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stolenfeather

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Blog Entries posted by stolenfeather

  1. stolenfeather
    One would think that after last night with the famous "supermoon" , that many posts covering the event prevail but no. To tell you the truth, I must admit feeling quite bothered about the "hype" the news conjured up with their flashy headlines and promises of wonder. In the end, there was little to see without some sort of measurable reference that the moon was "bigger". The media did it again, promised something they knew little about, raised excitement and only delivered an illusion based on the power of suggestion.
    Yes, the moon was it its closest, this is called a perigree. That's it. However, there was a time last evening where I felt elated since for once, all eyes ventured above to the night sky and searched to be mesmerized. The feeling we all have as stargazers was shared by all (even if just for a moment)! I hope it continues to grow and does not wane once the headlines become yesterday's news.
    The moon is always beautiful.


    LUNAR WONDERS
    Liquid-less seas of rugged terrain with borrowed light,
    Bombarded, impacted, now cratered shadows in time.
    Daunting shine creating shadows in the subdued night.
    Waxing, waning, eclipsing, sometimes reigning sublime.
    Illness, destruction, the promise of monsters you bring
    are all creations, wishes of doom born within the mind.
    supreme darkness where feathered silence takes wing,
    Intriguing, unknown, a sense of wonder to all humankind.
    An attraction force, a pull far greater than we can surmise
    elevating, decreasing, reducing, creating the ocean tide.
    A magnetism, a scientific lust for discovery under disguise,
    we searched to land, to walk, make you an object of pride.
    But with all you've become and wonders you've captured,
    I stand captured almost enraptured in a sense of awe
    at the hope you may reveal many questions unanswered
    always humbled by your presence, I could never withdraw.
    Isabelle



    Last night, I took the following pictures of the moon not really because it was bigger, but because it was there :


    Isabelle
  2. stolenfeather
    May 20th, 2011
    My last journal entry was almost 1 month ago and I couldn't believe how different nearly 30 days made in the night sky. It took me a couple of minutes to reorient myself to the stars above since they seemed to be shunning my presence. Saturn pointed me in the right direction but after being mesmerized by its brilliance once more, I found myself drifting off into a different area of space, one much closer to home.
    I breathed in deeply. The night is a marvelous world isn't it? As stargazers, this is something we truly appreciate. I could hear the peepers and crickets vocalizing their pleasure that spring had finally returned. Their symphony made me forget my search for Messier objects altogether and reach for a deeper meaning to what surrounded me. Far ahead, I could hear the calls of geese as they made their way north. Their wings caught the glimmer of a nearby light, reminding me of the wonders found here on earth. When they vanished, I couldn't help but ponder our very fragile existence. This is the message I wanted to convey when I was at the Kennedy Space Center just one week ago:





    Our technology might seem impressive in size but, we are indeed insignificant creatures lost within the many Superclusters of the universe. Like the small peeper calling out in the night amidst so many others,.. there will come a time when we too will be silent forever.
    Being outside with my telescope was definitely NOT going to work tonight. I was being far too introspective to concentrate on the stars above. Then again,.. maybe my perspective was just as it should be.
    Isabelle
  3. stolenfeather
    Saturday, March 31st, 2012
    and into the wee hours of the first day of April.
    It had been nearly a month since my last serious stargazing session although I had caught many glimpses as the weeks strolled by. Each time, I was either swamped with school-related work, had no time to properly record what was observed or was away from my telescope altogether. There were times that I ached to be outside and other moments when my passion for the stars completely overwhelmed my senses. However, I remained silent and my telescope collected dust from lack of use.
    On March 15th, I definitely wanted to scream so all could hear.
    I'm sure that many of you would agree that there are moments in life when you experience something you never thought you would and are well aware that the occasion would never present itself again. The evening of March 15th was such a night. My science students had participated in the Regional Science Fair and had placed first and third in their categories. As we left the building, we witnessed the most spectacular auroras ever! Unfortunately, I did not have my camera and all I could do was stare. The moment was fleeting yet awakened a most profound part of me. As the small bus drove away from the small building where the students had displayed their winning projects, all I could do was lower my head and cry. I knew, I knew,.. that I had seen something that few had experienced and that I would never see again. I attempted to find a picture online to share a little of what I had seen (image from borealis2000.com).
    On March 31st, I was finally able to perform my much needed collimation. This usually takes 10 to 15 minutes as I align the primary and secondary mirrors. This routine task ended up taking me 45! For reasons that have me completely baffled, the mirrors were completely misaligned, enough for the adjusting laser to miss the secondary mirror completely and appear on the wall behind it! I was careful to keep my eyes away from the light as I attempted to fix the situation to no avail. The mirrors refused to budge so I concluded that the Allen key used was dysfunctional. Frustration set in as I vowed vengeance to all that reflected light until I finally found a new tool hiding in the bottom of our kitchen drawer.
    You know the drawer that simply accumulates all unused items of the household? That's right, you have one of those too I'm sure. Imagine trying to find something of value there!
    Finally, the mirrors were perfectly aligned and the telescope was acclimated to the cold. It was -14 degrees Celsius with humidity levels at 92 percent. This was clearly not ideal conditions to be outside (in terms of condensation issues) but I was in no position to complain. Venus welcomed me as soon as I stepped into the tampered darkness. Once again, she shone beautifully while the moon basked the rest of the sky in light.


    I am extremely proud even if other images on this forum is 100 times better!
    30 minutes into my session, both my eyepiece and my viewfinder (TELRAD) suffered from condensation greatly reducing what could be seen. I decided to abandon my quest but left my telescope outside in case the conditions changed.

    It did!


    As the clock struck 12:30 am of April first, I made my way outside once more. I knew it was there,... I had not seen it for many months BUT I knew it was there.

    There it was! Please help me in welcoming our ringed wonder to our night sky once more!



    The tilt of the planet displayed the rings beautifully! I decided to attempt using my husband's camera (a Panasonic Lumix - DMC LX5) which is more sophisticated than mine. Eureka! Yes, I think I finally have a picture of Saturn that I can be proud of!

