Zoom Meeting - 21 February @ 18:00 UT

[MapleRidge]

Good day everyone...

We have had a few months pass since out last Zoom group meeting and I was thinking it would be nice to connect with everyone again. Franco suggested a get together earlier in a reply to one of my posts, so maybe others are up for it?

We had the first two on Sundays, early afternoon EST/early evening GMT, and it covered a reasonable time of day for a large number of members. I will propose that we meet again if there is interest, on Sunday February 21st...exact time to be arranged based on interest.

Please post if you care to take part and any topics you would like covered or help with. We have lots of experience among us to share, and a social chat is always good too.

I will offer to host if previous members with a Zoom account without the 40 minute time limit are unable to do so for this session.

Who's in???

Brian

[Bob Yoesle]

Two thumbs up. Day/time good for me.

[Montana]

I can host again Brian if you need me to. But because Stephen has had a lot of zoom bombing with porn I will only let folk in who I know (they display their Solarchat name and say they are coming in this thread). Last time we had one unidentified guest and that now makes me nervous.

So if you want to join say so in this thread and I will look out for you, otherwise don't be surprised if you stay in the waiting room

Did we do 6 or 7pm UTC? I can't remember.

Alexandra

[rsfoto]

I can host again Brian if you need me to. But because Stephen has had a lot of zoom bombing with porn I will only let folk in who I know (they display their Solarchat name and say they are coming in this thread). Last time we had one unidentified guest and that now makes me nervous.

So if you want to join say so in this thread and I will look out for you, otherwise don't be surprised if you stay in the waiting room

Did we do 6 or 7pm UTC? I can't remember.

Alexandra

Hi Alexandra,

It was 18:00 hours London time ¿ is that UTC ? I remember because I thought I was one hour early and surprised that everybody was already there

About the unidentified guest why not just ask him ¿ who are you ? and if it still strange just block him. Easy as that.

It is really not that hard not to be anonymous and if somebody thinks he has to be anonymous let him be anonymous but somewhere else. Period.

II know a few forums where if you do not register with your real name and surname they just do not activate your account.

[marktownley]

Sounds good!

[pedro]

Count me in as well

I can also host a zoom meeting (no time limit)

[MalVeauX]

I missed the last one, would love to try to make this one!

Very best,

[Fabio_Imm]

I couldn't make it for the last one.
Count me in for this one!

Cheers

Fabio

[DeepSolar64]

Count me in. Like Rainer I was an hour late on the last one. I really enjoy the meetings!

[MapleRidge]

Hi everyone...

Sounds like we have a good deal of interest, and my thanks to Alexandra for offering to host again.

I believe that the start time was 18:00 UT or 13:00 EST for the last session at the end of November. If that time works for you to launch it Alexandra that will be great.

Can this post be setup to stay at the top of the page so that it doesn't get lost in the daily list and then it is easy to find to confirm details and link if its posted? It will also be visible to anyone who might not be online to see it for a few days.

Post the discussion topics and help requests as well.

Brian

[Stardust5858]

I'd love to get involved and meet all you pep's.. never zoomed in my life, lol.

[Carbon60]

Count me in. It’s nice to catch up with friends that share a common interest.

See you then.

Stu.

[rsfoto]

Count me in. Like Rainer I was an hour late on the last one. I really enjoy the meetings!

Hi James,

I was not late. I opened one hour earlier then I thought and was surprised everybody was already there

[DeepSolar64]

I caught only the second half of the meeting. Now the first one I was on time! Hopefully I’ll get it right this time.

[ffellah]

I am in Brian. Looking forward to it...

Franco

[AndiesHandyHandies]

Hi,

If I remember I am interested.

Andrew

[ffellah]

One suggestion for topic of conversation could be how to get better captures when imaging. I am sure there are many opinions and techniques. Just a suggestion.

Franco

[Starry Jack]

I’m excited

[DavidP]

I’d like to take part! Thanks for putting this together

[p_zetner]

I’m hoping I can make it. Please count me in!
Cheers.
Peter

[MapleRidge]

Hi all...

It sounds like we will have a good turnout for the Zoom session...looking forward to another session!

So far there has been one topic suggested so far by Franco...methods to improve image quality at capture.

Please post topics of choice!

Brian

[Bob Yoesle]

Suggested topic: Checking etalon quality by using a Hydrogen spectrum tube.

[marktownley]

I can host again Brian if you need me to. But because Stephen has had a lot of zoom bombing with porn I will only let folk in who I know (they display their Solarchat name and say they are coming in this thread). Last time we had one unidentified guest and that now makes me nervous.

So if you want to join say so in this thread and I will look out for you, otherwise don't be surprised if you stay in the waiting room

Did we do 6 or 7pm UTC? I can't remember.

