josefk

The time flew by @Paz going slowly minute by minute but then two or three hours had raced by. I am looking forward to when a five hour session finishes before midnight though! Cheers.

and another...

looking west to the setting moon at 03:40 ish...

With the moon nearly full and darkness really not going to be dark at all and anyway very short i thought i would go out last night to build some experience on doubles. I started by forgetting to take my observing plan A and Plan B lists (1st lesson of the evening) so i had to make it up as i went along primarily using the observing list "111 objects to view under light polluted skies" in Sky Safari. Location was again Fineshade Woods just outside of Stamford. Bortle4 in theory. Atmosphere was quite damp (and dew point quite high) so it was pretty wet by the end. Observing 22:30 till 03:30. Dawn came very fast and there was a cuckoo calling before 04:00. Nice. Gear: 8" GSO/StellaLyra Classical Cassegrain, 80x/60' and 140x/30' EPs, Nexus DSC & Sky Safari, and 15x56 tripod mounted binoculars. Double Double: start of the session sky check and end of the session sky check. Early evening could split C&D but not A&B. Later could split both pairs but A&B remained tricky. M5 (Globular Cluster). Grey candy floss with direct vision but would resolve with averted vision. This was at about 30 degrees altitude and with the treelike strongly silhouetted below it so not dark. Nicely brought me to 5 Serpentis which was really nice double with an easily separated (11") but very dim companion. Mizar and Alcor. Framed together and lovely! watched for quite a while and sketched. Mizar A and B also easily split so i'm not sure what to make of the 0.8" separation that i think it has at 14.4". Double Cluster. Not a black sky so not spectacular but very pretty nonetheless. My widest TFOV is 1.0 degree so also used the binoculars here and sketched the major stars in both star diagonal and binocular viewpoints so a bit brain bending capturing the relative patterns of the two clusters. NGC 884 on the showing was notably more open (looser) than NGC 889. Just to west of NGC 889 i had a look at what in think is another double star - V551 Persei and HD 13841. These are a 3' split and form a nice long horizontal parallelogram with two bright stars in NGC 869. I split these in the bins too and in fact they helped me secure the double cluster in the bino view. Iota Cassiopeiae. A very pleasing double star (triple actually but the 3rd star is unresolvable). Separation of A and B was very clear but i had a brain bending moment trying to estimate the distance. i couldn't visually divide my EP FOV and do the math for ". it was the time of night not maths numptiness. Got it in the end and the estimation matches the catalogue. The companion here is a very dim brown one. 12 Lyncis. Easy split A from C at 9.7" but couldn't split A from B at 1.9". I feel i need a higher mag than 140x for doubles around 2". Algieba. Easy split at 4.8". Felt i may have been beginning to dew up but a red light check down the scope was in the negative so maybe the atmosphere was particularly damp at this point (01:30 am). 54 Leonis. Another easy split at 6.6" and with a hint of blue in the companion i thought. Alula Australis. This was a bit of a tie fighter for a good few drifts across the EP. Closed my pupil up on the moon for a few seconds in the end and then it split (relatively) comfortably. This is at 2.4" and at 140x. 24 Coma Berenices. Lovely separation at 20" and a pale silver lemon colour in the primary and cool with a very slight hint of blue in the companion. Porrima. Clear split but a strong dose of atmospheric red and blue shimmer here. M13 and M92. would be rude not to stop by while passing. Both faint but delicately resolving like dew covered cobwebs. Quite aesthetic considering how low the contrast was. M57. Well flipping heck!. This was completely new to me and will stay with me like my first views of Jupiter and Saturn. What a thing. Lingered here for 30mins or so. Very clear, amazingly so but i think there will be more to come on darker nights. A hint of a brighter perimeter to the outer part of the ring versus the inner part of the ring. Albireo. An easy split at 35". slight hint of lemon in the primary and blue in the companion. Zeta1 Lyrae. Last night i marked this as an easy split (and the separation is 22") but this morning as i check my notes then i know i didn't split this at all. The companion is way to dim at 15.8!!! i clearly saw something else at roughly 0.5'. NGC 6838. Globular Cluster. Resolved in that there were stars rather than glowing nebulosity but this was very dim. Felt very old and far away which i suppose it is. Collinder 399. The Coathanger. This didn't really do it for me last night. Had to scroll around with a 1 degree FOV to pick up the outliers. NGC 6885. Cocked this up a bit by not planning what i should see and therefore what i should look for. Will come back to differentiate it from the overlapping NGC 6882. And thats it 03:30. Day was breaking in the East. By the time i had had slowly packed up the dawn chorus was starting and the treeline to the East was strongly silhouetted against a very bright sky. Great session and a perfect end to the week/start of the weekend. Good weekends all. Joe

