cotterless45

My Dob sticker ! Hurrah ! Old Nick.

In transport mode , to Clear Skies ! The sticker reads "90% inspiration 10% collimation " Nick.

Brilliant post augmented by your superb observations. Many thanks for posting and Clear skies ! Nick.

This tale is better than "The Archers" , I'm hooked ! Nick.

It's a showcase gem, just sitting out on it's own, Nick.

Brilliant ! This is an easy starter upper, free monthly downloads, http://www.skymaps.com Take it easy and slowly. There's lots to explore. Jupiter is very good at the moment, either before dawn or late evening, Nick.

Never noticed them observing planets with a Newt. Have you thick intrusive vanes ? I was awaiting the multiple transit this morning , just got one moon going halfway when thick cloud rolled in, Nick.

These are a few considerations that I've found handy and might be useful with organising your observing . Practical. Red torch, check it's working and the batteries are ok Check your finder is aligned with your scope. Half covering a Telrad will enable you to align on a distant chimney in the day. Notebook or paper and a soft pencil, 4B or softer. This'll avoid ripping into paper as you note or draw in your fever of excitement. A cardboard box on it's side will keep stuff out of the dew. Ensure your dew heater is on straight away , they take time to get results. Have a hairdryer handy in case. Ensure that if you do leap of bed that you can lay your hands on, Glasses. Clothes. Shoes. Ensure the bloke in the living room mirror doesn't leap out at you.shocking. Keys to the door. White spray paint the edge of garden steps.ouch. Ensure the washing line pole is out of the way.Ouch. Planning. Before starting , the session will be productive if you have a list of targets or you could end up looking at the same old familiar suspects. Check out which constellations are favourably placed for you. Go one constellation at a time. You'll find one leads to another.Get the targets noted down , a photocopy of the relevant star chart with these marked out helps. Initially I use a clipboard. A garden chair(s) or table is ideal for putting gear on within reach. An A4 plastic sheeted file will keep these safe. One idea is to start off with the Telrad Messier charts. http://www.atmob.org/library/member/skymaps_jsmall.htmlThese are quite plain and can easily be added to with the best of targets. Your own charts will be personal to you, not packed with stars, but easy enough to star hop with. Remember that if you do take books and charts out, they are dew magnets particularly in autumn and spring. Best scanning them or making a rough reference. Results ! A few notes of magnification used and noting which are the best targets is worth keeping,addition to a brief description, I grade clusters with asterisks, four being the best , with compact star clouds or simple spectacular such as NGC 2301 or NGC 7789. Any additional notes such as dust lanes or core brightness of galaxy will be of interest when you do an observing report. Any reports however brief are really appreciated. Simple drawings of planets will give you great pleasure and show you the changes in details . There is so much of interest and a quick net search later will reveal the background of what you have found. There is a certain excitement knowing how far away NGC 2419,"The InterGalactic Wanderer "is and observing the oldest globular clusters and the newest planetary nebulae. There is no harm in adding a few faint targets , some of the galaxy magnitudes don't take account of bright cores. Being on the edge of town my lists go down to about +11, with some extras for dark skies! Forum observing reports are one source of targets, they are things that other observers actually see. You can also fill your individual constellation lists with monthly magazine suggestions and books. Apps and Stellarium are a rich source, just get them down on paper ! When I started , I borrowed library books and went through the constellations. This will give you a wide range to look at. If you wish to spend a night just on planetary nebulae for instance, your constellation info will provide you with an observing list. Keep these lists, noting not only those seen ,but the ones you had trouble with. Other observers can help, just let them know ! If planets are up, ensure that you know where to look. Once you are used to the night sky, you'll soon spot any wanderers along the ecliptic. Just as relaxing is sitting out there looking or using small bins. An evening with a simple Dob and the sky and you'll soon drift away. It is wonderful out there under the stars, a bit of planning and you'll be looking forward to your next session under those elusive, Clear skies ! Nick.

Here's the chart, Some serious challenges here, either through separation or magnitudes. Have a shot, ΟΣ82 1.2" split Σ535 1.1" 80 Tau 1.6" ΟΣ95 .9" 132 Tau 3.8" but 9.1 secondary and 5.0 primary, just couldn't spot it. Nick.

Yes I heard you had a flush of clear skies ! Enjoy ! Nick.

Part two into Taurus. Waiting for the stars , I noticed Andromeda and an old favourite marked on the map , Σ3050 a good target, http://www.theskyscrapers.org/double-stars-in-andromeda Over to Taurus, these I found challenging and worth finding, Σ523 a delicate companion making a triangle at x100. 52 Tau (phi) a ghostly speck, giving good colour at x50. 59 Tau (chi) very delicate at x50, then a blue secondary at x150. Σ545 a delicacy near the Hyades at x50. With similar delicacy at Σ548. Σ559 was just spectacular at x50 showing the 3" split. 88 Tau showed a ghostly secondary at x50. Σ572 showed twin bright eyes at x50. Aldebaran shows a wide faint companion, quite easily. For yellow and green try Tau Tau at x50. 103 tau was by averted at x150. Σ670 I found considerably wider than the noted 2.5" at x100 in a full field. 118 Tau gave a colourful pair at x60. Two pairs some distance apart took some finding, Σ740 and 742. A lovely figure of eight showed the bright 1" split of Σ749, I'm sure that there was a planetary nebula nearby. I tried a 40mm ep giving x30 views. The sky was dark without the Moon and it was a different experience picking out the wider doubles in often packed star fields under elusive , Clear skies ! Nick.

Absolutely brilliant ! Nick.