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Everything posted by Mark at Beaufort
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Bresser vs. Celestron
Mark at Beaufort replied to Upuaut's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Yes John 14 years even before I joined in January 2008. Its interesting what members stated at the time. -
The magic of dark, transparent skies
Mark at Beaufort replied to Littleguy80's topic in Observing - Reports
Brilliant report Neil - it shows the quality of a 10" Dob and a good dark site. So many enjoyable objects - I so wish we had more good transparent nights. -
I bought my first telescope in 1965. The photo below, showing me in the middle, was taken at my parents home whilst we were observing a partial solar eclipse. Could check back but I think it was about 1968. The OTA was using a Swift (Japan) Herschel Wedge. In 1972 I bought a 6" Newt and fitted the OTA on a Charles Frank Eq Mount. Looking at the group photo the structure behind us was my wooden observatory - I am surprised my parents accepted this - it looks rubbish.
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Comet variable nebula and galaxies
Mark at Beaufort replied to mdstuart's topic in Observing - Deep Sky
Great report Mark - I am glad you are enjoying your 20" Dob even though clear skies have been in short supply. I forgot all about the Comet so its placement nearby the Double Cluster should make it easier to track down. Hopefully, I will be able to take out the 12" Dob over the next few nights. -
Bright Supernova in NGC 4636
Mark at Beaufort replied to michael.h.f.wilkinson's topic in Celestial Events Heads Up
Thanks Michael - I note that the galaxy is in Virgo so its best to observe the SN in the early morning - say 3/4am. The Moon will be close over the next few days so the 21st looks a good bet - if it stays clear!!! -
A very nice image. I enjoy viewing this area with an O-III filter. I will move it to Imaging - Deep Sky
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Looking for a good 2" EP
Mark at Beaufort replied to PlanetGazer's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Your scope has a focal length of 1200mm and with a 50mm EP you will have an exit pupil of 10.58. With an exit pupil of that range the sky will appear very grey. Young people (don't know your age) have a pupil size of about 7 so anything above this is wasted light. I think a better eyepiece would be 30mm 82 degrees FOV - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/explore-scientific-eyepieces/explore-scientific-82-degree-series-eyepieces.html My main EP for DSOs using an f/5 12" Dob is a 20mm 100 degree EP. This gives a darker sky and better contrast. I have a 30mm 70 degree EP which I rarely use. -
Just took out the PST + DS for a solar session. There is a new sunspot coming onto the surface with bright plage. With the PST turned I can just about make 2 small sunspot in the group - although I really need a bigger frac with white light. In addition there is a small filament on the N side plus two other plages - one SE and the other W. There are a few small proms.
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Mercury Transit with Jet
Mark at Beaufort replied to Littleguy80's topic in Imaging Challenge #30 - Celestial Motion
Great photo Neil and I am glad it made it into print. -
Not had a good session with my 12" Dob for many weeks so with a clear sky forecast I decided to have a session. To be honest the sky was not the best but I felt I needed to have a go with certain objects. I started with Vesta having never observed it before. Vesta is high in Cetus fairly close to 87 Cetus. Cross referenced to Stellarium and found it - need to check if it moves to confirm I was observing Vesta. Now a few DSOs - started with M74 - not the easiest object but very clear in the 12" Dob. Moved down to M77 and also took in NGC1055 but this object was difficult and I could only see it as a glimmer. Viewed M33 (very clear) - using the 'Trapezoid' it pointed straight to NGC604 (nice with 9mm Myriad). I felt lucky so I wanted to try and observe IC1613 (Caldwell 51). Never been successful in the past although some books suggest you need a 16" or 18" scope although Sue French states some have seen it in a 70mm frac. Moved down from Epsilon Piscium about 2.5 degrees to a line of 3 - 6th mag stars. Checking the area in Stellarium found the exact location. Well its faint - very faint - can't be certain but felt I could see a very faint gimmer. Need to return - sometimes I wish I had a larger OTA. Dew now becoming bad so I had a look at M42, M43 and NGC 1977 using my new TeleVue Nebustar filter - initial thoughts the filter looks promising. Had to finish so viewed the lovely edge on galaxy NGC891.
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Excellent report Ade. The 'F' star can be difficult and a good frac is far better for this task than a Newt. I also had terrible dew last night which made me finish just after 10pm.
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The history of my telescope collection - what’s yours?
