paulastro

MARS AMONGST THE BEES. Also posted in Observing Wide Field Events.

I was set up by 10pm with the Celestron 30mm Ultima Edge on the Celestron Starsense 8 inch Dob. Mars was a lovely perfect small orange disc, no bees visible yet at 10pm! Luckily the 97.8% Moon was behind me so didn't shine diretly into my eyes. (I used a dark cloth over my head throughout anyway as the sky was so bright.) By 10.30 I noticed the first two stars had appeared. At 10.37 changed to the Hyperion 24mm to increase the contrast, by which time at least ten stars were showing. At 10.46 at least sixteen stars were visible and there was an 8th mag star very close to the edge of Mars - looking very much like an orange m1.6 double star with its m8 companion. It was interesting to see the distance between them growing as the time passed. By 11.20 there were twenty plus stars, and the sky was dark enough to make the stars more prominent, the whole spectacle looking just beautiful. At 11.30 I put in the 17.5 Morpheus which did bring out some more stars, though I couldn't fit the whole Beehive Cluster in the field of view. I changed back to the 24mm at 11.50 for a final view of the whole cluster with Mars, before I lost it behind a distant chimney at 12.05. It had been a fine session, added to by the fact I had to wait for all the stars to gradually appear rather than them being all visible from the start of the session. A shame there's not a nice bright orange star between the Beehive and Earth - Mars made the cluster look even better than it is. Below is the SkySafari view toward the end of the session when the view was at its best.

More stars appearing all the time of course. Beautifully framed in Celestron Starsense 8inch Dob and 24/68 eyepiece.

Thanks I have done so.

You thoroughly deserve your prize for sketching Mike, well done. I'm just amazed that you ever won a competition for comprehension though 😏.

Does FLO consider this filter to be the best broadband LP filter for visual use? I usually observe in Bortle 5 skies, apertures up to 8 inches. I've been looking at various listings for some time and yet to make a decission - too much choice!

You're welcome Coco. I must be one of the comparatively few who haven't actually 'done a mod' from a small SS scope in order to use the phone holder on a larger scope. I actually bought the 8inch Dob version of the SS just about a year ago. A few months ago I did buy just a phone holder and base from someone, which was modified to fit into any Vixen finder shoe. So, I can use SS with my other three smaller scopes. Also with anyone else's scope which has a Vixen finder shoe fitted, if they will let me 🙂.

Thanks Ratlet I'll check out proshoot.

Coco I've only just your post or I would have commented before. In terms of the hardware you get they are worth next to nothing by themselves, I agree with you. Having said that, the difference having the Starsense system through the app is immeasurable in my view. For visual observers there is no faster, more reliable or easier to use locating system to help you find objects - including any goto system I'm aware of. Just price up any goto mount - the SS hardware can be used on any scope if you have the know how at very little cost - and it's a one off cost. Similarly, look at the price of digital systems using encoders, and the SS offers so much more. I agree £180 (less actually) is not an insignificant amount of money - but compared with many other things astronomers seem willing to spend far more on, its an absolute bargain. Over £400 for some eyepieces, hundreds and even thousands for imaging devices which, if you keep them long enough, will be worth almost nothing as they become out of date and incompatable. £200 plus for some filters, up to a £100 plus for adapters to make pieces of equipment to work together, the list is endless. Also, the fact I can spend virtually all my time under the stars observing rather than looking for things is hard to put a price on. The positive effects it can have on anyone's observing, however experienced you may be is immense. I don't know where you live, but if you are close enough I'd be happy to give you a demo, and you'd know then if it was worth the money to you. Or perhaps a local astro club may have members who use the system?

Keith, have you got this telescope youself? Is so I'm wondering if you think it would take a C5? It looks like a cloned Zhummel, or is it the other way round? 🙂

Thanks vlaiv and AstroKeith, I found out what the mount is, it's this. You're right vlaiv, the last thing I need is another scope! The mount you suggested might do the trick, though it's not the exact one of course. I'm also wondering if they would do the job. The money might be better spent on a strong table top tripod which will take my scopetech zero - if there is such a tripod at the right price. I'll give it some more thought. I'm more than happy for any more suggestions. Thanks again.

