kerrylewis

Hello John. Yes I love the 100DL in fact it’s the only working scope I have now. So light and easy to set up - so easy I must do it more often!

After a lengthy hiatus I decided to dust off the Tak and the Ioptron mount and go for the planets - always my favourite target. I got up around 3.00 yesterday and today. Yesterday the seeng was exceptionally good but the mount was playing up. Jupiter looked wonderful as usual and despite the mount troubles i managed to find Saturn too. I had thought that Saturn would not be so attractive to observe as the rings were closing up but how wrong I was. It looked stunning - like a ball with a slim needle piercing it. A pin sharp view showed the almost edge-on rings superbly. A wonderful sight. I thought that the contacts on the mount controller cable could probably do with a clean - and hey presto the mount is working well again. So I found Mars too. The seeing not as excellent as yesterday but still a nice sharp disc. Couldn't make out any markings or polar cap thought. Finished off with views of Neptune and Uranus (thanks to the goto connected to Sky Safari on my iPad) which showed the usual small coloured discs. Oh and the moon too! A really enjoyable session - definitely worth getting up for

Good view tonight in the Tak 100mm before the moon rose even though the sky was not fully dark. The green head very clear and the wispy fan-like tail just about there and helped by averted vision. As the moon rises later in the next few days I will continue to give it a go as it fades.

I love a good comet but hadn't managed to see this one previously - mainly due to the freezing weather! But I set the Tak up last night and and dragged myself out of bed at 5.15 determined to observe it. Struggled at first - the cloth that I use as a short term covering had frozen solid. It was more like hardboard and in lifting it off I nudged the scope out of alignment. After a few minutes with rapidly numbing fingers I got it re-aligned, connected up Sky Safari on the iPad and there she was! Very attractive with its green glow and fanlike tail (a really good comet must have a visible tail!) Well worth the effort' I look forward to the coming weeks when it can be easily seen at a better hour and, hopefully, it will be just a few degrees warmer.

Got up at 3.00 again this morning. Seeing was very good despite the preceding warm day. Saturn is now getting low at that time but still pin sharp in the Tak. Jupiter was good with a double shadow transit and Io heading for a transit. The two shadows were very easy to see - one larger (Ganymede) than the other (Io). Watched Io reach the disc and tracked it as long as it was visible against the slightly darker limb. Mars was good too and taking high magnification. Polar cap bright and a clear dark band across the planet. Great to get out in the warm dawn air and see so much Kerry

Got up last night around 11.30 to try and observe this comet . Using the Tak100DL, and Sky Safari for its location, I couldn’t see anything at first but as my eyes adapted, and the sky darkened slightly, something emerged. It was in the right place according to Sky Safari and eventually, especially with averted vision, it was definitely there. No clear shape and in the ‘faint fuzzy blob’ category but good nevertheless to bag another comet

I have been planning to catch these for a while but bed was always too comfortable. However this morning I made it having got up at 3.00 am It was pleasantly mild and Jupiter and the moon were prominent in the lightening sky with Mars and Saturn a bit fainter. So - a look at each in turn: Jupiter was slightly wavy at the edges but improved as it climbed and the belts became a bit clearer . The moons were nicely arranged with two each side. Saturn next before it hit the bushes.( My garden has a lot of self inflicted obstacles considering my hobby!) I was surprised at first to see how much the rings had closed since my last observation but the planet still looked splendid as usual with Titan visible despite the light sky. Mars next - small of course but a polar cap quite prominent. it was so good to see these old friends again and it all bodes well for later in the year with Mars approaching opposition and them all getting higher and visible at a more friendly time. Can’t wait!

Prompted by this thread I made sure that I watched the programme and I’m glad that I did. What a man! A wonderful intellect but also a great communicator. I remember the Big Bang vs steady state debates and as a teenager I backed Fred Hoyle and his steady state - the Big Bang sounded just too improbable! Ah well - not the last time I would be wrong.

Prompted by the reports on SGL I dusted off the Herschel wedge and set up the Tak. What a spectacular group! I love all the intricate detail including areas just outside the main spots. Makes you wonder what might be in store for us as this cycle progresses. Thanks for the heads up chaps.

Newtonian reflectors do not have front glass but remain open. Dust is not really a problem while in use and some sort of cover usually protects the mirror when not in use SCT scopes have a mirror at the rear and a glass plate at the front but that is a different design Kerry

I got up for 2.00 am and had a clear view of Ganymede beginning its transit just as Europa was leaving the disc. Great view as Jupiter developed two small ears with the two moons perfectly placed opposite each other. I have observed this occurrence before but I’m assuming it doesn’t happen too often. The tiny shadow of Europa was also visible tending to come and go with the seeing. The planet was getting low but seeing was generally good with the pinpoint moons very clear. Worth getting up for!

Thanks all for the comments. I got up at 2.00 am for more of Jupiter - see Observing Planetary

After a couple of stupid mishaps with my scopes back in March I was really disheartened and decided to take a break from stargazing. However with the promise of a clearish night I decided to set up the Tak FC100 and get back to observing tonight. It's great to see my old favourite Jupiter again. Some thin cloud dimming the view but steady seeing, No transits at he moment but a a good view of the belts and moons. Couldn't resist a quick slew to Albireo which is looking as beautiful as ever. Saturn will clear the next door roof later - looking forward to that I think I'm back! Kerry

Thanks for your comments Mike. I've not previously been to keen on lunar observations but I have dabbled with the 100. I think sketching may rekindle my interest. Thanks for the suggestion - I will try the 'grand tour'