paulastro

Thanks Mike, too exciting at my age 😄.

Many thanks Stu. You're very kind. I must say, I do love a thin crescent. The seeing was poor as you say - role on the spring when it's higher in the evening sky, and hopefully warmer 😊.

Thanks scotty, the Quadrantis have a sharp maximum, so It's not really surprising.

I went out late afternoon to observe the nearly 2 day old Moon, driving a short distance to have a better horizon. I picked up the Moon at 3.15pm in 10x50s at an altitude of 10.4 degrees. I observed with the Altair 80 ED-R, and also took some single frames using the Olympus EM-5 Mk11. The two frames below were taken shortly before the Moon went into some tree tops, taken at 4.40 and and 4.51, the Moon's altitude being 6.6 degrees. It was very cold and when I walked from the field I was in to the car, I couldn't open the door. The biting wind had frozen the lock. After 15 minutes I was about to phone my daughter to come out and bring me a tin of de-icer, when I had a moment of inspiration. I went to the lock on the front passenger door which was sheltered from the wind - luckily after a few attempts I managed to turn the key and open the door. Phew, I wasn't sure my daughter was available to come out, so if I hadn't been able to open the door I might have still been there! 😁.

I was out from about 8.10pm to 9.00pm with limited clear patches . I didn't see any, but the conditions were poor. Has anyone been out in a good sky and seen a bucket full? 😄.

I've certainly found over the years that a smaller doublet ED using FPL53 appears to show less CA than a larger aperture version. But, it could be that they are the same if tested in a lab , but on the night sky what we see is also affected by the seeing, ice/water in the atmosphere, the altitude of the target, the target itself, our own eyesight, the eyepieces and diagonals we use, and indeed the size of the objective as you say Mike.

Thanks Pete, let's hope the weather picks up, and the solar activity of course 🙂.

A bright dawn surprisingly. I managed a quick drawing, below, with the PST at 10.10am. Some good filaments as well as the proms. GONG view added.

A gear start to the New Year as you say Mark, we'll done. 🙂.

I was lucky to have a couple hours of sunshine early this morning, so had a second look at AR2916 with the Altair 80 ED - R. Again Seeing not great and some cloud, but pleased to have any sort of view. Two single frames below taken with the Olympus EM-5 Mk11 a little before 10am.

Many thanks John, you're very kind. Yes, let's hope it's a portender of things to come. 🙂

At last I managed to see AR2916 after days of snow (Cristmas day!) fog and mist. Mind you, I had to wait until the sun's altitude was only 6.5 degrees, and even then the sun was only out for two minutes with cloud interfering! Still delighted though, and I grabbed a handful of single frames with the Olympus. I could see (from the E) AR2919, 2916, 2918, and another AR NE of 2918 near the limb which hasn't got a number on the spaceweather image. I couldn't see anything where 2920 is marked but I might have missed it, or it's faded away perhaps? (Or I have the numbers mixed up 😊) STOP PRESS!! . I just enlarged my pic below and it looks as if AR2920 is peeping through the cloud, I hadn't noticed it visually, though I didn't have a lot of time! Best frame below taken at 2.50pm, 1/50 sec at 400 asa.

Yes, I'm so excited I can hardly sleep at night 🥱

And the free edition of the SkySafari app if you have a smartphone 🙂.

Fingers crossed for this, I hope it's not too spectacular! Certainly a lot better than anything else on Christmas TV! https://www.nasa.gov/content/live-coverage-of-the-james-webb-space-telescope-mission

This is easy for me to decide as I only have three eyepieces, not counting the two pairs of orthos I use with my binoviewer. The 17.5 Morpheus, 24mm Hyperion and a Baader Mk111 zoom. I do cheat and use a x2 and x3 barlow with the three single eyepieces though. Mm, am I missing out on something? 🤔 😊

Blimey Mike, it must take you half an hour to decide which eyepiece to choose. That is judging by the 15 minutes it takes you to decide if you want tea or coffee, as you've already admitted. 😁.

I agree with you Dave. Just imagine having a wonderful thin crescent moon high in the evening sky every month 😊.

Dixie, I live in Yorkshire but I don't have any pain for you to feel because of any bad weather that comes my way. Over many years I have learned to be grateful for the observing opportunities I have, rather than becoming upset when my plans might be thwarted. The universe isn't there for my convenience, and it owes me nothing.

Keep the faith Dave, and YES there is! Good skies will come however bad you think it is now, and you'll be glad you hung in there. Much as in life generally really 🙂. PS If you have a grab and go set up ready to roll, it's amazing the number of brief clear periods you will have.

Thanks Nigella, lovely photo.

Well, it's a start 😊.

Well, it is better for solar observers. A nice sunrise this morning, though the forecast indicates I'll be lucky if I manage to see the sun again until after Christmas 🙄.

Fabulous, thanks Stu.

Many thanks Stu. Is PS Express an app? Most of my snaps are lunar and solar so if it is an app and is good enough for you, I'll take a look at it. Thanks again 😊.