Astro_Dad

11 hours ago, Nakedgun said:

~

I must stop reading any of your reports using the FS128. My heart still grieves the moronic decision I made to sell mine, some years back.

 

 

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I understand the sellers remorse feeling too🙁😂

11 hours ago, IB20 said:

Having a play with a new digital sketching app as want to start sketching more of my observations too

Which app are you trying ? Sounds interesting. 

7 hours ago, Ratlet said:

Probably my last chance at a dim sky for a while so went out for a quick blast for an hour with the 130PDS.  I used Sky Safari for star hopping and found it excellent once I dialled in the settings.  Also the first time taking the AZ5 out with the Skywatcher Tripod rather than the carbon fibre.

 

Rosette Nebula:  I kicked off with this, but I suspect I could have done with some more time for my eyes to adapt.  Couldn't discern any definite nebulosity but could see some bits that were for sure darker than others in the outer portion of the FOV.  I suspect this is a target that will get better with a repeat viewing.

 

Christmas Tree Cluster:  Again, no nebulosity, but I suspect you need a beefy scope for that.  Quite nice when I eventually saw the shape (it's correct way round in a Newtonian, pointy end at the top).

 

Eskimo Nebula:  A very rewarding target in the 8mm.  Probably the star of the show.  I threw in the UHC filter as well for this one.  I you want to train your adverted vision, this is the target.  The difference in brightness between looking directly at it and with averted vision is astounding.  When you get it in the sweet spot it is very bright.  Periodically could see the central star flicker in and out of the nebulosity.

 

Beehive Cluster:  Another great target.  Very much a diamonds on black velvet affair.

 

M42:  Not sure if it was the tripod or better seeing than usual, but great views tonight.  With the 8mm I could see texture in the nebulosity where as before it was just a white blob.  With both the 32mm and 8mm the nebulosity seemed to extend further than I've observed before.  I'd like to have sketched it, but tonight was about quantity not quality!

 

I also had a very quick look at mars to check how the new tripod was performing.  The views were more stable with the 8mm than I've had previously with less of the infuriating vibration the carbon fibre tripod showed.  I hada very quick look with the 2x barlow and it was definitely better (I could touch the eyecup without the view going wild).  However the clouds did what they do best so I packed up and came inside.

 

All in all a good night of observing!  Very glad I snuck out, even if I have to pay for it by going to do ironing now!  The Tripod is a definite improvement and has made the whole assembly more pleasant to use.  I think I've hit a very good (for me) configuration with SkySafari for starhopping.  I might get some ND film to cover the screen to dim it more so I don't periodically blow my retinas. 

 

Edit:

 

Good news!  I finished the ironing and got out and did some more observing about 05:30.

 

Conceptually I understand that the sky moves but on some level I'm bamboozled by the fact that everything moves so much in 5 hours.  Leo was up and and a decent height to the south so I went galaxy hunting and found M65, M66 which were both incredibly dim and small the 32mm plossl but were definitely there.  I would be confident I saw M96 but less so with M95.  I did however see some fuzzy patches North of M96 and would sya I made out 3 patches there, possibly M105, and NGC 3389 and 3384.  There were an astounding number of satellites going through at this time as well.

 

Was going to try and find Markarians Chain, however the star hopping to it filled me with dread.  M13 had made a reappearance so went over there and I'm happy to report it was a much better view than the first time I saw it about 5 or 6 months ago.  Delightful in the 8mm.  I suspect it's a combination of the tripod making things more stable and me getting better at observing.

 

Once the new year rolls in I'm going to have to get going and build an observing chair!

 

 

 

 

Nice report, with some reminders of targets I should seek out again like The Christmas Tree Cluster! Good to see M13 again, a favourite.

9 hours ago, PeterStudz said:

Just come in after an off and on session on Mars in Southampton, Hoped to do a bit more but had high cloud coming and going. Now total cloud cover. 

After inspiration from a member on here I tried a quick smartphone video capture. Despite seeing being rather average and after a very quick look at a best frame I got this. You can actually recognise it! The north polar hood stands out well. 

Off to bed now. I’ll have a better look at the video tomorrow.

