paulastro

Thanks Mike, you could probably do a drawing better than my snaps 😄.

I had a good session with the Tecnosky 102ED F7 from 8.45 to 10.10 pm. The terminator showed fine detail, particularly S of Walther to the S cusp. Ptolemaeus, with the shadows cast across its surface like church spires was fabulous. Walter further S was particularly well placed as were Rima Hyginus and Rima Ariadaeus further away from the terminator. Pic below is a single frame with the Olympus E-M5 Mk11, taken at 9.05pm, 1/100 sec at 200 asa. Also two crops from the same frame, one showing the terminator S of Walther, and the other a tight crop of Ptolemaeus rather lightened to show the shadows better. Needless to say, the view using the binoviewer was far better than my pics show!

If you do borrow the camera, you can magnify the rear screen up to ×14 on live view, which is really good for focusing 🙂.

Thanks Stu, I've been watching on and off since 7.30 this morning, but just took another look and spotted the rocket, so thanks for that 🙂.

Lots of other activity on the sun too , including a nice filaprom 🙂.

I have posted about this before, but its so good here's another plug with an illustration how good it really is. I'm talking about NASA's SVS ( Scientific Visualization Studio) software of the Moon Phase and Libration 2021. Phew, that's a mouthful! It shows an eeringly accurate view of the Moons terminator for the date and time you enter - the time in UT entered for the nearest hour. The view is almost exactly what you will will see through your telescope. Below is a crop from a single frame I took with my Tecnosky 102ED F7 last evening at 8.50 pm and what the SVS came up with (also a crop) when I entered the date and time, April 17th 20 hours UT. I think it's quite remarkable, especially considering you can only set the time in hourly intervals. When you enter the time or date it comes up with a low res image which you tap to get the high res TIFF file. My ancient smart phone couldn't download the high res image, but a more modern one will. I used my laptop to get high res. It's all free as well, just click on the link below to try it out. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4874

I had a fabulous session last night, with Theophilus, Cyrilus and Catherina sitting snugly against the terminator. Also, the peaks of the mountains of Rupes Altai were catching the morning sunlight, reaching southwards and starting just to the W of Catherina. Excellent views with the Tecnosky 102ED F7 for the first half hour or so before the seeing deteriorated. Single frame and crops below taken with the Olympus at 8.50pm, 1/80 sec at 200 asa. The Serpentone Ridge and Posidonius were also well placed.

Your observing feats will probably cause a shortage of Tak 100mm refractors John 🙂.

I was out from 8.15 until 9.15 pm with the Tecnosky 102ED F7. Janssen was as well placed to see the interior detail as I have ever seen it. Rheita Valley, not far to the E , was also very well placed. I had superb views early on when the seeing was excellent for a few mts and the detail was staggering, though this only lasted for around half an hour. It was a 4.2 day Moon with illumination of 18.4%. Below is a single frame with the Olympus E-M5 Mk11 at 8.33 pm, and a crop including Janssen and the Rheita Valley. It shows how favourable Janssen was placed, but the detail through the binoviewer was far better!

Thanks John, nice to know I wasn't the only one who saw it 🙂.

Many thanks Stu, good to know what I was looking at 🙂. I don't know Grange Cottage, but Station Rd is only about 200 yards away on the way to the village centre. The station it refers to is Oakworth Station on the Worth Valley steam railway. If you've ever watched 'The Railway Children' you've been there- well, sort of 😄.

I was observing from 8.15pm to 9.40pm. The seeing was good early on. There was some excellent terminator detail, especially W of M Crisium from the area of Sinus Concordiae N to Lacus Macrobius. The terminator from Petavius to the southern cusp was also very good. I was observing with the Tecnosky 102ED F7. Below is a single frame taken using an Olympus E-M5 Mk11, 1/60 sec at 200 asa. I've also included two crops from the same frame.

I had a view of a fairly bright star being occultated behind the dark limb. I've not checked which star it was yet, but it blinked out at 9.40pm approximately.

I was observing this in a PST around 8 am, it didn't look quite as good as it does in your fine image though 😄.

Excellent image Davey.

I first noticed this active region at about 8am this morning. I'm pretty sure it wasn't there when I started observing around 20 mts before. It was still visible when I came indoors around 8.30. It was very bright when I first saw it and it varied in brightness during this period.

Observed from 8.15 to 9.30 pm with Tecnosky 102ED F7 on the AZ4. Beautiful crescent with Furnerius, Petavius, Vendenilus and Langrenus sitting snugly against the terminator. Lovely earthshine as the sky darkened. Attached is a single frame taken with the Olympus E-M5 Mk11 on 1/15 sec at 200 asa. Also two crops from the same frame.

No need to be upset Jeremy. You could just paint the whole scope white and then the handle will look fine 🙂.

Lovely shots Nigella 🙂.

Excellent Mike. Of course, I've seen your previous globes, indeed you were kind enough to make me one from a previous apparition. Every time I look at mine on my book shelf, it reminds me of being at Lowell Observatory, many years ago. In the Rotunda building, at least when I went, there was a long line of Lowellian globes he had made at successive oppositions on a shelf running round part of the wall. It gave me a great thrill to see Lowell's globes that he had made himself. I have to say, your globes are nearly as impressive, though perhaps you haven't the same kudos that Lowell has (not yet anyway!) - also you tend to have fewer canals on your globes than he had 😄.

Two books that will really set you are on the way are: How to observe the sun safely 2nd edition by Lee Macdonald. Observing the sun - a pocket field guide by Jamey L Jenkins. They both contain lots of essential and useful information and lots of practical observing information.

It does become rather addictive. Not only is it the most dynamic object you can observe. Its available every day of the year (subject to weather of course, and assuming you don't live live at the N or S pole), its a daytime activity so it's safer and generally warmer, and you can participate without worrying about light pollution. I can't think of anything not to like 😊.

A long needle shaped prom I've been watching on and off since 7.30am has now completely detached. Other good prom activity too. Good in PST. GONG grab below.

Yes, the 'needle' prom is now well detached from the surface. Been looking on and off since 7.30am.