    Isabelle

  4. stolenfeather
    Unfortunately, due to an MS relapse, I have been unable to view the night sky for the whole week. I am very optimistic that some change in my eyesight will be seen in the following days. Many of you have written about your encounters with Saturn for the past weeks. I have been waiting for my chance.
    It will come,.. It will come.
    This being said, I have found myself reminiscing of my previous encounters with our "popular ringed one". This brings to mind a night I will never forget:



    May 5th, 2009
    9:30pm
    My visit at the Lowell Observatory was something I had planned months in advance by reserving a private program including night viewing with the telescopes and multimedia shows. This being said,... I had no idea to the adventure that I was about to experience!
    The visits were organized to welcome groups of thirty and more. It so happened that for the particular day (the only one available during my vacation in Flagstaff) no other person had signed up! In the end, Steven and I were the only ones there with the company of two student astronomers! The four of us first sat in a huge multimedia room for some information. When the main astronomer saw my eyes glaze over as he was talking about the different phases of the moon, he asked me, "You know this already right?" I nodded then proceeded to tell him about where I lived and what I had learned so far. When he realized that I knew my way around the night sky and was a little familiar with the jargon, he shut off the monitor and motioned Steven and I to step into the observatory room where the huge 24 inch Clark Telescope awaited us!
    I held my breath,... It was in this very observatory that the dwarf planet Pluto was first discovered, where the rings to Uranus were first explored, and where the initial spark that lead to the eventual realization that the universe was expanding was found! For a person passionate about astronomy, one who believes that the search for truth resides within the deep reaches of ourselves, our relationship with others and in our exploration of the natural world (near and far) that lies around us,... I felt as if I was on "holy" ground! When the two student astronomers invited me to look through the telescope, I actually trembled!

    Ben, the top student who is close to graduating with honors from his field of study took the time to explain the surroundings of Arcturus (a star that I was less informed about). He was quite pleased with his new visitor (moi), stating that, "most people that came to the observatory held little to no information or enthusiasm which made the visits very cut and dry". He went on to say that discussing the night sky with visitors at a deeper level seldom happened and that he thought that my excitement / knowledge was quite refreshing. When I admitted to preferring looking at deep sky objects to planets he knew exactly what to show me,... Messier 80! I had seen it before but NEVER like this!



    No matter what kind of telescope you have, from my 10" Dobsonian to the Clark monster at the Observatory, there remains one constant: the quality of the sky. That night, there was not one cloud to be seen which should mean smooth sailing for any sky watcher but,... the Waxing Gibbous moon was out in full force shedding it's light across most of the sky. In all of my life, I had NEVER seen it shine so bright! In the telescope, the beam emanating from our natural satellite was so bright that it looked like a laser coming out of the eyepiece! I put my hand under the eyepiece and for a second, it seemed like I was catching it's brilliance! Ben laughed and grabbed a piece of paper. Holding it up to the scope, we were able to make out the shadows of the seas and craters! Now that's one bright moon!

    When he pointed the telescope (psst! I was actually allowed to help bring it about!) to Saturn, I couldn't keep my emotions hidden anymore. The planet that makes all backyard astronomers gasp for breath when they first saw it,... brought tears to my eyes! The Clark telescope revealed it's detailed beauty beyond my wildest dreams!








    From left to right: Nicole, myself and Ben
    Unfortunately, Steven was the one taking the picture :(
  5. stolenfeather
    September 6th, 2011
    I wasn't thinking of staying long outside and didn't have any set goals but I simply couldn't let a cloudless night pass by without attempting to explore the skies! I set up and decided to return to the constellation Cygnus for another romp. As I was making sure everything was aligned, I heard a strange noise. It was subtle but I recognized it right away. Something or someone was playing with the tarp found around the BBQ. Could it be that a wild animal was attracted by the smell of the chicken my husband had made the night before?
    No,..






    It was the neighbour's dog which I have nicknamed "Silly Pup" which had come by to keep me company. The man never ties his dog but this does not concern me since he is great pal to have around on a starry night!
    After taking the above picture, I heard my name being screamed over and over again. I recognized the voices immediately, my students were coming over for a look! They couldn't see me since I was sitting on my back porch in the dark. I went to the side of the house and called them over. It was at that point that I saw them,.. the northern lights were out! Considering the solar activity in the last few days (if not weeks) and my northern location, I wasn't surprised. Unfortunately, the lights were quite faint and picture-taking was impossible. So, we were starting this little astronomy class with the presence of the mighty Aurora Borealis! Who can ask for anything more?
    I then showed my students a couple of constellations but they were barely listening to me. What had attracted their attention was the light that loomed above, our moon! I gave them a chance to navigate the telescope to our natural satellite and wasn't surprised that they "whooped" in pleasure at the sight!





    Pssst! Try a little higher!
    Once the moon exploration was over, one student remembered something, "You said in class last week that Jupiter was out here! We want to see it!"


    I explained that it was still close to the horizon and was actually found on the other side of the house. I also stated that it was best for us to wait and that I didn't like the idea of walking around with my 10" dob around the house in the dark. I couldn't see them in the dark but I could sense their eyes starting to glaze over.


    They just looked at me with "puppy dog eyes" (once again I could sense this with no problems in the dark) and said:





    Now, How can I say "no" to that?



    We carried the telescope to the front of the house and they marveled at the fact that they could see Jupiter's moons. Some colour could be seen and this made them extremely excited!




    Now, I must warn you, taking pictures of young teenagers when excited can result in this:





    After we were all blinded by the flash, my students helped me bring my telescope inside. It's nights like these that I pride myself for being a teacher. The young ones that left, had acquired something very special, a taste of a passion that will remain with them forever!

    Isabelle
  6. stolenfeather
    Saturday, October 1st, 2011
    A VEST? It was so cold that I reached for my winter coat and hat! Staying pretty much immobile in 2 ºC / 35.6 ºF with 70 km winds can become uncomfortable with time but the skies called out to me. Our geographical area goes through a second freshet in the autumn months. This means cloud cover for two months straight as the rains come in so right now, I don't want to let any chances pass me by! There was also the little matter of Vesta,...
    Throughout September and into October, this large asteroid is seen near the southern border of Capricornus. My astronomy magazines and my Stellarium program have been hinting at it's location for sometime now. With astronomy, there's always an allure for the first time. If I could catch Vesta, it would be my first asteroid.
    My firsts?
    I jumped up and down upon seeing my first planet ----> Venus
    I danced around my telescope the first time I found Saturn.
    I called all my friends when Jupiter made it's first appearance in my eyepiece.
    I patted myself on the back for finding Uranus and Mercury.
    I nearly cried when seeing my first nebula in the constellation Orion.
    I simply stared in wonder the first time I saw northern lights.
    I was mesmerized upon seeing my first star cluster.
    I laughed and nearly hugged my telescope upon seeing my first galaxy. (Andromeda)
    The green comet Lulin was my first dusty ice spectacle (comet).
    Now,,... I want Vesta to be my first asteroid.
    I think that I was indeed successful last night since I did encounter something looking at the stars in Capricornus. The problem is that an asteroid looks pretty much like a star and therefore difficult to decipher it from other surrounding heavenly bodies. One did stand out to me. It's not that it was bigger but,... it's light seemed more stable to me and after sometime, I started seeing a hint (make that a very small hint) of colour. I have to say however that after peering at the same object after some time through an eyepiece, sometimes what you see becomes what you want to see.
    Before heading back in I gave my telescope a whirl and "popped over" the Andromeda galaxy and the planet Jupiter. It's not that I had never seen them before but the thing about being out here,... many times, it feels like the first time all over again!

