stolenfeather

Sorry for not being on the forum much lately. Unlike you, I have not been able to stargaze much lately due to cloud cover. The last time I saw Jupiter,.. it's bands were well defined as well. Soon I'll be out there again! Isabelle

Overcast is usually what happens to me as well, this included the last lunar eclipse in my region last December. I was so frustrated! Isabelle

I really have to agree with what you have said,.. Unfortunately, the children are indeed missing out on life as they commit to a life of fantasy such as the PS3 and the like. I hope with time,.. they fall back to reality and experience all that life has to offer. Isabelle

I some some early ones in the beginning of the week. Isabelle

I have peak their curiosity enough maybe I won't be the only one with a telescope in this community in the future and many of us could share the wonders! I can only hope. Then, and only then will I not be alone griping about the clouds. Isabelle

it's always what we do as young ones that drive our ambitions well older right Pete? Isabelle :)

I have a 10" dob and up to date have yet to see any colour. With the moon so bright, I doubt that I will succeed anytime soon. If at first you don't succeed,.. try, try again right? Good luck and I wish you clear skies! Isabelle

I think what helps is that they have me as a sciecne teacher and I have showed them many pictures, movies and shared so much documentation that the students can't help but be "wowed". Isabelle

October 7th, 2011 I was comfortable watching a movie with Steven when the doorbell rang. After a few seconds, I could hear a series of knocks. I made my way to the door and three of my science students were standing there. "Did you see the moon and the stars tonight Isabelle? We want to see it! Is your telescope out?" :rolleyes: The fact that it wasn't and that I preferred returning to the comforts of the couch to see the rest of the movie is proof that my husband had finally found something on video that was worth my while. We were watching "Thor" in 3D and I was completely mesmerized by the science fiction special effects. I told my students to come a little later and right on time, when the movie had finished,.. they were there! The students that make their way to my house on starry nights are usually boys. Unfortunately, in my class and in society in general, astronomy enthusiasts seem pretty much dominated by the Y chromosome. I say this because most people who enjoy discussing the wonders of the night sky with me and most of my contacts on my stargazing forum are all male. Seeing the inquisitiveness on these young girls' faces was a breath of fresh air to me. They asked if they could see Vesta (Yeah, I had told them that I had found it earlier this week and my whole class had clapped) but the moon had whitewashed that whole section of the sky. Besides, even if it hadn't, by the time my movie was finished, it would have been too low in the horizon to see much in any case. Like all the students that come to my house for the first time to look through the telescope, I quickly went over how it worked and then pointed out some constellations. I then showed them something small even if they kept insisting to see the moon. I explained that it was always wise to start with faint objects and make one's way to the brighter ones since, this way, a person retains their night vision longer. M31 didn't impress them much. Their eyes became wider when I told them what it was and showed them a picture but I knew that this was clearly not what they wanted to see. "What about Jupiter?" I said. This they became quite excited about. I told these wide eyed girls that I would show it to them only IF they could find it in the night sky. They responded to this with an air of gloom. "Come on,.. I know you can find it. Look up and point to me the brightest object in the sky besides the moon!" This they did and were quite happy with themselves in having found it "all by themselves". One after the other they crowded around the telescope trying to see Jupiter and its four moons. One of my students had her iPod with her and wanted to take a picture of it. I helped her, knowing full well the excitement of 'bringing a piece of space home". The moon's light was constant and so was the desire of my young observers to see it. Of course, as the teacher that wants everything to be exciting, I aimed the telescope at the moon and when it came into view put my hands in front of the eyepiece. Like a laser beam, the moon's light struck my fingers. I then opened my hands as if to cradle it. "See", I said, ",.. it IS possible to touch the moon!" With that sentence, I unleashed a power I never knew existed. These three girls all huddled desperately around the eyepiece hoping to capture the light of the moon. I then offered for them to see it: I proceeded to augment the magnification further with my Barlow lens and again the iPod came out for them to take pictures. I'm afraid that none of those will come out since I have had little success myself with my camera at this setting. They then asked what else they could see. Unfortunately with the light of the moon, there was little else I could show them. They offered to come by later since I had mentioned during class that Mars, Jupiter and Saturn could be seen in the early mornings. It was perfectly clear that I had succeeded in lighting a fire of curiosity but I couldn't do it. Staying up all night or waking up extremely early on a Saturday morning after a full week of teaching simply didn't "sit well by me". They were disappointed but they perked up once more when I said that soon Venus would be out in the evening sky and that I would be waiting for them! Don't worry girls,.. we'll do this again real soon! Isabelle

Wonderful capture of the galaxy! Once the moon starts to dim a little, I think I'll give it a try! Isabelle

Don't fret. I had the same problem a couple of nights ago when I was looking for it. I find it odd though that some people have said that they could detect colour when looking at it. I have only seen it once and it was white. I will try and find it this weekend if the weather cooperates. I hope those clouds give you some breathing space the next time you're out! Isabelle

Fall back time is coming fast! We shall regain the night! Isabelle

I tried to comment on your YouTube page but it kept saying that there was an error. You certainly had a windy day there but a great test of the focal reducer! I wish you clear nights! Isabelle

I haven't tried for Garrand yet but should. Is it still easy to see? Isabelle

The blue hues in this picture is mesmerizing! What a cool, crisp shot! Congratulations! Isabelle

I started checking off some sights in that very book at first. I now prefer the book, "The Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders". Have you come across it? Isabelle

An observatory,.. I can only dream of having one of those one day but we never know right? Congratulations on your successful project and may I wish you many clear nights! Isabelle

I debated about going out this morning to catch a glimpse of Mars but at the last minute decided against it. Great pictures! Isabelle

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?

Don't you love it when you come across a Messier object my mistake? It's like,.. star, star, star, empty,.. Oh wow! Isabelle

I loved your video by the way. I have to try to do that as well! isabelle

I'm reading this and can hear the raimplummeting down hard outside. I should do a romp around Cassiopeia soon. I have never had any luck with the Triangulum myself but once again,.. I will give it yet another try. Isabelle

I'll have to wait a little more for it to come to the evening skies. Like you, my favourite constellation is Orion as well. I'll always remember looking at the Orion nebula for the first time,.... Funny thing though, no matter how many times I look at it,. It blows me away! Isabelle

Wish me good luck,.. I'm trying to locate Vesta once more! Isabelle

Loved your sketch! Clear skies! Isabelle