mikeDnight Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 (edited) Often overlooked due to its apparent lack of detail, Venus can be a surprisingly interesting visual target. No filters were used in any of the attached sketches and being observed through 100mm refractor using a prism diagonal, the orientation is north top with preceeding to the left. Edited March 2, 2020 by mikeDnight 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyS Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 Superb drawing, @mikeDnight. Great that you could see that detail. The fact that you were able to use the HR 1.6 mm eyepiece is a testament to the Tak's optics (and seeing conditions!). Was it the standard 1.25-inch Tak prism diagonal? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 I still have no idea how you do that Mike, but must get my Tak on it soon and see whether I can see anything at all, following your advice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyS Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 26 minutes ago, Stu said: I still have no idea how you do that Mike, but must get my Tak on it soon and see whether I can see anything at all, following your advice. You might have to buy your Vixen HR eyepieces back, Stu 🤔 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiltonstar Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 (edited) A superb sketch indeed Mike! The best view I've ever had of the cloud patterns was some years ago with my 102mm f13 refractor at x200 ( a £20 EP!) with a Wratten 80A. I was hosting a "mini-star party" for colleagues, and Venus was a nice crescent at that time. All those present could see the cloud patterns very clearly. Since then, I've had intermittent views, but never as good. Chris Edited March 2, 2020 by chiltonstar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruud Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 Fabulous sketches, Mike! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 30 minutes ago, JeremyS said: You might have to buy your Vixen HR eyepieces back, Stu 🤔 I shall have to Barlow the socks off the Leica Zoom! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark at Beaufort Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 Excellent sketches Mike - I have never seen cloud markings on Venus - perhaps I should buy a Tak as it appears to tick all the boxes in planetary observing. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 16 minutes ago, Mark at Beaufort said: Excellent sketches Mike - I have never seen cloud markings on Venus - perhaps I should buy a Tak as it appears to tick all the boxes in planetary observing. If my experience with my Tak is anything to go by Mark, I think you will also need to upgrade to a pair of Mark V Mike Hezzlewood bionic eyeballs aswell 😉 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark at Beaufort Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Stu said: If my experience with my Tak is anything to go by Mark, I think you will also need to upgrade to a pair of Mark V Mike Hezzlewood bionic eyeballs aswell 😉 Thanks Stu - I think at my age I definitely will need bionic eyeballs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeDnight Posted March 2, 2020 Author Share Posted March 2, 2020 5 hours ago, JeremyS said: Superb drawing, @mikeDnight. Great that you could see that detail. The fact that you were able to use the HR 1.6 mm eyepiece is a testament to the Tak's optics (and seeing conditions!). Was it the standard 1.25-inch Tak prism diagonal? Yes, just a cheap as chips Tak prism diagonal, nothing fancy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeDnight Posted March 2, 2020 Author Share Posted March 2, 2020 5 hours ago, Stu said: I still have no idea how you do that Mike, but must get my Tak on it soon and see whether I can see anything at all, following your advice. I usually look for the brightest areas first, which are nearly always the cusps then the limb. Then I observe the terminator to see if there are any bright regions, and then the main surface. It's all very subtle, but things may become a little more obvious with a blue wrattan 80 or 80A filter, or yellow 11 to 14. Orange W21helps with albedo features on Mars so it might also help with the subtle shadings in Venus cloud tops though I can't remember ever trying it, but I suspect I have. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeDnight Posted March 2, 2020 Author Share Posted March 2, 2020 4 hours ago, Mark at Beaufort said: Excellent sketches Mike - I have never seen cloud markings on Venus - perhaps I should buy a Tak as it appears to tick all the boxes in planetary observing. FLO should hand them out free of charge to moderators! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeDnight Posted March 2, 2020 Author Share Posted March 2, 2020 3 hours ago, Stu said: If my experience with my Tak is anything to go by Mark, I think you will also need to upgrade to a pair of Mark V Mike Hezzlewood bionic eyeballs aswell 😉 I'm not sure about that Stu. I can't focus on a thing within a metre of my face without wearing spec's. I put everything down to having a reasonably good planetary site with a reasonably steady atmosphere much of the time. The spec's do make me look more intelligent though! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark at Beaufort Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 Well I have just viewed Venus with my 12" Dob and 6mm Ethos EP - mag - 253x. The image was very sharp but could not see any surface markings. I accept I am really a DSO observer so perhaps I need more training. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeDnight Posted March 2, 2020 Author Share Posted March 2, 2020 8 minutes ago, Mark at Beaufort said: Well I have just viewed Venus with my 12" Dob and 6mm Ethos EP - mag - 253x. The image was very sharp but could not see any surface markings. I accept I am really a DSO observer so perhaps I need more training. May be its too bright in the 12" Mark? I remember struggling to see much detail on a 5" arc Mars in a 10" F6, but in the 100mm refractor it was more obvious, though not easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike JW Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Excellent presentation. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niallk Posted March 6, 2020 Share Posted March 6, 2020 Very impressive Mike! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeDnight Posted March 7, 2020 Author Share Posted March 7, 2020 (edited) Thanks to everyone for all the encouraging words. I hope all can keep on observing Venus despite it being difficult. And despite the obvious difficulty in seeing such ultra-subtle detail, I feel certain that others will see it with persistance and the all important steady seeing. ☺ Edited March 7, 2020 by mikeDnight 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 I studied Venus last night with the ED103s. But the seeing was pants, so no chance of detail. One day I will get that steady and transparent night when not working, one day. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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