    The skies are clear so far. At 8:00pm, if the weather cooperates,.. I'm heading out again. I need to know if I have indeed become acquainted with this asteroid, the same heavenly body that is currently orbited by the Dawn spacecraft.
    How cool is that?
  7. stolenfeather
    June 18, 2011
    Since nights are incredibly short, this stargazing evening went far into the early morning of the 19th. I am more of an early riser than a night owl which makes viewing the night sky quite difficult at this time of year. Stargaze in the morning? This would mean setting my telescope up at 3:00 am. I do love astronomy but I've been told that sleeping was a good thing,...
    I set up my telescope around 11:30. It was at this time that the ISS was streaking across the sky. I followed with my binoculars and gave it a salute when it dipped below the horizon approximately where the moon would be rising (maybe it was already there but stood behind my neighbours house where I couldn't see it).

    I stopped by a fuzzy Saturn which seemed nestled next to Porrima in the constellation Virgo. I immediately thought that it's lack of detail was caused by it being so close to the horizon but it wasn't. I felt like I was watching the sky through water! The waning gibbous moon, when it finally made it's appearance, seemed to be dripping with sweat! I should have packed up my telescope right away but something told me to stay put. I decided to do something that could only end up in frustration and set out to look for M51 (a whirlpool galaxy). To tell you the truth I had never been able to see it and have given up many times. Why I would choose this night to look for it,.. I don't know. All I can say in my defense is that there are many things about me that simply can't be explained.
    When I noticed a smudge, I told myself that I had finally found it. However, no details could be seen. I patted myself on the book for finally spotting it but,.. now what? I had found it on a night where little could be appreciated! That's okay. If I found it once, I'll find it again!
    As I turned to pack my equipment away a light caught my eye. It looked like a lone firework which sputtered flames behind it for a couple of seconds (maybe even three) and then was gone. I stared at the darkness, holding my breath, half expecting it to come back to life but no,... I had seen a HUGE FIREBALL! Maybe it was a remnant of the Lyrid meteor shower since it's peak ended days ago.


    Tonight, in a small northern community in James Bay the atmosphere had shown it's power. It had orchestrated a weather pattern that had me reach for a hat and gloves in the middle of June, turned the moon a very distinct orange colour (this is created by atmospheric disturbances), had rendered every celestial object in sight into a perspiring mess, and had shown its protective characteristics by turning a rock fragment into fire.






    Burn Baby Burn!




    Isabelle
  8. stolenfeather
    June 1st, 2011
    I have dreaded this day since the first time I have looked through my sky-watcher. That would be the day when I would have to "tinker" with all that makes it "tick". Today, I grabbed the Dobsonian by both horns and attempted collimation using the HoTech SCA Lazer Collimator. I bought this little gadget with the hope that it would make the task at hand less intimidating. It wasn't complicated at first since I followed a YouTube video and the somewhat simplistic directions that came with the device. Click
    for the video.I tinkered, second guessed myself many times, and finally let out a sigh of relief, "It was done". Just to make sure, I asked my husband to take a look. This is where I learned a very valuable lesson. Two people attempting collimation is a recipe for disaster! My husband, being the perfectionist that he is argued that the scope was still off center and started re-adjusting the primary and secondary mirrors. The result? It was grossly misaligned! I then tried to help and we were both tinkering here and there (probably making it worse as we went along) until I couldn't bear the sight of my Sky-Watcher anymore.

    After two hours, it was still misaligned!
    Steven gave up and adjourned to the living room where he watched a movie called "White Noise". Upon feeling some major "heebie jeebies" coming along, I decided to give my scope another try.
    Fifteen minutes later, it was perfectly aligned! Personally I blame the telescope. IT doesn't play well with others!
  9. stolenfeather

    Congratulations!

    By stolenfeather,

    Sunday, February 13th / 2011
    The sun was setting, the clouds were nowhere to be seen and the thermometer was friendlier than the week before. I told myself: This is it and invited all those interested to come to my back porch to view the stars. Three teenagers came for a look as well as one tiny astronomer who's small stature was towered by my telescope. The people were all there enthusiastic to see what wonders were hidden in the night sky (not all at the same time though). It was not to be.
    Between the moon and humidity in the air, there was not much I could share. The show had been canceled before it had begun. My visitors left quite unimpressed after seeing a hazy moon and a blurry M32. Beaten by the natural forces once again, I brought my telescope inside.
    I felt quite empty, when I returned to the the warmth of my house (it was -30 Celsius). The coldish temperatures paired with my disappointing stargazing evening made me dream of warmer days. Last year, I had been unable to look at the stars because my portable telescope (used during the summer alone) had basically broken to pieces.






    Yes, it is the one you see above. It was Konus (umm,.. I forgot). You see, I had many other names for it and all of them had some correlation with human waste matter.


    First, one of the brackets broke,
    Then the mount refused to be extended and I had to kneel to see anything,
    and finally the viewfinder broke off completely,

    When this happened, I did the only respectable thing,.... The Konus found a peaceful end within the nearest garbage receptacle. Yeah, using plastic for telescopes can only mean one thing,... GARBAGE!

    As I sat there ruminating the minutes of my failed attempt of looking at the stars, I remembered that I had no telescope for the following summer. I started looking around, asked questions on this forum, and flipped through my collection of "Star and Telescope" magazines for ideas.
    I had three interesting prospects:



    The SkyScanner 100mm Tabletop Reflector
    Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector
    The Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P

    A grab and go telescope that was not too expensive, was easy to carry AND gave me a worthwhile image of planets / deep sky objects? There was one and my husband surprised me with it on the following day. Steven and I don't exchange St-Valentine's presents. To tell you the truth, I'm not very keen on the idea of having a "love day". However, my wonderful husband saw my notes and when I wasn't looking made a purchase.


