Saturn!

[conura]

Hi guys,

It's been almost a week with the scope and I've still not seen Saturn. In the UK where I live it is only up in the early morning (about 5am and on!). As it's the weekend, I have decided that I will attmpt t ostay up to see it! At about 5:30am it will be at about 20o above the horizon according to Stellarium.. sunrise isn't til 7:40 (apparently) and if I can make it til 6 it'll be even higher! Is 25 or so degrees too low to get an alright view? Should I just wait for another time when it's got better visibility?

Hope you can advise!

con

[conura]

Just realised I've not left nearly enough info for! I'm in a small city (not a lot of light pollution) with an 8" dobsonian!

[smulx]

make sure you check the weather too. It would suck if you made the effort to get up early and it was really cloudy.

[SirFoo]

personally I would wait until its in the evening sky. You'll have plenty of time to see it then. It is amazing.jaw droppingly beautiful.

[You can't be Sirius]

Saw it this morning, at 5.45am, looked pretty fine too in clear skies.

[conura]

Good point on the weather! Am I right in thinking Mars won't be visible for almost a whole year?! That's what I thought after watching stellarium! Also, just brought my scope in and its very dewy, it's in a warm room though..Can i just leave it to de-dew itself, or should I set the hairdryer on it?

[brantuk]

What scope is it conura? If it's a newtonian I'd just point it slightly downwards so any internal moisture drips out the end rather than onto the mirror (leaving moisture marks). Put an old towel under the end to catch the drips. The outside you can just wipe off with a tea towel.

[conura]

It's a dobsonian Skywatcher 200p 8" (love it ). Have followed your advice and remounted it facing down.

Thanks

[brantuk]

You're welcome - nice scope