Marvin Jenkins

I have also noticed a flip side of this. I don’t know if it is a part of human psyche, but if you try to tell someone something incredible about an object you have seen they can shy away.

I have got into a pattern that when someone asks about my astronomy pastime, I tell a small amount, but do not talk for longer than one minute, wait for another question, give another minute. Shut up for a bit. If pursued offer a future look through a scope. It is very much like my other passion Carp fishing, seems like a lot of nothing then turns into something amazing.

I realised that for most ordinary people ‘wonder’ is not normal and the answers that we astronomers all take for granted like the existence of neutron stars can be too much.

The old saying “ignorance is bliss” is rubbish to me and you because we wonder. We push ourselves to understand and see the ‘thing’ through a scope, to say it is real, it is there, it is not just theory!

Most people like ‘safe’ the known, the easy to understand. An answer that doesn’t create questions is comforting. Children ask questions. Often they ask the best ones as they do not fear ridicule. When they stop asking is when this all comes to an end.

Marv

2 hours ago, andrew63 said:

Just caught a view of Mercury, in 10x50 binoculars and then naked eye. It's quite bright, managed to see it through some leafless trees as it was setting below the mountain.

andrew

Excellent work. I went out again and could see it but some horse tails low on the horizon meant it was far less visual than yesterday. Was that your first view of the inner most planet?

22 hours ago, Paul M said:

I reckon when you do bag it you'll never look back. I can't remember my first Neptune. I know it was a long time coming but I now consider it an easy object. I did the same with M33. Took me near 30 years then I got it with bins of all things. Now I trip over it in a dark sky!!

My all-time to-do-before-I-die object is Pluto. I don't know if it's even doable with the 10" under excellent conditions given its southern declination. I think my desire to spot Pluto visually is no more than a hangover from the days when it was a proper planet and was required for the full set. 

I know just what you mean, the night sky can be a funny thing. Within weeks of getting my first scope 130 newt on hideous eq2 I went big guns and decided Andromeda galaxy was on the cards, sorry didn’t know at the time it had a number!

Searched all over (probably in Orion for what I knew then) got to the right bit of sky and tripped over the pinwheel galaxy, didn’t have a number for that either.

Then the moon turned up and I was elated. Took another three months to find M31 (naked eye object, was I blind?) then couldn’t find the pinwheel again for another six months. Now I go ‘it’s over there’.

I know how you feel about Pluto. Personally I feel robbed, I grew up with that distant planet and then, no it’s not, I know it is not scientific but yes it is. A bit pantomime.

My other goal for the year is Ceres. That forgotten mini planet hardly anyone dares talk about, or seems happy to forget.

Good luck with Pluto hunting. If you get it be sure to let us know as one day I will be scaling up equipment and could do with some tips on finding Tombaugh’s planet.

Marvin

2 hours ago, PhotoGav said:

I was out observing last night and it is definitely on a magnitude par with Bellatrix (+1.6) rather than Rigel (+0.3) in the visible part of the spectrum. Still waiting for it to brighten (or explode 😉). My all sky cam (which is mono and responsive to longer wavelengths) shows it more on a brightness par with Procyon and Rigel than Bellatrix... Obscuration!

Looks like you have climbed onto the fence. Taking a fifty fifty position, very wise. I myself have taken to wearing a Sombrero whilst at the ep. Got to have something to stop getting burnt. Picture coming.....

M

2 hours ago, Nigella Bryant said:

Edward Guinan and other astronomers from Villanova University shared a brief update on Betelgeuse over the weekend, reporting it's now about one full magnitude fainter than it was in September.

It still continues to behave uncharacteristically. 

BANG - in my opinion. 

YES. Got one person on board the SN Express. Welcome aboard your first class seat awaits.

Marv

Something I have noticed when sharing an astronomy session with others (parents of children, not my parents) is that nine out of ten people are astounded by what they can see. Most have no idea they can see Jupiter and moons with a scope costing a few hundred pounds.

They ask questions like, How much does your scope cost? Are they hard to get?

Invariably people say “that’s cheap, we have to get one so little Johnny or Jenny can do some astronomy, they would love it” As yet I have yet to see any of them take the plunge.

It is like the vast majority of people have the attention span of a gnat, and forget everything they did five minutes before. I did have one person oooohing and arrring  at there first view of Saturn only to run away (for real) shouting over there shoulder “strictly is about to start”.