Mark at Beaufort replied to RobertI's topic in The Astro Lounge
I have been trying for a few days to remember the various scope that I have owned. 1965 - a 60mm refractor made in Japan - last used showing Halleys Comet then sold 1967? - a 6" Wooden Tube Newt - too heavy although I found later that it had a Jim Hysom mirror 1999 - after many years away from Astronomy I bought a 5" Celestron Nexstar goto SCT - sold dates are now difficult - William Optics 66 - lovely small frac - which I had kept it PST - bought for the Annular Eclipse Spain 2005 - still use it but have added a double stack 10" Skywatcher Flextube - saw more DSOs than any other scope - sold Astrotech 4" ED frac - lovely scope - can't believe I sold it 6" Celestron SCT - bought from Hinds as a brilliant deal - sold 6" Meade Achro frac - really too heavy for my alt/az mount - sold 80mm Towa f/15 frac - always wanted this scope but did not enjoy it - sold Skywatcher 180mm Mak/Cass - sold Skywatcher 150mm P-DS Newt - used this scope side by side with @John at a SGL star party - only sold because of the next item Orion VX8 Newt - lovely scope - should not have sold it. Orion VX6L - lovely Newt - too many scopes so sold it. Opticstar 80mm frac - again too many scopes - sold Altair Astro 72mm APO frac - lovely little scope - sold Relevation 12" Dob - still have it - great light bucket Skywatcher Heritage 130P - my grab and go - still have it Finally missed my Orion VX8 so bought a Skywatcher 150P from @AdeKing at a SGL star party. Still have it - used for outreach So a number of scopes, some of which in hindsight I wish I had kept. -
Welcome. I note from your IP address that you reside at or near London (unless you have a VPN). If you are London are you going to Tenerife for the new year?
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Well done Gav. I did go out on Christmas day late morning with the PST + DS and viewed AR2753. Turning the tuner into white light I could see the two small spots. Tried to see AR2754 and although I think I could make out a minor plage in that region that was all. Let us hope that the activity starts to increase in 2020.
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@paulastro- Paul you are not the only one I had a quick look about an hour or so ago. Pam just 'popped out' to see someone so I was naughty and had a look at the Sun with my PST and viewed the plage on sunspot AR2753. I also saw (I think) some brightness where AR2754 should be. My Son and his family (3 teenage granddaughters) have come over from San Francisco so we are going to have a hectic day. They are joining my other Son and his family (youngest girl 3 years old) - I will need a few drinks at the end of the day. So everyone have an enjoyable day and let us hope for more clear skies in 2020.
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Yes it will be good to see some activity. Yesterday afternoon I viewed the Sun with the PST and noticed a 'plage' on the SE edge and wondered whether it might be the start of a spot. @GavStarI think we might be pushing our luck to start observing on Christmas day 😎
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18 Dec - Supernovae hunting SN2019upw, SN2019tua, SN2019tgm
Mark at Beaufort replied to alanjgreen's topic in EEVA - Reports
Thanks for the report Alan and picking up 2 of the 3. I checked the details and I note most are 15 mag so I don't think my 12" will pick them up. Its these occasions I wish I had a bigger scope - well done again -
I have used these strong magnets together with a weight and place them to get balance - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-of-Vehicle-MagPad1-super-strong-magnet-for-roof-signs-taxi-driving-school/183856185790?epid=1205420445&hash=item2aceaec1be:g:btcAAOSwx4ZakVOw Not much good for an Orion (UK) scope as the OTA is aluminium but great for my metal OTA.
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DayStar Solar Scout SS60-DS 60mm
Mark at Beaufort replied to JBracegirdle's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
I have had a PST for nearly 15 years together with a Coronado Double Stack which has provided excellent views over the years both surface and proms. Many members at star parties have commented on the quality of the visual view. However, I have never had a view like the one portrayed in the image above. I did think about buying a Daystar 60mm Scout but would like to try one before buying. -
About 4.45pm I looked out and could see Venus. I knew that Saturn was nearby so I quickly grabbed my Heritage 130P and using a 10mm EP + 1.6X barlow went searching. Venus was a bit wobbly but I could make out its illumination phase. Slightly moving the scope I viewed Saturn (maybe the last time this session). Okay not the best planetary session but its nice to get a scope out and undertake some observing.
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First views of Horse Head, Cocoon, etc!
Mark at Beaufort replied to Ships and Stars's topic in Observing - Deep Sky
Fantastic report S&S - it would be great to be able to use a 20" Dob at a really dark site. Seeing your frozen finderscope I made a very long dew shield out of neoprene fixed together with velcro - it certainly helps keeping the objective clear. -
Brilliant collection Nick and I admired the amount of time that you stayed out. I was only out for a few hours mainly to observe C/2017 T2 (Panstarrs) which I picked up with the 12" Dob and the 13mm Ethos. By the sound of it I should have stayed out longer - the quality of the sky was rather good in Hereford. C/2
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Look back at the year. I know it’s not over yet.
Mark at Beaufort replied to Marvin Jenkins's topic in The Astro Lounge
Whenever I undertake a detailed observing session I usually write a report on SGL. In saying that I seemed to have started well in 2019 but it appears I only had one good session in October onwards. I am fortunate that my local Astro Society has a good dark site and I had various good sessions throughout the year using a 6" Skywatcher Newt. At the sessions I usually viewed favourite objects. I did enjoy observing the Mercury Transit whilst on my canal boat with the PST on the towpath. Scopes have stayed the same but I did obtained a TeleVue 6mm Ethos which I have only used a few times - with the 12" Dob + 6mm Ethos I was able to see Triton which was a first for me. -
Fantastic image. In fact one of the best of this area that I have seen in a while. Its good to see Alnitak's double which shows the quality and exposure of the setup.