Saying hi to fellow Bay area imagers - Forums

Topic starter

Sep 2, 2017

Hi All:
thought I'd say hi to fellow Bay area imagers…I'm Jeff and live in the Berkeley Hills. When I started imaging I was trying to collect data in foggy drippy Berkeley…last 2 years have been hard weather-wise, so I mainly image at a dark sky spot I own up in the Sierras outside Groveland…

wondering if any of you are going to AIC 2017 late sept in San Jose?

jeff

pfile

Sep 2, 2017

hi jeff, i live in rockridge and persist in imaging from home… i just don't like driving tired. never sleep well when 'camping'.

recently jerryyyyy and i installed my AT10RC in his observatory in palo alto/stanford so the weather is a little better there.

i have gone to AIC for the past few years but i am probably skipping it this year - IMO the talks and topics seem to repeat. god bless RBA but he literally gave the same talk 2-3 times.

rob

Jerry Yesavage

Sep 2, 2017

Hi, yes not sure I would get too much from it either, but I may just go and see if I can sneak in to the exhibits… I have some vendors I would like to harass.

Rob and I have installed his scope in my shop and it seems to be working. A lot of fine points, but I juts posted an image today and also a shot of the observatory. There was a guy nearby who was asking about the scope and equipment.

Have you put an automated system up in Groveland?

jeff

Topic starter

Sep 2, 2017

alas, no. Still portable SBisque MX+ mount with scope. hoping some day to get an observatory but not sure how even to start ….also a bit nervous leaving expensive items up there..I bring them home each time for now..eventually if I retire up there then would be different.

jeff

pfile

Sep 2, 2017

jeff do you ever go to EAS meetings? i belong but have never gone…

jeff

Topic starter

Sep 2, 2017

same.. i belong to support them but rarely ever have had a chance to attend given work

Kai Yang

Sep 3, 2017

I went to AIC last year just for the exhibition. A lot of cool toys to look at.
I image in my front yard with scopebuggy at Fremont

-Kai

MMX

Sep 5, 2017

Would love to go as I'm pretty new to the area. Sadly I'll be in Paris at that time at my company's HQ.
Jerryyyyy saw your observatory pic, good call on the roof! Hope I could do the same, these trees in Menlo Park are huge, the zenith and meridian flips are my friends now.

pfile

Sep 5, 2017

is AIC going to be open again to just see the exhibits? somehow i thought i read they were not doing that, or somehow got the impression that they were not doing that this time…

Jerry Yesavage

Sep 5, 2017

I sorta slipped into the exhibits….

Jerry Yesavage

Sep 5, 2017

MMX:
Would love to go as I'm pretty new to the area. Sadly I'll be in Paris at that time at my company's HQ.Jerryyyyy saw your observatory pic, good call on the roof! Hope I could do the same, these trees in Menlo Park are huge, the zenith and meridian flips are my friends now.

Hey MMX my wife is French and actually on her way to Paris today to see her 95 y/o mom.... She stays at an apartment on Rue Cassini next to the
Observatory... we have never been able to get into the Observatory....

it is always under restoration it seems....

Jerry Yesavage

Sep 5, 2017

jeff:
alas, no. Still portable SBisque MX+ mount with scope. hoping some day to get an observatory but not sure how even to start ....also a bit nervous leaving expensive items up there..I bring them home each time for now..eventually if I retire up there then would be different.jeff

We have a place in Tahoe but the trees are even worse there... I had considered putting the equipment up there but also worried about thieves. I think running a system like mine really needs nearby support. I check it each AM and put the lens cover on etc.... I have run it remotely for a weekend, but the software is just too flakey. The roof is the big worry if it does not close. I have a separate manual system to close but that requires a remote login and a lot of prayers.

I am completely dependent on Expert Scheduler, ASCOM and Maxim.... (House of Cards).

If I could be assured I could do a computer reboot and shut the roof... but even Windows 7 is not that reliable.

Cheers

David Fussell

Sep 5, 2017

Hello Bay Area imagers,

That rooftop observatory is really cool! I hope to get there some day. I live in Campbell and have been imaging from my balcony for about 1.5 years. You can't beat the convenience, but it is limiting as far as targets go.

I have been assembling stuff for a mobile battery / distribution system and it seems to be about ready for action. There is a lot of inertia, though. I wonder if anyone regularly goes to a nearby (public) dark site to image? I'm thinking of the Montebello parking lot or one of the dark sites used by SJAA. I feel like I might be more likely to overcome inertia if there were a group meeting semi-regularly to image.

RE: AIC, do you guys think it's worthwhile to go at least once? Many of the talks do look interesting.

- Dave

Respectful Engaging

pfile

Sep 5, 2017

i think it is worthwhile to go at least once. my 'problem' is that since i live in oakland, i never get a room at the hotel… but then it's a 45+ minute drive back and forth, so i tend to arrive late and leave early. this completely limits any social time, which is a big part of AIC for a lot of people. i end up talking to a few people between talks, but that's about it.

since the retail vendors usually have show specials it's worth it to go if you are thinking of making a big purchase. i bought my STT/filter wheel there some time ago from OPT.

i think SJAA has semi-regular imaging nights at some of their sites, but i've never been. again, too far from the action…

rob

MMX

Sep 5, 2017

Observatory… we have never been able to get into the Observatory….it is always under restoration it seems….

yep know the feeling, lived there for 33 years and never got a chance to visit. Meudon was easier though, and it has the large refractor and a nice view over the city. In September there are the "Journées du patrimoine" where most government facilities are open to the public, it may be open , the counterpart is standing in line for hours because so many people want to visit.

Emi Nikolov

May 7, 2023

Hi everyone,
I am not an imager. However, I am Emi, and am the Production Editor of the quarterly newsletter for the SJAA the Ephemeris.

Well Written

Jerry Gerber

May 7, 2023

Hi Jeff,

I'm Jerry, I live in San Francisco. You're not kidding about the weather, in SF we went from the wettest winter in decades to a foggy and windy spring. Urgh!! No astrophotography until I get out of town!

Speaking of which, is anyone around here going to the Golden State Star Party near Adin, California on June 14-18? I signed up. Temperature shouldn't be too hot in June and it's in one of the very darkest places in California.

I'm not going to the AIC this year but maybe next time.

Also, in the other thread in our SF Bay Area Imagers forum , https://www.astrobin.com/forum/c/group-forums/sf-bay-area-imagers/imaging-outing-to-stonyford-california-toward-end-of-may/ Nick Grundy and I are planning a short, one-night trip to Stonyford (Bortle 2) for imaging. We're going to camp for one night. Anyone want to join us? We're thinking around May 20th or so, I think a weeknight works best for Nick so if anyone wants to join us let Nick or me know. It's about a 3 hour drive (or less) from San Francisco..

Jerry

Helpful Engaging