If that is the parents of the next generation then the kids are at a disadvantage regardless of the amount of internet info and computer tools. Just imagine doing astronomy for ten years and then saying “but I haven’t actually looked at anything”

This Christmas I saw a five year old get an Apple iPad. They told me they didn’t get the kids a scope because after a week it may get broken so it seemed expensive. Seems odd to me, but then I am an astronomer.

Marv

You will be happy you joined. SGL is a great place to be and valuable source of information. Nice Avatar by the way, looks like a nice place to be.

Marvin

4 hours ago, cloudsweeper said:

5.00pm - Moon (high, south of east) waxing gibbous - 10" Bresser - sky clear (and still fairly bright, so lunar glare is not so great) - not been out for a while - first things I noticed were Sinus Iridum, Copernicus, and the Riphaeus Mountains.  To the east of them lie the tiny craterlets Eppinger and Kuiper, then to the west is the slightly larger Euclides.  Further west again and very close to the terminator is the beautiful and sinewy web of ridges including Ewing and Rubey.  A fine sight in Procellarum.  x159 used.

Hopefully I can continue to enjoy lunar and other views as the evening approaches.

Doug.

I have been out out the last two evenings and the have been great for lunar observing. Can’t get my head around two nights back to back.

You lucky devil. I was so hoping for a third but the clouds have rolled in. I do not begrudge you though, enjoy. Sounds wonderful.

I am an occasional lunar observer, best described by “if you can’t beat them, join them” but it has been a treat. I hope you get tomorrow night as well to compare the difference in terminator position.

Good luck Marv

Hello Simon

Welcome to SGL. There are so many great people on here who are willing to help you with any questions you may have. Have you done astronomy before or are you a beginner. 
From your first post you seem to be well educated in tech. Perhaps you would like to tell us something about your astronomy interests. 
Marvin

13 minutes ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

Congratulations Marv! Really pleased for you with this find. It makes me even more hopeful of seeing it now that I know you can spot it with the naked eye. It's so low though here. Just over 10 degrees. I will struggle to see it over my back fence. I will find a way though. 1st will be l to locate it from my daughters bedroom window, then when I know where it is I can plan spotting it through the scope.

Well done, and thanks again for the info Centaur.

 

Baz

One to go Neptune! She may become my nemesis. I like most, do all the lists, but they are not my driving force in astronomy. I would set my lists to zero to start again and see Jupiter and Saturn for the first time.

I am currently at 82 of the venerable M Messier’s list. I now have seven of the eight planets (still annoyed about Pluto). My main goal this year is going to be Ceres to complete the gap and the final Messier objects as they are in the summer constellations. If I can get a look at Neptune then I will raise a glass.

The rest of my life, I will take my time and enjoy them at leasure, through an eye piece or a camera.

Marvin

Just now, Barry-W-Fenner said:

Congratulations Marv! Really pleased for you with this find. It makes me even more hopeful of seeing it now that I know you can spot it with the naked eye. It's so low though here. Just over 10 degrees. I will struggle to see it over my back fence. I will find a way though. 1st will be l to locate it from my daughters bedroom window, then when I know where it is I can plan spotting it through the scope.

Well done, and thanks again for the info Centaur.

 

Baz

If it wasn’t for the walk up the lane to high ground (thank you Marvin jr and Lixy) it would have been behind trees.

Get to high ground and it will poke you in the eye as long as the weather permits of course.

Marv (snr)

1 minute ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

So the tube and alt bearings literally sit in the mount unfixed. It all just balances in place?

Baz

I have to say I don’t have one but a mate of mine is just about to buy. One of his reasons is not just the quality for price it’s that the OTA is in tube rings so you can take it out of the Dob mount and put it on an eq mount.

Use and time will tell or course.

Marv

21 minutes ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

Nice one Marvin.! I hope it was Mercury, I look forward to hearing you verify.

I haven't managed to see it yet, the weather has been quite poor here. Started out really. Nice today then turned to thick grey cloud...

regards

Baz

Yes! 100%. First Mercury and it was so bright nothing but the Mk1 eyeball needed. Just looked it up on Stellarium and there is no possibility of there being anything else present in that sundown.

Thanks to the dogs needing a walk up hill to higher ground it was surprisingly bright. No having to decide between competitors. I can’t understand how I have missed it in the past.... No idea about the night sky, mixed with not being a member of SGL and not having #Centaurz to point out where to look. You the man or woman or indeed Centaur.

Marvin the most greatfull.

I think I have just had my first view of mercury 30 mins after sunset. Very low as a bright star in the south west in the very illuminated portion of sky above the horizon. Venus was far higher and a bit south.

