like this, I need to look for a second hobby. Obviously, this it not the case for everyone as some here are still productive. 

CS!

Björn
Respectful Engaging Supportive
Jérémie avatar
Jérémie avatar
I wanted  to start a thread here since the start : crowd shooting Ou4 / squid nebula, because it requires lots of hours to be seen… I am sure as a crowd we could get some results.
BUT : 
- I haven’t astrophotographed anything in a month due to bad weather, and still don’t see a clear window in the next 10 days…
- I still don’t feel sufficiently reliable as a partner for the group given light pollution environment (bortle smile and my current « performances » as AP.
- It is still a bit low on horizon but it’s getting better everyday !
Björn Arnold avatar
Björn Arnold avatar
Unfortunately, there isn't many feedback through the poll, I have the impression that at least for the people from Europe, the weather has been and still is the major issue. Not only for doing a joint imaging project but doing anything at all. The only thing that would help here is time.

@Jérémie I understand your point of having doubt as being a "reliable" partner but I should emphasize (and this is for everyone):
we are talking about a hobby project and this is supposed to be for fun. You will likely work with others with a different level of experience or different conditions leading to different results. But that shouldn't discourage anybody. That's why I also recommend to use easier targets as a starter to see if the workflow fits. 
In any case you may learn from each other or create long-lasting contact. Whatever it is, you always gain something, even if the final image doesn't win a prize.

To your idea of shooting the squid nebula: if you want to give this object a try, I'd join you. I had to read it up at first since SkySafari 6 didn't find it with your name. It was found under Sh-129 then but what you're obviously interested in is the oxygen area? Do you have some size information? Certainly best results with NB. However, In my case August and later would be optimal for its sky location. Less obstruction by terrestrial objects and hopefully clouds.
Helpful Respectful Engaging Supportive
Jérémie avatar
Jérémie avatar
Hi Bjorn, indeed, the squid is hidden behind the flying bat :-) 

The « flying bat » is the sharpless 129 as you mentionned, that is closer to us (1300 yl), and visible in Ha. The squid (Ou4) is a planetary nebula farther behind (2300 ly), visible in Oiii as you guessed, but that requires tons of time to appear. 

These 2 objects are quite wide, but don’t worry, I will trigger the project in time once I start to see some better weather coming in, and when it is also higher in the sky at the start of the night.

May has been terrible for AP until now, but it seems we will have a dryer summer in France afterward : that means lots of opportunities.
Well Written Helpful Insightful Respectful Engaging Supportive
Mark Germani avatar
Mark Germani avatar
I really like the idea of this group. We've had the worst weather on the North American west coast this year (as I'm sure @Daniel Erickson can attest to) but I do know I'm sitting on an hour or two of data for a number of targets that I wasn't able to complete due to weather or timing. Maybe if we compare lists, we might find that between us we can put something together for these targets? I'll have to check my computer when I get home, but maybe I'll post a small list if this is something that folks might be interested in.

CS!
Mark
Well Written Respectful Engaging Supportive
Daniel Erickson avatar
Daniel Erickson avatar
Mark Germani:
I really like the idea of this group. We've had the worst weather on the North American west coast this year (as I'm sure @Daniel Erickson can attest to) but I do know I'm sitting on an hour or two of data for a number of targets that I wasn't able to complete due to weather or timing. Maybe if we compare lists, we might find that between us we can put something together for these targets? I'll have to check my computer when I get home, but maybe I'll post a small list if this is something that folks might be interested in.


I can so attest to the weather.... It has been horrendous. Imaging has been nearly impossible; I managed only 8 full nights between mid-October and June 1. That said, I would be interested in seeing lists. I don't have any data myself (I pushed all the data out to AB already, with mixed results), but if someone happens to be imaging something that falls into my OB Association to-do list, we could cooperate on a joint post. I'd enjoy that.
Engaging Supportive