scarp15

I had missed the GRS, from my backyard, Jupiter has to be climbing south to adequately appear above the roof tops, so a late start. As you say though, a period of superb seeing and very captivating sharply defined banding within the South Temperate region. Pretty sure I could make out festoon activity within both the North and South Belt.

Really nice transit isn't it! The shadow very penetrating and defined, lovely clarity in both the North and South Equatorial belts. Taking high power in my 85mm refractor really well, with the South Polar Region visible to.

Tonight following the Io transit and improved seeing conditions compared to the previous night, by which both the NEB and SEB are equal in clarity. The shadow transit easy to see at mid power with an 85mm refractor. Increasing the mag, banding within the South Polar Region is defined. A little too late for the GRS tonight, however Jupiter is putting on a good show.

As your retina adjusts to the brightness, more subtle details will gradually emerge. Jupiter is a subject that requires copious time, being comfortable and relaxed and interchanging increasing magnification, enabling your eye and mind to adjust to the brightness. Moments of good seeing are interspersed with periods of distortion, a haze or thin veil of cloud may assist a little perhaps. I had used a filter a few years ago; TeleVue Planetary Bandmate, certain conditions were favourable and enhanced features, whilst other atmospheric conditions were plainly awful. This season prominent features, such as the Southern Equatorial Belt is rather subtle, at least at the smaller aperture I have so far employed. Increasing, pushing the mag and then decreasing magnification, to ascertain what works best on a particular night, is certainly the best approach.

Excellent, have also been following this, gradually gaining in prominence using my 85mm refractor. The SEB is very subtle tonight, yet have gained good steady mag using 4mm and 3.5mm eyepieces.

Also good session with Jupiter tonight using my 85mm refractor. Followed the shadow transit of Europa, just below a very subtle SEB. A prominent barge apparent within the NEB.

Good and wholesome session, reflecting some seasonal favourites and challenges. Aye, the Pacman responds best to a good O-III filter and is a satisfying, dependable object to observe.

Selectively there are the connotations, the in-betweens, that are probably more prevalent in user terms; such as medium-low. As for example my 21mm ultra wide field, operates at 29x, 57x and 88x respectively in each of my varied focal length scopes. Equally medium high such as using a 10mm ep at 60x, 120x and 184x. It's good to have a broad range to hand though pushing the boundary at both high and low margins and as Doug has commented, I to like to incrementally chop and change in small steps.

Interesting account and your familiar observational record keeping, which is good to share on here. I too had noticed, based on last night, that the sky is a little darker, more stars certainly, the Pleiades more pronounced both naked eye and through the eyepiece. I even considered taking a SQM reading, had it been to hand, not something I have ever considered before from home. We had had rain which washed clean the sky somewhat followed by cold conditions and prolonged clear skies, but even so, DSO's that would not normally be considered from the back yard, could had been tantalizingly possible, had my attention not been almost exclusively on Jupiter.

Good session observing Jupiter during this opposition. Started late around 11.30pm, still observing whilst Jupiter culminates south. We had rain and hail earlier, followed by sustained clear skies, just using my 85mm refractor and have been able to push the mag up to 171x although the 5mm and 7mm DeLite are favouring best. Trust that others are enjoying this occasion to.

Anticipating Jupiter, started out clear, currently not, live in hope.

A 7mm DeLite, as mentioned, with your particular scope (I also use a 200mm dob), at 171X ought therefore receive a good deal of use and will be complementary to your 11mm. They are indeed superb eyepieces.

That Borg needs to dip not dazzle 😄 Perhaps you could consider a foldaway camping table. Making things more accessible and can be shielded from any breeze by the car. Often just my dark adaptation is enough to select and replace items from the table. I do wear a tiny adjustable dim red led head torch over my beanie hat for when required. Some items are still required like you from the boot and the hatch tail light has gaffer tape over. I also use a hand held torch with a variable light setting sometimes worn using a neck cord.

Winter sky for sure. Earlier start, crisp transparent sky, wrapped up in plush lofted down jacket and hat, frost forming on everything, peering up at Orion and California nebula, afore sipping some more hot coffee, life affirming.