There were no other stars that even come close to that brightness that could show in that sundown, but I will check Stellarium to say for sure. If confirmed thank you CentaurZ.👍

Marv

4 hours ago, John said:

 I've owned dobs made by GSO 8 inch, Meade 12 inch (actually another GSO made one), Skywatcher (8 and 10 inch) and Orion Optics (10 and 12 inch). They all worked pretty well out of the box except the Meade that needed more fettling to get it satisfying to use. All dobs seem to benefit from a little tweaking here and there to get the best from them though.

The worst thing about the MDF bases is that they are heavy. My current Orion Optics 12 inch dob has a base made by a fellow SGL'er from quality plywood but to a similar pattern that Orion Optics use for their mounts. It's worked wonderfully since the day it was delivered.

 

Hi John, I am guessing but is that sliding counter weight on a rail at the back end?

I noticed something similar on #johninderby Skywatcher but couldn’t see it clearly.

If it is then a very neat and elegant solution. Beats hanging a small dumbbell weight off the back end which I have seen in a few pictures of the past.

Marv

40 minutes ago, paul mc c said:

Bit windy here,but got a few pics anyway.

Just came back in and your picture sums everything I was going to say. The small crater Gay Lussac to the north in the foot of the Carpatus Mountains was really clear.

Marv

Welcome ruger4d4 good to see you here.  See you around the forum.

Marvin 

20 minutes ago, Stu said:

You certainly can see shadows changing during the course of a session. With something like the Lunar X, you can see it starting to form then become a full X, great to watch.

Reducing the aperture will reduce the resolution of the scope, so is not necessarily the best option if going after very fine detail. A variable polarising filter is a good option so you can tune the brightness to suit (put one part on the diagonal and one part on the eyepiece, then twisting the eyepiece changes the brightness). Many will say, just up the magnification and that will dim the image, which is fine so long as the seeing will support it.

Just love those moments when you are the ep and and for a couple of seconds total clarity. Didn’t use much mag, just stuck to 17mm ep in my 130 Orion. That A15 landing site looks really interesting. The Apennine Mountains were just incredible.

I will look into polarising filters as I have not entirely reached a happy medium.

Marv 

No filters but not over bright.

Sorry to say I was clouded out yesterday but came in an hour ago from a half hour unexpected session. 
Marvellous. Terminator cutting Mare Imbrium clean in half. In fact cutting Lambert right down the middle.

Mons Pico just breathtaking, the shadow was so long. Not able to view long enough but I am sure I have seen the shadow change length in past sessions. Is this possible? Or is it my imagination?

Tried something new tonight and ditched the Nd filters. 25mm ep no filter and I could clearly see ridges in the Mare floor, but a bit too bright. Added an Nd and the ridges were harder to see. Tried a blue filter which was nice and easy on the eye.

I then remembered a comment from a fellow SGL er(sorry I forget who) who said they just use the aperture reducer. I put the tube cap on and removed the small cover and it worked a treat.

Marvin

Great post, I always look out for your avatar, quality as usual. One question, what’s the deal with a ‘Telementor’.

I have seen this word/name used a few times and it is a mystery to me. I know I could, like a teenager Google it. But I have just got a new iPhone and have very little idea how to use it😂 plus it’s asking on here is quicker than Google. Horses mouth so to speak.

Marvin

You will love it. Your rig will be capturing all the subs you want and you are free to look at the night sky or get a second setup and do ep work. Best of both worlds. 
Get a lounger and sleeping bag with cover and do meteor watching.

M

I told you all, it is going to bang in the next few weeks. Going to make and break astronomy for a couple of years at least.

Going to have something else to moan about... blooming weather and that annoying supernova, can’t see a thing. Do you remember the days etc etc.

The topic heading in on here may have to change to just Lunar, Solar and SN. Gonna needs shades. Feel sorry for anyone who has just bought a DSO Astro photo setup.

M

You know you got the running man nebula in that shot as well. May not be able to see it clearly but it is there.
That night sky is an amazing thing, make the most of it and post it on here. I wish you all the luck and clear skies which are not happening here, which is why we need your input.

Marv

Splendid. You know what it is like, you don’t notice people not being around but I remember you from a little while back, I hope all is ok.

How are your skies down south due to the fires? Terrible thing, I watched on in horror. I have family in Melbourne and have visited that great city. Next few years I will be heading south, do you have any Astro advice? I did think about a week in Taz?

M