How Astrophotographers Deal With Clouds

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How Astrophotographers Deal With Clouds - Easy Tips

Рет қаралды 1,545

Күн бұрын

Cloudy nights don't need to be wasted. When the clear skies return you can be more prepared and motivated than ever to advance yourself in this amazing hobby.
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Reprocess Old Data
01:07 Learn New Tricks
01:55 Plan For Clear Nights
02:53 Dark Frame Library
03:16 Take Some Time Off
Books:
The Astrophotography Manual: amzn.to/3wEMYir
Deep Sky Imaging Primer: amzn.to/3iG0cmV
100 Best Astrophotography Targets: amzn.to/3DfDhII
Astrophotography Atlas: amzn.to/3ILcMvE
Websites:
Telescopius: www.telescopius.com
Clear Outside: www.clearoutside.com
Clear Dark Sky: www.cleardarksky.com
Airmass Satellite: bit.ly/3JLkwis
Astrobin: www.astrobin.com
My Equipment:
Telescope: Celestron RASA 8
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
Mount: iOptron CEM40
Filters: 2" Baader RGB and f/2 3.5/4nm Narrowband SHO
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini
Guide Scope: Orion 60mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
ZWO ASIAir Plus
ZWO EAF (Electronic Automatic Focuser)
Twitter: / nickjlake
Insta: / nickjlake
Astrobin: www.astrobin.com/users/bortle9/
Video shot on Pixel 4 XL
Rode Wireless Go microphone system
Photographs of the universe, with galaxies, stars, nebulae, supernovas, comets, planets, Moon, Sun. Inspiring wonder about the night sky, even from the light pollution of Chicago.

Пікірлер: 33

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! What's the longest stretch you've had of cloudy nights? How do you spend your time when you can't image?

@RaiseYourVibes333 10 ай бұрын

Check out my comment ! I also shared with one of your viewers who was discussing the cloud coverages after all day clear sunny days ...

@JonnyBravo0311 2 жыл бұрын

I think the key is to remember that this _is_ a hobby. It can certainly be a frustrating one... but also extremely rewarding. A lot of times when I look back at my old data I think, "dear gods this is awful. How did I even create any image at all from this?" That's actually one of the things I've found has happened to me as I've progressed over the past couple of years. I find that I've gone from being amazed to being critical. Instead of saying, "wow, I captured entire galaxies with my camera" I'm instead saying, "I think my spacing is a bit off" or "I definitely have some tilt". There's certainly value to those things - after all, I'm constantly striving to improve - but they cannot become the main focus. If they do, then astrophotography goes from being a fun and rewarding hobby to a chore. If that happens, then my kit goes from collecting photons to collecting dust. As for clear nights, I've had very precious few this year. January and early February were alright, but the past 6 weeks have been terrible. I think I've had maybe a total of 6 hours of imaging time... and almost all of that was in subpar conditions. Such is the nature of things 😃

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed, interesting how the shifting expectations can become the burden if you're not careful. As you say there is value in the details but it's easy to miss the forest for the trees.

@AstroParkAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Great video Nick! I also made a video on this topic last January, as all I had were cloudy nights for most of the whole month (there were sunny days though, which encouraged me to give solar observing and imaging a try). During cloudy nights, I also re-process old data, shoot my dark frames, and read books (I also have the Deep Sky Imaging Primer!), as well as test any new equipment and watch other Astro KZfaq channels for tips and guidance. As you mentioned, this is a hobby, and an amazing and rewarding one at that. Sometimes I fall down the path of over-analyzing all the technical aspects of astrophotograghy (pixel size, sampling rates, imaging train spacing, etc.) but then I catch myself and remember why I do this in the first place: to have fun exploring the universe in a pretty unique way! Thanks again for your tips!

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! Solar is a great option because it sure does seem there are a lot of gorgeous days followed by cloudy nights 🤣

@GarnettLeary 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. I needed to watch this to gain perspective. Thank you.