    "Congratulations," he said when I returned home for lunch.
    "Congratulations?" I said quite confused.
    Steven grinned and added, "You're the proud owner of a new telescope!"







    Now all I have to do is wait for it to reach the north via mail. I can just see it now,..
    Poised on a table by a lonely lake. My tent all ready for another peaceful night. A loon crying out it's mourning chant and me?
    I'll be looking at the stars with this little gem! July isn't that far away,... I can just taste it!
  10. stolenfeather
    September 5th, 2011

    (9:30 - 10:30pm)

    The last time I was out with my telescope, I was pressed for time and didn't experience the night sky as much as I wanted. My earlier quest had been simple, I wanted to harness the light capturing power of my scope in order to observe Messier Objects,... any object! I had not been successful in doing this with my smaller telescope during the summer and wanted to make-up for lost time. Nothing went in my favour and I returned home defeated by the night sky. It's not what I did or what I had as equipment that left me empty handed,.. It was what I didn't do. I had not been prepared and did not take the time to fully orient myself to the sky before commencing my observation of the heavens above. This time,.. It was going to be different.
    I took ample time for my eyes to accustom to the lack of light, made sure everything was well aligned and let the pressures of the day escape. I wanted to start my romp amongst the stars with the Andromeda Galaxy but the roof of my own house hid it's many wonders. I would have to wait for it to climb higher in the sky. I therefore looked for an easier area to observe and saw it,... Cygnus!
    It had been high overhead all summer but my small telescope was little help in showing me it's hidden beauty (or maybe I was simply not patient enough). Now I had a chance! There were so many clusters and nebulae to discover, why I decided to look for M29 (which does not even figure on the picture above) is beyond me. This little cluster is difficult to distinguish from it's rich stellar background but I did it. Was I looking for a challenge? Maybe. Let's just say that NGC 6960 was a whole lot more easier to locate!




    To be fair and share something of my own, I captured the easiest heavenly body around, the first quarter moon! I know,.. it's not as spectacular as the others we see on this forum and I'm definitely NOT trying to duplicate any of them,... but this one is mine!






    Isabelle




  11. stolenfeather
    January 7th, 2011
    Teaching an eight hour drive from five star restaurants and theaters, one would think that there would be nothing to do on a Friday night in northern Quebec but I beg to differ. My evening started around 5:00 pm when I brought my telescope to acclimatize itself to the cold. It was a respectable -19 ºC ( -2.2 ºF) which made the view outstanding and the comfort quite reasonable. The waxing crescent moon was quickly making it's way to the horizon and I knew I had little time to capture it on camera but since I had set up early, I was successful:







    I admit that the picture is a little fuzzy but there's something about a crescent moon that just captures the imagination no?


    I took the time to look at Jupiter since it was high enough in the sky to show some details in the bands and gave me a very good opportunity to view Uranus as well. Usually hard to find, this gaseous planet was flirting extremely close to the brightest object in the sky (beside the moon) making it a very easy target. I knew it would be small and hard to differentiate from the stars around it but once my eyes settled on the "elusive one",.. I just knew.
    Since it was still early and I was far from the inky blackness needed to chase subtle Messier objects, I made myself a lobster tail supper, rice and asparagus . I chased it down with a very respectable "Tutiac Côte de Bordeaux (2009)" and topped this all with an Espresso Americano".


    When no five star restaurant is in sight,... you just create one!



    At 9:00pm, I made my way back outside for a romp around Auriga and Orion. I started with my favourite M42 (the Orion Nebula) since I wanted to capture a better image. I did but I don't believe I was able to top last week's attempt:





    I had seen this particular Messier so many times so redirected my telescope towards a new goal: I wanted to see the Crab Nebula (M1).
    I looked and was successful but did not attempt to capture the moment on film. This nebula was a little more than a smudge of white in my telescope. There was absolutely no way that my camera could have captured the discreet cloud. Was I disappointed? Absolutely not! My eye had just caught a glimpse of something truly spectacular! My telescope showed a smudge but I saw a momentous supernova recorded in 1054. Yes, I was looking at a star that imploded 957 years ago!


    (not my picture: celestiamotherlode.net)



    I made a slight detour in Auriga for a quick look at M37 and 38 but was unsuccessful in uncovering M79 tucked at he bottom of Lepus. Unfortunately, the little globular cluster was flirting too close to the horizon for a good view.



    So anyone up for a DINNER and a SHOW? I wish you were around this region, I'm sure we would have had a great time!



  12. stolenfeather

    Dodging work!

    By stolenfeather,

    Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
    Many purchase telescopes and once that the moon has been spotted or a couple of chance views of planets, the excitement wanes, the equipment is soon forgotten and collects dust somewhere in the backrooms. We all want to see the planets don't we? I admit to jumping up and down upon seeing Saturn through my eyepiece and I also confess doing a "dance of joy" upon seeing Jupiter the first time but that's not where my interest lies. I always want to look farther than my own backyard, my own solar system that is! My passion lies in deep space objects such as the one I discovered on this night.
    I had little time since school related responsibilities kept me glued to my computer for most of the week and this night was no different. Well, yes it was. The night was warmer than usual boasting a very comfortable -6 degrees and the sky conditions looked good. I worried at first about the presence of humidity and wondered about condensation issues with the scope but they turned out minimal in the end.
    Since I didn't have much time, I decided to channel my efforts into finding a new Messier object. Usually, I have little trouble finding Charles' little fuzzy collection of wonders but this winter is a little different because of the construction project down the road. Since this major building is very costly to the community, the baseball flood lights remain lit for the whole night. The light pollution is immense making most of the more remote stars disappear into the light.

    I used Sirius in the constellation Canis Major and Procyon in Canis Minor to star hop towards the majestic open cluster of M47 ( NGC 2422) that you see to your left. This was no easy feat since these two locations aren't too close to each other but created a very neat "L" to my desired location. There are times that I wish my mount was more of an equatorial one since I would be able to discover the stars with the help of celestial coordinates but then again,.... I do believe in a challenge! After a couple of tries, the Messier object came into view!
    M47 is an open cluster which boasts an age of 78 million years. It is not as spellbinding as globular clusters since it does not have many stars but really distinguishes itself from other deep space (Messier) objects because of the brightness of some of its members.
    Of course the image found at the top is not my picture since my camera and telescope can't handle this attention to detail. After making my notes, I swerved the telescope to face our red neighbour Mars. I have to say that I admire this planet more when seen with the naked eye since its ruby like texture disappears with magnification to a dull red. Jupiter was also out but was not very cooperative with my camera. Venus, however, out for a stroll at the beginning of the evening was more than willing to show its wonders to all who wanted to see:


    You can clearly see the phase in the picture at the top and the reason why it is so bright at this time of the month.

