Transparency and Seeing... what's that all about then Ted?

[coliea]

As a relative noob I often here the more experienced guys talking about “transparency” and “seeing” while rating both on a hi-low numerical scale.

Are these ratings merely a personal estimation (as I suppose they must be to an extent) or is there some sort of scale that is used as a general reference? Pointers to relevant websites would be appreciated.

Cheers

Col

[Talitha]

Hi Col. The seeing ratings I use are the Pickering Scale and the Antoniadi Scale, the latter being for lunar work.

For transparency, I like the SAC Transparency Scale for it's simplicity, but some prefer the more in-depth Bortle Scale.

[dogfish]

Gegenschein? I've heard of, and had pointed out to me, the zodiacal light, but the gegenschein? I clearly don't know stuff. Off to google it.

Martin

[dogfish]

OK, got it. It's like the zodiacal light but on the opposite side of the sky. Never seen it, so clearly never had really transparent skies.

Martin

[coliea]

Hi Col. The seeing ratings I use are the Pickering Scale and the Antoniadi Scale, the latter being for lunar work.

For transparency, I like the SAC Transparency Scale for it's simplicity, but some prefer the more in-depth Bortle Scale.

Thanks Talitha that's exactly the sort of thing I was looking for.

Col

[Talitha]

You're welcome Col, glad to have been of help.

Martin, I've seen the ZL a number of times and thought I saw the Gegenschein once but it turned out to be a rogue Auroral patch.

Maybe some day...

[anthony]

Col,

I have nothing of relevance to add to this thread. I just kept getting the Father Ted reference and laughing!

Anthony

[beamish]

I've yet to see a rogue auroral patch !! :shock:

[algol]

think i'm class 5 or 6 on the bortle, anyone know a class 1 or 2 site?

[ash]

I must know stuff all nice links Talitha thanks.

ASH

[acey]

think i'm class 5 or 6 on the bortle, anyone know a class 1 or 2 site?

I think I'm right in saying the Gegenschein was first discovered by Humboldt in south America in the nineteenth century, which shows how faint it is. So no class 1 sites in Europe - though I seem to recall reading a comment by Patrick Moore that he saw it from England during the blackout in world war 2.

[MartinB]

I prefer the Chesterfield scale for transparency

Good - it's about to rain

Bad - it's raining

[coliea]

Col,

I have nothing of relevance to add to this thread. I just kept getting the Father Ted reference and laughing!

Anthony

Glad you got the reference Anthony. I do sometimes feel a like Father Dougal when I realize how much I've got to learn!

[Talitha]

You're welcome, Ash.

Karlo, here you go.

[algol]

I prefer the Chesterfield scale for transparency

Good - it's about to rain

Bad - it's raining

:laughing3: :laughing3: :laughing3:

lol i like that.

very useful in today changing climate lol

[rawhead]

Hi Col. The seeing ratings I use are the Pickering Scale and the Antoniadi Scale, the latter being for lunar work.

For transparency, I like the SAC Transparency Scale for it's simplicity, but some prefer the more in-depth Bortle Scale.

Cheers Talitha, More links for my Astro folder

[Talitha]

Cheers Talitha, More links for my Astro folder

No problemo.

Sure wish I had a dollar for every URL that's squirrelled away in my Favorites folder.

[Astroman]

Just goes to show that Arizona skies are superb. I see ZL on a regular basis from my back yard, and often see Gegenshein when I think to look. Some of my mates think of ZL as light pollution, especially around the Messier Marathon when it generally obscures M74 and M77 at twilight.

I'll get my coat.