 

That's an impressive capture - was it with iPhone in standard video mode, or an Android device? Something I keep meaning to try.

I’ve now signed up for this short course, looking forward to it. Would be interested to hear from any fellow SGL members who have also joined. 

I’ve now signed up for this short course, looking forward to it. Would be interested to hear from any fellow SGL members who have also joined. 

Just in time for the Christmas break - very pleased that my BAA welcome pack has been delivered! Thanks to those who have shared occasional articles and events - it’s translated into another fully paid up member here 😀

Just a brief gab and go before work, the waning crescent moon looking striking over the hills in the South. Sun coming up but managed some nice detail along the terminator. 

It’s definitely a challenge fitting in as much  astronomy as I’d like to. With retirement years off it’s a case of just squeezing in as much as is practical for me. 

Mixed results tonight. Clear earlier and I had hoped for an attempt at imaging Mars using my DSLR. Unfortunately no joy here at all - struggled to get anything to show in live view, and error messages on screen suggested I didn’t have a lens in place (I’d set up with the 8” Dob, camera, T Ring adapter and Astro Essentials 2x Barlow). Couldn’t get anything to show on screen despite being aligned on Mars. No luck at all. 
Abandoning AP (probably a little impatient) I opted for a visual on the red planet and wasn’t disappointed- good detail on offer with albedo features Aurorae Sinus and Mare Sirenum.

Onto deep sky.

Several Auriga targets were in the plan , and did manage a great result on OC M36. Unfortunately the clouds rolled in at this point so retreated inside. Perhaps better luck tomorrow…

12 hours ago, IB20 said:

Castor A & B system through the f12.75 76DCQ is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. Just the most outstanding star colouration and control; two perfectly and I mean perfectly, spherical white orbs 🤩. Incredible.  

This sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing. Just been reading up a bit more on Castor as a result. Fascinating. 

Another clear crisp night last night, this time I opted for simplicity and no real plan. Just a basic but enjoyable sweep around with the 10x50’s. Taking in a few classic winter highlights along with a pleasurable immersion across the whole sky - just noting the vastness of the sky with star fields and and clusters galore. Beautiful. And freezing. 

10 hours ago, HollyHound said:

it was Saturday 19th November… we had the most amazing weather, beautiful church service and great party 🎉

Many congratulations! 😄

28 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

Looks like you've worked your way through a load of targets, mostly NGC, great report and I'm intrigued about this Virtuoso GTi with tracking? I didn't know they had tracking.

With the GOTO set up on the Virtuoso GTi the ‘scope does track - albeit in Alt-Az. There is also a simple “point and track”  feature within the Syn Scan software that can be used to quickly and roughly track objects that are pointed to using handset or phone. 

47 minutes ago, RobertI said:

Lovely report, some nice winter objects there well described, sounds like your setup was working well. I think I may have created the Cassiopeia SS list, but you can really thank the wonders of Sky Safari!! 🙂

Thanks @RobertI, I did a quick search through various threads late last night but couldn’t find the specific share- appreciated. 

16 hours ago, paulastro said:

I then looked at the 'Winter Albireo' - HR2764, very low in Canis Major.

Sounds like you had a great night/early morning session Paul. I can’t remember seeing the “Winter Albireo” before, will have to seek that one out next time. 

14/12/22

An excellent night of observing tonight with reliable companion the Heritage 150p. 

A very cold, crisp night and as predicted extremely clear. 
 

I started off on M42 and M45 to check all working well. Lovely views, and then into GOTO mode (with a simple 2 star alignment) and using Plan files loaded into Sky Safari Pro for a broad sweep across the winter sky taking in a range of targets:

In Auriga + Perseus- 

NGC 1664. NGC 1582, NGC 1513. NGC 1545

In Cassiopeia- 

M52. M103. NGC 129, NGC 225. NGC 457 (ET Cluster!) 

Next into M42 again for a more detailed look at the Trapezium region at higher power. Stunning as always. 

Finally, away from the deep sky briefly, Mars looking very sharp tonight in what proved to be very steady seeing. Powering up to just over 100x revealed good surface albedo features that I later identified as probably Mare Sirenum and Aurorae Sinus. 

