Nikon DSLR battery project, some changes

Nikon battery project continues, after a long time "no activity" period. There is going to be  changes in the converter and battery configuration. Because the availability status of MHB75-12S12 -converter from ELFA (expected availability after 03/2014) and and battery capacity (to be increased), the new system will have two 4S LiPo batteries. Second battery in the system will be from Orion, 4S LiPo 14.8V 6400mAh. This doubling the portable battery capacity, what is needed mainly for tracking mount and dew heaters. Converter will be a model of 24V to 12V, Meanwell type MHB75-24S12.

New halotype observed

Couple of days ago, there was dropped a very nice observation into Taivaanvahti -database. There was a set of images, showing a new previously unidentified type of halo. It was located approx in the middle of upper parts of 22 ring and lower part of CZA. Haloarc is curving slightly upwards. See Marko Mikkilä's observation details here:

http://www.taivaanvahti.fi/observations/show/15998

The name of halo is not known yet. Also the fact, what kind of crystals this halo would require, is still unsure. According to text, there is already a preliminary simulations done. Still there is no data available publicly. Hopefully we hear more of this, in near future...

Visit to Nuuksio

On the 9th March 2013, there was another trip to Nuuksio. We did photograph some nightsky timelapse - for the startrails image. Totally 36 images were taken, before my Nikon D200 jammed - due to low temperature.

Other activity this night, includes visual observing, with colleagues 25cm newton. For the solar system, we took look at Saturn. Most of other deep sky targets, were from the Messier catalog. The familiar M81/82 pair showed nicely. M101 was a bit more difficult then, it showed as faint large are smudge. I did not see the sprilar construction of this galaxy.

Returned to home, after two...three hours of observing. Thanks to Tomi for the car ride :-)