paulastro

Quite right Stu. But, if it's all correct, then from this date it's worth keeping an eye on. It would be quite something if you were observing it one night and it went supernova. I know it's very unlikely, but it will happen sometime and someone will be the first to see it! 😃

Here's the catalogue entry for it. The catalogue is from 1971.

This could be a significant date in indicating if Betelgeuse is about to go supernova according to spaceweather.com. It's thought the dominant probable pulsation period of Betelgeuse is around 430 days, and if so around Feb 21st its current mag should rise from its current low of +1.66 to around +0.9. So if the mag remains as it currently is, we may have to get our sunglasses out when we go out at night at some time in the not too distant future! I for one will be out around Feb 21st doing some magnitude estimates - the results may indicate if something very significant may be about to happen . Get the full story at: https://spaceweather.com/ Betelgeuse is a highly evolved red supergiant--the type of star that could collapse and explode at any moment. Indeed, the dimming of Betelgeuse could be explained if the star has suddenly contracted to about 92% of its previous radius. But that's not the only possibility. Betelgeuse might be dimmed by a giant starspot--or maybe it is shrouded by an outburst of stardust from its own cool outer layers--or something else entirely. No one knows. Answers might be forthcoming on Feb. 21st. Astronomers have long known that Betelgeuse is a variable star. It pulsates with many periods, as shown in this Fourier analysis of Betelgeuse's light curve: Above: A period analysis of 23 years (1995-2018) of Betelgeuse photometry. Credit: Peranso. "This shows a dominant (probable pulsation) period of P = 430 days," note Guinan and colleague Richard Wasatonic in a recent Astronomical Telegram. Given this result, "the minimum brightness is expected on 21 (+/-7d) February 2020." If Betelegeuse starts to bounce back on Feb. 21st, this whole episode might just be a deeper-than-average pulsation, and perhaps the supernova watch can be called off. However, notes Guinan, "even if the 430-day period is still working, this would indicate a minimum brightness near 0.9 mag--much brighter than the current value near 1.6 mag. So something very unusual is going on." Stay tuned for updates as Feb. 21st approaches.

First rate work, thanks for posting so we can all see them.

Many thanks Trevor. You have great taste in telescopes!

Many thanks Chris. I posted a few snaps I took on 5th about an hour or so ago on LUNAR IMAGING. The Aristarchus area was very well placed wasn't it, I went out especially to see it myself.

Out from 9.00 pm to 00.45 am to try and catch Aristarchus on the terminator. Managed some nice views despite poor seeing and a Moon determined to play hide and seek. Photography taking single frames was difficult because of the rapidly changing seeing, but I did get one which made it worthwhile. Using the SW 120ED, Ercole mount, and the Olympus E-M5 Mk11. Two frames reproduced below, one taken at 23.47 pm and the other at 23.49pm. The whole Moon shot is cropped to show J Herschel / Mare Frigoris and also Gassendi / Mare Humorum. The pic of Aristarchus is a crop of the second frame.

Many thank Philip, I'll take a look. I downloaded LunarMap HD yesterday which looks fabulous. (couldn't download it previously as my phone wasn't up to it, but I've just changed it). I also use Virtual Moon Atlas on my laptop. I'm really frustrated that the Moon Phase Photo Maps aren't available for Android as I mentioned to Stu.

Many thanks Chris. I'm delighted you had a view, I'm a little surprised you never had 'The Beast' up and running 😄.

I had two sessions overnight out in the observatory. Using the SW 120ED on the Ercole mount, visual observations with the binoviewer, using 24 and 16.8 mm Orthos in turn, depending on the seeing. I hadn't envisaged having a second session, but in the first one ( 5.15 to 6.15 pm ) I noticed that Gassendi's E walls were just starting to catch the rising sunlight at the N end of Mare Humorum. I checked the LunarMap HD app which indicated that it would be fully in view by around 11.00pm. Hence I decided to have a second look, and went out from about 11.30 pm to 1.30 am when the cloud rolled in. I has some fabulous views both session, but it was particularly nice to see Gassendi with low sunlight across the whole crater. The pics below are taken from two single frames using the Olympus E-M5 MK11. The first was taken at 5.47 pm, showing the whole Moon, and three crops taken from it. They show Sinus Iridum ( not quite at the 'Cup Handle' stage!), Gassendi and Mare Humorum with the sunlight just catching its E walls, and the S limb from the Hainzal/Mee 'double crater' in the W to Clavius in the East. The area on the S limb was amazingly complex with crowded limb detail. The second pic taken at 00.04 am shows Gassendi now entirely Illuminated by low sunlight at the N end of Mare Humorum, the wrinkle rims in Humorium were very nicely showing - at least visually! It was nice to have a couple of snaps of a very enjoyable and memorable observing session.