The telescope is a C5, and the pic is a still from a u-tube video by John Read of Learning to Stargaze. John indicates the mount came with a scope costing around 100 dollars, and that the mount is suitable as a tabletop mount for the C5. If I can find one used it could be useful. Does anyone recognise it? I have searched myself, but not found this exact mount. If anyone knows of something similiar that could do the job, that would be very helpful 🙂. Thanks for reading.

Why thank you Mike, I like 'talented'. Though, when you say 'imager', it's not usually a compliment 🤔.

I was out observing the Moon (and Venus) from 9.40pm to 11.15pm. Using the Celestron 8 inch Starsense Explorer Dob with 17.5 and 12.5 Morpheus eyepieces ans a x2 Celestron X-Cel LX barlow. Seeing fairly steady at times - good for my site. The terminator showed fine detail along it's length, but I paid most attention to Sinus Iridum plus Copernicus and its environs. The Ridges that are parallel to the Jura Mtns and to each other were very prominent. In addition, small segments of these mtn tops were illuminated between Promontoriums Heraclides and Laplace. Looking rather like a necklace with beads at various places. When fully illuminated, and when the bay is not illuminated immediately to the S, this is known as the 'Cup Handle' among other names. Further to the S, up to C.Herschel there is a named Ridge, Dorset Heim. This continues up into Sinus Iridum, but the Ridges across the bay themselves don't have a specific name as far as I'm aware. There was good detail in Copernicus, despite not being optimally placed. However, there was great contrast in its surroundings showing the variations in the ejects from the impact extremely well. The areas of dark Maria material to the N and E of Copernicus were very striking. The pics below are snaps taken with my phone, held a little behind the eyepiece so not as good as they could have been, but are sufficient to show the scene. The pic of Sinus Iridum was with the 12.5 and barlow giving x 192, visually it was really spectacular. The other was using the 17.5 giving x76. The map is taken from the Rukl atlas.

Just ordered one, many thanks Stu and Ratlet 😊.

Thanks Stu 👍😊

Many thanks,much appreciated.

Could you tell me where you ordered it from please? The link at the start of the thread didn't work for me. Many thanks.

PS Stu, what phone adapter do you use? I have the Celestron XYZ (I think) which I don't think is as good as it should be, some unwanted movement. Perhaps it's a dud!

Thanks Stu, no wonder its such a cracking picture. Just don't tell the Taki Brotherhood I said it though will you 😊.

Many thanks Kev, really nice pics. When I post observing opportunities like this, I do wonder sometimes if anyone reads them, never mind actually goes out to try and observe them. You're observation of the event and report are a great encouragement to me to post things in the future. If just one person observes the event its worthwhile to me. Thank you.

Very nice 'snap' Stu. Excellent, was it with your phone? My view was rather lack lustre, out at 9pm but before 10 the sky had gone very hazy and the moon was very dull. Still, good to have a view though 🙂.

https://stargazerslounge.com/forum/239-celestial-events-heads-up

Courtesy of S&N mag, May issue.

May 26th/27th, 10.40pm to 00.50am, 8inch Starsense Dob, 17.5 and 12.5 Morpheae and x2 Celestron X-Cel LX barlow. I spent most most of the time on the Moon. An abundance of intricate lacework-like detail along most of the terminator. Montes Haenus and Caucasus were right on the terminator framing the W edges of M Serenitatis, with Eudoxus and Aristillius just to the N. Very striking. With Julius Caesar on the terminator, Rimae Ariadaeus, Treisnecher and Hyginus were very well placed. When the poor seeing lessened its grip I could use a mag of x136 to good effect. The sky became increasingly hazy but I had time to observe a few more tolerant deep sky objects. These included globulars M13, M92, M10, M12 and M5, and open clusters the ET/Owl and the Double Cluster. I couldn't resist planetary M27, though it was extremely subdued in the haze and moonlight. I put the Orion Ultrablock on the 17.5 and it really popped. Better than I expected, and a suitable finale to a fine evening.