Defcon Night Time Astronomy

[xor]

I've been sitting here listening to Spaceman, by The Killers as well as checking out http://hubblesite.org and was thinking that I haven't seen good stars in the longest time. Also since I now have a good DSLR how cool it would be to take a trip out into the desert at Defcon and night and star gaze while doing some star photography. I realize this is very late in the game for anything official but it would be cool nonetheless.

Is there an interest amongst others?

How far would one have to go out to escape the city pink?

If a road trip is out of the question how about the roof next to the EFF party, or is that off limits due to liability?

xor

[HighWiz]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

I've been sitting here listening to Spaceman, by The Killers as well as checking out http://hubblesite.org and was thinking that I haven't seen good stars in the longest time. Also since I now have a good DSLR how cool it would be to take a trip out into the desert at Defcon and night and star gaze while doing some star photography. I realize this is very late in the game for anything official but it would be cool nonetheless.

Is there an interest amongst others?

How far would one have to go out to escape the city pink?

If a road trip is out of the question how about the roof next to the EFF party, or is that off limits due to liability?

xor

On a clear night, I can see a lot of stars.. The joys of not living "in the city"... That, and the wage tax...

[renderman]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

I've been sitting here listening to Spaceman, by The Killers as well as checking out http://hubblesite.org and was thinking that I haven't seen good stars in the longest time. Also since I now have a good DSLR how cool it would be to take a trip out into the desert at Defcon and night and star gaze while doing some star photography. I realize this is very late in the game for anything official but it would be cool nonetheless.

Is there an interest amongst others?

How far would one have to go out to escape the city pink?

If a road trip is out of the question how about the roof next to the EFF party, or is that off limits due to liability?

xor

Forget seeing much of anything in the Vegas valley at all.

I've been out to Rachel, NV and hung out at the black mailbox of Area 52 nutter fame late at night. It's about 100 miles and there's still glow on the horizon from Vegas (luxor's light clearly distinguishable) but if it's clear out it's an amazing place to watch the sky (and be buzzed by helicopters, but that's a different story)

Might not have to go that far, but you'll want to put a mountain or two between you and Vegas at least.

[[Syntax]]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

I've been out to Rachel NV, parked out there where a guy was building a UFO research building, about 3 years ago. Haven't been back since. But from his parking lot we actually watched a satellite pass over.. It was some of the best viewing conditions I'd had, durring the summer there were no clouds at all..

Also, just a note as I attempted some astrophotography recently using my 20d and 5d.
You can use a teleconverter for additional magnification if your hooking your camera up to a telescope, but you need to use a dumb teleconverter. (Ebay - China made Cheepie) if you spend the cash for a good teleconverter with the electronics in it, the camera will freak out.

At least my Canons did, because the camera expects to get metering back, and when it doesn't it locks up. With a dumb converter or the camera directly on the scope it doesn't see any electronic connections so it fires freely.

Another instance where buying the better product did not produce the better results.

[xor]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

Also, just a note as I attempted some astrophotography recently using my 20d and 5d.
You can use a teleconverter for additional magnification if your hooking your camera up to a telescope, but you need to use a dumb teleconverter. (Ebay - China made Cheepie) if you spend the cash for a good teleconverter with the electronics in it, the camera will freak out.

At least my Canons did, because the camera expects to get metering back, and when it doesn't it locks up. With a dumb converter or the camera directly on the scope it doesn't see any electronic connections so it fires freely.

Another instance where buying the better product did not produce the better results.

I was just planning on doing some tripod mounted laptop controlled DSLR long exposure photography. Had some fun with that when I was down in Mexico on the beach. Turning nighttime in to almost day; pretty cool stuff. Beautiful beach, full moon it was awesome. Aside from the military road blocks and chief of police being assassinated it was a cool trip.

I'm arriving Wednesday mid-day, as well as renting a vehicle and if my Monkey Butler duties don't interfere I figure I can find some place off of 95 on the grounds of the Nellis AF Bombing range on the way to Area 51. I know that sounds like a bad idea but there has got to be a scenic overlook somewhere along the way. Who knows maybe I'll take a caffeine filled trip down to Rachel. Though any place that is actually listed on Google Maps can't be all the cool anymore but you never know. The cool places are the ones that no one can get to, or no one knows about; like northern Canada, Alaska, and the south pole.

xor

[renderman]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

The cool places are the ones that no one can get to, or no one knows about; like northern Canada, Alaska, and the south pole.

xor

Hey, I'm near that remark!

[sintax_error]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

Sounds like a good way to spend some evening hours, something I've never done, but have always been somewhat interested in. My current lack of decent photo gear would be a roadblock though.

[kallahar]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

Even near a city you can still get some great star photos. These were shot about an hour north of palm springs on a Rebel XTi:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kallahar/3487097362/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kallahar/3487099550/

Just make sure to have a steady tripod (weight down if windy). Use a remote trigger, or the self-timer. The hardest part is waiting the 10 minutes+ for a long exposure :)

Kallahar

[charliex]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

I take my LX200 about 30 minutes out towards pahrump on I160, and its pretty good, still some light pollution but you can see a lot with the naked eye, i usually head down the old spanish trail.

[mage2]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

xor,
im in, i have my DSLR and will have my tripod etc with me. Sounds like fun.

[barry99705]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

I was just planning on doing some tripod mounted laptop controlled DSLR long exposure photography. Had some fun with that when I was down in Mexico on the beach. Turning nighttime in to almost day; pretty cool stuff. Beautiful beach, full moon it was awesome. Aside from the military road blocks and chief of police being assassinated it was a cool trip.

I'm arriving Wednesday mid-day, as well as renting a vehicle and if my Monkey Butler duties don't interfere I figure I can find some place off of 95 on the grounds of the Nellis AF Bombing range on the way to Area 51. I know that sounds like a bad idea but there has got to be a scenic overlook somewhere along the way. Who knows maybe I'll take a caffeine filled trip down to Rachel. Though any place that is actually listed on Google Maps can't be all the cool anymore but you never know. The cool places are the ones that no one can get to, or no one knows about; like northern Canada, Alaska, and the south pole.

xor

Heh.

http://web.mac.com/barrywoods/Site/Aurora.html

Hey, I'm near that remark!

I'm not any more.

[Thorn]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

Heh.

http://web.mac.com/barrywoods/Site/Aurora.html



I'm not any more.

If you miss it that much, come up here for a couple of days. We have the Aurora, too.

[xor]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

xor,
im in, i have my DSLR and will have my tripod etc with me. Sounds like fun.

Keep in touch all are welcome. Mite scout a few areas on the way to the Defcon Shoot to.

xor

[Melesse]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

What night were you thinking about doing this? I just got a Rebel XS (had some comp time, decided to go all out!), and am looking for amusing things to do.

Mel

[xor]

Re: Defcon Night Time Astronomy

What night were you thinking about doing this? I just got a Rebel XS (had some comp time, decided to go all out!), and am looking for amusing things to do.

Mel

Actually Thursday night unofficially or any other night people seem up for it. If the Defcon Shoot location is open during the evening I was thinking about going there actually. Familiarity breeds acceptance.

xor