We may be massively outnumbered by our male colleagues but here is a place for us to congregate and share our work and learn from each other.
Hello!
Well Written Respectful Engaging Supportive
Great idea!
Thanks, Molly!
Didn't know this group existed. Indeed there are few of us, but happy to be here.
Where do you guys live?
I am from the UK SE London/NW Kent, and I have Bortle 8 at my home location, really horrible, but I do take my kit once a month (weather permitting) to a campsite where it is Bortle 4, along with a few other imagers, I am the only female 99% of the time.
Carole
Where do you guys live?
I am from the UK SE London/NW Kent, and I have Bortle 8 at my home location, really horrible, but I do take my kit once a month (weather permitting) to a campsite where it is Bortle 4, along with a few other imagers, I am the only female 99% of the time.
Carole
Respectful Engaging
Carole,
I'm in northern Virginia about 15-20km west of Washington DC. Our skies are not quite as bad as yours but close, probably just below a Bottle 7. The club I belong to does have access to several darker sites about an hour west of here though the weather seems to rarely allow me to get there on a weekend. I've been surprised at what I've been able to do from home though. I'm working on an image of Markarian's Chain & M87. So far I've only got an hour of data but the number of small fuzzy galaxies in the frame boggles the mind.
Welcome to the group! It's only been in existence less than a week so you found us pretty quickly!
Linda
I'm in northern Virginia about 15-20km west of Washington DC. Our skies are not quite as bad as yours but close, probably just below a Bottle 7. The club I belong to does have access to several darker sites about an hour west of here though the weather seems to rarely allow me to get there on a weekend. I've been surprised at what I've been able to do from home though. I'm working on an image of Markarian's Chain & M87. So far I've only got an hour of data but the number of small fuzzy galaxies in the frame boggles the mind.
Welcome to the group! It's only been in existence less than a week so you found us pretty quickly!
Linda
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Oh, this is a really good idea!
I'm a 20-year-old student from China. I live in Hainan Province now. The weather is always bad, so I'm going to set up a remote control observatory 4300 km away. Yes, 4300 kilometres. It takes me a lot of time to get there. Of course, I need to pay much money on this. : ( The Observatory is located in Dabancheng, Xinjiang, China. It is one of the best amateur observatories in China with the best light pollution conditions~!
In China, few women try to image DSO either. But I'll try my best.
Fluorine Z.
I'm a 20-year-old student from China. I live in Hainan Province now. The weather is always bad, so I'm going to set up a remote control observatory 4300 km away. Yes, 4300 kilometres. It takes me a lot of time to get there. Of course, I need to pay much money on this. : ( The Observatory is located in Dabancheng, Xinjiang, China. It is one of the best amateur observatories in China with the best light pollution conditions~!
In China, few women try to image DSO either. But I'll try my best.
Fluorine Z.
Engaging
Welcome, Fluroine! It's great to see such a diverse group of women showing up here! I'm envious of having a remote observatory (or even a local one)! We're looking forward to seeing your work!
Well Written Respectful Engaging Supportive
Hello all from West Yorkshire in the UK!
I have Bortle 5 skies which could be worse but have some inconvenient street lights to deal with. Unfortunately I'm not mobile any more so have to make do with what I have locally. However I'd put together a narrow-band setup to make the best of skies I've had in the US and Switzerland before heading back to the UK so no need to feel too sorry!
Pam
I have Bortle 5 skies which could be worse but have some inconvenient street lights to deal with. Unfortunately I'm not mobile any more so have to make do with what I have locally. However I'd put together a narrow-band setup to make the best of skies I've had in the US and Switzerland before heading back to the UK so no need to feel too sorry!
Pam
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Hello to all! I from Iceland but for many years live in Hellerup, Denmark which is København area. Is quite bright here and also sea level (6-7) and as on shore of Baltic foggy but have some access to remote scopes in La Palma and Chile but most enjoy take images with DSLR and tracker from my garden.
Also now for next few months not dark here. I enjoy see all others images and say thanks to Linda for making group! Girlpower!
-Sigga
Also now for next few months not dark here. I enjoy see all others images and say thanks to Linda for making group! Girlpower!
-Sigga
Hello, Pam & Sigga! Welcome! It's great to see women showing up here!
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Hello everyone.
I live in North Nottinghamshire and am fortunate that we have Bortle 4 skies in our back garden - we do have a couple of neighbours who like to illuminate their gardens all night but our imaging observatories are shielded from the worst offender (Japanese themed garden with illuminated water features) by our house. I share all of the kit at home with my husband Steve.
Like Sigga we have a few months of the year when we get no Astro darkness so I am lucky to now have access to data from a new dual TEC 140 rig that Olly Penrice has set up at Les Granges in the South of France. Steve and I own some of the equipment used on that rig. As this is a new joint venture which was set up just as I set off on holiday I haven’t had a chance to process any of the data from it yet. Steve also has two remote telescopes in Spain that he shares with another Astrobin user (Barry Wilson) so there is a bit of competition for processing time on the PC so don’t expect me to post anything new soon!
