Long overdue site update is comming
My site was quiet for some time but it's getting an update soon. Aside of some code fixes like the search box there will be a newer and hopefully better layout as well as a steady stream of new content. I have in stock a lot of topics to cover and a pile of hardware to go through with benchmarks and tests. From IoT to PC. I was also testing a 14" f/19 planetary Dall Kirkham telescope so you can expect some coverage soon.
20 slot filter wheel in a QHY MiniCAM6F camera
On Facebook QHY showed photos of a new camera they are working on - miniCAM6F. This camera, just like ASI178MM is equipped with IMX178 and has a built in filter wheel that can hold 20 custom sized 12mm filters. The camera should be released in march 2017.
What about imaging sodium and sulphur clouds in the Jupiter - Io system?
Jupiter system is full of action and there is always something interesting to photograph. For example sodium clouds created by Jupiter magnetosphere interacting with Io atmosphere. It's just 300 Jupiter radii wide gigantic nebula in our Solar System.
Let us have a look on how to photograph such clouds and how Jupiter makes them.
Looking at cheap high resolution analogue cameras for video astronomy use
Analogue CCTV cameras designed for cheap and mass surveillance systems aren't very useful in astronomy due to very poor image quality aside of some top shelf or more modern cameras that are actually very good at video astronomy and similar usages. Going with the progress of technology we now have AHD cameras - analogue cameras with higher 720p or 1080p resolution. They cost only 7-15 USD but are they any good and how can we use them?
PyCon PL 2016 status update
Call for proposals for PyCon PL 2016 conference is hitting deadline on 10th of June. Registration for the conference should start somewhat soon. The PyCon PL 2016 will be held in Hotel Ossa Congress & Spa located in Ossa (Poland) on October 13th through October 16th.
I'll be attending and if my talk will get to agenda - I'll have one of the talks. There will be English as well as Polish talks on the conference.
How to start playing The Lost Vikings in Heroes of the Storm
The Lost Vikings, or TLV for short are one of those unique and high skill cap heroes you can pick in Heroes of the Storm. How do you play with three mini-heroes at once?
Lenses in DS astrophotography
Lenses in astrophotography have been bit forgotten in favour of big and shiny astrographs. With the introduction of latest CMOS based cameras with smaller pixels lenses become a very interesting and viable option for DS imaging at a low cost.
What are the lens options we have today and how can we connect them to our DS or planetary cameras?
Stackistry - new stacking application
Stackistry is a new, open source application for stacking (mostly planetary) clips. It works under Linux and MS Windows.
GPCAMV2 color IMX224 planetary camera at a low price
Altair Astro GPCAMV2 just launched for just 170 GBP. It's a planetary and guide camera that is way cheaper than ASI224 (although the price isn't final yet). The IMX224 sensor have been proven for its very low read noise and high sensitivity.
Cheap guider and color planetary camera - QHY5R-II
QHY5R-II is one of recently released QHY cameras -a $99 cheap color guide and planetary camera. Lets take a quick look at it capabilities.