Froeng

3 hours ago, radiofm74 said:

I'll venture a post about Vixen eyepieces, at the risk that it be considered off topic 😃

My personal enabler and Vixen-stuff dealer sold me these four a little while ago… I suspect that they're the ones Roger Vine used in his review of the ED102S:

In a relatively short time frame, and with moderate expense the family has grown considerably!

While I am putting together a Panoptic/Nagler set for my DSO forays, the Vixens are to be used primarily as my planetary, lunar and multiple star eyepieces in town. Having tried them, I'm pretty sure that I'll be taking them around in my trips as well. I like them a lot: clean, crisp images, super-comfortable to use! 

Needless to say, they go especially well with my greeny ED102S – but I'm sure they'll make good friends with my other scopes too ;D

PS: I was about to skip the 40mm in favour of a 32mm Plössl. When a 40mm showed up, however, my completist side prevailed… good call! In my 920mm-to-2000mm focal lengths it's great to have max 1.25" field and a large exit pupil, plus the eyepiece is wonderful. The other night, along with the ED102S, it gave one of the best views I've had of the lunar full disk!

A very nice set of LVs indeed. You are only missing the 2” ones (30mm and 50mm). And of course, the 1.25” ones are brilliant in binoviewers, so you are only half done 😁😎🤣

On 11/04/2024 at 09:10, josefk said:

So desperate times call for desperate measures and this is a summary of six hours or thereabouts on the evening of the 9th April into the late early hours of the morning the 10th April. I don't think anyone noticed my lack of sleep at work the next day 🙂 . I wouldn't normally entertain such a long session on a "school night". 

The moon had set about 21:15 and sky SQM was 20.66 so this was a perfect night for my larger scope (the 186mm Cassegrain) and a purposeful attempt on galaxies in the constellations of the title [plus the globular cluster -the  Intergalactic Wanderer]. NB i know SQM 20.66 isn't great in the bigger scheme of things but this is a local dark site not a million miles away from house. Nearly all observations are with a Delos 17.3mm EP for 141x/30'/1.3mm exit pupil or a new to me Meade 14mm UWA for 174x/27'/1.1mm exit pupil. I would not normally use a 1.1mm exit pupil for galaxies but somehow it was supremely effective tonight. A great eyepiece. 

Notionally i had a Herschel H400 list open for the session but not everything is a H400 object. I am super happy that i DID add  16 new H400 DSO to my meagre ongoing list though and galaxies in the list (and in general outside of the bright Messier ones) are rare beasts were i live and the skies i live under so i'm quite chuffed.

NGC 2903 was a repeat observation (i observed it two weeks ago with my 130mm refractor). I had come back because i wanted to try and secure NGC 2905 (a bright star forming region) within it. I still don't think i have I'm afraid - not definitely. NGC 2903 itself is relatively bright and "rough" i.e rough edges and with patchy brightness gradients. It has bright star like spots in it but these are very difficult to lock down for precise location... Unbelievably the galaxy remained observable even at x300 and an exit pupil of 0.6mm as i ramped up the magnification step by step to try and find a magnification that shook NGC 2905 lose. No joy i don't think yet.

NGC 3227 (w/ NGC 3226) was also a repeat after a first observation w/ 130mm two weeks ago. With 130mm this was a broad smudge w/ variegated brightness and i logged it as NGC 3227 and called NGC 3226 a miss. With the larger Cassegrain (and at twice the magnified scale versus the 'frac, and at x141 and an exit pupil of 1.3mm) this was clearly two close galaxies. NGC 3227 is the larger and brighter. Together they lie in a NS orientation, both are soft glows without bright cores but with brighter centres if tap makes sense. Like a soft snowman with a slightly leaning head. NGC 3227 is the body, NGC 3226 is the lopsided head. NGC 3222 should also be in this 30' FOV but i couldn't see it tonight (its a very faint - probably out of reach for me Mag 13.7).

NGC 3190/3193 are also available together in the same FOV.  These are quite large soft glows (5 or 6 arc-minutes) and occasionally with averted vision NGC 3190 was obviously elongated at (i haven't checked yet) 135-degrees (i.e  NW/SE).

NGC 3115, 3166, 3169, & 3521 are all lower down and in a direction were the sky on this evening was quite a light grey relatively speaking so all were poorer observations than others this evening.

