lunator

Hi Michael 

The CC would be a very good scope. The only downside I can see is the 38% CO might affect close uneven doubles resolution. It's not a big issue as my OMC250 has a similar CO. 

Cheers

Ian

The Moon did look impressive last night. With Spica North West of it. The rays from Aristarchus (I think 🤔) were very prominent. 

I had a quick scan around but the Moon glow was washing things out. My final stop was Mizar and Alcor. Always a nice view but will give you a crick in your neck at this time of year. 😁.

Cheers 

Ian 

It looks  a very interesting atlas.

The Moon did look good tonight but the hsze and moonlight was washing most things out. I did see  M44 but not much else in the binos.

Cheers

Ian

When I am out observing with binoculars the number of satellites visible is astounding but I have never seen a blue one.

Cheers

Ian

Of course John 😀.

I only had the Binos out tonight but the Moon did look very good. Many of the larger craters really stood out.

Cheers 

Ian

I might pop down. I am only 30mins away. 

Cheers 

Ian

I was in West Devon on the 10th. And the display changed significantly over time. 

There were clear pillars at times East and west. For a period of time there was a clear 'crown' near Arcturus. It seemed that just prior to this there was a clear arc of aurora from the east to west it felt like the front of the aurora passed over and moved south. 

Later it seemed to me slightly north again and the east west pillars became stronger. 

Excellent pics Nigella 😀

Cheers

Ian

Same for me last night, mostly observing  the Moon. 

I did watch the Sunset and could see a few sunspots in WL.

I switched to the Moon and spent some time working my way along the terminator.

I was only using x67 as the ST80 was on a photo tripod. Te beat view was of Albategnius. You could see the top of the central peak being illuminated at first and then the shadow it was casting across the crater was clearly visible. 

The cloud rolled about 9.45 so had to call it a night.

Cheers

Ian

I have had a look at my pics. Probably should have been more consistent rather than kid in a sweet shop but here is one I like.

Cheers

Ian

I had a very similar experience. 

I had been observing the Moon ea4lier in the evening and then a few doubles. I wanted to see hoe the ST80 would do on some Galaxies in bortle 3 skies but could not see anything at all. It was at this point I started looking around and could see the sky was murky. I went in to get my wife as I had my suspicion it was the aurora and when we came back out it was obvious. You could see the vertical 'curtain effect' very clearly.

It was at that point I grabbed my DSLR and went snap-happy.

Cheers

Ian

Nik,

Very good observation 😀

I will have to track these down I will add them to my Lunar target list.

Cheers

Ian

Excellent video 🙂.

I saw I meteor last night. White, fast moving and West- East direction. 

Cheers

Ian

Back out observing the Moon. Hopefully the Aurora will be visible later.

Cheers

Ian

Phil, that was my experience as well. 

I had started with looking at the Moon and then was planning on finding some Galaxies. I had noticed the sky in the  North was light and the sky was getting 'murky'. I started to get suspicious that things were happening Aurora wise. I want inside to tell my wife and when we came back outside again the Aurora was in full swing 😀

Cheers

Ian

These are a few of my pics.

I think I took about 50 last night.

I have picked 4.

The display was astounding and the last pic is taken facing South, never thought I would look South to see an aurora.

Cheers

Ian

1 hour ago, IB20 said:

Bagged some new doubles tonight in VV Corvi, Pi1 Bootis and Xi Bootis. Spent a while on Zeta Bootis before realising it was a 0.1” separation 😅. Two more for the messier list in M53 and M3, the latter looking stunning despite the sub optimal conditions. Great resolution in the 8” dob, single stars visible on the edge and towards the core, can’t beat a good glob!

The dreaded milkiness seems to have descended over my skies so that might be the end of the fun though.

That is  the Aurora 😁

I had the same feeling as I saw the sky slowly 'mist over' from the north. It suddenly clicked what it was.

It is quite astonishing to see this. I took a pic of Spica being obscured by the Aurora. 😁😁

I thought the group were big enought to see naked eye and when I held up my Solar film to check it before putting it on the scope I was amazed to see just how large the group looked. It was very obvious. 

Cheers

Ian

I have a much better Western horizon than usual. I had a reasonable view of a 1.3 day old Moon last night.

I was able to see the craters Humboldt, Hecataeus and Neper. I think I also got a glimpse of Mare Marginis. 

Cheers

Ian

I'm in Bortle 3 skies at the mo. I only have my ST80 on a photo tripod. I have been following the immense sunspot group over the last few days. Last night was clear-ish to start with a lot of contrails tat created thin high cloud. Started with the very thin cresent Moon. Using the 12mm Pentax gave me x33. I need to look up the craters I could see. I then had a look at STF1825 in Bootes it took the 5mm ortho to split at x100.

After 10pm the sky began to clear so I thought I would see how an 80mm scope in bortle 3 compares to other scopes I have used in Bortlle 4/5. Using well known Messier objects. 

M51 was fairly obvious, found quite easily, slight brighter in the 20mm SWAN eyepiece tan I can see it in my 15x70 at home (B4). 

M109 proved difficult. I managed it in the 12mm but to get a clear sighting I had to move Phecda out of the field of view. 

I went back to something easier and tried for M65/66. These were visible in the 20mm SWAN and I could glimpse NGC3628.

My final challenge was M64. It proved trickier than I thought but the conditions were deteriorating due to mist. I got a reasonable view at x33. 

My final target was R Vir. It's brightness does appear to have changed much but it was trickier using the scope rather than the Binos and the mist may have been a factor.

I called it a night as everything was getting very wet and the mist was getting thicker.

Cheers

Ian

The group 3664 is astounding. When the the seeing settled the numerous fainter sunspots popped out. Very good sketch 😀.

Cheers

Ian

I spent some time viewing the. Sunspots this morning. 

It is interesting that it is linked to an M class flare. I was chatting about this with my wife and thought it would be linked to a strong flare. I was amazed how much the groups changed in less than 24 hours.

Cheers

Ian

I had a look atnthe sunspots this morning and was surprised at the changes in less than 24 hours. The complex of Sunspots near the centre of the disk is quite amazing. I look forward to seeing so e more sketches.

Cheers

Ian

Hi John

I have managed to get my 8" dob in the car as well as a dog & teenager. I only have a medium sized hatchback. It is amazing what you can fit in a car.  sometimes 🙂

Usually I just take my ST80 + Horizon tripod. If you could find something similar size and weight  wise to an ST80  but with a bit more aperture then I think it would be ideal.

Cheers 

Ian 

Very good sketch, lots of detail. It must have been tricky capturing all that detail. 

Cheers

Ian

Very Good image. 

I had a look at the Sun in WL today and it looks amazing and you have caught it well. 

Cheers

Ian