What were your best observations in 2012 and will be in 2013 ?

[skysurfer]

Just curious.

My best achievements were:

Feb 2012 taking nice pictures of the sky in Bali see here: http://skysurfer.eu/skypics2.php

Mar 2012: Purchase of EOS 7 + 70-300 5.6L

June 2012: viewing and picturing Venus and Jupiter in full daylight :
http://skysurfer.eu/planets.php (Saturn at night).

June 2012: refurbishment of my 39 years old 80mm f/6.3 spotting scope.
http://skysurfer.eu/polarex80.php

Apr-Aug 2012 seen several stars in daylight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqaLtsMjr2U
Even Epsilon Lyrae (not in video).

Aug-Sep 2012:
Taken some pictures of Veil/Witchbroom (NGC 6960) and Banana (6992) nebula.

And several visual observations of really faint objects NGC 147 and NGC 185, the latter even with an 8cm telescope.

Dec 2012: Mercury (-0.3) in full daylight.

2012:

Feb: trip to South Africa including dark areas for visual and photographic observations with Televue Genesis and 15x70 binos.


---- Whar were yours ?

[ourkind]

There are two that really stand out for me ...

1. seeing and imaging the transit of Venus
2. seeing and imaging the Total Solar Eclipse in Cairns

[Terry B]

Taking a successful spectra of SN2012fr on multiple nights.
Mine and others are here http://www.astrosurf.com/aras/surveys/supernovae/sn2012fr/obs.htm

[vaztr]

For 2012...
Upgrading to a 12" dob
For 2013...
Moving house to a dark sky sight on 40 acres (Ive just exchanged contracts) that gives 360 degree views :)

[mithrandir]

2012 - Transit of Venus. Despite the Sydney weather I saw most of it, and unlike an eclipse, it won't happen again in my lifetime.
2013 - maybe C/2012 S1 (ISON) on or about Nov 28.

[Varangian]

Oh my first year of serious observing.

Omega Centauri, Tarantula Neb and Saturn easily and I watched most of the transit through a 130mm SW Newt and it was pretty cool, but just because I'll never see it again doesn't make it the best for 2012. I think that if I had seen OC or the Tarantula 100 times prior to the transit then the transit would have done it. I guess it comes down to the amount of times I have observed these objects. The former targets were really wow, life changing moments for me:thumbsup:

[AstralTraveller]

Another vote here for the transit of Venus and the solar eclipse. I managed a bit more observing this year than the last couple thanks to the drier weather, but still not nearly enough. I just hope to get the scope out more in 2013.

[Ric]

I'd have to say the transit of Venus as well. I'll never see that event again.

[JB80]

2012 was a bit of an odd year for me and looking back there are far more highlights than I expected.
I say more than I expected because the biggest feature of the year has been the absolutely crappy weather. It's seriously not even funny any more and morbidly depressing. I really think I need a run of vitaminD it's that bad.

Till, enough of the moaning because all in all I think given some of the highlights of the year it was a pretty good one all things considered.

Where to start.........?

Joining IIS. :D
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=86294

Next up was a family holiday to Euro Disney, Astronomy wasn't on the cards at all but in the afternoon one day I saw my first(or the first I can recall) Solar Halo which was followed thereafter by Sundogs on boths sides appearing and disappearing.
I managed to get a few shots with the wifes Ixus.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=86623

I also got my first telescopic views and some first time images of Mars and Venus. Not exactly the best images to show off but I'm proud of them and look forward to getting a chance to do more in the future.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=88208
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=88179

We also had a trip to Provence where we got to visit the Haute-Provence observatory and also had some nice skies.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/6940648060_55319dfd92_b.jpg
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=89473

Then we had our trip to Crete & Santorini for the transit of Venus which was unbeleivable.
Crete was the first time that I have seen the Milky Way with the naked eye under European skies, it was also the first time I have captured the MW on camera.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=92209
We then headed off to the volcanic island of Santorini to watch the ToV, such an amazing sight from an amazing location. Given that I missed the last this was my once in a lifetime event.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=92129

There was also two of the major meteor showers I got to enjoy which isn't something I can say every year.
Perseids put on a good show even from the poor LP in Belgium, I sat out with a few beers and eventually nodded off in the backyard.

I got to see a few rather spectacular hours of Leonids from Loch Ness also which was great, it was also the second time of seeing the MW in Europe.
I can post a pic of that upon request although I didn't catch any meteors.
Also I got some star trails out of the Loch Ness trip.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=99858

Also my viewing saviour of the year goes out to my stage 1 PST mod, getting that upgrade is nearly the best thing you can do with a PST and having set up by the door so I could duck out for a look whenever was pretty much all the observing I did from home this year.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=876808&postcount=773

And how could I forget this purchase....
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=90576

[hr]

As for 2013.......
...... and what it may hold at this stage I have no solid plans.
Much is going to depend on where I end up, at this stage we are due to relocate to Paris next year but are on the look out for warmer alternatives. So depending on where I am and what the skies are like things will probably differ.

Some things that I will be doing are things I maybe should of started when I first got my scope. I'm going to start an observing diary, I have a note book waiting and all.
I also want to start a couple of lists like the Messier Marathon and Lunar 100, there is no need to complete them in the year but I feel it is a better way to go about observing.

Rumour has it too that there may be a couple of "Great" naked eye comets on the way so fingers cross that they hold up and maybe that will be something to look forward to.

There is even a total eclipse in November which gives us plenty of time to plan something as well.

Purchase wise I am saving for a large aperture SCT, I'd like to think I'll reach that goal within the year but there will be many factors to decide upon when the time comes. Money being the biggest one, which model to choose, new or s/h, do I risk a stateside buy, etc, etc.
But I can't justify any other purchases until this is done.

Whooh, that was a bigger type up than I expected.

:)

[LAW]

I bought my first telescope this year so I have so many highlights! Visually I think Saturn was the biggest "Wow!" moment, it was a particularly clear night in winter which made it so much more spectacular. I immediately wanted to take photos of what I was looking at so I started investing in some imaging gear, and it got a bit out of hand :P

The pictures are Mars, Venus, my scope, M42, and NGC253

[Varangian]

Law, in under a year you have nailed it. Your M42 is very nice, great detail, resolution and beautiful little suns too.

[barx1963]

For me being on top of Mauna Kea observing the Transit of Venus back in June.
Then my first night out with the 20"

Malcolm

[pgc hunter]

You have a 20" now?! Come on, pics or it doesn't exist :lol:

[barx1963]

Sab
You haven't been paying attention!!:P
Here is the link.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=100404

I have made a few changes, added a proper finder instead of the Telrad, replaced the old JMI focuser with my Moonlite. Next jobs are updating the Secondary holder (the collimation adjustments were very old and worn, the centre pivot do it works better with the Argo, and a powered ground board (all the bit are on their way from Astrosytems as we speak). Then I have to get some stiffer truss poles and redo the mirror box so it is open at the back for faster cooling (or install better fans)

Malcolm

[pgc hunter]

Oh damn, completely missed it! The forums have become so boring lately, I just haven't been visiting.

Looks good mate and congratulations on your new toy! Cant wait to read your future observation reports with that baby.

[Irish stargazer]

I would have to say that this was the leanest year for observing I have had for a long time, but I have some highlights

1. Observing the transit of Venus during breaks in the clouds from a balcony at my work office with about 100 folks slacking off the job to have a quick peek through the two scopes we had set up-great fun had by all
2. First trip to the South Pacific Star Party and observing under the pitch black skies at Wiruna
3. Capturing the milkyway and southern cross with some new camera lenses from the Pony Club
4. Breaking in the new 12" Lightbridge