The Astrocast

Hey Astrofam! Hope you're all doing GREAT!

Just wanted to let you know High Point Scientific is having a HUGE sale on ZWO Products. I believe all the big astronomy companies are particiapting, but if you'd like to help support the show you can get the same great deals through our partner link, and help support the show a bit! I see my own ASI294MC Pro is on sale for just 899!!! That's unreal! Hundreds off all other cameras as well, so check it out!

Clear Skies! (but for how long once you buy that gear!!!)

Roo

Support the show

Email me at "[email protected]" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

What do Corvus, Aquila, and Cygnus all have in common???

Find out this week, on The Birdcast.

If you would like to support the show and join our private members only Discord, please feel free to donate here! Thank you so much to ALL of our Patreon supporters!!!

Clear Skies!

Roo

Support the show

Email me at "[email protected]" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

WELCOME BAAAACK to THE ASTROCAST!

Thanks for joining us this week! And a special thanks to our newest Patreon member, Alex, for helping support the show! Thank you Alex! If you would like to support the show and join us in the members only discord for astro talk 24/7, please feel free to donate here!

This week on the show, Roo is going through the motions to get things started. Talking about a new scope from ZWO (The Seestar 130) - he soon realizes something isn't quite right! NO WORRIES! After stepping away from recording, and spending a night under Orion and Co., all is well and back to normal. We discuss imaging orion in HDR Composite fashion, and how to set various lengths of shutter speed to achieve the best effect. 

Also, we discuss the EPIC Leonids Meteor Storm of 2001! If you were around and saw the storm in 2001, please send your memories of the event to me at [email protected] - I would love to hear them!

Thanks so much for tuning in this week, and we'll be back next week with another show!

Links from this weeks show:

Several links to videos I found for showcasing the insane number of bright meteors from the 2001 Leonids:

Leonids meteor 2001 [1minute] しし座流星群2001

Leonids 2001

2001 Leonids Meteor Shower 獅子座流星雨

Stellarium: Stellarium Astronomy Software
Skysafari: SkySafari 7 | Professional Astronomy Telescope Control Software for iOS

Pixinsight Guide for HDR Composites!

The Astrocast FB Page (photos posted here regularaly! Check out the Raptors!)

Also - as a reminder, another great way you can support the show is by shopping with our partner, High Point Scientific! Any time you make a purchase through our shows link - HERE - you help support the show for no added cost to you! A small percentage of the overall profit goes to support the show. Thanks so much to those of you that have been showing your love this way, it has NOT gone unnoticed!!

High Point Scientific, via The Astrocast!

Thanks so much Astro Fam! 

CLEAR SKIES!  

-Roo

Support the show

Email me at "[email protected]" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

WELCOME BAAAAACK TO THE ASTROCAST! Thank you for being patient with me for this episode, me and Jess had a little vacation time for our 10-year anniversary, so we disappeared for a bit! To thank you for waiting, we have SUPERSIZED this episode!

A quick reminder - if you would like to support the show, there are several ways you can! The #1 choice would be to join our Patreon! This will get you access to the Members Only Discord, where we discuss all things Astro and Life each and every day! I hope to see you there, we're starting to have early discussions about our first group meetup!

Second, we are affiliates with High Point Scientific! If you make a purchase at Highpoint using our affiliate link, you'll get the same great prices and equipment while also ensuring a small amount of the profit goes to help support the show. Thanks so much for that!

Finally, we are now affiliates with Amazon! If/when there is a cheaper product that I would recommend just getting through Amazon (which would be a NON crucial part...) - you can purchase through the shows affiliate link, same deal as with High Point! Thanks so much.

This week on the show, we start with a trip to Salem MA, and discuss what the star seeing was like up there (which surprised me) as well as photographing the sunrise over the Salem Wharf.

Afterwards, we answer a listener's question (Shoutout to Martyn, our newest Patreon supporter!) about getting back in to AP, and make some suggestions for how to best utilize the gear he already has.

Finally, Roo gets into a recap of all the various Astronomy software he personally uses, what he likes about them, and what he'd recommend for you. If you are curious about using some different AP software you haven't touched, this should be great!

