So with the clouds and weather been good on NYE and my commercial pilot exams all done, I finally managed to get outside with my scope. Now, i've been out observing before, but it was more like stumbling in the dark. I invested in a compass and a planisphere for melbourne.
At about 9.30pm I headed out with my cans of bundy, my camera and my book. Turns out the camera was useless. After having a go at aligning to the SCP (i got close) I aimed at Sirius and got my first joy of the night, i saw a shooting star. It was faint, i'd say about XXX mag. I then, after reading the article about Orions Nebula, decided to go hunting for it. This is when i got my second surprise. as soon as I looked at the constellation orion I saw another shooting star, only this time it was brighter than Venus travelling left of Rigel down past Orion and over the horizon. Anyone know what it was I saw?
I then started searching for the nebula, whcih i located about 10.30. It was faint on my eby scope, but I saw it. I believe better lenses will assist me to get a better view of it in the future.
I then came inside to get another drink, proceeded outside and in the process to relocate Orion in my finder scope I knocked it out of alignment and that was my night done...
What i need to work on
- Learn how to locate using DEC and RA
- Remember not to rotate the EQ mount when observing, again using RA and DEC
- Get my rear end into gear and construct my mount for my new finderscope
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...You/scope1.jpg
Great little scope, bout 500g, has 10 levels of brightness on the red illuminated cross hairs. with windage and elevation settings I'll be able to align it quickly and easily once I have solid mount created. Just gotta find 2x30mm clamps that I can screw into some plywood to hold it in place....
So there it is, my first sucessful night of star gazing
