Thanks Mikael, I’m trying to keep my spirits high even though my skies are low. 🙂 Working on a short equipment related video to be released soon (I hope).
Hi Flemming, Interesting tips, particularly about creating diffraction spikes while using a refactor. I suppose you could make several different masks with different degrees of thickness to generate wider or thinner spikes. I don't think you are alone with cloudy nighttime skies. Same here in Savannah, GA. Hope you get some clear skies soon before the moon gets too bright. - Patrick -
Hello Patrick. Thank you for your comment, and your kind (but probably futile) wishes regarding the weather. About the spikes, remember that light bends perpendicular to the direction of the edge of the obstruction. I haven't tried this myself, but I think that changing the thickness of the obstruction does not create wider spikes by itself, but if the edges of the mask does not go through the center of the lens opening (or very close to it as in this case, being wire only a couple of mm thick) the spikes will get more fuzzy and fainter. So maybe they will appear wider, but at the cost of being less well defined. But try it out and see what you get. It should be easy to 3D print masks, or even cut them out of black cardboard. Best, Flemming
Those are very good questions, though I'm not sure I have any good answers. But I'll try. Neighbor lights may be blocked by trees, of course, but that's perhaps a long term solution. Then again trees can be in the way if they get too tall, so some tree felling may be in order. Difficult balance. Talk to your neighbor about the lights, maybe a compromise can be reached, and the lights dimmed, turned towards the ground og maybe switched off on observation nights. About those pesky clouds, well, I guess I too am in the market for a solution to those. Perhaps your father could help? ;)
Great Production, keep up the good work 👍
Thanks Mikael, I’m trying to keep my spirits high even though my skies are low. 🙂 Working on a short equipment related video to be released soon (I hope).
Hi Flemming,
Interesting tips, particularly about creating diffraction spikes while using a refactor. I suppose you could make several different masks with different degrees of thickness to generate wider or thinner spikes. I don't think you are alone with cloudy nighttime skies. Same here in Savannah, GA. Hope you get some clear skies soon before the moon gets too bright.
- Patrick -
Hello Patrick.
Thank you for your comment, and your kind (but probably futile) wishes regarding the weather. About the spikes, remember that light bends perpendicular to the direction of the edge of the obstruction. I haven't tried this myself, but I think that changing the thickness of the obstruction does not create wider spikes by itself, but if the edges of the mask does not go through the center of the lens opening (or very close to it as in this case, being wire only a couple of mm thick) the spikes will get more fuzzy and fainter. So maybe they will appear wider, but at the cost of being less well defined. But try it out and see what you get. It should be easy to 3D print masks, or even cut them out of black cardboard.
Best, Flemming
BTW I see that you have a lot of fine videos yourself on your channel, which I will be taking a closer look at soon. 😅
Any tips for cloud, trees and neighbours bedroom lights? Otherwise, great video ty :)
Those are very good questions, though I'm not sure I have any good answers. But I'll try. Neighbor lights may be blocked by trees, of course, but that's perhaps a long term solution. Then again trees can be in the way if they get too tall, so some tree felling may be in order. Difficult balance. Talk to your neighbor about the lights, maybe a compromise can be reached, and the lights dimmed, turned towards the ground og maybe switched off on observation nights. About those pesky clouds, well, I guess I too am in the market for a solution to those. Perhaps your father could help? ;)