19/01/2017- First trip to an away site to observe

[Swoop1]

Tonight I headed out for the first time my destination being Cookham Dean Common, which I thought may have been reasonably dark. I was on site and set up by about 19:45. I was accompanied by my eldest son. The visibility was very good, the sky being quite dark with the main exception being to the East (is there a way to switch London off?). 

I made my first target The Orion Nebula (again) as I wanted a good look in better observing conditions. Once again, the nebula was a captivating sight and accounted for a good 15 minutes of time. I then stepped aside to give my son some eyepiece time and his first taste of Orion which he seemed to enjoy.

We then did a bit of naked eye scanning and I explained the method of averted viewing to him utilising the nebula and Pleiades. After a few minutes he got it and was able to confirm he could just see a misty patch in the right location for the nebula with his eye alone. I then lined the scope up on Pleiades and let him spend some time scanning the area, getting a feel for the scopes controls. Whilst doing they he had the pleasure of being obs bombed by a satellite or piece of space debris transiting the FOV. He was quite pleased by that.

We then tried to locate Andromeda to observe the galaxy but, due to the profusion of visible stars and the fact that Starlite on the iPad going into wibble mode (showing Orion as below the horizon etc.) I couldn't get my eye in. Lack of preparation also meant that, once I twigged where The Big Dipper was, although I seemed to have some recollection of using the dipper as a guide to Andromeda, I was unable to remember how. 

Not to worry though. Time at the scope is all a learning experience. We decided to call it a night at about 21:30 due to cold feet. Once the car was packed up and the heater on, life returned to the toes and all was well with the world. Even better- on arrival home and unpacking the car, I identified what I needed to do to stabilise a slightly wobbly mount on the tripod.

All in all, a productive and educational first expedition.

[swamp thing]

Nice report and an enjoyable read thanks for sharing  

[estwing]

well done you for making the effort in trying to get away from LP...clear and darker skies to you,thanks.

[Charic]

The  Big Dipper will guide you towards the North celestial pole Star. The two Stars that form the right hand edge of the pan,  bottom right to top right, extend a line  up to Polaris.
I use Cassiopeia  ( the big 'W' in the sky  ) as my guide to locating M31 Andromeda, head away to Mirach then back a touch? 

 

Edited January 19, 2017 by Charic

[Charic]

delete this  pls. double entry?

Edited January 19, 2017 by Charic

[laudropb]

Nice report. It's good to see your son involved and sounds like he enjoyed it too.

[johnfosteruk]

Nice report Swoop, glad your son's getting a view as well 

[RobertI]

Sounds like you had a great time. Hope to hear more.  

[Swoop1]

23 hours ago, Charic said:

The  Big Dipper will guide you towards the North celestial pole Star. The two Stars that form the right hand edge of the pan,  bottom right to top right, extend a line  up to Polaris.
I use Cassiopeia  ( the big 'W' in the sky  ) as my guide to locating M31 Andromeda, head away to Mirach then back a touch? 

 

Doh!. I knew it pointed to something. All part of the learning process