Alexandra

Suggest then we don't make the 'link' public, rather is sent via pm to those who wish to participate.

[pedro]

I agree with Mark. It is the best way to do it

[rsfoto]

I can host again Brian if you need me to. But because Stephen has had a lot of zoom bombing with porn I will only let folk in who I know (they display their Solarchat name and say they are coming in this thread). Last time we had one unidentified guest and that now makes me nervous.

So if you want to join say so in this thread and I will look out for you, otherwise don't be surprised if you stay in the waiting room

Did we do 6 or 7pm UTC? I can't remember.

Alexandra

Suggest then we don't make the 'link' public, rather is sent via pm to those who wish to participate.

Hi Mark,

Yes that is a solution but are we not introducing too much " bureaucrazy " already ?

We should assume everybody who registered here is interested in the Sun. OK, there can be here some black sheeps but if Alexandra detected an unidentified guest why not just ask him ¿ who are you ? and if he answers with his interests everything is OK, if he does not answer throw him out or by himself he will disconnect after he as detected ... ¿?

IMHO

The other point is maybe somebody forgets to express his wish to participate and on the right Sunday he remembers it and then he sits in the waiting room and if he is ignored then he maybe gets upset ... and never comes back ¿?

[DavidP]

Suggested topic: Checking etalon quality by using a Hydrogen spectrum tube.

I second that.

[pedro]

Me too

[MapleRidge]

Hi all...

An update on the Zoom Session...Alexandra is using her Zoom account through work and cannot risk having the session crashed with off topic posts. That said, in an effort to keep the Zoom invitation open to all members and keep the management of who can attend as straight forward as possible the plan will be to allow entry to known members only.

Alexandra will post the link for the session on Sunday morning a few hours prior to the start, so check here for access. In order to be allowed access, you will have to include your SolarChat ID in your Zoom profile to be recognized. Since we have a mix of full names, parts of names, and nicknames we will need to see your SolarChat name included to sign on. Should work well enough to make a positive ID to be admitted and a proper name to carry on conversation would be a bonus.

If there are any questions please let us know, and check back for the link on Sunday.

Brian

[christian viladrich]

Hello,
I'll try be there. Not 100% sure yet.
Cheers
Christian

[DavidP]

Another suggestion for brief discussion. I’m wondering if there might be enough interest in putting together an afternoon or two workshop that would cover image processing. I know I would pay to take part in a class put on by a couple of our accomplished imagers. I think , if we put it out in the Cloudy Nights Solar Forum, we could likely get a critical mass of paying students. I’m not talking about including this in the coming zoom session, but if anyone is interested, we could throw out some suggestions.

[Montana]

David, no one needs to pay, everything on here is free. You are very welcome for a tutorial anytime, or if anyone else wishes for a one to one walkthrough, you just need to ask.

Of course, everyone on here processes differently, some using Autostakkert, some use Registax, some Avistack, then ImPPG, AstraImage, Photoshop, GIMP, Pixinsight just to name a few. You might want to advertise for a volunteer who uses the software that you use or wish to use

Alexandra

[Grakrob778]

I am interested.

[Highbury Mark]

I’m really hoping to take part on Sunday too Alexandra. Etalon rating with hydrogen tubes would be a very interesting topic.

Here’s an idea for a future session - I wonder if we could persuade someone like Andy Lunt, Mark Wagner or Helmut Kessler to join us for a discussion on a set theme? Would have to agree parameters beforehand, as they might be reluctant to field questions on any subject. Something like where they see the market for solar astronomy and technology going in next ten years?

[DeepSolar64]

I’m really hoping to take part on Sunday too Alexandra. Etalon rating with hydrogen tubes would be a very interesting topic.

Here’s an idea for a future session - I wonder if we could persuade someone like Andy Lunt, Mark Wagner or Helmut Kessler to join us for a discussion on a set theme? Would have to agree parameters beforehand, as they might be reluctant to field questions on any subject. Something like where they see the market for solar astronomy and technology going in next ten years?

Andy Lunt!? That would be awesome!!!!

[rsfoto]

I’m really hoping to take part on Sunday too Alexandra. Etalon rating with hydrogen tubes would be a very interesting topic.

Here’s an idea for a future session - I wonder if we could persuade someone like Andy Lunt, Mark Wagner or Helmut Kessler to join us for a discussion on a set theme? Would have to agree parameters beforehand, as they might be reluctant to field questions on any subject. Something like where they see the market for solar astronomy and technology going in next ten years?

Andy Lunt!? That would be awesome!!!!

Hi,

I do not think so. Would be too much biased ...

[MapleRidge]

A few comments on recent posts...

First, great to see more people indicating that they plan to attend...great news

So far there are two topics that members have asked to have discussion about, methods/procedures to improve image capture quality and to look deeper at the the Hydrogen tube etalon testing. Other topics can be added as well if they are raised.