Thats exactly what i do. Saves needing somewhere to keep putting the phone or whatever down and out of the way and then i have my phone (iPad shortly) facing out to the side away from the eyepiece area (makes sense if you saw how i used it) so its not in my eyeline when using the EP. Cheers

you beat me to it @AdeKing 👍

Hi Alan, Apologies - its a multi-purpose system for mounting things to various surfaces and locations (like phones and tablets and sat navs etc). This is just the ball mount component fitted to my AZ100. I don't have a picture of other components attached to mine to hand (but i attach my phone here to date on a short extending arm and from this weekend will be attaching an iPad in a similar way). You can attach whatever you like to the ball with arms and cradles and jaw clamps. All sorts really. The AZ 100 has three tapped holes front and back here on the mount. The middle one on each side is 3/4 threaded. Perfect 🙂 Cheers Joe

i'm waiting for two ram mount parts as i type so by the weekend i can make the same move 🙂 Does the AZ75 have the three unassigned (i.e unused) tapped holes at the base of the mount like the AZ100? Perfect location for ram mount fittings. Cheers

Hi Alan, For what its worth IMHO if you struggle to read the DSC Nexus at night then you will definitely struggle with sky safari on the phone particularly if you want to read text related to searching or typing a note entry (rather than just using the sky display part) and particularly so in the the dim red night vision mode. I use both DSC Nexus and Sky Safari. For comparison; in the daytime i probably need my readers for comfortable use of the phone but not for anything on the the DSC Nexus display. At night that translates to while i can make out the Alt/Az prompts and the large text for catalogue names on the DSC Nexus - without my glasses i can't read anything else. At the same time on my phone at night without my glasses i can't see anything at all except the sky display. I'm pretty shocked actually how bad my eyesight is in the dark versus in daylight. Cheers

Wow! All absolutely lovely. Nice to see in your capture of M53 the two bright stars i see in the EP visually and where NGC 5053 is in relation to them and M53 as i haven't yet been able to see this cluster. Your picture will help me far more than a star chart next time i try 🙂. Thanks in advance!

Righto - round two this week at Fineshade Woods Northamptonshire. This second consecutive night out wasn't as long or as enjoyable as the first last night (3hrs versus 5 and half or so last night). Tired eyes? Brighter moon? Definitely quantifiable less ability to see fainter objects at around 10/11th Magnitude. Though the sky looked clear and blue to the naked eye (and i could see the 6th magnitude double double with naked eye at the end of the session) the sky through the telescope developed from a slate grey in the first part of the session to a dull grey/brown later on. Plan was for a few month of May Hershel objects from Steve O'Meara's Observing Guide but i ended up all over the place: Epsilon1 Lyrae and Epsilon2 Lyrae - Double Double - split while waiting for true darkness (which never arrived). Drew it properly for orientation of the splits but not completely straightforward finding best focus then waiting for the scope to settle. This was early so it wasn't very high up - maybe 30 degrees? In any event it wasn't more straightforward later in the night when i came back to see if it was easier when higher and darker. 93 Leonis - (still waiting for true darkness) wasn't exactly sure what i was looking at here so drew the EP view and indeed it was the easy split with "blueish" dimmer secondary separated from the "yellow/white" primary with the secondary just over 1' away to the north. Saw the other "double pairs" array in a kind of ladder south to north hence the confusion for 93 Leonis itself. NGC 4643 (H I-10). at the edge of seeing. Sketched what i saw which is a good job because i probably didn't see it! Could quite easily have been actually looking at the bigger if not brighter NGC 4536 nearby. That would be 2 degrees of finding error so will need to come back. M104 (H I-43) the Sombrero Galaxy. A pity i knew what to expect to see because it would be easy to imagine seeing it. I saw it and drew it with a brighter larger half above a dark lane and then the smaller dimmer half below that as part of an overall mildly rugby ball shape with brighter emphasis to one side. NGC 4147 (H I-19). A Globular Cluster but it was very difficult to perceive it as such. The sky already (23:30) turning a dull grey/brown. Moonshine strong enough to cast shadows on the ground. M65/M66. Faint fuzzies in this seeing. Seen together. I'm slightly embarrassed writing this because last night i didn't appreciate i was looking at 2/3 of the Leo triplet so didn't look for (and therefore didn't see) the nearby dimmer NGC 3628. M95. Faint fuzzy in tonights sky - observing note "I can tell its there but i'm not "ticking it" on this viewing" M96. Though brighter and more distinct than M95 this was also a faint fuzzy in tonights sky. M105 (H I-17). No pleasure in it because the sky just wasn't dark or clear enough. Seen with NGC 3384 (H I-18) easily and obviously enough but no sign of nearby NGC 3389 at 11th Magnitude so i suspect that was the seeing limit for me tonight. M27 The Dumbell Nebula. Seen as a fingertip fingerprint type mark in a kind of potato or "pinched" peanut shape. Dimmer than the Owl Nebula seen yesterday but i don't know if that is absolutely true or is about sky condition tonight. M29 (Open Cluster). Not jewel like at all against this sky so will come back another time. M3 (Globular Cluster). A return visit for the second night. Bizarrely in my notes i seem to have seen this better tonight than last night. Contrary to what i would expect. So seeing for whatever reason (and i don't discount tiredness) a little bit disappointing but valuable experience re. adjusting to what can be found. I struck out early on with NGC 4293, 4294, 4295, 4296, 4297, 4298, 4299, and 3628. After the fact i appreciate where the seeing limit was and at least one of those DSO was laughably beyond reach. Plenty of coffee in order today. Cheers Joe

