Y shaped formation on Venus.

[Tomjo59]

Some really nice sketches on this thread - if only I had the slightest bit of artistic talent!

I've never had much success with observing Venus, despite using a 10" newt, all I can ever see are the phases, and the diffraction spikes spoil the view anyway.

Interesting that people seem to get good views (including cloud features) using refractors. I have been thinking about getting a TAL 100RS to supplement the newt (not just for Venus, of course) and wonder if that would be better.

[mikeDnight]

Hi Mike! Hows the flu? Lets see those sketches!!!

Hi there.

Sorry for the delay. The flu is gone and has been for some time. The wife however has had to have her shoulder replaced and is currently now back in hospital having a dislocated hip put back. She has a lot of problems but it doesnt stop her jaw from working. One distraction after another it seems.

I'm glad you reminded me about the sketches, it will help get me back into the swing of things. Bright nights and not much in the way of planets to look at has caused me to become seasonally idle. I will scout through my sketches and post matching sketches asap.

Kind regards, Mike

[John]

Sorry to hear that you and your other half have been unwell Mike.

Hope you are able to get back to observing soon and produce some more great sketches for us

[mikeDnight]

Hiya these are the images I have on dates you listed. Not my best! Some very quick processes too....bit of a backlog. Also I cant guarantee not mirror image - but pretty confident. Bit suspicious of 9/5, but not much visible then anyway.

Cheers

Nick

7th April: Wratten 47, 807nm longpass

w47 2015-04-07T18_27_48vdub_AS_p3_e11111000_ap4 regi.png807 2015-04-07T19_02_40_AS_p3_e11111000_ap4 regi.png

22/4 UV, and 807nm (worse seeing)

uv 2015-04-22T19_17_43_AS_p60_g6_ap7 regi.png807 2015-04-22T18_39_44_AS_p15_e01111000_ap6_conv.png

9/5, just one rubbish 807

807 2015-05-09T19_56_10_AS_p10_e11111000_ap3 regi.png

29/5: 807nm,  UV

807 2015-05-29T20_17_08_AS_p10_e11111000_ap3 regi - hmmmm.pngreal-uv 2015-05-29T20_24_41_AS_p25_g6_ap4 regi.png

Hi Nick.

Attached are the long awaited Venus sketches made on the same dates as your images. Sorry for the delay.

Mike :-)

[happylimpet]

Scanning up and down through the thread I think I can see some common features.... be interesting to see them side-by-side.....

[mikeDnight]

Scanning up and down through the thread I think I can see some common features.... be interesting to see them side-by-side.....

I agree Nick. The images and sketches do seem to have similarities. It's not easy to draw Venus without exaggerating the intensity of the detail perceived, its very subtle through the eyepiece, but I think the comparisons above prove without doubt that cloud top detail can be seen visually. Probably a smaller aperture scope would reveal it more easily as the planet would be less blinding.

Thanks for posting your images.

Mike

[happylimpet]

The only time I thought I could markings was using a Wratten 47 filter - this reduces the light levels a whole lot; this should thoretically give the best  chance of seeing markings.