computer group

ladies and gents,
i am going to suggest something i have suggested before about 4 years ago on the old ifas mailing list. back then i suggested forming a group of people interested in computers and astronomy. it did not really take off as it was only a little after 6 months since ifas was founded. some of the things i suggested back then was a website ( too late now ) for ifas , helping creating websites for the various clubs and maybe producing observing aids such as maps for events as well as discussing software. since times have changed and only some of what i suggested previously has been covered one of the things i would suggest would be a group for digital techniques seeing that some people are using digital cameras, web cams etc.. maybe there could be a group for digital observing as i will call it and computers. another idea maybe would to be to have maybe a co - ordinated observing of one object ? ( ifas digital moon map anyone?). just something i thought i would throw out again for people to pick at.
stephen.

Some good suggestions there. Some of what you have discussed could perhaps be covered in the astrophotography section but perhaps we need to tackle the issue in a different manner. Alot of us are using similar equipment and cameras and so perhaps we need to create projects through which we develop our imaging skills. How about we create a sticky called "M57 IFAS Astrophotography Project" for example. In this, each member is encouraged to take images and upload their result solely of M57. If we have alot of images of the same object we can understand what makes a good image and ruins a bad one. Then, all of us will experience our astrophotography skills improving as we gradually understand the whole process much more clearly due to the comparitive efforts of many rather than just plodding away ourselves. People have posted images here before however, we don't really discuss the ins-and-outs too much but simply same "well-done". Perhaps if we set up this program on the basis that we actively comment and encourage each other to improve ones skills then we can all learn the skills of astrophotography a bit quicker and easier. If several members take images of the same object, then we can all benefit. Alot of us are only dabbling in astrophotography for the last year or so and none of us are real "experts". As I said, alot of us are using similar scopes, similar cameras and similar software so the shooting and processing techniques shouldn't vary much. Hopefully this sort of project would help us all become better astrophotographers. Similarly, for webcam users we could have a sticky called "Jupiter IFAS Astrophotography Project" and so on for the other planets. It can only be done on the basis of members actively participating and assisting each other. Sometimes this means saying "nice image!" but other times it means "I found that if I do such-and-such it helps alot. Here's my pic of M57"
Is this along the lines you were thinking Stephen?
Would there be many people interested in signing up for such a program which would discuss astrophotography in a slightly more technical and organised program :

Guys,
This a is a good idea, but can we not do this in the astrophotography section of the IFAS site.
I would not like to see a third irish astro site built, I prefer to have it all in the one area.
Simply start a thread called "M57 group" or whatever the object is and those with the equipment and patience can plough into it.
Most times I include what I did to get the image anyway.
Only last night I was out and got some preliminary images of M31, M1, ngc7009 and ngc891 but they're not the best due mainly to tracking errors, which I have a cure for but will try the next time I'm out.
BTW, got a glimpse of Saturn last night also, long time no see. :lol: yes, I was out that late.......


Anyway, to get back to the point, its a good idea, did we not already start the ball rolling with the M57 a few weeks ago, in fairness we didnt really talk in detail how we took the shots, next time I get a decent pic, I'll explain exactly what I did to get it in a new thread.

Is anyone here using a CCD camera ??

Some good suggestions there. Some of what you have discussed could perhaps be covered in the astrophotography section but perhaps we need to tackle the issue in a different manner. Alot of us are using similar equipment and cameras and so perhaps we need to create projects through which we develop our imaging skills. How about we create a sticky called "M57 IFAS Astrophotography Project" for example. In this, each member is encouraged to take images and upload their result solely of M57. If we have alot of images of the same object we can understand what makes a good image and ruins a bad one. Then, all of us will experience our astrophotography skills improving as we gradually understand the whole process much more clearly due to the comparitive efforts of many rather than just plodding away ourselves. People have posted images here before however, we don't really discuss the ins-and-outs too much but simply same "well-done". Perhaps if we set up this program on the basis that we actively comment and encourage each other to improve ones skills then we can all learn the skills of astrophotography a bit quicker and easier. If several members take images of the same object, then we can all benefit. Alot of us are only dabbling in astrophotography for the last year or so and none of us are real "experts". As I said, alot of us are using similar scopes, similar cameras and similar software so the shooting and processing techniques shouldn't vary much. Hopefully this sort of project would help us all become better astrophotographers. Similarly, for webcam users we could have a sticky called "Jupiter IFAS Astrophotography Project" and so on for the other planets. It can only be done on the basis of members actively participating and assisting each other. Sometimes this means saying "nice image!" but other times it means "I found that if I do such-and-such it helps alot. Here's my pic of M57"
Is this along the lines you were thinking Stephen?
Would there be many people interested in signing up for such a program which would discuss astrophotography in a slightly more technical and organised program :

i suppose that if we are using similar equipment then if we focus on one object at a time we can learn from one another by trying out things and reporting back. we could also learn from people with different equipment as well as some equipment is good for some subjects and some for others. i think though if we got all of this equipment it might be worth focusing it on a particular plan as once we have taken all the pretty pictures it might get boring. i think we might be able to do something useful. it may not have a scientific goal but it would help you develop you skills. i think though something like imaging say the moon for a year and then producing one high detailed image from the best or maybe a movie of it's phases?.
stephen.