Some future topics have been suggested, specifically an image processing workshop and a guest speaker from the industry to discuss the future trends. Limits on these have been raised but there may be potential for the future.

Looking forward to a interactive session on Sunday

Brian

[DeepSolar64]

I’m really hoping to take part on Sunday too Alexandra. Etalon rating with hydrogen tubes would be a very interesting topic.

Here’s an idea for a future session - I wonder if we could persuade someone like Andy Lunt, Mark Wagner or Helmut Kessler to join us for a discussion on a set theme? Would have to agree parameters beforehand, as they might be reluctant to field questions on any subject. Something like where they see the market for solar astronomy and technology going in next ten years?

Andy Lunt!? That would be awesome!!!!

Hi,

I do not think so. Would be too much biased ...

Biased against who? Competing hardware some of us use. Coronado, DayStar, Solarscope, etc?

[arnedanielsen]

I would love to join!

Thanks for putting this together.

Best regards,
Arne

[rsfoto]

Andy Lunt!? That would be awesome!!!!

Hi,

I do not think so. Would be too much biased ...

Biased against who? Competing hardware some of us use. Coronado, DayStar, Solarscope, etc?

Andy Lunt sells Lunt, so his product for sure is the best according to him ... Is that not biased ?

If this Sunday meetings are going to be converted into product praising meetings then Good Night ...

Sorry but no ... bye bye

[DeepSolar64]

I agree with you there Rainer. He would certainly be biased to Lunt Solar Systems. His company, and while most of us use something from Lunt of sorts not all of us use Lunt scopes. I use Coronado for example.

[Bob Yoesle]

I think there's probably enough of us that have experience with most of the available filters out there that if it comes up we can have an open discussion about their workings and the pros an cons without concern of offending a participant who is the OEM or vendor.

[rsfoto]

I think there's probably enough of us that have experience with most of the available filters out there that if it comes up we can have an open discussion about their workings and the pros an cons without concern of offending a participant who is the OEM or vendor.

Hi Bob,

OK, but for what do we need an OEM or vendor for this ... ?

Certainly during the discussion the OEM will start to defend his product.

Have you seen how people who ahve spend loads of money for a product defend the product even if they have experienced flaws ? I still do not understand that behaviour or os it just a placebo they need in order to justify themselves ?

Come on ... We know how it works ...



Sorry to be so negative about the producers ... not the vendors who are as well victims as we are ...

[LTHB]

I'd like to join in tomorrow, so please count me in!

Frank

[Stardust5858]

Hi all, how do I participate in the zoom meeting tonight? Haven't had an invite. I've downloaded zoom on my laptop. Never used it before. Many thanks, Nigella.

[ffellah]

Hi Nigella: Alexandra will post a link for the zoom session. I presume here.

Franco

[Stardust5858]

Hi Nigella: Alexandra will post a link for the zoom session. I presume here.

Franco

Thanks Franco, I was wondering, lol.

[pedro]

I guess we will receive the zoom link in a a private message

[MapleRidge]

Hi Nigella and all...

The link to the Zoom session will be posted here by Alexandra an hour or two prior the start of the meeting.

For first time Zoom users, you can join a 'Test' meeting on Zoom to check that your speakers, mic, and camera all work OK. Just Google Zoom Test Meeting and follow the instructions.

See you all in a few hours,
Brian

[SimonM]

I would be interested in the Zoom meeting - more to listen and learn as I'm very much a newbie.

One topic I would like to see listed is how to assess sky seeing conditions in the daytime without resorting to buying an AiryLab Solar Scintillation Monitor (SSM). My understanding is that a scope that resolves more than the current seeing conditions will be of no further benefit. It is perhaps easy to get carried away (with aperture fever) to think something a bit bigger will be better - when it might not?

Count me in. Like Rainer, I was an hour late on the last one. I really enjoy the meetings!

I think everyone (myself included) has done a quick calculation and every so often arrived at the wrong conclusion of when an online meeting will occur? In the UK we have GMT that is also UTC, so calculations are a little easier. To find out the time in other time zones simultaneously I use the website https://time.is/ and I can see that you are exactly five hours behind my location.

Examples:
https://time.is/UTC
https://time.is/Edneyville

Time zone
Currently Eastern Standard Time (EST), UTC -5
Daylight saving time (Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), UTC -4) starts March 14, 2021
Edneyville is 5 hours behind Sherfield English.
The IANA time zone identifier for Edneyville is America/New_York.

If it is a cloudy day, you can scroll down and see time differences, find yourself on the map, even check out the opening times to buy fruit and veg locally at The Pumpkin Patch (opens in 30 minutes).

Simon

[AndiesHandyHandies]

Hi

New to Zoom

My Zoom name is Andrew Huskinson.

Cheers. Andrew.