NGC 3379, 3384, & 3389 are another nice group observable together in the same FOV. 3379 and 3384 are "obvious" softly glowing balls. I had to shake NGC 3389 out with a slightly higher magnification (than 140x) and consequently smaller exit pupil (sp. 174x and 1.1mm). It was a marginal observation and needed averted vision. I could secure the star field though so a definite spot nonetheless.

For the first half of the session i was also sketching and this helps me immensely to maintain concentration and ensure the observations are secured:

I'll be tidying a few of the 12 thumbnails up for my index card records over the next few days.

While sketching is super helpful, on this kind of dark night chasing these (for me and my scope/sky) fainter targets the red light (even a dim one) starts to get bothersome. I was also getting a bit cold and that was effecting my concentration so when i moved up to the Markarian's chain area i tried something i've been wanting to do for a while - i simply sat behind a relatively static scope - eye constantly at the eyepiece - and let the sky scroll past to the West. This was incredibly enjoyable and productive - i have new observations in this area i think due in part to this method. It really enables uninterrupted eye time at the EP and maximum dark adaptation in the circumstances. 

NGC 4374, 4406, 4388, 4459, 4474, 4473, 4477 were all observed in this (relatively) fixed scope fashion and in that order of incrementing RA. Some of those are new observations to me. No averted imagination required - either a smudge is detected preceding west and its ID checked (with one eye in SSP) or it isn't (detected) and it sails by unseen. I should add the method is facilitated for me by using SSP and having a spot on aligned push to set-up. I am going to rope my partner in on "Caroline duties" watching SSP for me while i observe uninterrupted in the warmer spring weather.

NGC 4473 and NGC 4477 in that list are H400 objects and have adjacent Herschel numbers II-114 and II-115 so though i haven't checked them yet i wonder (and like to think) William Herschel actually discovered these two objects one after the other stood at his fixed scope using the same method. 🙂 

Anyway - observing log here with metrics (and a penultimate lollipop obs):

Very nice report and sketches!

I had a short session with the C8 last night. The evening was surprisingly chilly due to the slight cold breeze. It felt like winter again 😮 The “cold moon light” didn’t help either! The air was quite dry though (~60%RH) so no need for a dew heater.

Had a look at Jupiter in the binoviewer, but could only get to 135x and the view was boiling. I did see the GRS though, which was nice!

I also saw Mercury, first naked eye, then in the C8. A tiny wobbling, yellow-orangy “half-moon”. The red and blue fringes from looking through the low atmosphere were very pronounced. However, I think this was the first time I saw it in the C8, so a good result!

Next I tried for Sirius B but no luck. 

12P Pons Brooks was bright and fuzzy in the C8 and had a slightly elongated coma. The centre looked brighter and concentrated.

The moon was reasonably steady, so I had a look around the terminator which was nice. I always think the almost full phase really emphasises the 3d appearance as the craters along the terminator are seen at really steep angles. I spent some time with it.

Then I tried for some DSO, which - as expected - did not yield much detail due to LP and the moon being up. M3, M81/82, M94 all visible as faint smudges in this light. I could not see M97, the owl.

All in all it was nice to be out after having endured cloud cover so long! Packed up around 9pm, the equipment being almost completely dried out in 30mins…

Around 7pm the clouds gave way to a - partially - clear sky! I went outside with just my eyes and I managed to see Mercury low above the houses in the West. A few minutes later I used an old 6x30 finder to scan the sky for P/12 - Pons Brooks which I did manage to find in the end. Washed out due to the moonlight, but it must have been fairly bright. I did not see a tail, but only a small round coma. Soon after, the clouds were back…

Amazing video. Slightly freaked out by the thought of the eight legged furry friends creeping up on you at night. Love the landscape and the night vision shots!

Another session on Jupiter tonight. Again, clouds were rolling through. Seeing was much improved over yesterday, but not excellent. I missed Europa merging with the planet's disk, as a bank of clouds just came through at that time. The GRS was on show, and was only faintly visible due to the high frequency oscillations of the atmosphere. There were few moments of steady air in between and this meant some glimpses of swirling in the equatorial belts momentarily appeared... The air was also much drier than last night, which meant that not everything was dripping from dew. Now back inside - work tomorrow! Hope some of you had better luck with the seeing and the clouds!