I live in North Nottinghamshire and am fortunate that we have Bortle 4 skies in our back garden - we do have a couple of neighbours who like to illuminate their gardens all night but our imaging observatories are shielded from the worst offender (Japanese themed garden with illuminated water features) by our house. I share all of the kit at home with my husband Steve.
Like Sigga we have a few months of the year when we get no Astro darkness so I am lucky to now have access to data from a new dual TEC 140 rig that Olly Penrice has set up at Les Granges in the South of France. Steve and I own some of the equipment used on that rig. As this is a new joint venture which was set up just as I set off on holiday I haven’t had a chance to process any of the data from it yet. Steve also has two remote telescopes in Spain that he shares with another Astrobin user (Barry Wilson) so there is a bit of competition for processing time on the PC so don’t expect me to post anything new soon!
Welcome, Elisabeth! I'm humbled by the talent of the women who have joined us here! I'm up way too early trying to see what little data I managed to collect last night so it's great to see what other are doing to keep me inspired.
I try 2x2 mosaic of Veil tonight, hopefully have coordinates properly calculated.
Anyone else have plans for coming weeks? Hope all are well and wish clear skies!
Sigga
Anyone else have plans for coming weeks? Hope all are well and wish clear skies!
Sigga
Hi Sigga, I had the impression you were from the Faroes, maybe you did some imaging there. I took a group from our local astro society to Iceland in 2013, mainly to see the aurora, but what an interesting and different country it is.
As regards targets, I find this a boring time of the year for me, with my Bortle 8 skies, and being galaxy season as my kit is not really powerful enough for small galaxies, more designed for nebulae.
Hoping to get to astro camp at Bortle 4 this weekend (weather permitting) and am going to have a go at the Cat's Eye Nebula with my ED120/Atik428 combination, and although I tried it there once before, I would like to get some luminance with a camera lens of the Antares Region, but it was rubbish last time I tried. Failing that I am going to Spain on 31st May with my Sky tracker so hopefully might get some then, I managed to get it with my DSLR and Sky Tracker two years ago from the same place, but need some luminance to further enhance it.
Also maybe the Little Rosette Nebula. Can't get this from home as it is behind next door's loft extension this time of the year.
That's my plans until the Nebulae start appearing again.
Carole
As regards targets, I find this a boring time of the year for me, with my Bortle 8 skies, and being galaxy season as my kit is not really powerful enough for small galaxies, more designed for nebulae.
Hoping to get to astro camp at Bortle 4 this weekend (weather permitting) and am going to have a go at the Cat's Eye Nebula with my ED120/Atik428 combination, and although I tried it there once before, I would like to get some luminance with a camera lens of the Antares Region, but it was rubbish last time I tried. Failing that I am going to Spain on 31st May with my Sky tracker so hopefully might get some then, I managed to get it with my DSLR and Sky Tracker two years ago from the same place, but need some luminance to further enhance it.
Also maybe the Little Rosette Nebula. Can't get this from home as it is behind next door's loft extension this time of the year.
That's my plans until the Nebulae start appearing again.
Carole
Engaging
Carole,
I Faroese by birth my mum Faroes and father Ísland. As Faroes cloudiest place on earth not too good for astro!
I pleased to hear did enjoy Ísland!
Sounds as good plan, until August here not dark so use remote scopes when can get a few minutes as they used by real astronomers although maybe can get in 1 hour now and then.
I have plan when time allow upload some subs to Astrobin shared files area so other can have a go with processing. Until then work on mosaic and reprocessing older files.
Look forward to see what you get Carole!
Best wishes,
Sigga
I Faroese by birth my mum Faroes and father Ísland. As Faroes cloudiest place on earth not too good for astro!
I pleased to hear did enjoy Ísland!
Sounds as good plan, until August here not dark so use remote scopes when can get a few minutes as they used by real astronomers although maybe can get in 1 hour now and then.
I have plan when time allow upload some subs to Astrobin shared files area so other can have a go with processing. Until then work on mosaic and reprocessing older files.
Look forward to see what you get Carole!
Best wishes,
Sigga
Oops make double.post
Yes lack of dark skies this time of the year is bad enough in Southern UK, pretty non existent in Northern Scotland and anything of that latitude, in southern Spain the nights are longer and the skies are clearer, so fingers crossed. It's just a shame I have to take a skytracker with me and camera lens, but better than nothing.
I am taking my Mono CCD camera to attach to the camera lens this time, so as I can't guide and can only do around 3 1/2 min subs maximum (if I can get good PA), am thinking to bin the data.
For this astro camping weekend It's now looking like only 1 night of clear sky and only after midnight and rain during the afternoon when I would be "setting up", so am wondering whether it is worth the effort of going. Will see what the other "travellers" think.
