Mark at Beaufort

Interesting John. I will look forward to your findings. I certainty be interested in your opinions on your findings between the Nagler zoom and the SvBony.

Great photo and explanation of what you saw and imaged. I took out the 90mm frac and had a great view of the solar surface especially sunspot AR 3363

I have to say your photo using your Tak puts my effort to shame.

I took out the 90mm frac with a continuum filter. Certainly your photo shows the detail of the spots especially  the new sunspot 3363 which is a monster.

Thanks Jeremy an interesting read. 

It's gone - incredible whilst it lasted.

You are correct Peter. I have been observing the Sun for the last 15 minutes. Firstly with the basic PST then with the double stack. Incredible sight.

Despite the bright Moon I decided to seek out the SN. Used my 150mm Skywatcher Newt and the 20mm Myriad and the 13mm Ethos. Started about 11.10pm just after Nautical darkness and carried on until 15 minutes past midnight.

I could see M101 and having checked where the SN appeared I could see it with the 20mm eyepiece. I then used the 13mm Ethos to get a better view. 

Hello Ron glad you are okay. I cannot help with the query  but just wanted to say hello. 

Lovely scope Stu. I can't wait for some more observing details.

Wish I could see Michael. Heavy cloud and it's raining which is likely for the rest of the day.

I had a look at Mercury using the 90mm frac. Used several EPs including a 4mm with a 2.25x barlow but the best view was a 7mm and the barlow. I could make out the shape but I could not make out any surface marking.

Anyway I should get higher over the next few days.

Excellent image Martin - really well produced.

A great report and so many galaxies to enjoy. Brilliant.

A really excellent review.

Incredible views with Ha plus White light. Firstly white light with AR3213 has grown quite a bit. A new sunspot has started to come onto the surface but no number as yet. It looks a large sunspot.

Switched to PST plus DS. Incredible view with sunspot AR3213 showing a great deal of brilliance. Huge amount of filaments and a Prom that has left the surface.

Worth a look if you get the chance.

Excellent report Nick.

I drove out of the City last night to observe the comet. I took my 90mm refractor and the 16mm 82 degree EP. Able to find the comet quite easily but could not detect the tail. I need to go later because the glow from the City was quite bad at the lower altitude. Hopefully, a will get a clear spell before the Moon gets too bright.

Total cloud cover at the moment. Hoping for a clear patch later in the day so I catch AR3190.

Great photo of the Comet. I am hoping for a fantastic view later in the month.

Incredible view in white light. I had a look about 30 minutes ago.

Great photo Paul. I had a look about 30 minutes ago - incredible number of sunspots. I also took out the PST + DS but felt that the white light version was more pleasing.

Wonderful clear sky so decided to do some solar observing with the PS T + DS plus the 90mm frac with the white light baader solar filter and continuum filter.

Started with the PS T plus the DS - lots of filaments, plage and proms of which one had lifted from the surface.

Switched to the 90mm frac to see many sunspots including AR3176, 3177, 3179, 3180 and 3181. 

Great to start the new year with solar observing.

14 hours ago, paulastro said:

Thanks for that Mark, I was going to research when the date of the next similiar event was.  Can you tell me where 2052 came from, and is it slso on the actual day of oppostion? This surprises me, as on an intuitive basis, I thought it would be a rarer event.  Though I'm clearly no mathemitician 😅.

 

Paul I first got the information from the book 'Stargazing 2022' by Nigel Henbest. On page 79 he refers to the next time it will be visible in the UK in 2052. I cannot verify this information - but I am trying.

Agree lovely photos of this event. 

Got up at 4.30am to see heavy cloud cover. The first contact was 4.56am and missed that - cloud. I got up again just below 6am and the Moon was just leaving the cloud cover. I saw Mars just after leaving the Moon - then total clear skies. Managed to catch the event using the 90mm frac and the 7-21mm zoom.

Well there have been different views when next there will be an occultation of Mars and the Moon. Last night was different because it was a full Moon and Mars was at its closest. The next time this will happen in the UK will be 2052.