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! So glad it was helpful

@astrophoto_andy3335 2 жыл бұрын

OK Nick, I liked you before but seeing the 'Silmarillion and LOTR' on your bookshelf makes you ultra cool (or nerdy.) The 100 Best Astrophotography Targets is a great resource that I've used often. I had no idea Chris Woodhouse had his own book! Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Hoping for some clearing here in the western suburbs this weekend. It has been a dreadful stretch of clouds (normal for the midwestern spring,)

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Haha I think it make me ultra cool AND nerdy 😎 Yes, Sunday looking pretty good so we'll see!

@Lasserubinskov 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! And thank you for the tips on the books :)

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

@joakimastro 2 жыл бұрын

Good stuff Nick!

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

@JoesAstrophoto 2 жыл бұрын

Good tips Nick, I like the Lego building, but when that fails, I pretty much whine to anyone that will listen as if they can do something about the weather lol.

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Ha! Well if you find someone who can, lemme know!

@kyled7969 Жыл бұрын

Longest I've ever gone without imaging due to clouds was four months. May - August 2022. Here in FL, ever single night without exception in the summer is overcast.

@astralbody 2 жыл бұрын

I live in clouds here in the Pacific Northwest. Months of no astro. It is sad. I follow your suggestions and design and build power supplies. Accessories, etc to make setup efficient and simpler. Nice book suggestions will check them out. Good video, Nick! Cheers! pS love the Lego sets! I make airplanes tho 😉 LOTR!

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Wow, that is so great to build power supplies!

@astralbody 2 жыл бұрын

@@WindyCityAstrophotography I enjoy doing it. on rev. 2 of latest. mounts under EQ-6R Pro using the leg/shelf screw. all in one. I really need to get around to sharing it. haha. :)

@MyNikonian 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Nick just received delivery of the 4 books in your recommendation’s should keep me busy during the cloudy nights here in the UK Another one is capturing the universe a photographer’s guide to deep-sky imaging by Chris woodhouse. Great channel by the way.

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic, glad to hear it! I will definitely check that one out! Thanks!

@perry3928 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Nick. Great advice 👍 It's been months here in Rochester NY. I spend my time reading up, going through my rig. Adjusting cleaning etc. Using this time I feel is the best time to be sure everything is up to par. Sad nights are failures do to neglect of equipment. As a newbie like myself i practice set up and tare down to become more familiar with the equipment. Clear skies.

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

Love it! Yes set up and tear down are great things to do as well as cable management!

@Lord_Whiteley 2 жыл бұрын

Another good reason to own a Rasa, as you make the most of those few clear nights and soak up the data to play with on the cloudy nights :) I just need to get decent flats to remove the terrible vignetting I get on the Rasa - I have watched your flats video but I decided to buy a larger flat frame generator. Spend the afternoon collimating my TS 8” R-C for Galaxy season. Do you have any other telescopes Nick??

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

I have an 8" newt mainly for visual observing and an old Celestron C90 mak spotting scope. One of these days I will spring for a small refractor imaging setup so I can have two going at once.

@Lord_Whiteley 2 жыл бұрын

@@WindyCityAstrophotography I also own a Redcat51 with an ASI294MC Pro and you certainly can’t beat it for wider field shots.

@WindyCityAstrophotography 2 жыл бұрын

@@Lord_Whiteley That's the frontrunner second setup for me right now. What mount do you run that on?

@Lord_Whiteley 2 жыл бұрын

@@WindyCityAstrophotography main mount is the EQ6-R Pro and I have an AZ-GTI in EQ mode with a WO wedge. In fact I 3D printed a new housing for the AZ-GTI to house the ASIair circuit boards and use a EQmod cable internally. This is my portable setup for holidays and I use the Redcat51 with an ASI294MC pro or a Canon 70D that I modified by replacing the IV cut filter. I guess one day I will replace the 8” R-C with and HD Edge but these aren’t cheap but nothing is in Astrophotography :) In fact maybe the best telescope to get would be an Edge 9.25" for narrow field Galaxies and then buy a Hyperstar for wider field nebulaes?