The night i needed, Mars was something else!

[Fozzie]

Morning all,

I’ve been quiet on here recently, lost a bit of mojo with the pressures of work and life in this so called new normal, coupled to that a few kit issues and I was always feeling a bit flat and unmotivated to get out.

Firstly I thought my GP was giving up on one of it’s motors, and I didn’t want to accept that, so I avoided opportunity to go out, earlier in the year, until I eventually stripped it down and found a loose grub screw on the gear – easy fix and the GP is working fine

Second issue was my observing site in the garden, over run by Guinee pig hutches, children’s toys, patio furniture and a washing line, not an easy place to set up, set down and swing a 1125mm long refactor in, again off putting so it was just easier to stay in (and fall asleep on the sofa!!)

Third issue I had lost my polar alignment marks, and try as I might, I couldn’t seem to get back to that sweet spot that I had before.. wonderfully relaxing where only the occasional nudge every so often was needed.

Finally, One of my big bug bears is my F11 achro, a modest scope by many means, I’ve found myself frustrated, often with the views, sometimes with the ergonomics and generally a combination of both..  which just left me doubting all is well and putting me off.  The last time I headed out I struggled to get the Tak prism to come to focus, another “frustrating” occurrence that shouldn’t have been.

Last night however was a total revelation, after deciding to upgrade to scope to a minimum ED of 100mm, I told myself if im going to justify that, I should at least be using what I have when I can, get back in to the habit, now it’s dark by 20:00.. 

I’d already cleared the garden of all the toys, the pigs were tucked away in their own corner out of the way, and a retractable washing line put up instead of the throat catching permanent one from before, the patio furniture, tucked out of the way, so I had room to swing at.

I took the GP out, and plonked it down, no worrying about north, PA or anything, parked it at home, plonked it facing north as far as I could tell.  Set her up, left the scope out for about 30 mins.

Whilst I waited, I had some sponge and custard the wife and kids made earlier, bit dry TBH, but warming so all was good.

Some Hazy cloud was about, which explains why accu. weather, BBC, COS all said total cloud, the met office had said clear (hence why I set up) and it was workable so I headed out.

Jupiter and Saturn are fast falling past some trees for me, so I grabbed what little I could on these two, mostly Jupiter.

The seeing wasn’t steady but clarity was good, I could make out the main equatorial bands, four perfect dots of her main moons and in better seeing the soft darkening of the polar regions and glimmers of texture between the belts.  Still though, everything was pale and contrast seemed difficult to pull out, a nice refresh but nothing startling or rewarding.

After swinging over to the moon, things started to pick up, the soft clouds filtered some of the glare, and terminator was fill of texture, contrast and detail, I spent about 40 mins looking at the area around Montes Harbinger, where the light was catching and it appeared as though there were little jewels glimmering in the darkness,  a lovely sight..

It dawned on me at that stage, that although I was only 112x mag, I’d not actually being constantly nudging the DD3 to recentre the image, in fact this was about as stable as id ever seen.. my tracking looked beyond good… After 20mins or so trying to pick out the 2.9km crater “Delisle K” with out any joy or nudging of the scope I decided I need to mark the tripod legs for future, as this plonk it down tactic had given me very good PA.. 

I couldn’t pick out Delisle K, so settled with  Federov settled amongst Dorsa Argand at 6.5km as a reasonable benchmark.  By that time Mars was up and was my intended view for the night.

I have had no luck with mars, it’s always been a kaleidoscope of rainbow colours, with no albedo or anything to note, but I was determined to give it ago again.

After I swung the scope east, their she was shimmering in her technicoloured glory, as I expected, the neodymium filter not offering anything, despite me reading it’s a god filter for mars, and at 112x the CA in my scope is negligible on the moon so id not used it… yet. 

Not sure what it was in my mind, but I decided to stack the filters, neo and semi apo, usually all this does is create a dew problem and ghosting, but not tonight, probably because I’d had them both out for a while to cool.  The impact was remarkable, in fact it was jaw dropping, gone had the kaleidoscope to be replaced with a beautiful pink reddish orb, hanging in a dark grey almost black sky.. clear syrtis major and SPC, with hints of other features in the offering for high mags.. 

Up to 160x with the 7mm LV, double stack filter and tak prism..  the equipment was singing and the red planet had nowhere to hide, in the better moments, clear hooks of Tritonis Sinus and I swear Sinus Gomer popped in to view, the lighter Hellas region also visible with the arch of syrtis major and mare serpentis all clearly visible..  I just sat and watched in awe.. what I sight it was..

Suddenly all the doubt about my rig had gone, all of it totally irrational, I know this frac shows me the best the environment will allow, I mean I’ve had this up to 450x on the moon a few years back.. 

it’s amazing how doubt creeps in, but it’s amazing how it can be obliterated when it all comes together!

Can’t wait for the next opportunity now.. MOJO RESTORED, FAITH IN THE FRAC RESTORED!

