frogesque

Since the last session of maintenance I get messages about a text editor and sometimes a doble post. Notebook running KitKat. Any ideas?

Like kar999, my digi SLR is pretty ancient, a Canon D60 (equivalent of the old Rebel 6MP). Lens used is a wide angle Sigma f20mm, 1.18 EX DG Old cameras normally have hot spots and dead pixels on the sensor. The way round this is to use a dark frame that will subtract inherrant sensor defects from an exposure. Basically, on a photo shoot you allow the camera to become thermally stable (10-15mins) take an exposure equivalent to the picture you intend to shoot (say 5 seconds) with the lens cap on. You then remove the cap, do your photo shoot and when you have finished you can take another dark frame. Plenty of free software out there that will do the necessary and clean up the immage for you. The one below wasn't cleaned btw. Not essential but you get far better processing results if you use the camera's native ISO equivalent which will lessen electronic camera noise (usually the lowest setting, mine is 100) and shoot in RAW rather than jpg. Files are much bigger but you keep all the pixel data for processing. Also usefull is one or two fully charged spare batteries and empty flash/SD memory cards. If you are going to Scandinavia expect low temperatures (silly I know!) If its -20C not only will you need to well wrapped up but so does your camera or it may shut down if it gets too cold. Pros use custom themal blankets for cameras but a hot water bottle with warm water and a cover over the camera body works ok. Focussing can be a problem. Arorae are diffuse so there are no hard lines for autofocus to lock on. Try to take a pic and the focus mechanisim will hunt and refuse to hold. My way round this is to try and get a distant light (Moon or even a bright Venus works but you can use a distant security light to the South of you at a pinch) let the autofocul lock on then switch the auto focus off taking care not to bump the camera when you turn it round. Exposures are faily simple, I use the internal exposure meteer and bracket the shots taking photos one or two settigs above and below as well as the normal sweet spot. Junk any that are under or over exposed. As I said on the first post, you can't beat getting to know your camera, settings and buttons etc. in the dark before you go. Photography doesn't have to dominate your experience of the occasion, once you are set up and happy, use a cable (Mine is 5m) to just click away while you sit comfortable and warm watching. You can even keep your gloves on! Taken 06 March 2016, Coaltown of Balgonie, Fife. Exposure would have been somewhere between 5 and 8 seconds. If I get the original file I'll give the correct figure

Is this for yourself or interest for anyone? Basically you do need an SLR camera and a reasonable wide angle lens. A shutter cable is pretty essential and you either need a tripod or bean bag to keep the camera stable during long exposures. Bean bags are cheap, light and good if it's windy, tripods are better to get to eye level. Difficult to give guidance about exposure times as its dependent on quite a few factors including how bright is the aurora, f stop on the lens, the camera's native ISO rating and whether you want to catch fleeting effects or a more general impression. Obviously you also need to be in the right place at the right time with a clear dark cloudless view to the NW/N/NE. Familiarise yourself with the camera and lens, position of buttons or locks for focus and auto/manual. Faffing in the dark with frozen fingers is less than ideal so practice before you set out. You can always take pics of everyday light pollution from a dark place where you live. Personally I have never tried to take night pics with a mobile or IPad etc. but its always worth experimenting even if its for backup. I'll post some pics later with a bit more info if you would like or pm me.

Back to a crisp and crunchy hard frost this morning. Cloudless sky with a bright fingernail moon. Nice hot cuppa and the dog is chewing a bone. Makes a change from eating slippers!

Dog refused to go out this morning unless I went out first. Not good before I've had a cup of tea.

We have rellies in Epsom and Brighton. Not heard anything but going by you guys they will have had a battering. Pics of storm would be brilliant but no heroics especially on beaches.

Grass white with frost and crunchy. The dog looked a bit mystified and went back to bed. Don't blame him!

Stay safe down there everyone. Thinking of you.

Cold night last night and frost still on the shaded part of the lawn at dusk. Our first icy pond day too. Freezing hard now, wheelie bin lids frozen solid and winsceens are frosted inside and out. Brilliant sunny day though but it's a lecky blanket night tonight for sure.

Driech! It's the only word (printable) for this afternoon's weather.

Beautiful cold, frosty, pinky dawn this morning. You really feel winter is coming as, on cue, a skien of noisy geese fly overhead. What's not to love about Scotland?

Snaw! Taken from East Lomond (~1400ft) looking N to Lochnagar

Space weather, Solarham and aurora text alerts are all good. Problem for many parts of Highland Scotland is connectivity. You may struggle to get mobile or wifi. Aurora occur sporadically but are more or less predictable these days. Solar activity, either sunspots producing CMEs or coronal holes bombard space with energetic particles, if enough intersect Earth orbit then you are in with a chance. What is very unpredictable is the strength and type of aurora. It maybe an uninspiring stable green band or you may be lucky and get the all singing all dancing full blown multicoloured light show. Regrettably there are no guarantees and the local weather often conspires to block any sightings with murk and low grey cloud. Sometimes though a fairly short drive can get you into a rain shadow and clear skies. I would also advise casing the area. During daylight have a look around, check that you can get a good view to the NW, N, NE without streetlights. Also farm and cottages with 500w security lights can totally spoil the experience so check you best spots after dark as well. If it's you first aurora I would also advise you to just enjoy and absorb the experience. Nice warm clothing and a hot flask help. Unless you are an experienced night time photographer I wouldn't bother too much with the camera, you can spend more time faffing with buttons and settings than watching. By all means take some snaps, they may turn out better than you expect but the type of photos you get on Space weather take luck, patience and experience as well as some fairly expensive kit. (SLR, fast, wide angle lens, tripod and cable release are a bare minimum) Edit, aurorae can be fairly faint, with a sort of milk in water hue to the naked eye. They are also expansive and can cover almost half the sky on a good night. You will definitely NOT need binoculars although useful to have if you want to have a look at stars or planets in some of best dark skies you can find. Above all, enjoy the very best of Scotland's scenery and good luck!

Same here! Will keep looking though.

Kp currently 5 forecast Kp6 tomorrow ( Solarham) Heading off tomorrow up north to Kildonan for a week, hopefully far enough away from this east coast murky rubbish. As well as the gold pan, the camera is going with me. Fat chance of seeing anything here tonight. Edit: Just back from walking the dog - got soaked!

No chance here last night. Gales and heavy rain with overcast sky. Oh well!

Kp 6 kicked off this afternoon. Starting to enter full darkness here and cloud cover is fair to minimal looking north. Camera batteries being charged as I type. Geomag forecast is unsettled for the next couple of days. Here's hoping!.

Good to see the aurora season kicking off. Solarham has Kp6 forecast for later this week. Always a bit hit or miss but I'll be keeping a watch anyway.

Thanks skifreak. BBC now reporting road has been cleared.

^ goldpanning !

Not sure if this is the right place but here goes. There are reports that after heavy rain there is a landslip on the road between Helmsdale and Thurso and is blocked at Kildonan. Can anyone with local knowledge advise where exactly the blockage is? I have been planning a gopdpanning trip to Kildonan (Baile an Ore) from the South, Helmsdale direction. Would like to know if it's still accessible. Thanks.

Heavy rain + T&L for the last half hour or so. Sky v.dark. Off to Hosp. in Dunfermline in a bit then on to Edn later.

Off to see g.grandson in End at lunchtime. Could be an interesting drive. Getting darker here too , no thunder yet.

Just started to rain here in Thornton, Fife. No thunder yet. Overnight was dry and quiet.

Can't post link from this tablet. Good item about the transit on today's Space weather.