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Pixies

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Posts posted by Pixies

    Axiom LX 23mm..a real Dark Horse?

    in Discussions - Eyepieces

    Posted · Edited by Pixies
    19mm not 18mm!

    I recently acquired the 19mm Axiom LX (still a 2" EP) but I haven't had a chance to use it properly yet.  I also have the 22mm LVW. Both EPs will have a similar FOV, with the Axiom's wider AFOV.  So I'll be interested to see how they compare.

    It's likely I'll be selling on the Axiom, though.

    • Like 1

    What did you see tonight?

    in Observing - Reports

    Posted

    26 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

    The briefest of “first lights” for my new Canon IS 15x50… loads of cloud and the moon was very low, but it was enough to test them and confirm what I hoped, that they’re going to be a “gamechanger” 👍

    Being able to get (very) steady views at 15x, without the usual “jiggles” or needing to mount them, means that I can now use these for quick views (lunar, planets) or just lovely wide views of star fields 😄

    EDIT: Add Jupiter and moons to the list… spotted her in a clear spot before heading off to bed, was out in 2mins and got a lovely (steady) view… these are great 🤣

    I was lucky enough to be able to use a pair under dark skies earlier this year. They're great, aren't they!

    • Like 1

    What did you see tonight?

    in Observing - Reports

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

    You can see on M32 I got very excited after watching refreshing views and used my blending stump.

    North is marked incorrectly on M27 as well.  Good job it's in pencil

     

    PXL_20220902_151925918.jpg

    PXL_20220902_151936699~2.jpg

    Yep - that looks like M32.

    In a low-power, wide-field, it's easy to mistake it as a star.

    What did you see tonight?

    in Observing - Reports

    Posted

    21 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

    There were rumours of cloud last night, but looking at the satellite imaging it looked to be tracking right over the glens and missing us completely.

    M32 - I was actually wanting to try the 8mm BST on M31 but as my eyes got dialed in I could swear there was some fuzzyness around the stars.  Decided to attempt a sketch of it as I wasn't sure.  Checked in the morning and the sketch matched up for M32.  Pretty chuffed with that.  First observation of M32.

    M103 - practice at star hopping again.  I really need to do the charts more zoomed in or try and figure out a decent magnitude range.  Wasn't sure what I was supposed to see and since I didn't want to blow my dark adaptation so I just sketched the tight little triangle of stars and some of the surrounding area.  Turns out it was M103!  Nice wee cluster.  First observation of m103

    M33 - I tried to observe it but I'm not sure I did.  I probably should have sketched the area...  Nothing distinct.  Just a faint brightening in an area.  Possibly.

    Sketching is awesome.  They don't have to be fancy, but I know with absolute certainty that I'm nailing some of these objects because of my sketches.

    - are we not going to see the sketches?

    What did you see tonight?

    in Observing - Reports

    Posted

    Have been spending some time on the gas giants tonight.  8" dob and some LVW EPs and a Baader Neo filter.

    Saturn pretty low over some nearby roofs, so seeing generally poor, with occasional flashes of clarity. Managed to spot some  of the moons: Titan and Rhea both clear, Tethys with averted vision mainly but direct occasionally, and Dione also occasionally with a.v.

    Now the seeing for Jupiter was frequently great. I was getting detail in both equatorial belts with a large festoon showing from the N eq band into the equatorial zone. There was a white oval 'gap' in the N eq belt to the western side. Details in the tropical zones and the temperate belts were showing too.

    I'm going back out after a beer. Pleasantly warm outside still.

    • Like 8

    Am I still doing something wrong

    in Getting Started With Observing

    Posted · Edited by Pixies

    As James said: "Sit down"!

    I find it really helps. You can stay at the eyepiece for 10-15 minutes. Avoid dark-adaption too. I keep the kitchen lights on and look up occasionally, otherwise the view is just too bright and 'bleached' out. Just getting comfy and relaxed means you can see more - not just with planets. But with the bright exterior planets (M, J & S), being able to sit and stare for a long while means you can catch the moments of good seeing. with an 8" dob, I've seen dark spots, barges, etc. not just bands.

    Of course, if the seeing is rubbish, so will the view be. A big dob will have a lot of atmosphere to look through!

    • Like 1

    What did you see tonight?

    in Observing - Reports

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Pixies said:

    My dob is out cooling too.  Will be spending some time around Cygnus, I think.

    If it stays clear, there's a shadow transit from around 3am this morning (Io) - I might set an early alarm.

    Clouds came over around midnight but when they cleared, the transparency improved significantly. Managed the Veil and the North American 'wall' before I hit the pit.

    I set the alarm for 3am but slept through it and awoke at 7am with everything still outside and covered in dew. 🙄

    • Like 5
    • Haha 1
    • Sad 1

    Autumn Astrocamp 2022

    in Star Parties & Astro Events

    Posted

    On 11/08/2022 at 16:09, Live_Steam_Mad said:

    Bad news (for me). My car failed MOT and now I can't drive it. Sub frame is corroded badly in 3 places and is an engine-out job to fix it, and there are other faults like wheel bearing needs replacing (another one), and it's now way uneconomical to repair it. So, basically car is dead and I can't go to Dalby StarFest, or Astrocamp, at the moment. I'm now looking for a used VW Caddy !

    Regards,

    AG

    Just seen this. I'll be driving down from Edinburgh and passing by your way. I'll be in a campervan, so will have some room for you and kit.

    I can offer a lift - although I would be uncomfortable if you were solely relying on me. This spring I had to leave a day early due to family emergencies, which might still be a risk.

    Autumn Astrocamp 2022

    in Star Parties & Astro Events

    Posted

    31 minutes ago, LaurenceT said:

    I'm having trouble navigating the booking form, can't add a second person or choose a particular pitch, my elderly brain! I'll try again in the morning.

    If you are looking for a pitch with electrical hook-up, the only ones left are in the bottom field.

    • Thanks 1
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