Carole
I am taking my Mono CCD camera to attach to the camera lens this time, so as I can't guide and can only do around 3 1/2 min subs maximum (if I can get good PA), am thinking to bin the data.
For this astro camping weekend It's now looking like only 1 night of clear sky and only after midnight and rain during the afternoon when I would be "setting up", so am wondering whether it is worth the effort of going. Will see what the other "travellers" think.
Carole
At the star party I attended last September, we got clouds and rain the entire weekend…well almost…there was some scattered clearing the first night but the forecast was scary enough that I didn't get the gear out of the car. Probably for the best as there were thunderstorms rolling through by morning. Hopefully it will be better this year!
At home we seem to be averaging one clear night a week at best right now.
At home we seem to be averaging one clear night a week at best right now.
Well Written Engaging
Star parties are great for socialising with like minded people. We have several here in the UK, but perhaps the biggest is that in September at Kelling Heath in Norfolk. It is a great event as there are 4 fields with around 300 astronomers camping. So much cameraderie, at night it is a red lights only rule. In the daytime you can do an astro boot sale, and on Saturday there are astro talks and astro traders there.
What I do monthly is just with local astro people and not an official Star party, probably between 2 and 6 of us, it varies according to availability and the weather forecast. We sometimes share the camping field with non astronomers, but as it is a small camp we don't have much bother in the way of white lights and it normally stops by about 11pm when they all go to bed. They are also pretty interested in what we are doing anyway.
One thing I love at the large Kelling Heath star party is meeting up with people I know from forums but perhaps never met before.
It always seems to be the way that we get a few nice clear skies just when it is a full Moon. Do you ladies find that too?
Carole
What I do monthly is just with local astro people and not an official Star party, probably between 2 and 6 of us, it varies according to availability and the weather forecast. We sometimes share the camping field with non astronomers, but as it is a small camp we don't have much bother in the way of white lights and it normally stops by about 11pm when they all go to bed. They are also pretty interested in what we are doing anyway.
One thing I love at the large Kelling Heath star party is meeting up with people I know from forums but perhaps never met before.
It always seems to be the way that we get a few nice clear skies just when it is a full Moon. Do you ladies find that too?
Carole
Helpful Engaging
Carole,
Sounds like star parties in the UK are pretty similar to the ones in the US. Even though the weather was pretty horrid last year, the company and the programs made it a fun experience. I also got a chance to tour the Green Bank Radio Telescope and that was fascinating!
Green Bank Radio Telescope
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ac4lt/albums/72157700945477624
The weather:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ac4lt/42811698300/in/album-72157695389068780/
I think you are absolutely right about the full moon! It seems to have the ability to burn those clouds right out. In 2018 we had more than twice as much rain as we average and I suspect 2019 is off to a similar start.
Sounds like star parties in the UK are pretty similar to the ones in the US. Even though the weather was pretty horrid last year, the company and the programs made it a fun experience. I also got a chance to tour the Green Bank Radio Telescope and that was fascinating!
Green Bank Radio Telescope
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ac4lt/albums/72157700945477624
The weather:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ac4lt/42811698300/in/album-72157695389068780/
I think you are absolutely right about the full moon! It seems to have the ability to burn those clouds right out. In 2018 we had more than twice as much rain as we average and I suspect 2019 is off to a similar start.
Here is my new toy. I called him XunFeng（巽风）. In China, "XunFeng" means the wind.
Fluorine Z.
Very nice Fluorine, lucky you to have two set ups.
This is my rig tucked inside a camping observatory at the local star party. I can just about squeeze in there with a table and chair. It does help to keep the wind and frost off me too. In fact the main reason I got it was as a wind shield.
This is my rig tucked inside a camping observatory at the local star party. I can just about squeeze in there with a table and chair. It does help to keep the wind and frost off me too. In fact the main reason I got it was as a wind shield.
Respectful Supportive
My dual rig.
Thank you Carole,
I have a Sky-watcher 80 telescope and it is used for visual observing. I think Black Diamond ED series has great optical design~!
Fluorine Z.
I have a Sky-watcher 80 telescope and it is used for visual observing. I think Black Diamond ED series has great optical design~!
Fluorine Z.
Hello everyone,
I am thrilled that so many women are taking pictures of Deep Sky. I am a beginner, live in Germany and am changing my location to Bad Salzuflen. There I have Bortle 4, I'm looking forward to it! …
P.S . I also have a Black Diamond ED 80 with Canon 1000D and QHY8 on EQ5 Go-To
I am thrilled that so many women are taking pictures of Deep Sky. I am a beginner, live in Germany and am changing my location to Bad Salzuflen. There I have Bortle 4, I'm looking forward to it! …
P.S . I also have a Black Diamond ED 80 with Canon 1000D and QHY8 on EQ5 Go-To