A great night, but freezing cold and writing this up afterwards with numb hands and feet !

I’ve written up a more detailed report on the DSO tour here:

14/12/22 

22:00

Not an ASCOM driven automated tour using EQTOUR - something I’m keen to try at some point, but a semi automated, longer and more intensive session than I’ve enjoyed for a while - utilising the GOTO and tracking features of this ‘scope. 

I began with a brightest star alignment (2-star alignment) using Mars and Polaris as alignment targets. 

The first set of targets (in Auriga and Perseus)were taken from Deep-Sky tour, BBC S@N Dec 2022. Using the Plan file from S@N magazine’s extra online content loaded into Sky Safari Pro. 

NGC 1664 - the beautiful kite shaped open cluster seen again in Auriga - mostly 10th magnitude stars making up the kite shaped “core”. Impressive and distinctive trail of stars emanating from this region. 
 

NGC 1582 - very sparse open cluster in Perseus - low power worked well (32mm Plossl). 

NGC 1513 - another open cluster in Perseus. Very distinctive “hook” shape - very obvious feature and apparently represents the Greek hero’s knee. 

Finally from this list, NGC 1545 - not able to readily confirm I saw this properly but I think the GOTO slewed me to what must have been this particular open cluster.  

I then switched observing list in SS and started to work my way through the first few targets in the “20 BRIGHTEST OC’s IN CASSIOPEIA” - a plan file I downloaded from SGL - I can’t recall who posted the file in the thread but credit to the creator of it - will check. 

32mm used throughout. 

M52 - rich fairly concentrated cluster 

M103 - the last object Charles Messier added to his original catalogue. Difficult to know for certain I was looking at the right area as very loose and undefined. 

NGC 129 - loose somewhat “undefined” and attractive scattering of stars. 

NGC 225 - another very open, loose sprinkling. 

NGC 457 - the delightful ET (or Owl) cluster!

I then switched off the GOTO and manually centred on M42 for a good close look at the nebula. Stunning as always with the trapezium cleanly defined and impressive at 100x. Somewhat optimistically had a quick go at the Flame Nebula near Alnitak but I think just too much light due to the Moon over in the East. Maybe next time!  

This was the first time I’d used downloaded plan files and observing lists in SS to enable “touch of a button” skewing to targets, and this seemed to work well. It is not as intuitive or quick to set up as Celestron’s StarSense Explorer approach, but it brings its own advantages in terms of tracking and target list management and organisation- so fun to use but requires more patience and somewhat accurate alignment on initial set up. Definitely worth enduring the freezing conditions…

An optimistic quick look outside last night - Geminids potential! But no luck there. Was probably just a little early at 11.45, and the Moon not helping. Enjoyed a nice binocular tour of the sky anyway, paying particular attention to the Sword of Orion - never disappoints. Pleiades- amongst other targets - also looking good. 

The Waning Moon looked sharp against the blue sky this morning on the way to work, would have enjoyed a quick session with the Heritage but work gets in the way…

Very clear skies tonight so definitely potential later in the evening to brave the cold…

Thanks @Chris for this review, interesting instrument. 

I often use a 32 mm Plossl with my Heritage 150p - this is a relatively low cost way of obtaining a wider field of view than the stock 25mm, useful for framing larger deep sky objects such as The Pleiades well. 
You are pretty well covered with an 8mm plus Barlow giving you up to 162.5x power.   There will be times you can go higher than this - dependent on the prevailing conditions, atmospheric turbulence etc. but not very often. For these occasions, the 5mm plus Barlow will enable you to achieve the stated  theoretical max power potential of 260x (with Barlow). Not necessarily one to rush into but could be worth experimenting at some stage. 

Thanks for that @heathenwoods, interesting to know. Maybe a quirk of virtualisation as you allude to,  or a hidden setting somewhere that is not quite allowing all functionality. 

Arrived today, to go along with the Astronomy Now version I picked up a couple of weeks ago!

Welcome to the forum! A great ‘scope there and you look to be having an excellent time with it already. 

Looks interesting  - also posted this after it came through my local  society feed. Thanks.