Mark at Beaufort

Good start to the new year being able to undertake some solar observing in Ha and White Light.

For WL set up the SvBony 90mm frac with Astrozap solar filter + Baader Continuum filter + 7-21mm zoom. AR2916 still very prominent and AR2922 seems it might be growing. 

In Hydrogen Alpha some lovely surface Plage and filaments and a good line of Proms on the NW side.

Its great to start the New Year in a positive way.

Thank you Dave I am 74 and I am hoping to carry on a bit longer. I still play squash 3 times per week usually for an hour at a time so I believe I am quite fit.  I am still thinking of getting a 4" Apo  so I hope I live long enough to. enjoy it.

Best wishes everyone for a healthy 2022.

I think I was about 12 (1960) when a friend showed me the Moon through his Charles Frank junior Astro telescope. With my first pay cheque I bought a 60mm frac on an alt/az mount. From 1965 until 1974 I was heavily involved becoming a FRAS and an active member of the BAA. Children then arrived and I took up squash and lost interest. In 1999 I got interested again and bought a Celestron 5" SCT and from there things took off.

I have been considering a 6" CC for quite some time and I often wondered where/ when the extension tubes should be used. Your Orion link John  answers that question. My other concern was the mount I should use. Currently I have the AZ5 with pillar and metal tripod. I have a feeling that someone commented that the 6" CC was not a good match for the AZ5 - too much shaking at high magnification.

22 minutes ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

 

Plus the Mars 2022 opposition is something to look forward to weather permitting...

 

Yes plus the occultation by the Moon on 8th December not seen in Britain since 1952. The next is 2052.

It has been a difficult period but the other night I had a clear spell to view the Comet in Gemini. Today I had an hour session observing the Sun in Ha and WL. As Dave said above it rekindled my enthusiasm.

Now as for 2022 I am going to take my 12 inch Dob to my Astro Society new observing site. I want to see the Horsehead Neb again and hopefully pick up the California Neb in my 90mm Frac.

So I am looking positive that I might get some DSO observing over the coming months. Also I have a partial solar eclipse on 25th October to enjoy (hopefully).

Its Boxing night at 9pm and I went outside and noticed a totally clear sky with some mist. I checked the sky brightness which showed 20.29 so I thought I would try and see the Comet - C/2019 L3 (ATLAS) which was nicely placed just above Castor. I started with the 12x70 binos with no luck. I then used my Apollo 15x70 and I thought I might have seen something.

I decided to use my SvBony 90mm frac with EPs ES24 68 degree and my Celestron Ultima 17 mm and 10mm both 68 degree. Using the 17mm the Comet was very clear and I estimate around mag 10.

Clouds started moving over and the mist was increasing but decided to view a few more DSOs. Started in Auriga taking in M38 with nearby NGC 1907 (also checked out the Cheshire Cat) - then M36 and M37. M35 was really wonderful using the ES24 so moved over to M1. The Crab Neb was very clear especially using the 17mm and 10mm EPs. Moved down to Orion to view M42/43 - installed an Astronomic O-III to improve the view. Because Monoceros was nearby I thought I would have a go on the Rosette Neb. Without the filter I could only see NGC 2244 with the O-III it brought out the shape of the Nebula.

The 90mm frac was doing a good job so I had a look at M33 which again was very clear. More cloud moving in so I decide to end the session which was my first for many weeks with this ongoing terrible cloud cover.

Really enjoyed the launch and all the information going into orbit. It was wonderful to see the solar panel being deployed. It almost took me back to Apollo 11 descending to the lunar surface over 50 years ago and the worry that all was going to be okay.

Thanks Neil that is useful to know. I have the Baader Neodymium which I have left on the SvBony frac. 

There has been a number of useful threads on the Baader filters but they normally are reviews using a Refracting Telescope.

@BillP produced an excellent review on filters using his 4" Tak - 

@Alkaidalso produced a great review using his Achro fracs which showed that the Contrast Booster filter gave the best contrast and improvement. 

More recently there has a thread discussing Wratten filters - 

I am thinking of buying a Contrast Booster filter for my SvBony 90mm f5/5 Achro but I am wondering whether the improvements would also work with a Reflecting Telescope. My question has anyone used these Baader filters on a scope other than a refractor?