    Although the sky conditions were pristine, I was unable to stay much longer since I had 6 classes to tend the following day at school. The weekend is upon us but this will not be very helpful when it comes to me escaping outside since thick clouds are expected to be visiting for the whole weekend!
    Although this night offered me little time for serious stargazing and was pretty much over in 30 minutes (done sparsely as I tended to my teaching duties) I consider 3 planets and one deep sky object nothing to scoff at! Now I wait once more for clear skies,...
    Isabelle
  13. stolenfeather
    February 6th, 2011
    5:00 am
    The forecast the night before had predicted a cloud-free morning. I was excited by the news since it would give me the opportunity of viewing Venus and Saturn before the sun made it's appearance. There was only one thing on my mind when I awoke,.. to dress and make my way outside! I knew that Saturn's rings were nicely displayed (showing much detail) and I simply couldn't wait till May to see it during normal evening hours.
    I quickly dressed and,... the forecast had been wrong! :mad: All I could see were clouds! When I saw a break in the gray skies by the time evening made it's way to this part of the north, I knew that I had to take advantage of the occasion. Venus and Saturn would not be around but I'm sure some of "the other boys" would come out and play!
    At 8:00pm, the moon and Jupiter were well on their way towards the horizon but still granted me with spectacular views! Some of Jupiter's bands were clearly defined but they didn't come out on any of my pictures. I tried but frostbit fingers can stay motionless for only so long (-36 Celsius will do that to you).

    SGL gave me some very helpful tricks last week as to limiting my shakiness when taking pictures. One of these ideas was to take a video and to then extract the picture from it's files using Registax.


    So extracting a picture from a video gave me this:

    (Take it easy on me, It's my first time)


    My night was far from over. I oriented my telescope by Orion where I visited my favourite Messier Object (M42) and then went out to find it's closest friend, M41, a faint yet beautiful star cluster.





    It was while I was gazing at this new object that I felt eyes upon my back. I looked and felt a slight nudge by my lower leg. I was being watched by the little lady you see below:





    I don't know her name, where she comes from or where she sleeps at night but once in awhile she comes out to join me while I am outside stargazing. The old saying is therefore true:
    You never know when you're looking at the stars, someone may be looking straight back at you.


  14. stolenfeather
    I know that I have made myself scarce this summer but the camping season is coming to a close and I should be back up north (armed with my computer and electricity) on an everyday basis soon.


    Isabelle




    July 29, 2011


    August is right around the corner and as night fell, so did the mercury (no,... not the planet, although I have been told that it is visible before sunrise). At 9:00 pm, already a chill could be felt in the air so I grabbed my jeans and sweater. Since the mosquitoes are still making themselves present for some stargazing action, I also grabbed some OFF! I set up in the front of my mother's house since the backyard has way too many trees. Unfortunately, this left me in plain view of cars passing by. They were few so I can't complain but,.. sigh.





    Here's a question you might want to answer:


    What does a driver do when they see the view seen above on the side of the road?



    Don't know?

    They flash their high beams for a better view of what is in front of them. Since it is an object of interest, they drive slowly by and when I look up, completely blinded by the lights, they smile look down and drive away quickly.


    Needless to say that this was NOT the night to go out looking for elusive Messier Objects but with the moon nowhere in sight,.. I just HAD to.


    My viewing destination was the constellation Sagittarius where Messier Objects are abundant. In my mind, I was bound to come across something interesting. Armed with a telescope much smaller than my 10" Sky-Watcher, I found myself having a hard time adjusting to the viewfinder which was far inferior to my Telrad! The big red spot on my Orion Starblast proved to be more of annoyance than an aid with the small Messier Objects. Did I find any Messier objects? I tried for M25 and M17 with little luck.
    Was the aperture of the scope too small for the objects chosen?
    Was the awkward viewfinder the cause for my demise?
    Was the fact that I was negotiating my way around rose bushes when viewing a handicap to my cause?
    Were the cars driving slowly by looking at the side of the road "phenomenon" a disturbance?


    So,.. was my night successful? Well, let me put it this way:





    Seeing a plane pass by through the eyepiece of the telescope was a little cool and well,.. that's it. Sigh,...there will be other occasions I'm sure!

    Isabelle



  15. stolenfeather

    EXTREME ASTRONOMY

    By stolenfeather,

    January 22nd, 2011
    It had been 14 nights since I had been outside with my telescope. A nasty cold paired with many nights under cloud cover were the culprits. When I saw that a high pressure system was moving in that morning, I knew that the skies would be clear and immediately knew what my evening activity would be. I would be out there!
    The thermostat told a different story.

    It was -35 ºC or -31 ºF. With the windchill, the weather report online warned a cold factor of -42 (the same both in Celsius and Fahrenheit. I told myself that since I stargazed from the comforts of my back porch (there is little light pollution in the north) I could slip in and out of the house and escape the cold.

    I was wrong.

    The cold seemed to sip from the metal of my telescope, through my gloves, burn the skin and chill my bones within seconds. At -40, a person can feel the burn of frostbite within minutes. I lasted for 7. I had enough time to see Jupiter, marvel at the placement of its satellites, take a quick look at M42 (the Orion Nebula) before I brought my telescope back in suffering from the cold. Someone on SGL remarked that going out in this kind of weather was considered, extreme astronomy. I have a new name for it:
    Stupidity.
    I didn't take any pictures since I thought that the temperatures would be too cold for the camera. Funny that I don't extend the same courtesy to my body. From now on, if the thermometer goes lower than -25 ºC or -13 ºF, I shall remain indoors.
    Promise.




    Don't let this picture fool you, I was in no smiling mood when I returned indoors this time.
  16. stolenfeather

    Foiled again!