Thank you SO MUCH for tuning in to the show! I'm happy to be back and starting next week we should start coming back on Tuesday or Wednesday night weekly. I very much appreciate you listening, thanks so much! CLEAR SKIES!

I can't fit ALL the links from this weeks show here, so please feel free to click on this link to a google document that i've listed them all in!

LINKS FROM THIS WEEKS SHOW!

Here's a few of them that I could fit here:
Right Angle Viewfinder (for easy polar alignment with Star Tracker): https://amzn.to/3ApdEYN (This was a bit cheaper when I purchased mine 6 months ago, but even at this price I say it’s a great buy. Saves your knees BIG time)

Dew Heater (usb) : https://amzn.to/4hzBMIK (I own 3 of these and love them. They work great and if you set them to low you can use a portable 10,000 mah battery bank to power them all night long)

Laser Pointer (for Polar Alignment) : https://amzn.to/3NTML28 (Remember, NEVER point a laser in the sky if a plane is near!)

Laser Pointer Holder Bracket: https://amzn.to/3AgTjF8

Wireless Intervalometer (I own this one!) : https://amzn.to/3YNyWsw

Here's a few of them that I could fit here, find the rest on the doc!

CLEAR SKIES!!!!

Support the show

Email me at "[email protected]" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

Welcome baaaack to THE ASTROCAST! Sorry for the late show this week fam, it's been a BUSY week around here, preparing for a trip! We will be off next week... but don't worry, Roo has a VERY special ALL AP episode planned for Halloween when we return!

This week we discuss a darn near PERFECT weekend of Astronomy, with many of us getting to see multiple "once in a liftime" astronomical events within a 3 day period! When does this happen?! 2024 has been one HECK of a year for astro, that's for sure!

We also talk about a new budget Astrograph from SVBONY, the importance of buying quality filters, and a few things in between!

If you would like to SUPPORT the show and become a member of our AWESOME members only Discord, please considering donating here! Your donation will help support the show and keeps us expanding in to new markets! There's still 1 spot available with the "founder" title on the Discord, which only our first 10 members receive!

If you would like to support the show in a different way, consider purchasing your gear from High Point Scientific using our affiliate link! I have personally been shopping at HPS for years, and can highly recommend them for their excellent selection, and even better customer service! You can purchase anything at their normal, great prices, and a small amount of the sale will go to helping support the show. Win win!

Links from this weeks show:
Good To Stargaze (Desktop version, search your app store for the app, you'll love it!)
The Astrocast FB Page (in case you want to see my photos of the comet!)

Thanks for tuning in everyone, we'll see you the week of Halloween for a brand new episode, and until then, as always....

CLEAR SKIES!


-Roo

Support the show

Email me at "[email protected]" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

Hey everyone! This is a heads up, tonight (10/10/24) is predicted to see a KP8/G4 Geomagnetic Storm, which should cause visible Aurora through much of the Northern Hemisphere! This means you will have the 2nd best chance in the last 20 years to see the Northern Lights from much lower-than-normal latitudes!

If you happened to miss out in May, now is your chance! Make plans now, and tag me in your photos with #theastrocast - good luck, and CLEAR SKIES!

Much Love
- Roo

Support the show

Email me at "[email protected]" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

Welcome baaaack to The Astrocast! Share this episode, Astrofam! I have made the first half of this episode for absolute beginners who know nothing about Astronomy, so EVERYONE can see and appreciate the breathtaking show that C2023/A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is about to put on for us! If you have ever wanted a family member or friend to share in the experience of Astronomy but weren't sure how to get them on board, NOW is your time!

This week on the show, Roo discusses C2023/A3 becoming a "Great Comet" and the extremely high likelihood according to most models that we will have an evening comet for several weeks in to late October and possibly November! This is likely to be the most photographed comet ever in the history of mankind! If you take a photo and listen to the show, please remember to use #theastrocast so I can see it!

I am looking for great questions to answer on air! If you have a question, you would like answered, please send it to me at "[email protected]", and i'll be happy to read and answer it during the show!

