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google "vanderberg launch schedule". There are pages and apps that will send you notifications for next launches.

www.astronomics.com/eyepieces-barlows.html?filter_eyepiece_series=1052&manufacturer=360 Astronomics.com Astro-Tech (a high value brand across their product range) UWA and XWA eyepieces are really high quality for a lot less than the premium brands.

any unobstructed view the west (north west to due south) is good. Any of the beaches (except maybe those facing south, with terrain to the north (Bird Rock?). Folks like west-facing parts of Mission Bay and Coronado for the foreground (for phone shots). Folks are getting creative by setting up to the southeast of cool landmarks to get the plume in its background. Note that I've never been able to see a daylight launch.

@@jeffmartin-g8r great suggestions! The beach view actually sounds amazing i’m gonna try that for next time!

@@ChristinaMagma I've seen great shots from La Jolla Shores and Coronado. Good luck!

and cheap for the aperture!

I tossed the info in the Description. The biggest thing I need to do now is use the electronic viewfinder diopter adjustment so that I can actually see if it's in focus or not. I found the EVF to be really important (I've screwed up a number of videos by not being able to verify focus (including the last Total Eclipse video)).

@@golookup Thanks for adding the equipment list. That is one pricey lens but you got some very exquisite footage from it.

@@GlennSisson I bought the lens to shoot my son's volleyball and got a lot of good use out of it (ucvolley.com)

Not Spacex and not Monday: Alpha | Noise of Summer Wed Jun 26, 2024 9:00 PM PDT SLC-2W, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA Sun Sync Orbit. Too late at night for much to see, smaller rocket than F9

@@CATDRL2 Thank you for the correction!!! I appreciate it. I was going by the website and obviously didn't have the correct information. 🤔🤨🤒

these twilight launches are amazing. I can't even see the daylight launches. We've been lucky to get a bunch of twilights, but now that I'll be looking to get some SeaWorld fireworks in the frame, they'll Never Happen Again :)

complete surprise. I would have used a wider lens to capture both had I known. Next time...

NoPE. Fire up your google :) . Note if you are an original owner, Orion will answer your support questions. If you don't have proof of your original purpose they won't help you. At all. This is a really poor attitude and I no longer buy from them. The hand controller is the critical component here, so search based on that. Also, I think Sky-Watcher hand controllers are similar. You might be able to up grade the hand controller firmware... Good luck.

the long achromatics have a very good reputation; if it's the flourite model (the C102F), it's a renowned collector item with "perfect" optics.

it might have been. as far as I knew, it was just an "old slow" Celestron 80mm. I was holding it for friend and didn't pay any attention.

@@golookup Those old scopes like that are really good!!

@@lornaz1975 so, really good color correction (for a doublet) and high resolution (for an 80mm). I have a friend who appreciates those really high quality "stock" scopes.

Yes I know. That is why I noticed it!!

Does the EQ3 get "all the way"? (RA axis goes to vertical (true Alt-Az) or just close enough?

@@golookup,I Never Knew You Responded,My Apologies..And Yes The Eq3 Will Go 90deg…Also My Eqm35Pro

@@PafMedic No problem!

@@jeffmartin-g8r,Will The Goto Work Correctly In That Mode For The Eqm35…And On The Nano..It Might Be 1-2 Deg Off…But If Your Just Star Hopping,That Shouldnt Matter..But Thats Pretty Cool,When You Have Someone With Less Experience Around…Why Dont The Big Brands Show You This,lol

yeah, if I ever take this seriously, I need a catch phrase and for every video a thumbnail with me making a "I can't believe this, wow!" face.

yes, it's dangerous. And of course there are those who aren't used to having telescopes or binoculars and will peek at the wrong time (it makes solar outreach really dangerous - especially with kids)

great time to launch - makes it easy.

yeah, it's amazing how far the booster flies ballistically (and it seems like the plume would slow it down (but from the in-booster cameras, it's clearly very rarefied))

yeah, ultimately, everything is about the people. My favorite memory from the 2017 Eclipse is my son jumping up and down with delight (he's off to school now, so didn't come with us).

@@golookup 😀

SpaceX is launching "frequently" from Vandenberg. The twilight launches like these really are impressive. Daylight launches are not visible this far south. Keep track with a website or app dedicated to luanches.

@@golookup Thanks!

Thanks! It's interesting how much spaces is covered in that six second gap between MECO and second stage ignition.

Thanks for watching!

Your sky background was darker I assume, and the plume correspondingly much "brighter"? Very cool!

Yep, lack of prep is my bane. My eclipse footage is out of focus because of many distractions ( a true "lack of focus")

it's definitely impacting serious twilight astronomy (not so much casual visual astronomy)

clearly it can't penetrate the dome

I agree!

It's an amazing time for space!

thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed it.

yep, I'm in Florida (the last Delta Heavy was delayed, but I caught a day and night launch from the Cape). The sunset launches are legitimately spectacular.

Can you see the daytime launches from Long Beach? In San Diego, we really need a twilight or night launch.

@@golookup When I lived in Long Beach we could see the contrail briefly but in order to see it like in your video or my video you need twilight or night time. I’ve seen all three and twilight is the best by far.

I'm out of town, but was able to get my wife out on the patio so that she could see it.

location, location, location!

how'd it go? I had good luck my first time with me cell phone. After that, when i knew what to expect, I got something completely different: nothing (could barely see them visually)

@@golookup Not happy with the footage. I used manual focus to keep the camera from searching for focus, but I had it set a smidge off. It was quite a sight though, against the post sunset deep indigo sky. Watched it from Sunset Cliffs, catching the booster’s reentry off of Baja.

@@bobshafto sorry, I misunderstood you (I was thinking "starlink train"). I got lucky with my mid-recording switch to manual focus because between the electronic viewfinder and my iffy eyesight, I couldn't really tell. Sunset Cliffs seems like a really good spot for videoing.

@@jeffmartin-g8r For this event, I set up on Luscomb's Point. I've never planned and prepped for a Vandenberg launch before, but for this one I wanted to be able to have a view to the horizon towards the launch site and be able to see the horizon where the booster would be landing. There's a great spot I know that's got better elevation, but it's on DoD property so not allowed to video/photograph. There's another SpaceX Starlink launch scheduled for Friday evening, but I don't think the weather is going to cooperate. But I'll be better prepared for next time.

250 miles or so. Can''t see them at all in the daytime.

I wonder how close it gets as it passes by...

I dream to see this just one time in real.

nice for ultra wide fields...

that's a great starter scope (th-cam.com/video/Qt13w1U-0Gg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Yt0C2KIw60WYk_GM), a good eyepiece will transfer to all your next scopes and will make observing better (th-cam.com/video/5PbJvB-j-DQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=HAahn29ouURzN0PN). A dobsonian is an inexpensive way to "see deep" and "see big" (th-cam.com/video/MR05uzsr8vk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=UvDQ75V7gtoMZl5T)

happy to post; thanks for thanking!!

NGL, your comment is awesome!

both your comments are awesome!

thanks!

I was reluctant to mount the camera because it goes close to overhead, sometimes the mount doesn't like that and you lose the shot. I'll keep practicing (and sharing).