    By stolenfeather,

    February 3rd, 2012

    There are certain people that fill us with resentment and make us shrink into a world where battery acid pulses through our veins. Of course, one understands that such a negative power is controlled entirely by you. Although you are the only one that can stop the unbelievable crippling sensation, sometimes it seems much easier to do nothing and let it fester. Yeah, one therefore creates their own suffering.
    "It comes from others!" you scream! "I wouldn't be like this if she/he would be more understanding and less cruel!" That maybe true but resentment is a feeling you create and is simply a matter of perspective right?
    This astronomy journal is undeniable proof that resentment lies only in the eyes of the individual that nurtures it. You see, I hold a grudge against Mars.
    This feeling developed slowly throughout my stargazing experiences. One by one, I "captured" different planets in my eyepiece and each one filled me with awe! First there was Venus which was quickly followed by Saturn and then the majestic Jupiter. Seeing Mercury and Uranus were also a mesmerizing experiences since both were more elusive (one so close to the sun and the other farther away).
    Then there was Mars,..
    Mars has yet to fill me with any excitement. After reading so much on the planet, I expected so much more from what my eyepiece shared with me the first time. All I saw was a red blur! Unfortunately, nothing has changed since that first encounter. It's not the telescope or my stargazing prowess that's at fault but circumstances beyond anyone's control. Time (I had professional restraints which kept me bound to my computer), an orbit that doesn't coincide with my viewing pleasure, bad collimation because of a lack of adequate tools, clouds, being too close to the horizon and,... more clouds. Last night I told myself that nothing would stop me! I set up eagerly, making a serious attempt to forgive the misdeeds of yesterday.



    "My efforts will be in vain." I told myself as I set up and checked the status of my weather station module. The humidity was at 86% while the mercury boasted -26. Once outside, this translated to extreme condensation. I thought that maybe I could see "just enough",.. No. Once again, it was a big blurry mess and absolutely no detail could be seen. I would have settled for so little yet, my efforts were ignored once more.




    My failure has nothing to do with the red planet. However,
    being foiled for so long by a heavenly body
    bright red, an arrogance bordering on snotty
    so easily seen with the unaided eye
    deeply insults my proud Dobsonian and I.


    Isabelle
  17. stolenfeather

    From my Porch

    By stolenfeather,

    January 8th, 2011

    Many stargazing enthusiasts have to travel far from their houses in order to savor inky black skies when observing. Teaching as far as I do from city lights gives me the unique privilege of viewing right off my porch, a hop away from the patio doors and the warmth of my kitchen. Star gazing with an espresso anyone? Being so close also gives me easy access to my Stellarium program that helps me navigate the stars in search of new Messier objects to uncover.






    I don't know how well you can read the above picture that I took but if you can find the constellation Cassiopeia, you will see a blue deep sky object indicator that says "double cluster". This was my first destination. Standing together, NGC 869 and 884 is a marvel to see! I was unable to take a picture but I'm sure that this gives you an idea of what I saw in my eyepiece:







    File:NGC869NGC884.jpg From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia





    Earlier that night, I was indeed able to take a couple of pictures of my own. First, the waxing crescent moon showing a glimpse of "earth shine" and the star HIP 107820:










    I tried to zoom in but it didn't turn out as well as I thought it would:









    Jupiter was still high enough above the horizon to "smile happy" for the camera so I simply couldn't ignore him now could I?








    You can clearly see Jupiter's main moons in this picture. Seemingly glued to the right side of the planet is Io, then Europa, Callisto and Ganymede. I have to say that I am quite proud of this picture considering the fact that I have no tripod and use a simple point-and-shoot camera.
    I gave up my search for M35 still early into the night since the mercury had dipped to -20 ºC or -4 ºF. Granted that this is not very cold but after awhile, it seemed to inch down my back. Besides, this had been a perfect night,...


    A beautiful crescent moon accompanied by the planet Jupiter and a pair of clusters,... Who could ask for anything more?








  18. stolenfeather
    April 21st, 2012

    The peak of the Lyrids settled in on this night which boasted a dozen or more meteors per hour. Did I see any meteors? Yes, I saw a couple but I have to admit that I wasn't really looking. According to me the "real show" was a little bit further,...
    I made my way outside after fixing my TELRAD which had become unattached at one side since the glue wore off with time. I realigned my viewfinder using bright Venus. When I stopped fumbling in the dark and actually glimpsed at our shiny neighbour I was aghast as to it's clarity! It's crescent, illuminated at 33%, was spellbinding! There have been other nights when it's phase brightened up the sky to a greater degree but tonight the view was extremely sharp!
    Our other neighbour, Mars, was very present on this night and offered a spectacular view as well. I checked the humidity levels wondering if it was low but it registered at 81%. At levels this high one would believe that my transparency (how steady the sky is) would be affected but no,... everything was pristine!
    I skipped across the sky to Saturn that showed a definite hint of yellow with a whisper of an orange tinge colour. I told my husband, Steven. to come out and look. He came out in his shorts and t-shirt but didn't stay long since the temperature was flirting dangerously close to -10 degrees Celsius.

    I looked up in the direction of Lyra a couple of times during the night for signs of meteors but there was another constellation that beckoned my attention: Virgo. This beautiful constellation hides so many wonderful gems! Knowing full well that it was a new moon and that light would not be a problem, I pointed my telescope towards the regions of Vindemiatrix. Why there? You see, herein lies the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies!

    It is possible to point your telescope anywhere in this region and stumble upon a galaxy. I sat back mesmerized. We are indeed specks of dust in comparison aren't we? I guess you now all understand why I sign all of my astronomy journals with the same quote: " Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
    Tongue-tied and twisted, just an earth-bound misfit, I"
    I located, M59 and M60 which are elliptical galaxies estimated to be about 55 million of light years away, each holding billions of stars! All I could see was a hazy blur, a cloud, something that looked "not quite like a star" but more so!


    Tell me,.. Have you ever danced with the galaxies while a couple of meteors streaked by? Did you know that the planets were watching you all along?

