Breaking the Rules

[MarkRadice]

Our good friends and near-neighbours Bob "Fordos" and his partner came round for dinner last week.  This allowed me to combine my hobbies of eating good food and astronomy as Bob is a keen astronomer and photographer. (see http://starlightpictures.co.uk/) .  I had the solar scope set up and tracking so we can catch the last of the sunspots while we left the important talking and wine to the ladies.  Looking at the sun’s disc on the laptop screen with a blanket over our heads caused much merriment.  It was really quite hot still so we needed a cold beer to keep cool and hydrated. 

Hot work!

Keeping Hydrated

Interesting Features

After an excellent dinner we used the 14" tracking dob to catch the moon and Saturn.  Now, all the rules about observing the moon and planets say that you should image under clear conditions, with good seeing and with a clear, unobstructed view.  These pictures don’t look too bad for awful seeing; thick, hazy cirrus drifting past and Saturn being behind the branches of a nearby tree!

Eratosthenes and foothills of Apennine Mountains

Plato and Apennine Valley

Tycho

Saturn through a tree (and thin cloud)

So if you want to get the very best then you need to follow the "rules" and make the most of good seeing, clear skies and clear views.  Unfortunately we very rarely get such conditions and have to make the most of what we are given.  In this case we managed to break all three!.  The seeing was terrible making it hard to check focus as it mushed around.  Secondly, I don't think it ever cleared, there were always layers of thin cirrus drifting across all evening.  Finally, Saturn was barely visible through a tree but occasionally the leaves would line up to leave a clear path for the light to reach the telescope! These less than ideal conditions, though, are a useful opportunity to practice techniques and try alternative approaches to see what works best.  In this case, we had a great time, put the world to rights and got some pleasing pictures. I can't say they are any good though!

[xtreemchaos]

great report and images Mark,it looks like you all had a good time.thanks for sharing..charl..

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Lovely report. Some rules are there to be broken

[John]

Sounds like great fun - who cares about the rules ?

Your top photo ought to be used for a caption competiion

[Qualia]

Sounds like a great day and as you say, it makes sense to make the most of what we have and not moan too much. Nice report, lovely images and a brilliant sentiment, Mark

Now, about that caption John mentions....."They say that if you look at the screen in the dark, you can see what you look like when asleep."   

[damnut]

Just shows what a sociable hobby this is. Nice write up, did the seeing conditions get worse as incafrol consumption rose??

[skywatcher58gb]

Just looking at that sun pic would send me for cold beer, nice post.

Dave

[Skylook123]

Nicely done, Mark.  The way to find boundaries in rules is to go beyond them and look back!

[Paul M]

I can't believe anyone would publish pictures of such reckless behavior...

You should never put a sheet over a BBQ like that! 

[MarkRadice]

Thanks all! You're right it was great fun - which is why we do this hobby.

[LukeSkywatcher]

I'm a bit a foodie. What did you all eat?.