Thanks @vlaivI had a feeling you would know so thanks for the extra advice as well.

I have really enjoyed reading this thread especially as I bought a SvBony 90mm f5/5 Achro a few months back. I already owned a Baader Neodymium which I screw into the front of the diagonal. Reading the above comment about the Green Interference filter would an IR/UV cut filter together with a suitable wratten filter provide a similar result?

46 minutes ago, faulksy said:

maybe iain. i will message you about it. like you say kielder in the  sun. this will be our astrotours 😁. will need volunteers of course

anyone interested in looking through a 20" dob with 21.7 average skys ?

Mike are you going to set up an Astro holiday arrangement?

34 minutes ago, John said:

I'm hoping that being able to use my astro society 18 inch newtonian from time to time will fulfil my aperture ambitions

The scope is located just a few miles from where I live so easy to get to. I must say that when I'm using it I realise that my 12 inch really is the maximum that is workable at home !

I must try and find the light shroud for the 18 inch - it's around somewhere I'm told.

 

John when I visited California a few years ago I was invited to use a 18" Newt on a mountain top close to the Lick Observatory. The view of Omega Centauri will never leave me. So like you it really showed me that I could never manage that sized scope at home.

I recently attended an event that allowed me to use a Stellalyra 16" Dob and a 4" Tak and I have to say they are dream scopes. I could afford to buy the Dob but at my age I don't think I could easily move it - so I will keep using my 12" Dob.

 The Tak is a different matter and I am seriously thinking of getting another 4" but it might be the new Starfield.

4 minutes ago, paulastro said:

Well, not a great image but here's one of the pics I managed this morning with some cloud interfering and not great seeing.  Excuses over, I was just glad to see it - they might have all passed off the sun by the time it's clear again!  It made me smile to see the  four ARs 'marching' across the sun in such orderly fashion.

Pic (and crop) a single frame taken at 10.48 am with the Altair 80 ED-R and Olympus camera.  There are actually six ARs but you'll have to look VERY carefully to spot AR2905 and AR2910 N of AR2906. The two tiny spots were affected by some cloud.  AR2910 is visible in the top right corner of the crop.

 

 

Really nice Paul. I hope the weather forecast for the coming days is wrong.

Agnes that sounds an interesting project. I found some of the Caldwell objects very difficult even using my 12" Dob. I much preferred going through the Herschel 400 and I know the Canadian RAS brighter DSO is very popular.

Look forward to seeing the end product

Thanks Paul that looks brilliant. Unfortunately the forecast is showing no clear spell for the next 5 days.

Sounds great Paul. As you say using binoculars can be very enjoyable

18 minutes ago, clarkpm4242 said:

Late report from N. Yorkshire Dales.  Friday 10th.

Was setting up for tracked telephoto DSLR image and looked up to check star field and there is was naked eye.

An oval smudge to the SSE.  A pleasant surprise.  It was still astro darkness at 05.50  so ideal conditions. 

Very nice in 15 x 50 IS Canon binoculars. 

Paul

Well done I had given up on seeing the Comet again. 

Major road delays stopped me getting to my observing site. Tried to observe from home but trees got in the way. Anyway I have observed the Comet three times so I must content myself with that.

Thanks for all the help over this Vixen scope. In the end a friend from my Astro Society bought the set up - he is hoping to bring it along to a future observing night. I should then be able to give an opinion on its ability.

I viewed the Comet at 6.15am this morning using my 12x70 binos. Like Nik above I had trouble seeing the tail as it was just above my roof top. Did not appreciate that we might catch it at 5pm this evening so I have a close by observing site with a good western horizon so might give it another go this evening.

10 hours ago, paulastro said:

I think you'd love this Mark.  I have another version, and I hate to say it, but its noticeably better than the AstroTech ED non-FPL 53 version we both used to own.

Thanks Paul it does look tempting and thanks for the comparison with the Astro Tech. I recently observed with Stu and I viewed the Sun through his Tak and it was incredible.

Magnus that is an excellent report. Sometimes using binoculars can be very enjoyable especially at a dark site. I am hoping for another clear early morning but it's not looking too good.