    Isabelle

  19. stolenfeather
    April 21st, 2012

    The peak of the Lyrids settled in on this night which boasted a dozen or more meteors per hour. Did I see any meteors? Yes, I saw a couple but I have to admit that I wasn't really looking. According to me the "real show" was a little bit further,...
    I made my way outside after fixing my TELRAD which had become unattached at one side since the glue wore off with time. I realigned my viewfinder using bright Venus. When I stopped fumbling in the dark and actually glimpsed at our shiny neighbour I was aghast as to it's clarity! It's crescent, illuminated at 33%, was spellbinding! There have been other nights when it's phase brightened up the sky to a greater degree but tonight the view was extremely sharp!
    Our other neighbour, Mars, was very present on this night and offered a spectacular view as well. I checked the humidity levels wondering if it was low but it registered at 81%. At levels this high one would believe that my transparency (how steady the sky is) would be affected but no,... everything was pristine!
    I skipped across the sky to Saturn that showed a definite hint of yellow with a whisper of an orange tinge colour. I told my husband, Steven. to come out and look. He came out in his shorts and t-shirt but didn't stay long since the temperature was flirting dangerously close to -10 degrees Celsius.
    I looked up in the direction of Lyra a couple of times during the night for signs of meteors but there was another constellation that beckoned my attention: Virgo. This beautiful constellation hides so many wonderful gems! Knowing full well that it was a new moon and that light would not be a problem, I pointed my telescope towards the regions of Vindemiatrix. Why there? You see, herein lies the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies!

    It is possible to point your telescope anywhere in this region and stumble upon a galaxy. I sat back mesmerized. We are indeed specks of dust in comparison aren't we? I guess you now all understand why I sign all of my astronomy journals with the same quote: " Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
    Tongue-tied and twisted, just an earth-bound misfit, I"
    I located, M59 and M60 which are elliptical galaxies estimated to be about 55 million of light years away, each holding billions of stars! All I could see was a hazy blur, a cloud, something that looked "not quite like a star" but more so!


    Tell me,.. Have you ever danced with the galaxies while a couple of meteors streaked by? Did you know that the planets were watching you all along?

    Isabelle

  20. stolenfeather
    June 17th, 2011
    For a couple of weeks now, I have been obsessed with the International Space Station. This is rather peculiar on my part since I am usually this passionate about the natural world, not the one created by the means of human technology. However, to indulge in the knowledge of the natural world one must also hold a deep respect in the technology that helps us achieve this knowledge in the first place. The ISS is therefore a crucial step in obtaining this knowledge as well as the efforts of all the astronomers out there.


    Why am I obsessed with the ISS?
    It was build here on earth yet outshines most celestial objects at night (especially if the moon is not around).

    It travels across the night sky with such a speed that it poses quite a challenge to see with a telescope and even with binoculars. You can therefore imagine how hard it would be to capture it on camera (yet I did).

    In my northern latitude, darkness takes time to fall. Even at midnight, some stars still have not made their appearance. With a full, waning or waxing gibbous moon (like we've had the last week), this makes it nearly impossible for me to chase Messier objects. Well, I could but the view would be better if more darkness was available so,.. why not chase something who's brightness demands attention?
    Let me make this clear before you view the video below: I used my old point-and-shoot camera to capture this (I forgot my new one at school) and I own a Dobsonian telescope. Although it has great light capturing abilities, the only guidance it offers me when looking at the night sky is the guidance I offer. Following a moving object like the ISS and capturing it on camera is therefore practically impossible so,...


    I cheated and caught it on video instead. It is not my best project but was definitely my HARDEST!
    Uhmmm,.. I'm sure you'll recognize my Pink Floyd signature at the end!



    For video click
    Isabelle

  21. stolenfeather

    I confess

    By stolenfeather,

    March 30th, 2011
    Last night was my 51st time acclimating and using my telescope. I must confess something, I have been a bad astronomer. You see, telescopes have no magic to them. However, like many illusionists, they work with mirrors. Once in awhile (about every two months or so) or according to need, the user makes sure that these mirrors are indeed aligned properly. In true astronomical terms, this is called collimation. I confess, all this time,... I have never done it.
    If truth be known, like a neurosurgeon attempting to "make that first cut", I have been quite intimidated by the whole ordeal. However, I have waited long enough and it had to be done. I attempted to check the alignment of the mirrors last night but deep down inside, I knew I didn't have to. This was long time overdue.
    I called the store I usually deal with for my astronomical needs for three reasons today:


    The telescope I had ordered to use during the summer had not arrived yet. It had been exactly one month since I had made the order.
    My new Barlow lens had not been delivered either.
    I wanted to order a little jewel that would make my collimation experience less painful, a Hotech Laser Collimator.

    Now, why on earth would I order from this particular seller again if I had waited so long for my previous items? I've dealt with him before and he's always been dependable. He apologized over and over again stating that he had not received the items from his supplier yet. Why don't I go directly to the supplier myself? My passion for astronomy is still in it's infancy stages making suggestions / recommendations greatly appreciated. As I learn, I believe that I will feel more secure with my purchases in the future. However, when it came to the collimator, the seller actually congratulated me stating, "that it was indeed the best".

    Collimation was near to impossible last night. At first I thought that my eyesight was still giving me trouble because of my latest MS relapse but in the end, it had nothing to do with my own vision at all,... the humidity levels were extremely high making any clear image impossible.

    So here I sit waiting for my purchased items to make their way to the isolated north. The Barlow is greatly needed since the one I have been using all of this time, has developed a crack (I never dropped it so assume that this was caused by the differences of heat and cold over time). I also wait impatiently for the collimator.



    The neurosurgeon has been far too patient and an incision is due.





    Isabelle









    callmenurse.blogspot.com
  22. stolenfeather
    August 28th, 2011


    I hope this post doesn't often anyone for it is not my intention. I'm writing out of sheer disgust and frustration.


    I was finally back in the north where stargazing was at it's best. My 10" Sky-Watcher had been waiting for me during the month of July but what had welcomed me home were not skies of bliss but heavens completely littered with clouds! I watched as one night blended with another and still I had no chance. School had started which limited my stargazing moments to the weekend. This Sunday, with the following school day looming, I simply couldn't take it anymore. It had been so long and the sky above finally showed windows of opportunity. The rest of the week, however, promised clouds. It had to be now BUT I had to come back in for 11:00pm. Staying up any longer would surely impair my teaching day. I therefore timed myself.
    Upon heading outside, I knew that this would not be easy. Baseball fever had overtaken this little northern community and guess who lives right next to the baseball field:






    The night around me was basked in light, as one would see when in the presence of a full moon. It was impossible to make out all the constellations but thought that I could navigate successfully in any case. My Telrad was overtaken by condensation which considerably added to my frustration.


    I was losing a battle that had been won by the light from the very moment I had first stepped outside.


    However, I wanted a taste, a glimmer of a view. Andromeda could still be seen right? All was not lost! That's when I heard it. It was coming from my neighbour's house. It was a rustling and then something else,...

