TerryMcK Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 I have recorded 57 unique days outside imaging this year. This includes the odd few days where I was imaging in the early hours of the morning and then the same day during the evening. This was a total of 101 sessions in that time - so far - but I don't hold up much hope at adding any to that before the end of the year. As a comparison last year, 2020, I had 52 unique days outside with a total of 79 sessions (morning evening etc). About the same each year. So even though we in the UK have a marine environment, which gives lots of clouds dependant on where in the UK you live of course, I think that having the ability to image for 15% of the year is probably par for the course for those of us without a permanent observatory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightspore Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 3 hours ago, TerryMcK said: I have recorded 57 unique days outside imaging this year. This includes the odd few days where I was imaging in the early hours of the morning and then the same day during the evening. This was a total of 101 sessions in that time - so far - but I don't hold up much hope at adding any to that before the end of the year. As a comparison last year, 2020, I had 52 unique days outside with a total of 79 sessions (morning evening etc). About the same each year. So even though we in the UK have a marine environment, which gives lots of clouds dependant on where in the UK you live of course, I think that having the ability to image for 15% of the year is probably par for the course for those of us without a permanent observatory. It ain't over yet lol. I've had 137 sessions so far this year, 64 of them with my 72ED DS Pro. Better than last year's 103 sessions. I've had over 140 in years gone by. If I'm lucky I'll make 140 this year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted December 10, 2021 Author Share Posted December 10, 2021 Hopefully you get a few more Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightspore Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 6 minutes ago, TerryMcK said: Hopefully you get a few more Dave Xmas Eve/Day sessions have become a tradition over the last couple of years lol. So I'm optimistic! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmot Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 The title reads ‘How many sessions in 2021?’ The answer is easy............ ’NOT NEARLY ENOUGH!’!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 I don't keep detailed records of clear nights or sessions, but looking at the capture dates on my light frames. I make it out as 77 different sessions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmack1 Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Oh boy, this is just depressing. I can honestly say that every night that it has been clear this year I have been out. The only exception would be a couple of nights in June when it was just not dark enough to bother. And I have managed the grand total of 19 sessions since Jan 1 2021. Yes, that's correct NINETEEN. The west of Ireland really is not the place for AP. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padraic M Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 I'm counting 22 sessions, not including those nights where I set up and got one or two lights before the clouds rolled in, but counting a number of nights where play was interrupted before a full set was captured or where the results were underwhelming due to poor conditions. I'd count 12 images that I would consider as acceptable outcomes. Early January was good; some nights in March; July/August, and practically nothing since. Still, it was a year of great learning and my enthusiasm hasn't been dented yet! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 (edited) Just done a count of completed targets for this year, it comes out at 33. All my targets usually contain over 20 hours of data, spread over several nights. So I would say anywhere between 60 and 90 sessions, maybe more. Edited December 20, 2021 by AstronomyUkraine 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmack1 Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 3 hours ago, Padraic M said: I'm counting 22 sessions, not including those nights where I set up and got one or two lights before the clouds rolled in, but counting a number of nights where play was interrupted before a full set was captured or where the results were underwhelming due to poor conditions. I'd count 12 images that I would consider as acceptable outcomes. Early January was good; some nights in March; July/August, and practically nothing since. Still, it was a year of great learning and my enthusiasm hasn't been dented yet! Totally dismal! I'd have to say my frustration is starting to impact on my enthusiasm. Especially when met.ie, clear outside and meteoblue are all giving wildly different predictions. Out of interest, of your 22 how many were down in Kerry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padraic M Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 @Dmack1 at an educated guess I'd say about half and half. January was good in Kerry, and the July sessions were Kerry. Other than that, it was Dublin. There's been pretty much nothing in either location since September. I've had plenty of practice with polar aligning as I've had nearly as many more nights where I set up under perfect skies only to see the clouds roll in within the hour. Agh! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightspore Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 138th last night! 65th with my 72ED DS Pro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
len2376 Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 Just did a quick count and I'm down to 17 full sessions. In North East Wales and we do seem to catch what's left over from Ireland LOL. Being too close for comfort to a rather large gas powered power station brings its problems too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightspore Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 I made 140! Interestingly, 1st and 140th were with my ST80. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinS Posted December 31, 2021 Share Posted December 31, 2021 As I suspected, Oct-Dec were again very poor months here in South Wales. The year overall has been a repeat of the last 3 with less than 40 imaging sessions (long clear nights <10). To maximise the limited opportunities I am fortunate to now have 3 imaging setups available. While resigned to the somewhat disappointing skies, I greatly enjoy the hands on engineering aspects of working and maintaining the 3 systems with their 6 imaging options. The latest CMOs camera’s have been a productive boost, enabling more complete DSO image sets due to reduced frame times. I now use 5 min frames for Broadband (LRGB) and 10 min frames for Narrowband (3nm Ha, Sii, Oiii). I have only one FF CCD Camera which collects 15-30 min frames and that will likely change when funds become available. To offset the limited new datasets, I use Pixinsight to reprocess my old data and the results continue to improve as my Pixinsight knowledge increases. Technology advances with AP equipment and software has greatly improved the quality of AP for U.K. Astronomers, while the clear skies are elusive the data quality and end products have never been better. Heres hopping for clear skies in the new year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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