Thanks for reading

Fozzie

[vineyard]

A lovely report - glad it was such a great night.  Made me chuckle reading about all the other malarkey in the garden.  We've had veggies everywhere - including the best spot to set up to look at Mars.  Thankfully veggie season over so everything getting pulled out, and space being recreated   So far have only been able to try Mars with an old Vixen 102M achromat on an alt-az mount.  And the bloomin' thing moves too fast through the FOV and the shakes of moving an old alt-az mount.  BUT, with the space being created, I should be able to set up the SP there, and let it do the tracking in a v stable way, and just enjoy the views - which your report gives me hope for even with the old achro 🤞🏾 - cheers!

[scarp15]

Great session, very interesting description of Mars. I too was out last night, first dedicated session on Mars, had to wait until 1am for it to emerge clearly, still climbing south and your descriptions assisting to clarify some of what I observed, which was superb. 

[RobertI]

Great report, and uplifting too, glad you got your mojo back. It's amazing how our memories can play tricks when it comes to remembering what our equipment can do. I often read back through my old reports and am suprised what I have been able to see through my scope, particularly the smaller ones.

[Fozzie]

36 minutes ago, RobertI said:

Great report, and uplifting too, glad you got your mojo back. It's amazing how our memories can play tricks when it comes to remembering what our equipment can do. I often read back through my old reports and am suprised what I have been able to see through my scope, particularly the smaller ones.

i think that's almost part of the problem, i almost bench mark, everytime i go out against THAT one night, where the seeing was just perfect... i know the scope is totally capable, but then i get hooked up if i think it should be better, and dwell on what it's not compared to others scopes...

Actually what i have is a good example of a really nice scope, to go with a really nice mount, hopefully next time out i can just concentrate on the one thing without distractions (in my mind) of worrying about what i don't have! 

3 hours ago, vineyard said:

A lovely report - glad it was such a great night.  Made me chuckle reading about all the other malarkey in the garden.  We've had veggies everywhere - including the best spot to set up to look at Mars.  Thankfully veggie season over so everything getting pulled out, and space being recreated   So far have only been able to try Mars with an old Vixen 102M achromat on an alt-az mount.  And the bloomin' thing moves too fast through the FOV and the shakes of moving an old alt-az mount.  BUT, with the space being created, I should be able to set up the SP there, and let it do the tracking in a v stable way, and just enjoy the views - which your report gives me hope for even with the old achro 🤞🏾 - cheers!

everyone's gardens like that i suppose, i just got it in my head as an excuse or too much trouble to arrange my observing around it all..  it's easier now it's all away in the garage etc..  there were times of thinking "I'll have to move the run, and prop the washing line and Oh i cant be bothered" shouldn't get like that..  how was the crop anyway, I grow grapes and plums, bad this year for me, not enough water i think for the vine and it struggled!

I suspect the vixen will do just fine... it's a classic scope for a good reason.

2 hours ago, scarp15 said:

Great session, very interesting description of Mars. I too was out last night, first dedicated session on Mars, had to wait until 1am for it to emerge clearly, still climbing south and your descriptions assisting to clarify some of what I observed, which was superb. 

I was amazed at the difference the stacked filters made, i might not have necessarily got al the right features there, but for my first attempt at viewing, i found it more contrasty than Jupiter, and also easier to concentrate on, in the good seeing moments there was almost too much to see..  I did notch a small pin prick of light to the north (south was up as i viewed) would this have been one of the moons i wonder!? 

[scarp15]

5 minutes ago, Fozzie said:

iI was amazed at the difference the stacked filters made, i might not have necessarily got al the right features there, but for my first attempt at viewing, i found it more contrasty than Jupiter, and also easier to concentrate on, in the good seeing moments there was almost too much to see..  I did notch a small pin prick of light to the north (south was up as i viewed) would this have been one of the moons i wonder!? 

That is interesting it could well have been since late on one of the moons was of course transiting. The seeing was stable and moments as you mention that provided feature rich surface texture, a lot to absorb, the small pin prick of light could therefore had been a transit, must say I was too distracted with everything else to even notice.

[wookie1965]

Brilliant report enjoyed reading that there is a lot to be said for the long achros they punch way above their weight. 

I love both mine in the last couple of weeks my 5" has blown me away with views of Mars. 

Thank you for posting. 

[vineyard]

2 hours ago, Fozzie said:

how was the crop anyway, I grow grapes and plums, bad this year for me, not enough water i think for the vine and it struggled!

I suspect the vixen will do just fine... it's a classic scope for a good reason.

Lots of tomatoes & courgettes - some chillies & beetroot too - the snails & slugs didn't give the brassica much of a chance though!  Didn't get many spuds either tbh

I hope so re the Vixen - I don't have a semi-apo but do have a neodymium so will see what happens!  Thanks again for the inspiration to try more properly.