    Utterly disgusted I packed up my telescope and asked my husband to help me bring it in. "So soon?" he said. I looked at him and remained quiet as frustration set indeeper. The condensation had not broken my will. Neither did the excess light or the fact that I had little time. The vision of my neighbour's back relieving himself at the corner of his own house did. Come on! Your bathroom can't be that far! What's wrong with you?



    Stargazing for me signifies a moment of release, where peace can be found in a world where chaos reigns. Way to bust my "peace bubble" buddy!




    Tonight, the baseball field lights are off. Furthermore, there doesn't seem to be any sign of life in the house next door.
    Maybe I could,..

    Nah.
    Never mind. It's raining.

    Isabelle
  23. stolenfeather
    March 18, 2011
    11:00pm - 12:00am
    For weeks now, I heard that the moon trajectory around the earth was going to bring it approximately 7000 km closer to the earth. Astronomers are well aware that the closest approach from our natural satellite to the earth is called a perigee and that this happens once a year. However, on Saturday (yes that's today) at 3pm, the moon will be the closest it has been for eighteen years! It will be 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than lesser full moons (when the moon is at its farthest from Earth). This all being said, this particular perigee moon has been dubbed the "supermoon".
    Will we see much of a difference?
    Is there any danger?
    Does it wear a cape and fight villains?

    To the casual observer, little difference will be seen. I find that full moons are blinding and this one was no different. Was it more blinding than usual? Yes, I actually found that gazing through the telescope at this one actually made me look away from the eyepiece a few times out of discomfort from the brightness.
    There are many postings online how this specific moon poses a danger and has even been blamed for the earthquake / tsunami in Japan. We have to remember that this idea was suggested by an astrologer and not an astronomer! This moon is just closer. That's it. It will not and has not created / create destruction on earth. However, looking at it through a telescope for long periods of time may cause discomfort. That's it.
    A cape and and fight villains? Well, I would have to say yes. I had just returned from a week of educational meetings where I had driven 8 hours from home and attended many productive yet grueling sessions of strategic planning for our next school year with the Regional Board. Being home, at my eyepiece, after many nights of seeing blurry after my latest MS relapse experience was a blessing indeed! I took the pictures below and if you look real close, you can see the "cape":

    Shine baby, shine!
    May I also add the note that my vision has greatly improved and is now very close to being normal!









    Shall I bring you closer?

    This is the Tycho Lunar Crater (one that is easily recognizable to anyone that has looked at the moon ):




    Lastly, this is the Sea of Serenity and the Sea of tranquility (Mare Serenitatis / Mare Tranquilitatis)





    I am still learning the ropes to navigating on the moon and find this site very helpful: ---> Click
    HERE

    Did the moon fight off the villains that haunted my dreams and every waking hour of battling with teaching action plans for the following school year? You bet!



    There was another cause of celebration that night. The last time I had seen Saturn through the eyepiece of my telescope was last June. Since that time, it was either too low to the horizon, hidden by clouds or simply not around. That night? It shone loud and clear! I grabbed a picture before bringing in my telescope (I'll make it a little bigger next time, I am still learning the ropes of the RegiStax program).





    When I came inside, my husband Steven and wonderful dog Baffy were having a tumble fight in the living room. I had been away from both of them for the week when in meetings so I did the next best thing,.. I joined them! Now, how's that for a Friday night?

  24. stolenfeather
    My ultimate goal in surveying the night sky is experiencing the wonderment of the natural world and how incredibly vast it is. The program Stellarium helps me find remote Messier objects such as nebulae, galaxies, clusters and also comes with a plug-in that enables the viewer to identify man-made satellites. Up till now, because of lack of interest, I haven't used it that much.
    However, after going to Florida, seeing the Space Shuttle Endeavour and then seeing it a couple of weeks after docked at the ISS, I have been obsessed in spotting it in the night sky! Unfortunately, there have been many conflicts up till now (clouds, time, school responsibilities,...)!
    After reading a post created by Phil announcing that the International Space Station would transit the moon, I quickly checked the weather outside but the horizon was littered with clouds once again. About half an hour later, the Stellarium program highlighted the path of the ISS and I looked through my window out of instinct: It was happening at that very moment and the clouds were,.. GONE!
    I had no time to take my telescope outside. The ISS was quickly making it's way across the sky and I have trouble taking "my behemoth" outside by myself. I therefore grabbed my birdwatching binoculars, tripped over a chair, uttered some words that should not be repeated online, and headed outside!
    Most times when searching the sky at night, careful scrutiny is needed. Objects are usually hard to find but the ISS? I stood back,.. It was much brighter than I had expected! There was no mistaking it! With the binoculars I could make out individual lights. My telescope would have surely let me see the structure and some detail but the binoculars were all I had. It went by silently but it's light could not be ignored! Although I couldn't make out the structure, I could see the lights very well and it was awesome!
    I screamed for my husband to come but by the time he made his way outside, there was only a few glimpses left before it disappeared over the horizon.
    Now, lets see, the first two steps are done:
    Step 1: Locate and see the ISS for the first time with the naked eye.
    Step 2: See the ISS with the help of binoculars.
    Step 3: See the ISS with my telescope. This will be a little hard since it travels pretty fast across the sky. My dobsonian will have to be set in a way to intersect it's trajectory.
    Step 4: Capture the ISS with my camera as it passes by my eyepiece. Now,.. that will surely be a feat! I believe that the best way to do this would be with a video camera to then stack the individual video files into a picture.

    For now, I sit back and relish what I have experienced. Feel like giving it a try? I recommend using this SITE (and Stellarium of course)!

    Isabelle
  25. stolenfeather

    It arrived!

    By stolenfeather,

    First, let me just say that I am never ordering from this company again. They said that the item was "in stock" yet I waited for 7 weeks. Sigh,...but today, IT ARRIVED! :hello2:

    The Orion Starblast 4.5" Altazimuth Reflector Tabletop Telescope is definitely not as grandiose and my 10" Sky-Watcher but for my camping excursions,.. it shall do quite well!



    It came with 17mm and 6 mm Explorer II eyepieces and a Starry Night Software. Nice little program but when one uses Stellarium,.. who needs anything else right?

    A review? That will have to wait for now. I am about to take the plane for a well deserved vacation and the skies will be cloudy till then. So for now,... it definitely LOOKS like it will deliver on those hot summer nights! :)
    Anyone out there tried one of these before? What should I expect?
    Isabelle
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