@Pixies I am knackered but also trying to make the most of not being at work the next day! i'm looking forward to the planets being back in the evening especially so as I have missed any morning possibilities so far this spring.

Now you make me feel really bad for rushing 😉 . I’m using “push to” so I take no credit for finding it. I will definitely come back to this a few times to see if I can see any kind of structure/features and on another night will come to this earlier in a session when not so tired. I’m thinking about a big exit pupil EP focal length for filters on this kind of object too but will learn to walk before I run as were. Probably the opposite direction of travel than taking a 66mm scope to very dark skies like La Palma! cheers

Thanks @OK Apricot and @Starwatcher2001 I think with the phone screen thing what I hadn’t appreciated was that I should keep adjusting the brightness down as the night goes on till it is very dull indeed. I’m also going to try the “pirate patch” trick recommended on here as I always use the same eye at the EP. Maybe cloud free tonight as well to practise at least the first one. cheers Joe

With a few days off work this week I was relieved and excited that "clear outside" predicted a nice clear window last night in South Lincolnshire/NE Northamptonshire and the prediction was accurate. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands to view a few more Messiers (mostly). The observation site is Fineshade Woods (Northampton) supposedly Bortle4 and 21.04. I haven't practised NELM estimations yet so the prediction for sky quality will have to do. Observations in order: Regulus (Alpha Leonis). Really just waiting for my kit to cool down and having a look for Leo I. I didn't find it. M3 (Globular Cluster). Sky not yet fully dark (22:10) but still moderately resolved with direct vision. Resolved better with averted vision. Framed beautifully at 140x/30' M5 (Globular Cluster). Not as large or as well resolved as M3. Even gradient of brightening from edge to core. M13 (Hercules Cluster). Just stunning. Lovely at 80x/60' and even better at 140x/30'. Came back to this for a long look at the end of the session. M40 (Optical Double star). Uninspiring. M44 (Beehive Cluster). Fabulous. I can't fit this in my main scope (63' max TFOV) but its lovely nonetheless. Also observed through tripod mounted 15x/270' TFOV binoculars and the view was by far superior at this scale. M49 (Elliptical Galaxy). Looked like a fish shaped comet at the EP. observed at 80x/60' and 140x/30' and better at the higher magnification. M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy). Crudely sketched as a leaning "snowman" before looking it up so seen correctly with NGC 5195. I came back here at the end of the night when it was higher but still didn't see any real structure. Obvious bright cores and obvious nebulosity but no more. M53 (Globular Cluster). Revisited after first light here a few weeks ago. Much better resolved on this viewing. "unpacked" with averted vision but then i could see it resolved even with direct vision. M56 (Globular Cluster). Compact and quite dim. No bright core. M60 (Elliptical Galaxy). Observed and checked (and double checked) for correct ID in adjacency to M58 and M59 by stepping across all three galaxies in turn east and west and west and east. NGC 4647 seen with M60 as extended nebulosity of it and basically "attached" to it. M58 (Spiral Galaxy). With M60 above. No question it was there but a very faint small wisp at 140x/30'. M59 (Elliptical Galaxy). With M58 and M60 above. Very faint. NGC 4636 (Elliptical Galaxy). Very faint. Identified as the "corner" DSO object in an "L" shaped arrangement of 4 stars. NGC 4638 (Galaxy). Very faint. NGC 4637 (Spiral Galaxy). Super super faint. In theory at the edge of possibility for my scope at Magnitude 14.89 but i'm sure of myself for seeing it. Definitely the smallest dimmest thing this evening. M108 (Spiral Galaxy). faint but shape and orientation correctly determined before recording it in sky safari (i.e before looking up what i should be able to see). M109 (Spiral Galaxy). Very faint, nearly imaginary lightening of the sky. Sat about 3' or 4' above two brighter stars themselves about 3' apart. M106 (Spiral Galaxy). Faint but with averted vision i could certainly "see" the core and maybe detect a hint of structure. M97 (Owl Nebula). Quite large (3'?) but quite dim "fingerprint". Quite tired by this point in the evening so guilty of not lingering and not taking time to fully appreciate this one. Reminded me a bit of when you get a drop of water on a binocular objective. THAT faint. M94 (Spiral Galaxy). Brighter than everything seen in the last hour (M108, M109, M106, & M97) with an obvious core but no structure. M92 (Globular Cluster). An absolute delight to come to a Globular Cluster after the faint fuzzies above. Beautifully resolved even with direct vision. I will come back to this earlier in another night an attempt a sketch. M63 (Sunflower Galaxy). observing notes: "smudge near two bright stars, no core no structure" M51. Return after being here earlier in the evening. Interesting because though the sky was darker i'm not sure i saw more. i wonder if tiredness cancelled the "in theory" better seeing conditions? M14. Completely unresolved Globular Cluster. Like the Owl Nebula bizarrely (?!?). M13. Finishing the night on a high. What a super thing to look at. With direct vision the brightness seams evenly "dense" across the cluster with perhaps a hint of nebulosity (blur) in the core. With averted vision just billions of resolved stars. Fantastic. View kept getting better and better with repeated drifts across the EP. Kit used: 8" GSO (StellaLyra) Classical Cassegrain. Nexus DSC. Sky Safari for note taking. Everything observed at 140x/30' with a few things either "found" or re-framed at 80x/60'. SLC 15x56 Binoculars used to stand back on the Beehive. Lessons learned: Take a flask. Attempt fewer objects. Wear warmer clothes :-). Work out how to take notes without damaging dark adaptation. Cheers all.