This weeks links:
Light Pollution Map
Neil DeGrasse Tysons New (autographed!) book! (Must preorder before release date to guarantee a signed copy, just a heads up!)


If you would like to support the show and join our members only Discord, please consider donating to The Astrocast Patreon here! Your money helps keep the mic's running, and is GREATLY appreciated!

If you would like show your support by buying awesome gear from a reputable dealer, consider choosing High Point Scientific and using our link! We are affiliates of HPS and get a small percentage when you buy something (at new extra costs to you!) that helps support the show! Thanks!

Support the show

Email me at "[email protected]" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

Hey, Astrofam - This week I'm asking, as a local North Carolinian for my entire life, if you can help, please consider donating to the relief fund for Hurricane Helene here. Your donation is tax deductible, and 92% of every dollar given to the Red Cross goes DIRECTLY to the impacted victims to help them recover and get the help they so desperately need. Thank you for always being there. 

Welcome BAAAAACK to THE ASTROCAST! This week, Roo is taking you on a trip at THREE AM to another STATE to chase down the very CHANCE at getting a great photo....will he succeed????

Also - we talk about how to easily measure degrees in the night sky, what kind of binoculars work best for astronomy, and even the FUTURE of binoculars with augmented reality tech on the horizon! We really do live in a GOLDEN AGE of Astronomy!  Also....Captain Cumulus may make an appearance!

If you would like to join the Patreon to support the show, please do here! You will get access to the members only Discord (we're always talking in there!!) and soon to be digital star parties!

Links from this weeks show:

The Astrocast on FB (to see the photos!)
How to Measure the Night Sky with your hands!
...I can't remember any other links, but i'll post them when I listen to the episode if more belong here!

As always, if you're going to buy something for Astronomy, consider buying from High Point Scientific! We are affiliates of High Point and big fans! If you buy through our link, we get a small percentage of the purchase, which really helps the show! A GIANT thank you to whoever made that first purchase, I see you and appreciate you! 

Thank you so much for tuning in, we'll be back next week with another episode!

CLEAR SKIES!

Support the show

Email me at "[email protected]" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

*Note - released a day early because production wrapped faster than expected! I mention this cause i'm not from the future ;)

Welcome BAAAAACK to The Astrocast!!! This week, Roo talks about a fancy new type (sort of) of telescope that his hit the market, and the pros and cons of such a scope, including features/cost/quality.

We also discuss the never-ending internal battle that is building an observatory!

Shout out High Point Scientific for supporting the show, if you ever want to buy a piece of gear and support the show, please use this link! 

A big shout out to Nate Smith for joining our Patreon! If you would like to support the show and join our members only discord, please consider donatin' five bucks a month! You guys rock!!

Thanks so much for all the great support, and sharing with friends and family! Our Astrocast family continues to grow, thanks to you guys!

See ya next week, and I promise for a full hour!

-Roo

Support the show

Email me at "[email protected]" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

Welcome BAAAACK to THE ASTROCAST!

If you would like join our Patreon to Support the Show and become a member of (our suddenly quite busy) Discord, please click here! I'll get back to you within 24 hours (usually much quicker!) and send the link. You'll also get a shoutout on the podcast! Please feel free to give whatever you can, we have levels at 1 and 5 dollars per month.

This week on the show, we talk about quite a few topics, including C2023/A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas - will it be our next "great comet"? Roo discusses how you can find it, see it, and photograph it!

We also talk about planetary rigs, what makes a good telescope for beginners in planetary...and perhaps even a little CAPTAIN CUMULUS talk! If you are the person who wants to draw him/her, please email me at [email protected] - thanks!

A giant shout out to Mike and Nate for joining the Patreon this week! Nate - you joined just after I finished recording, but rest assured, your shout out will be there next week!

If you would like to support the show by buying something you were gonna buy already and paying no extra, please feel free to use our affiliate link when shopping at Highpoint Scientific! Click here to shop! 

A couple links from this weeks show!

Satisfactory (game recommendation)
Budget Pier Video by Lukomatico

Thanks so much for listening, and we'll be back next week with a new episode. Until then...

CLEAR SKIES!

-Roo

Support the show

Email me at "[email protected]" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!