Love the Moon Phase Photo Maps Stu. Alas, for me, the app is only available for the iPhone 😭. Anything like it for Android does anyone know?

I'm so pleased that so many folks managed a view and thought it was worthwhile. There are some great posts here and I'll be going through them and replying to some tomorrow - off to bed shortly. I've just posted up a brief report and some pics on LUNAR IMAGING.

Lovely session late afternoon / early evening today. Out from 4.50 pm to 6.25 pm in observatory with SW 120ED on Ercole mount, visual obs with binoviewer and 16.8 mm Orthos, some single frames taken with Olympus E-M5 Mk11. The frame below was taken at 5.49 pm, 1/250 sec at 400 asa, the close-ups are crops of the same frame. Copernicus was placed close to the terminator and as good a view as I can recall having - I can't remember a better one. The best time was from as soon as I had set up until about 6.00 pm when, as the sun rose, some of the detail fell away and the view was far less dramatic than it had been - though still well worthwhile. I stopped observing at one time to put an alert on SGL and also to shut the observatory roof at one stage when heavy rain briefly interrupted. Visually Copernicus and it's environs, the N of Mare Imbrium and the s Highlands were really spectacular. My rather low-res images don't do it justice, but at least I have a momento of a very memorable session. ** FEB 4TH - Replaced crop of Copernicus with a slightly brighter version.

Don't miss it if you can get out, going back to telescope!

Many thanks Craig. I tend to just leave the asa at 400. You are right though, I'll try and remember to adjust it down when conditions allow. Regards, Paul

Single frame taken at 5.05 pm, SW 120ED, Olympus E-M5 Mk11, 1/250 sec, 400 asa. Again. lucky to have about an hour mostly clear. Stopped session when rain suddenly started falling on the observatory roof. Imbrium and Delandres/S Highlands well placed.

That's very kind of you Mike, how thoughtful. My older eyes (my youngest daughter gleefully told me I was officially an 'elderly' person the other day) need a bit more light than a four inch telescope provides at the magnifications my 120ED will support, but thanks anyway.

Many thanks Stu. Yes, you are quite right about the date, I've changed it. Thanks for pointing this out, it was of course yesterday evening. The shadows were spectacular, looked fabulous visually didn't they. When I first went out the shadows weren't visible, or not much as the crater floor was still fairly dark. They lengthened quite quickly once the sun rose a little. At best they stretched a long way across the floor of Ptolemaeus, and they were like that when the cloud came in for me at around 7.50 pm. In your picture, an hour or so after my observation from what you say, the sun was higher in the sky of course so they are quite a bit shorter already.

You've done a great job there Mike. It's nice to see any 'distressed' astronomical equipment brought back into a state where it can once again do what it's supposed to do, under the stars 👍.

mikeDnight said: The seeing conditions on the night were very good, so it might be expected the 120ED would at least keep up with the smaller Tak, but they were worlds apart, with the equatorial and temperate belts, that were packed with detail, almost jumping out in 3D. Really Mike? Were you wearing your 3-D viewing spectacles at the time? 🤣 Of course it is possible that the seeing was enough to favour the Tak a bit over the larger aperture 120ED on the night, though I'm sure you'll say it wasn't 😊. Of course, the Tak is the better optical quality,, but it does depend what you're using it for. For planetary the 100 DC you have is hugely suitable, as it's smaller aperture means that the image is less dazzling at any particular magnification so the detail is not swamped as it can be in larger apertures. I'm well aware how good the Taks are for planetary, I remember when we shared that memorable view of Jupiter with my DL. For some people though, as an all-round telescope larger apertures can be better than smaller Taks. For my eyes a four inch scope just wouldn' t do it as my only scope if deep-sky objects were the target. This is the reason I reluctantly sold my four inch refractor to buy a 120ED came up at a great price, It would be great if you could join us at Kelling this year, your Tak will show far more detail on deep sky than it will at home, though not as much as my 120ED of course 😃.