Hah. You've made my day! Obviously i didn't do my homework first :-). i'll have another go at the Double Double at that mag. I have the 8" GSO/StellaLyra Cassegrain and i'm loving it so far. Cheers

end of the night.heic

I knew the sky wouldn't be dark last night but i was keen to get out nevertheless. Fineshade woods (a forestry commission site in Northamptonshire) is a site about 10 or 15 minutes from my house so i thought i would give it a dry run. The moon was SO bright i still don't know if its a darkish site or not. Online checking suggests it should be Bortle 4. The pay & display machines seem to be left on all night so there is some ground level light pollution. I like it because you can observe from the side of the car and that suits me a lot. Being a bright moon in the S and SE i had the vague intention of viewing between NW and NE. A little cloud in the first few degrees above the horizon also pushed me up a bit. Success: M35, M36, M37, M38. These were all lovely even though the sky wasn't properly dark. M37 was especially nice. I will definitely pick these out again on a much darker night. 2nd success: M81 and M82. I actually looked at M81 a couple of weekends ago but after the fact had a nagging doubt wether i'd actually looked at M81 or M82. Last night i watched both for a while to be sure and took note of distinct E/W orientation (M82) versus a more diffuse and much less striking M81. No doubt about seeing them but not striking against the non dark sky and moonshine on the ground around me and scope parts in my peripheral vision. 3rd success: Looking at Vega, the Double Double and Zeta1 Lyrae in binoculars. What a lovely arrangement. Failures: Double star splitting. Couldn't split either of the Double Double, nor Vega, Sirius, Arcturus, or Capella. Not sure if it was a seeing, kit or skill issue. Maybe all three. Sirius i knew to be hard but expected one of the others at least. Cheers Joe BTW: Fineshade looks like a good option at least on the ground:

First light with this kit a couple of weekends ago - a dry run of sorts. Nearly an epic fail for not having read even the quick start guide on the Nexus. Did figure it out in the end and here i'm pointing at M53. Arcturus showing brightly on the left.

Thanks for this tip Ron - i'll definitely look it up.

Thanks everyone for the welcome. Hi Harry - my "dark sky" site is Burghley Park. Its not exactly dark but it's very close by and not soooo bad especially from the point of view of there being no nearby local light sources. Cheers

Hello all. I've been along time passive browser of these pages and always found it a great source of insight and food for thought. I'm saying hello now as PAS at Kettering recently set things in train such that i've bought back into the hobby after a period without kit and therefore a period of inactivity. i'm very much looking forward to (re)developing the interest and renewing time in the hobby clear nights willing! Cheers Joe