maw lod qan

My third morning in a row of good viewing at my daughters. It was hard getting out of bed at 3:30 after staying up to 10:30 with all the graduation celebration. But I forced myself. Again, the first target had to be Jupiter. Yesterday, the four moons were spaced out two to the right and two to the left. This morning there were only three visible! After a few moments, I moved on to Saturn, then the Moon. With it clear, I found Andromeda but could only make out the core with the Moon still very bright. After doing some imaging, I viewed Saturn then Jupiter again before packing up. Jupiter was just about to disappear behind a close line of trees. To my surprise, there were all four moons! The one that had been the closest was now almost touching Jupiter and the fourth was just beginning to appear from behind it! I got poor image in which I can just barely make those two out before the trees took it away from me. My first chance to witness one reappear like this.

This is what I've always asked myself when dealing with my "curse!" But then I remember the fun I had, pillaging and plundering, and realize it's all worth it!😎

This is the first set I bought for my 8" OTA. On my shoestring budget, I was pleased with them. The good thing with them is they fit my camera adapter for eyepiece projection imaging. Slowly, I'm acquiring more expensive eyepieces, but these are still my primary eyepieces. This is a single image through the 23mm and a 1.5 barlow. Definitely not the superb images I see here by others, but you start somewhere.

Both of the previous launches I got ready to try and image it from where I live. Glad to see it get launched. Very nice video. Thanks for posting it. Seeing the actual adjustments was great.

Very nice! I enjoyed your report very much and find inspiration to continue trying for more hidden treasures as the opportunity presents itself.

I saw Pluto was between the Moon and Saturn this morning on Skysafari, but the glow of the Moon washed out everything between them. Shouldn't they stay fairly close as the Moon wanes and the viewing gets better?

Went back to my oldest's daughters for my grandson's high school graduation and took a long my 8" dob. 210 miles further North from my house. This morning the moon was very good. I took more time enjoying the different details across many areas than I have in quite a while. The beating our neighbor has endured over time is incredible! Turning my attention to Jupiter, its banding was very good despite so much light from the moon. Saturn took the prize. I couldn't believe with it so near the moon I was able to see some banding on its surface and make out the Cassini division in the rings. I only wish I could get an image of the details my eyes could make out, but using a single shot Canon I fail. Two of its moons were showing faintly adding to its splendor. I started at about 4am and when i came in at 6:30, the glow of the sun was showing to the East. Venus was shining brightly in the orange glow that announced the coming day. It made the effort of taking the scope out of my observatory and even making a make do stand for it worth while.

The Milkyway is awesome, and even more so in such a wonderful area like that.

If it is going to eventually disappear after being visible for hundreds of years, perhaps it's just a cycle that we've not been around long enough to even understand.

I'm very hopeful, but don't forget we left Apollo hardware sitting in the parking lot, paid for but unused, when the next administration took over. We must keep moving forward. And somehow, science must be a very big part of it. Not just private business doing something solely for profits.

You're right about the stinger of a honey bee still working after the bee is gone. When you're stung, it's best to scrape it off with your nail, or if you're a keeper, with the hive tool. Pinching it between your fingertips, makes it a syringe which gives you the full dose

I find my worst yearnings come when I see the incredible DSO images here on the forum. All I can do is keep telling myself, patience, patience, patience!

Glad you got some good time with the giants. Saturn and Jupiter will make many long to be astronomers! With my 8" dob, I've yet to get good details on Saturn, but I keep looking.

When a business knows they've got you, they charge what they feel they can get away with. If you need something, you'll pay. If you HAVE TO HAVE something, oh will you pay.

When I see all those stars, all I can think is wow!

I ran the day before to the Ga/SC border to be ready and close. The next morning, worried with clouds off the Atlantic, I drove inland to Columbia. A truck stop had a large empty parking lot, which filled rapidly. It was the first total eclipse for us all and quite memorable. Even my grandson who was just barely 5, still asks, papa when can we do it again? I tell hi., 2024, if Gods willing.

Found this photo from 8/21/2017 and the GAE. It always brings a smile to my face seeing my youngest daughter and youngest grandson staring up at the disappearing sun. SWMBO was in the car, out of the South Carolina heat. She got out during totality. I really laugh when I see the bridge crew on the Enterprise in my wind shield looking up as well.

When I go in to work there are others outside taking a break and I point Jupiter out to them. Most thought it was just a bright star. Several years back the planets were great. As I walked in one of the assistant managers was standing there, unwinding after a tough night shift. He was amazed when I pointed out that including the Earth, you could see 5 of the 8 planets at once. (Sorry Pluto!)

Very nice! I'm in awe with those that can sketch so nice. I feel lucky to sign my name the same twice.

I've looked at Mercury last year when it and Venus both graced my late evening sun set. It seems I do better then than when Sol is rapidly rising in the East. I'm also planning for the November transit, the weather Gods permitting.

When they say "the Northern hemisphere" what ranges do they mean? I thought at 27° I was possibly too low to see any NLC's.

Glad you got to witness it! I really enjoy meteors and treasure every one I get to see.

Stunning!!

Very good. I'm looking forward to when the sun is very active.

Wonderful!