New member from Tweed Heads, NSW, Australia

[RichardPos1]

Hello,
I'm retired, living on the border of NSW and QLD, Australia, and have been doing Astrophotography for a relative short time, using a W.O. Redcat 51 and assorted photo lenses, together with a Sony A7II, mostly from a balcony, with a SE aspect and a fair amount of light pollution. I've taken quite a few photos, but mostly affected by light pollution. The last year or so, the weather has been mostly overcast - unusual for this location. I'm mostly interested in wide field photography, plus the subjects of the cosmos and space exploration in general.
I look forward to learning more about astrophotography and astronomy, and meeting other people online with the same interests.

Richard

[Juno16]

Hi Richard and a big welcome to TSS.

Terrible weather here’s too.

We all learn from each other. Good to have you on board!

[Unitron48]

Hello and welcome to the group!

Dave

[Thefatkitty]

Hi Richard, welcome to TSS I hear you on the weather, been pretty much mine here. A Redcat; nice scope! Looking forward to some pics if it clears for you, hope it does.

All the best,

[messier 111]

to tss .

[Gordon]

Welcome Richard!

[turboscrew]

Hello and welcome!

[OzEclipse]

My post appeared twice. this copy deleted.

[Bigzmey]

Welcome on board Richard!

[Lady Fraktor]

Hello and welcome to the forums Richard

[OzEclipse]

Hello,
@RichardPos1
I'm retired, living on the border of NSW and QLD, Australia, and have been doing Astrophotography for a relative short time, using a W.O. Redcat 51 and assorted photo lenses, together with a Sony A7II, mostly from a balcony, with a SE aspect and a fair amount of light pollution. I've taken quite a few photos, but mostly affected by light pollution. The last year or so, the weather has been mostly overcast - unusual for this location. I'm mostly interested in wide field photography, plus the subjects of the cosmos and space exploration in general.
I look forward to learning more about astrophotography and astronomy, and meeting other people online with the same interests.

Richard

Hi Richard,
Welcome to the group. From your balcony in Tweed Heads, you'll never get any decent white light astrophotos that aren't affected by light pollution unless the current energy shortages cause rolling blackouts. Be ready for those and have battery power available to run your scope during a blackout. You can buy specialised astrophotography equipment for something called "narrowband imaging" to be able to work from a light polluted location.

However if you drive 50km up into the mountains, you'll find excellent dark skies. Perhaps, try somewhere around Tyalgum. Skies are quite dark there. You could set up by the side of the road out of town or take a camping spot at the show grounds. Try to find a secluded spot well away from other campers and their lights. If you want to do photography, set up your scope out of sight, hidden by your car, so that you don't get interested onlookers wanting to look through the telescope. This will also shield you from any outdoor lights around toilet blocks or from other campers etc. With only a 50 km drive home, you don't even have to camp out all night, just pack your scope when you finish and drive home. The show ground campground just gives you somewhere off the side of the road to set up. Check it out during the day to make sure there isn't too much security lighting.

There is a 9 day astronomy camp coming up in SE Qld from 22-31 July. Astrofest is the major such event for Qld and attracts astronomers from as far as Victoria and SA. I am even going there from Central West NSW. If you don't have any camping gear, they have bunk houses and meals available for purchase.
URL: https://www.qldastrofest.org.au/

Welcome to TSS

Joe

[Richard]

Welcome to TSS Richard

[helicon]

Hi Richard and welcome to the TSS forums!

[Makuser]

Hello Richard. It's always great to have a new member on board with us here at TSS. And you came to a great place to learn more about astronomy and astro photography and make many new friends from around the world. Welcome to the forum Richard and the best wishes for better weather to enjoy your Redcat 51 telescope.

[smp]

Hi Richard, and welcome here to the Forum!

smp

[JayTee]

Hello Richard,

Welcome to TSS. Glad you joined us.

Cheers

[Ylem]

Welcome to TSS Richard, thanks for joining us.

[yobbo89]

g'day richard , nice scope! welcome to tss .