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Stardaze

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  1. I’ve been struggling to find an ideal opportunity most of the year, but with being off all this week and noting that the moon cycle isn’t ideal, I opted for a small session of open clusters. The mending moon made it tough seeing many of the targets in the finder scope but knowing most of the popular targets, I found my way around the Auriga clusters, double cluster, M35, Collinder 89 etc. I did spend some time too observing Venus and Mars, just thoroughly enjoyed a little time panning around.
  2. Got up at 4 this morning to finally sneak a peak at C/2022 E3 with the bins. I did have a quick glimpse before bed through the tree next door but being nicely positioned during the early hours made it pop in the 15x70's. The glow of it really does cover a lot of sky. I daren't wake the family and get the scope out of the garage, so felt satisfied with that along with some if the spring constellations. I was joined by the brother-in-law too so that he could see his first comet.
  3. I'm still around 😊 Just very busy with work and family duties so have been doing a little here and there but not reporting. It's not been a great start 'weatherwise' to the season. Hope you're doing ok? Did you clean that mirror?
  4. Our visit to Kielder Observatory came around last night, perfectly timed with new moon, though the booked clear skies failed to materialise. great presentation and wander around which I enjoyed with my brother In law and niece. Maybe I'll head back up again one day. We're staying for 5 nights in a great bortle 3 location, sadly it looks to be a wash out for the duration of the stay.
  5. Had a great couple of hours last night showing my brother-in-law and niece around. I was a bit concerned given the jet stream forecast but things proved very steady with Jupiter looking superb showing 4 belts clearly visible at 254x. We kicked the night off with Saturn, as she was drifting across and behind next door. Had a tour of a few doubles (Albierio, Gamma Delph) and easily split the double double. M13 was by now too low in the sky and in an area of light pollution and so whilst I could see detail clearly it wasn't the best conditions there for my newbie astronomers. Managed to show them Neptune, for what that's worth along with M27 and M51. M31 was finally clear of the tree next door, which I thought looked great, it wasn't necessarily the show-stopper for my family members. Finished back on Jupiter where I enjoyed 15 minutes on my own, one of the better nights that I've witnessed there. Couldn't resist having a look around Orion and the Plaides this morning with the bin's at 6am too - first half decent session of the season.
  6. Tonight didn’t seem as dark as last night. The wind was a little too strong too but I enjoyed 90 minutes of observing a few easy galaxies. Haven’t been out for around 3 weeks so a relaxed short session was very welcomed.
  7. Stars seemed to not be pin sharp last night for me. Collimation was perfect. Izar didn’t split very well at all at 237x but galaxies were showing up ok. There was something a little amiss but enjoyed just getting out there again. It’s going to be a rush tonight to get off to the darker spot.
  8. Haven’t had too many sessions with the dob these last few months and so a weekend evening finally arrived that was clear and looking excellent. Seeing wasn’t great early on, but it seemed to improve later. I had an hour early evening just trawling around the usual open clusters that have been my bino targets for weeks now. The Auriga clusters and M35 popping in the scope. Eskimo neb looking pretty cool too. Following a power nap, was back out in the hunt for a few galaxies just after 11. Familiar old favourites first, with M81/M82, M51 all having an extra fed view to help the eye settle. Had another hunt for M101. I just can’t seem to see this from my garden and I’m not sure why. Later on I view much fainter galaxies but this one has always evaded? The sky did seem to have some glow last night as someone mentioned, although the moon wasn’t up? M65/M66/NGC 3628 were great to drop by on. The triplet was only a duo, with NGC3389 not playing ball. Virgo was finally positioned perfectly above the house and so the run towards the chain, consisting of M60/M58/M89/M90, were the first stops before finally drawing sight in the chain for the first time this year. Decided to drop by M3 as the final stop, my first glob of 2022. Hoping I can drive out to a darker spot tonight and settle the score finally with that elusive pinwheel.
  9. Wheeled the dob out at around 7 and had a peek at the moon, all looked great. Put my little girl to bed and back out just after 8 to find a full sky of cloud which has rolled in a few hours earlier than suggested. I’ve packed back away and if there are some clear patches later, I may grab the binos. Pretty disappointed with that tonight. Glad some of you have clear skies and are out enjoying, look forward to the reports.
  10. Super achievement Magnus, well done. Must add an Hb filter to the arsenal for next season.
  11. Always enjoy reading your reports, highly motivational. Still desperate to take my small dob for a drive soon...
  12. Very nice. I think you have the ideal 2 scope setup Michael. Whilst I still swoon for the frac, I’d love a 12” dob with premium mirrors. One day…
  13. Transparency seems poor tonight but the real killer is the wind here. I’ve popped in for a brew and we’ll see whether it calms down a little later.
  14. Super result Dave. I tried and tried for it tonight but no joy. Ended up at 363x but still to no avail. It wasn’t perfectly steady here tonight (only could see the E star in the trapezium) but the moon was a little too dominant to even pick out tegmine, so ended up mostly trying for the pup and plenty of the moon. Still new with lunar so really taking in the dominant craters. Found the Thor hammer again as pointed out by @John
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