maw lod qan

The moon is an amazing thing to view. With the terminator moving across its surface you will be surprised the different details you pick out that had gone unnoticed.

Amazing image. Well done with you effort!

Welcome from across the pond. I have an 8" reflector, an Orion, and have had many nice nights out viewing. I think you and SWMBO (shewhomustbeobeyed) are in for some great fun.

I guess they felt sorry for a poor old soul like me!😁 I joke with everyone at work, not to get too carried away, because life changes quickly. One day you might be the pigeon but just as fast you go to being the statue!

Left for work, turned to the East and there just above the horizon was an incredible Moon! With it so low, it was big and very reddish, really in its glory. One of those sights which makes you stare at it and go wow! Twenty minutes later, I turn to the South onto the street in town that takes me to the store and even with all the street lights I see an amazing meteor streak through the sky. It was so fast it lasted just a second. It had a very brilliant trail, and fragmented at the end. It still covered 10 or 15 degrees it was so fast. One of those you just die to capture in an image! Smiling to myself, I couldnt help but think I was being rewarded for getting up to go to work.

Excellent! When I got back into this insanity I still had an old "CHEAP" general store retractor, probably 3" that I had bought my daughters 25 years earlier. It has the .975" eyepieces. Cleaned it up and took it out, surprised at the views of the moon! Later, got my youngest grandkids out too. When I got my 8" reflector, they got real looks at Jupiter and Saturn. There is few things that bring the joy you get from sharing the heaven above us.

That looks quite interesting. I'm assuming its DIY or was this something factory made? What type of motor does it have and what is the power source?

Very nice image.

I tried for weeks to get the combination of me up, him up and the weather to cooperate. Finally when I woke up at 2:30 there was light high clouds obscuring the Western sky. At 3:30 the aroma of bacon being cooked told me he and his girl friend were up. As soon as they had breakfast ready, I got both of them out to get their first real look at Mars. It wasnt the best viewing, being Mars was only 30° above the horizon, but you could make out faint surface details. Both were actually very surprised, looking at it in the eyepiece, then stepping back to gaze at it naked eye! Before the mosquitos chased them back in. I turned the telescope to the Orion's Nebula. Maybe they'll think a bit the next time they look up.

It is brilliant now. I agree, unfiltered, it seemed better viewing for me was a week before its closest approach!

Nice image. The more you practice, you'll get better and better! Dont worry about anyone laughing at this image, I still provide all the material they need for that! With no tracking mount, I've only managed the core of Andromeda, but even that made me smile. As much as we all like the compliments from those who are more talented at this than we might be, I'm certain everyone will say the important person to make happy is ourself. I suffer with this insanity for my own pleasure! The dummy battery is a wonderful thing. My Canon SL1 just sits there clicking away all night long plugged in to it.

Wow! Just goes to show the cost and work to keep a good website going. Makes me appreciate "you know who" even more!👍

Never underestimate the power of the force! Now that I think of it, it is interesting they believe the universe has more "dark" matter than light! An even the most brilliant minds, don't understand it completely!

I'm certain what ever this "amazing discovery" is, they could go ahead and tell us now! Why make us wait?? 😖😖

Welcome, you have joined an incredible group of very talented women and men!

Last nights small moon. Sol was below the horizon but still quite bright. I dont know if I can see it much smaller that 3%.

Excellent! All my attempts so far have been disappointing, but it just makes me keep trying. After a moments thought, I wondered so I'm asking, did you use your focus on Jupiter for the ISS or how did you get it in focus?

Congratulations!! You have discovered the mystery of where the pyramids came from! 😉 I would like to be the first to request an autographed copy of the image! On another note, it's an excellent image!

Except for us seeing a little fog in the early am, the sky was beautiful again. Had to take a second trip out to get the Moon. These are all single images with my well used Canon SL1.

The past two days were days off for me. With the weather being clear, I got out both days to view Mars. Not even trying, both days I looked up at just the right moment to glimpse an Orionid streaking through the night sky. Just like its explained, their trail pointed back directly to Orion. These might be some of the fastest meteors I've viewed!

I have viewed Jupiter through the scope 45 minutes or so before sunset. It didnt seem possible to look at it through the telescope, then back away and look up to not see it. I agree, I dont think I have the eyes any more to do Venus.

This is so true. With the march of the terminator across its face, every night has something amazing to catch your eye(piece)!

Nice image! I dont even try with my Samsung! The Moon and Venus was my 2nd trip out to the observatory this morning. Mars being the first. I work a 4am to 1pm schedule so am used to getting up at 2am 3 days a week. Good for morning sky watching, but makes evening rough! Worse with DST!

I know there was a survey recently to judge the seeing in different locations in the UK by counting the stars visible in the 4 corners of Orion. This morning with my sky so dark and clear I thought I would give it a try. Without really having time to let my eyes adapt and a little averted vision I got up to 18. Now at work in the parking lot with lots of L/P I could only manage 8. How does this compare to your skies?

I considered getting up at 12pm being Mars was at opposition, but, the old saying best laid plans. I did look at the clock on the nightstand, but being I had to be at work at 4am I didnt get up. At 2am when I did get up, the skies were incredible! The moon had not yet risen so it was very dark. Mars looked brighter than I had ever seen it. I hurried back in with the dogs, got coffee going and showered Instead of worrying about breakfast, I dressed, grabbed my camera and hurried out. First I took some widefield of the sky from Orion to Mars. I only had a few moments to spend at the telescope. With a 3x barlow and 23mm eyepiece surface details showed nicely. I think with the timing I was looking at areas I hadn't seen before. The polar cap stood out distinctly, though I do think it has grown smaller over the past month. Hurriedly, I took a few single images with my Canon before going back in and finishing up preps for work. Drove fast, still made it to work on time! I hope tomorrow is as good, but we have weather forecasted that will probably spoil it.