Telescopes at the Spring Star Party

[@ricardocalderon1721]

Mark thank you for this video from UK...congratulations.

[@RefreshingViews]

Cheers Ricardo. Clear skies are great where ever they are! Where are you based?

[@secretstill]

Mark, thanks for this report. It's great to see such skilled and inventive astronomers at work. I must get to a star party one day soon!

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad you enjoyed it Mark. Defo go to a star party. They’re such good fun and so friendly - even better if the weather is clear.

[@ManishFrenchStudio]

Wow lovely video 📸 thankyou for sharing 💕 keep uploading more videos 🎉🎊 clear skies 🤩🤩🤩

[@RefreshingViews]

And clear skies to you - glad you enjoyed it

[@leoncorns1450]

Never been to a star party These guys are in a different league to what I can achieve with my set ups. Really interesting video, thank you!

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad you enjoyed it Leon. Defo go to a star party - everyone is so welcome and friendly you’ll have a great time.

[@peterwoolliams1283]

Great to see Dans scope with my old 16” Meade mirror! Your weather was lightweight… we woke up to several inches of snow on the Isle of Wight once.. having a roof and a kettle certainly is welcome!

[@RefreshingViews]

Lovely to hear of the scopes provenance - it’s a small world! Brr - your star party sounds a bit fresh. Defo worth having a roof and kettle!

[@peterwoolliams1283]

@@RefreshingViews …. There are precious few starparties that have a non-tent offering (not counting the motor home option).

[@Nottsboy24]

Absolutely fantastic 🔭

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you!

[@ziggyfrnds]

Great video mate thanks for sharing your experience with us!!

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad you enjoyed it. Clear skies to you!

[@thecaravanham]

Great to catch up as always Mark. The animal at the end barking away is a muntjac deer.

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Tim - thank you! Amazing that such a small animal produces so much noise. Clear skies to you!

[@peterwoolliams1283]

@@RefreshingViews hedgehogs are another creature that can scare you in the dark…. Especially as they’re so small.

[@RefreshingViews]

@@peterwoolliams1283 they're always prickly aren't they 🙂

[@robi4514]

Fantastic vid Mark with great interviews. I particularly liked hearing Richard talk about his old Celestron SCT - some really interesting insights from someone who is clearly very experienced. I would concur with his comments about the joys of an old C8, I feel the same way about my 22 year old analogue C8. And like you, I also enjoy the simplicity of my 100ED on an AZ4 - in fact I bought the AZ4 as a result of seeing your setup in another video. 🙂

[@RefreshingViews]

Yes, those older instruments still perform well don't they?. So glad your C8 is still going strong and I hope you are getting on with your AZ4.

[@AstroNerd]

Mark, another great video! Funny how similar star parties are between the UK and in the US, astronomers are the friendliest people you’ll meet. I caught NGC3718 along with NGC3726 plus Hickson 56 in the spring of 2021 via my C11 doing EAA, I was super amazed at seeing that group all those galaxies in one field of view. Keep up the great work; clear and steady skies to you.

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Mike - lovely to hear from you. I hope you and family are well. So glad you caught NGC3718 - it looks stunning particularly with the Hickson group alongside. Enjoy your star parties and speak soon!

[@johnathanedwards8706]

I like your moon processing videos. I recently bought a 14" SCT and am enjoying takings photos of the moon. The only problem I have in processing is getting rid of the bright edges of craters catching the morning sun. Is there a process to remove or lessen these brighter areas? Thank you for any help.

[@RefreshingViews]

Wow - a 14” must be giving some great views. I would suggest checking the histogram to make sure you’re not over exposing your image - about 2/3 to 3/4 is right. I sometimes use the dodge tool - from memory it’s the one that looks like a hand. It darkens shadows, midtones or highlights. Set it to highlights, 30% opacity and the right radius and gently darken the crater rims.

[@johnathanedwards8706]

Thank you very much.

[@yenotiza]

Delighted to see that Gordon Ramsay got in to astronomy as well 31:07

[@RefreshingViews]

Ha ha - I'll let Richard know that!!