Epic Failure! Don't Let this Happen to YOU!

This was an epic fail! I spent the afternoon loading up my Hiace van with both of my mounts (Skywatcher EQ6R-pro and my Losmandy G-11), my RC 6" and my AstroTech 80 EDT and all my other equipment such as table, boxes of pieces and parts and cables and batteries and all the other astrophotography goodies and headed out to a dark site. I decided that as the interstate was under construction (they are widening) I decided to head east instead and headed into the Superstition mountains. And I was really jonesing for some dark skies - finally! But hey, things sometimes don't work out as you planned, and in this case it was an epic failure. I had all of my equipment, but I did not have my laptop - I would have no way to manage and control my astrophotography sessions! Sometimes things like this happen, and you just need to roll with the punches.

So when I got back, I put together a list of items I would want to take out to a dark site so that I would not have such a failure again. And I share this list with you so that you too make sure that you have everything you would need to do astrophotography at a dark site!

Here's the link:

*My Astrophotography Gear*
Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro and Celestron branded Losmandy G-11 (being rebuilt)
Pier: Homemade pier, yeah!
Telescope (wide angle): Astro Tech 80EDT, F6, 480mm FL
Telescope (long): Third Planet Optics (TPO) 10" Newtonian F/4, 1000mm FL
Telescope (A bit longer): Third Planet Optics 6" RC f/9 1370mm FL
Guide Scope: Skywatcher Evoguide 50mm ED, F/4.8, 242mm FL
Guide Camera: Player One Neptune-M (IMX178 sensor, monochrome)
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI 290MM Mini
Astro Camera Monochrome: ZWO ASI 2600MM Pro
Astro Camera Color: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 2" 7 position
Rotator: Pegasus Astro Falcon Rotator
Focuser: ZWO EAF (on each scope)
Power: Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen 2 and Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Micro
Flat Panels: Pegasus Flatmaster 150, and a homemade one for my 10" Newtonian
Software Control PC: Mele Quieter 2 and Mele Quieter 3

*My Astrophotography Software*
Mount control software: Green Swamp Server (controls EQ6r Pro mount)
Mount control software: Gemini 2 (controls G-11 mount)
Pegasus Astro device management software: Pegasus Astro Utility Platform (controls all of my Pegasus Astro devices)
ASCOM 6.6 Platform
Acquisition software: NINA (latest version)
Guiding software: Phd2 (latest version)
Planetarium software: Stellarium (latest version)
Plate solving software: ASTAP
Plate solving software: Plate Solve 2 from Planewave

[stuartwilson]

Thank you Dave for posting this video. You could easily have just written the night off and not even mentioned it to anyone. This hobby is a never ending rollercoaster of success, failure, bad luck, stupid mistakes and the occasional moment of victory over the odds. Clear skies and a full check list!

[SKYSTRY]

Oh, that bites! Sorry to hear that. Incredibly frustrating.

[TedDobosz]

Been there done that. Let me give you some of my failures over 30 years in the game. 1) Left laptop behind :) 2) Left counterwights behind 3) left counterweight shaft behind 4) Left camera behind 5) Left cables behind either power or USB or RA and DEC cables 6) Anything else you can think of... LOL. Been there with the lists but I have so many different bits of gear that I need one set for outreach, one set for medium distance site and dark sky several hours away where I stay days. The most important is the several days at star parties. That one makes me go OCD with getting the gear right.

[calex]

I once traveled across half my country to shoot just to realize I forgot to bring any lenses :D (I usually connect my camera directly to the telescope so there is usually no need to lug lenses around).

[ALSutton]

And this is why I do Astrophotography and visual Astronomy.

[TheMje]

That happened to me a wile back, Went to picket post and left my Goal Zero sitting in the driveway

[AstroCrescentDIY]

That's normal....time to relax. Lesson learned...always keep a checklist whenever you plan for such long trips to a dark site.

[badger]

I remember when I brought everything but my power bank ... It becomes a funny story for sharing ...🤣

[LogansAstro]

It's certainly hard to remember everything when going remote. Hopefully the checklist will make sure everything is on board on the next outing.

[jimmazurek]

I usually forget some vital cable or batteries. Welcome to the human race.

[travlon]

It happened to me too.... I also made a check list from then on !!
After all, there is just too much to remember. Since then, I've never forgotten anything.

[Interstate]

Oh man! I'm so sorry for you 😥 Could see and feel your dissapointment 😢 Hope that this never happen again to you 🥴 A Checklist is a wunderfull thing. Pilots say its the last line of protection before something goes wrong ✅☑🛫

[dumpydalekobservatory]

I've done stuff like this many times when I used to go imaging at a dark site, forgotten laptop, or power supply, coma corrector all on separate occasions.

[AZRunner]

It happens Dave. I've had everything but the power supply to cool the camera. I usually setup the night before in the house and when I tear down everything goes in a box and then in the 4Runner. A checklist is a necessity when you are away from home. You should come out towards Yuma, I know it is a little further but we'd love to have you out there next time we head out. CS