The Liverpool Astronomical Society

Did you use registax to stack the avi's?

Good images Paul, nice polar cap on Mars and looks like you have the Great Red Spot on Jupiter too.

I have checked its postion from midnight tonight (under Leo and lying in Sextans) and it has the same same (more or less) declination as the Orion Nebula but does not get due south until 0200 U.T when it is at its highest, positions are below for each hour.

 Date__(UT)__HR:MN     R.A._(ICRF/J2000.0)_DEC  APmag 

 2012-Feb-01 00:00     10 32 14.54 -05 52 26.6   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 01:00     10 32 11.78 -05 55 05.7   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 02:00     10 32 09.01 -05 57 44.7   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 03:00     10 32 06.24 -06 00 23.6   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 04:00     10 32 03.46 -06 03 02.5   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 05:00     10 32 00.68 -06 05 41.2   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 06:00     10 31 57.89 -06 08 19.9   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 07:00     10 31 55.09 -06 10 58.4   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 08:00     10 31 52.29 -06 13 36.9   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 09:00     10 31 49.48 -06 16 15.3   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 10:00     10 31 46.67 -06 18 53.5   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 11:00     10 31 43.85 -06 21 31.7   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 12:00     10 31 41.03 -06 24 09.8   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 13:00     10 31 38.20 -06 26 47.8   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 14:00     10 31 35.37 -06 29 25.7   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 15:00     10 31 32.53 -06 32 03.5   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 16:00     10 31 29.68 -06 34 41.3   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 17:00     10 31 26.83 -06 37 18.9   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 18:00     10 31 23.97 -06 39 56.4   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 19:00     10 31 21.11 -06 42 33.8   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 20:00     10 31 18.24 -06 45 11.2   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 21:00     10 31 15.36 -06 47 48.4   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 22:00     10 31 12.48 -06 50 25.5   8.55   
 2012-Feb-01 23:00     10 31 09.60 -06 53 02.6   8.55   
 2012-Feb-02 00:00     10 31 06.71 -06 55 39.5   8.55   

We will need very up to date positions for the asteroid if we attempt to go for it as it will move pretty fast. The last one was broadcast live (after midnight) on the internet and telescopes had to be constantly nudged to keep up with it.
I will check and see if it is being broadcast anywhere live and get back to you, you never know we might get a clear sky on Wednesday :-)

You've been staying up late or getting up early to get a glimpse of Saturn (depends on how you look at it I suppose ) :- )

You can upload your image by looking below 'additional options' when replying. It tells you what format the image can be in, such as .jpg, gif etc The maximum size allowed is 128 kb so you may need to reduce it with an image editor.
Give it a try and we can see if it has uploaded.
Regards from Dave Galvin.

Hi David, yes it was a good night, around 200 people came along to view the sky and listen to the lectures. I had fun with our new Watec 120n video camera atached to Chris Bank's 8 inch reflector giving us some good views of the Moon, Jupiter and the Orion nebula.
The Sky at Night programme goes out in March and covers the work done by our supernova search team:
http://datscope.wikispaces.com/ and by other amateurs throughout the U.K
I will put an annoucement on the front page of this website
when I have the transmision date confirmed.
Who said astronomy was boring?   :-)

Hi Julie,
You need to put the camera in manual exposure mode and select an ISO rating of 400 to 800 and , if possible, set an exposure of 30 seconds or more. The longer the exposure then the longer the trails. If you use 30 seconds or less then you should get point images of the stars/constations.

I do not have the full specifications for your camera  but  I would suggest a wide aperture to cover a large field of view to 'see' a constellation such as Orion. 
The camera, ideally, should be on a tripod but you may be able to carefully prop the camera on a wall (for example) so that it is steady. The tricky part is to 'press' the shutter without shaking the camera and causing the image to blur. You may be able to set the camera to take the picture using its time delay function (if it has one of course)
Try experimenting with these basics in mind and let me know how you do. Focusing can be difficult and it is best to focus on a brigt star , planet or the moon.

Hi Mike, I have had a look on the forums and not found any bad reports regarding this scope. It is sounds like a good all rounder scope for observing galaxies, nebulae, lunar and planets. The addition of a R.A (for tracking) motor will certainly improve the viewing experience as this will keep the object in the eyepiece rather then sailing past. This will give a more relaxed view as the object will stay 'still'. The motor is essential for any imaging as you will need to track for  many seconds to record some of the bright nebula. You may be able to attach a camera on top of the mount to do some wide field constellion shots rather then through the telescope. If you can call in at the observatory on a Wednesday evening then we can chat better.
Regards from Dave Galvin.

Nice one Andy, clear sky is long over due. :-)

All the best Austin, Very windy in Liverpool at the mo and Scotland has been battered with 100 mph winds. Hang on to the rail mate. :-)

Santa gave me a mini trip on a cruse to see Derren Brown, I am geeky fan of the ilussionist and enjoyed the 'boat' ride too.
All the best and clear skies.

Just a quick thank you to all that have supported the website and forum during 2011 and that we look forward to chatting during 2012. Clear skies, love and peace to everybody.

Mine is an old 10 ft by 8 ft gareden shed with the sloping roof cut off. I fitted a set of runners on it and it works okay. Saves having to set up evert time and is operational in five mins.

Not sure without actually seeing the set up but if it was exactly the same configuration that can only leave the focusing, perhaps it was way out of focus! The moons of Jupiter should be (almost) pinpoints of light whilst Jupiter would show a smallish disc (as you described) . I cant think what else it would be. The Moon will be back in the evening sky next week and you could check your focus technique on that ie craters are sharp, then check for point like stars and Jupiter as described. I would not think that your mirror is lose and cause the focus to shift.
On your second point I would suggest that the scope did not equalise with the outside temperture. I have my scope permently set  up outside in a a shed with a roll off  roof (luxury :-) ) and even that suffers from the temerture difference when the roof is drawn back to observe. Those pieces of glass do hold the heat and take time to cool. Try and give it 30 minutes at least before expecting to much and take into account what we said earlier about tube currents and seeing conditions.

Eager beaver :-)
I am sure that it is fine, bring it to the observatory so that we can have a look at it.