I asked my optician if he could measure mine, but he didn't quite seem to understand what I was getting at 🤔, don't think he had the right equipment anyhow and certainly don't that my exit pupil particularly age related is that great. A target that benefitted from it however (41mm Panoptic / 14" dob), popped out with quite immense clarity (when fully dark adapted). This being the California Nebula that when culminating, added yet more value to scrutiny. Also the very faint veil that is Barnard's Loop. Out of curiosity last time out (which was a good while ago), I tried the 41 Pan without the Paracorr attached, to which I haven't even reckoned on the exit pupil (over 8mm) and it was still responsive. Nice topic by the way, like Shane, I hadn't been involved in much astro for quite some time, due to all manner of things, so nice to re-engage. Thing is with amateur astronomy, once hooked it never lets go, too much out there to explore. Horsehead BTW typically as mentioned, around 4mm to 5mm exit pupil with a moderate sized scope, these things can be fussy.

With the H-B filter and under dark transparent skies (of course), I have effectively applied this filter at 7.73mm exit pupil (45x mag).

Quite subjective, Lumicon have been through a lengthy transition period, from their former high esteem, although I understand that their existing product line (some filters are no longer in production) is of high standard once more. The Nebustar has received consistent good reviews by respected users on here. The nice thing about having both filters to hand, is when revisiting particular subjects, simply making comparisons, each may tease out certain characteristics. Probably like you, I only use these filters within dark sky locations, when dark adapted etc. Aperture is then less relevant, I have used these filters successfully on subjects with 76mm right up to 350mm.

Yes, including a high spec UHC type, for enhanced resolving of certain nebulae subject, will be an advantage and will be complementary to your O-III, not jostling in competition. Each of my filters are 2" older type Lumicon of excellent spec. Purchasing now, perhaps I would be persuaded by the TeleVue Nebustar.

It is a tricky one, bordering on comical, faffing with reading glasses etc in this situation. I keep my glasses in the car, so that they don't ice or mist over. When I'm out on a dark sky trip, I depend mostly on a good hand held magnifier for reading charts. Retaining dark adaption is essential on these trips, therefore very dim red light setting and paper charts, the magnifier does a good job at picking out detail.

Think that you ought consider multiple reasons for commiting to go on a long distance multi night camping trip. Also that your companions understand the need for a dim red light at night. If the skies are clear for periods, then great indulge. Otherwise enjoy other perhaps more daytime pursuits. Good wildcamping spots make sense for more assured localised dark sky.

Not bad, just 'compelled', in a covert kind of way.

Sometimes the only conundrum is telling each eyepiece apart when outside switching frequently between oculars of incremental focal lengths. This can occur between my 4mm, 5mm and 7mm DeLite, little in the way of size variation but one does have a slightly different cap to the others which (provided its attached) can help.

It will perhaps also depend on how many scopes you operate. To follow from our former conversation, I switched from an XW to a DeLite in the same focal length; that is 5mm. The reasoning being as I had already acquired a Delos and DeLite and decided to continue investing in this line to retain parfocal continuity. Also personally I had a preference for the ergonomics and relaxed eye position of DeLite / Delos. Then going back to the type of scopes you use, they perhaps gain most time in my 85mm refractor, the compact size is nice and proportionate. They are still applied to my 8" F6 to, for at home lunar, planetary, binaries sessions. Quite an interesting decision you have to make, if the XW's are on a sale currently where you are, I would be tempted by the 5 & 7mm XW for your 8" F6.

Received the Tele Vue news letter and learnt of the passing of Paul Dellechiaie. He become an optical designer for the company and led on the optical design for Ethos, Delos and DeLite eyepieces; the later two a homage to his name. Here is the article accounting for his time working at Tele Vue. Remembering Paul Dellechiaie – Tele Vue Optics, Inc. Blog

A heads up for next Thursday 9 June, Radio 4 'In Our Time' at 9am. This will discuss how the end of stars can lead to the formation of new planets and new life. BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Death of Stars