I wanted to see Io's transit tonight, with the shadow close to the GRS. Unfortunately it cleared too late, so by the time the scope was ready, Jupiter was quite low and an absolute mushy mess! I checked some higher up stars and the seeing must have been the worst I have had for a long time. P/12 Pons Brooks was nice though, despite the terrible light pollution under my Bortle 6 skies. Very bright in the C8 at 50x.

Also had a look at M42, which was washed out and then NGC 2392, which was surprisingly contrasty at higher magnification (335x).

Called it a night after an hour - tomorrow evening is supposed to be clear...

3 hours ago, PeterStudz said:

It’s sadly been mostly cloudy here with some showers too.

However, I got a glimpse of it during a brief clear spell just with eclipse glasses which in itself was impressive.

But I wasn’t dressed as well as you - at the time I just had my dressing gown on. Well, plus silly glasses. I hope that the neighbours didn’t see! Hopefully it’ll clear-up later.

Sounds like you were in some silly 80s movie about the future…

I looks like the VSD70SS can shoot digital medium format (33x44)!?! That is impressive…

On 22/02/2024 at 22:25, osbourne one-nil said:

Here’s a vixen scope, mount and tripod. Happy da…nights. 

Amazing!

For observing from home and away during the colder seasons I drink Earl Gray Tea, with some milk. On a hot summer's night, a G+T will do for a Jupiter session...

I was lucky and had a big “cloud hole” around 8-9pm! Jupiter was good, but not the best I have seen. Some high frequency scintillation visible, even at 135x in the C8. There were some still moments, which showed quite a bit of detail in the NEB and SEB. The GRS had just disappeared while I had been inside.

Uranus was a very clean steady disk tonight, showing its pale greenish blue hue. Very nice!

I got to get up early tomorrow, so called it a night. It was worth it though after what felt like “years” of clouds…

Was capturing snaps of Pons/Brooks. Now clouded over. Will have a look at Jupiter after dinner if the weather allows…

The seeing has deteriorated. Jupiter has turned a bit blurry. The GRS should now be visible. But not to me…

Another session with Jupiter tonight. The seeing is good, but not excellent. Quite a bit of detail in the equatorial belts. Now warming up, waiting for GRS to come ‘round…

7 hours ago, John said:

Watching the moons come out of Jupiter's shadow is, perhaps, even more interesting than when they start their trip behind the planet. The start of the journey is a gradual slide ending in a sudden disappearance whereas coming out of the shadow is rather like someone turning on a light using a dimmer switch slowly, and well away from the planets limb 🙂

The solar system mechanics in motion before your eyes - you can't beat it 😁

Watching the moons go into or come out of Jupiter’s shadow is great. I have seen this a few times, and each time was fascinating. However one thing I have not witnessed is Jupiter’s moons occulting or casting their shadows onto EACHOTHER. This is - obviously- extremely rare, but I would love to see this. I have also not found a source that tells us when these events happen. Does anyone know where to find this info? I would imagine this being visible will depend on your own location on earth as well…

Thank you for the great write up! Sounds like a fun night. Thanks in particular for pointing out that SN. I will need to look for it next dark night!

9 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

Wow, I love that mount and tripod, very flashy! which one is it? 
 

NO, I don’t need more temptation, don’t tell me.

Haha, it is an Avalon Linear on an Avalon T-Pod 110. They can be had for very reasonable money second hand (not mine though!). A very quick set up time and quite light weight for its capacity.

Had an early session on Jupiter tonight.

The seeing was decent, but I have seen better in the recent past. Some nice details in the equatorial belts. Had to go in a few times to warm up, it was a bit fresh! Now all packed up…

Telescope and observer

21 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

OK, it's done. This is probably my first and last drawing, and most likely as bad as artwork and accuracy gets. Stuff kept moving around plus my fingers don't work so well in -4.0° 🥶

I might call it a night. I'm absolutely frozen stiff.

Excellent sketch!

On 06/01/2024 at 18:14, John said:

The 100mm is delivering good views. So good, that I was moved to try a sketch, which I don't often do:

 

That’s a phenomenal sketch! Nicely done…

8 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

No observing for me. I was in hospital all last week and I'm spending this week and next week recovering. It's forecast cloudy anyway 

Still, I have a few exciting items arriving today from FLO to cheer me up. More in the what did the postman bring thread later 

Hope you get better soon!

I have been looking at  the “Great Hertfordshire Nebula”, ie freezing fog…

Has anyone seen any Andromedids tonight?

https://britastro.org/section_news_item/the-return-of-a-lost-meteor-shower