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My, what great EYES you have!

stolenfeather

Entry posted by stolenfeather

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May 28th, 2011

Friday night means many different things to many different people. Since darkness takes longer to settle at this time of year, weekend evenings mean one thing for me: time to settle outside with my telescope since this is impossible during the weekdays when I have classes to teach the next day. At my latitude during this time of year, most of the constellations are not easily discerned until past 11:00. Full blackness makes its way to the north around midnight. This means that I seldom return indoors till one in the morning.

Since I started my stargazing early, when the skies still showed a tinge of blue, I had to settle on an easy but popular target, Saturn. I let my eyes become accustomed to the darkness approaching and soon, I was ready for more difficult targets,... the Messier Objects.

I started with a globular cluster found in the constellation Serpens. The Stellarium program and my trusty Telrad made finding it quite easy. I was taken aback by the individual stars I could see in the cluster. As my eyes became more accustomed, I was certain I could detect a hue of colour but maybe this was only wishful thinking from my part.

Satisfied with my discovery, I decided to look for another globular cluster. I didn't have to look far and settled for M3. This one seemed easy but gave me quite a "run for my money". Finally, I found it and once again took the time to look more closely at it.

My husband Steven always wonders why I go searching for Messier objects since according to him, they seem "all the same". "Once you've seen one smudge in the sky, why look for others?", is pretty much his motto but he comes outside every time I become excited and humours my passion by looking through the eyepiece. "You've got great eyesight to find those," Steven exclaimed when I came back inside. I had to smile since a couple of months ago, my MS had played a cruel game by blurring the vision in my right eye (the main eye I use when observing the stars). It is therefore official,... MY EYESIGHT HAS FULLY RETURNED!

Isabelle

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The Sailor

Well done Isabelle, nice... Have to say I am with you on this one, my eyesight is not the best now, wear contact lenses as a norm but still have to put specs on for reading an suchlike so when I am at the eyepiece they rest on my forehead. Since I am now using the refractor with a 2" eyepiece I can now see the "smudge" and they jump out at me, no colour but certainly some specks within :). But have to be honest with you, if I did not have the GoTo I would find it hard to find anything without starhopping, many is a time I have taken a wrong turn and had to backtrack but that is skywatching :).

Jim

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todd8137

hi clouds are killing me here at the min ,a freind found a old phillips toucam pro i striped it down took the led of the pcb board with all the bits on and the microphone flashred the camera to spc900 specs and fitted a fan a did not bother with the long expo because ahave the 10d for thatnow just need a break in the clouds woke up this morning to rain so its not looking good but we live in hope

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stolenfeather

Star hopping is how I make my way around the sky Jim. My husband has hinted many times in purchasing a "goto" mount but I resist. For me, it's the thrill of discovery! I'm happy that the "smudges" jump out at you. It's what gives me solace that yes,.. I can see what I care about!

I hope you have a break in the clouds soon Todd. Last night will be my only moment out there this week since they are predicting rain during the rest of the week!

Isabelle

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mr saddo

Hi Isabella, good post has always, skies are bad here at the moment in YORK UK, it never really gets dark at all, (our summer time now) i have been up all hours checking, but its still a tinge of blue, or full gray sky, i think we have had 2 clear night a few weeks ago and thats it. Not seen the four planets in the morning before sunrise too low on horizon here for me very disappointed, i look most mornings but skies are bad,the astronomy lark has gone on the back burner for now , roll on winter!! still pondering on another scope mind you? yours Paul.

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stolenfeather

Thanks Paul! I'm thinking of rising early this weekend if the clouds cooperate. It's been some time since I have seen Venus.

Isabelle

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