I was lucky to have an unexpected clear patch for a couple of hours in the evening. I spent most of the time on visual observing, but did record the rather spectacular terminator with a single frame with my Olympus E-M5 MK11, 1/160 sec at 400 taken at 7.17 pm. I was using the SW 80ED on the AZ5. This was as the shadows lengthened across Ptolamaeus from sunlight catching the tops of some of the surrounding hills. This was a fine sight using my binoviewer. Archimedes' walls were just catching the sunlight on the E edge of Mare Imbriium and this area from Aristillius to Cassini in the N and cradled by the Apennines and Causacus Mtns in the E was full of detail. Just north of Casinni was the illumination effect caused by light catching the tops of some of the Alpine Mtns which I have always called the ALPINE FLOWER. They form what to me looks like a large round flower head on a stalk which finishes to the S just N of Cassini. It only lasts until the sun rises higher in the sky and other tops are illuminated which then engulfs the flower.. I've included two crops of my picture which show this, but it doesn't enlarge too well because of the low resolution. A really enjoyable session, more so considering the forecast was for 100% cloud.

Perhaps you ought to buy yourself another 80ED Mike!? 👍

Hi Alan. I have the Ercole on a a half pier on top of one of the old Orion Optics, very substantial, field tripods. The observatory walls are rather tall (a converted garage) and having it on a tripod enables me move it around to enable me to reach a little lower in altitude and still clear the walls.

John, what a fabulous subject, I wish I'd thought of it! I'll keep coming back to this one, I only use altaz mounts, love them - I don't use equatorials now and haven't done so for ages. I think I've found a mount no-one has mentioned yet, the Manfrotto 393 mount. It's main purposed is for large telephoto lenses, but it works extremely well for smaller scopes, I've used it with refractors up to 102mm Maks up to 127mm, a 5 inch SC - plus various solar and spotting scopes. It will also take any small reflector if they are not too long - the gap between the forks is a little over 6 1/2 inches. The forks locking knobs work extremely well and it comes with it's own dovetail system - easily attached straight to Skywatcher dovetails - which means balancing it is very easy. It can be used on any photo tripod or something more substantial. I've also included a pic of my AZ4 on a really tall, light-weight and robust surveyors tripod with my 120ED on board. The tripod was a massive bargain at £10 from a trader at last years Kelling star party. As well as the Manfrotto and AZ4, I have an AZ5 and an Ercole for use in my observatory. I've used or owned quite a few other altaz mounts too over the years. Thanks again for posting John.

I was out with the SW 80ED to see the crescent Moon, the forecast was poor (complete cloud) and nothing else was showing at the time. I wasn't expecting to have a chance to observe the conjunction so hadn't planned to. Anyway I had some nice views of the Moon and then Venus popped out amongst the cloud, made a pretty sight with the Moon below right of it. As it got a little darker Venus kept popping out, so rushed inside for my binoviewer and 24mm Orthos - this gives a half degree field and a mag of x100. The fact that the variable star Phi Aquarii is close by is very handy for making sure you're looking in the right place. At round about 5.30 I thought Neptune flashed into view. If that had been it, then I wouldn't have been sure it was Neptune. With some glare from nearby Venus on the light cloud that was passing by and not really sure if the conditions were good enough to see a planet at mag 7.9 I wasn't convinced. However, before I was enveloped by cloud at turned 6 pm I had several other glimpses, one of them was much clearer than the others - though all were extremely brief they were all in the same place, and there were no other contenders. Venus and the thin waxing crescent Moon were well worth the effort even if Neptune hadn't been involved, a nice unexpected session. As I came indoors a gritting lorry went up the hill in front of the house, and when indoors the forecast indicated the 'tops' would likely get some snow. Looks like an early start for me tomorrow to clear any snow to get to my hospital appointment. Don't you just love Yorkshire 🌝? I .