C.R.A.P. Seeing in SEQLD tonight

[Doogs38]

Is it just my woeful collimation skills (quite possible - I played with the 2ndary) or is the seeing in SEQLD tonight just plain woeful?? I can't get a reasonable focus on any planets and most things I view just seem 'mushy' and not sharp. Skippy shows seeing as 5-6 and getting worse later. Would a 4-6 range of seeing manifest itself as I've observed tonight? Alex

[RickS]

Definitely worse from here (inner Brisbane) than last night but if the sky is clear I'm not complaining...

[Doogs38]

Yes, Rick, that is definitely my impression too - hopefully my collimation skills aren't that bad ;):D I can't believe the night sky can be so clear and yet the seeing so woeful. I was looking at Omega Centauri and it was 'swimming' in the eyepiece! Alex

[astroron]

Mars is as bland as a flat omelete.
Just got a hint of the North polar cap in moments of even poor seeing
16" scope 9mm nagler eyepiece 200xmag.
Transparency was spectacular,but as you say seeing was C.R.A.P. :sadeyes:
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Doogs38]

Hi Ron. I think that sums it up nicely :-) I was trying my 9mm for 178x, then my 13mm and it was all just bland, bright & mushy. I did however manage to see Mars' polar cap (and the black ring around it) a few times ... I had better luck observing Saturn although it too was hard work. :sadeyes::D

[dennisjames1]

I have only just got my Orion CF ED 80T and thought the same,is there something wrong here with collimation ? but no seeing conditions.

They are saying Sunday should be fine and calm , no wind like today, so maybe the air up there will be kind to us tomorrow night

cheers

Dennis

[astroron]

Hi Alex,just tried one more time on Mars,Still C.R.A.P
Saturn was quite good even in a 6mm Radian,lots of detail on the planet and the rings and Cassini div quite sharp.
Tried for Comet C2012 K1 Panstarrs,but sky just too bright.:mad2:
Did spot M51 though. :D
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Astro_Bot]

Well, that explains why I just spent several hours capturing a blurry mess of Mars and Saturn. I spent ages focussing, and thought I must have knocked something out of alignment since I just couldn't get anything sharp at all.

I'm kicking myself for not going out last night, but those pesky jetstream prediction charts reckoned last night (Fri) would be bad and tonight (Sat) better.

Just goes to show, the best forecasting system is to look up! :)

As for Sunday night's conditions .... well, those jetstream charts reckon it'll be better ....

I really should adopt the "Rule of Costanza" from Seinfeld, that being that whatever I think is right is wrong, so do the opposite. ;)

[Doogs38]

Thanks guys. At least I know that my dodgy collimation skills weren't the main contributor to the poor views through my telescope last night :lol: According to Skippy, tonight looks 'slightly' better, apparently! Alex

[Dennis]

Here’s my efforts on Mars and Saturn last night/this morning. Mewlon 180 with Tak x1.6 Extender (efl 3456mm) using the ASI120CM.

Things were a bit wobbly but I was pleased with 1st light of the ASI120CM purchased from Sirius Optics in Brisbane last week.:)

Cheers

Dennis

[LewisM]

Yeah, seeing has been less than stellar...

Even though my focus may not be spot on (f/3.6 by HAND), the guider image in MaxIM told the story - the guide star was a sea of horizontal lines!

Got my new setup tet image done anyway (now processed as far as I dar for all of 45 minutes data)

[RickS]

Nice work on Mars and Saturn, Dennis! They look great despite the seeing.

I got a few hours of Ha and OIII on NGC 6164/6165 last night. I need a lot more data but I think it's a promising start. Very quick & dirty process attached...

Cheers,
Rick.

[Dennis]

That’s an excellent result Rick, especially from the light polluted ‘burbs of Brisbane, not to mention the Moon which was rising in the East. The interlaced tendrils of nebulosity are displayed really well, showing such delicate structure.

Cheers

Dennis

[RickS]

Thanks, Dennis. With a few more nights I hope I can make a decent image out of it. I'm encouraged by the evidence of some detail in the outer shell.

[Doogs38]

Mirrors have now cooled down ... just did a quick check by looking at Mars, Jupiter & Carina Nebula and it's already much better than last night ;-) Fingers crossed for some reasonable visual observing a little later :D:thumbsup:

[Dennis]

Good luck - I just stuck my head outdoors and saw the stars twinkling so decided to have a night in!:)

Nice photo of the (old) Amberley pigs in your Avatar.:)

Cheers

Dennis

[RickS]

Guiding is not too bad tonight...

[Doogs38]

Not brilliant, but certainly better than last night :-) At least I could see some detail on Mars but 230x (7mm EP) was pushing it; 180x (9mm EP) was about max tonight :thumbsup:

[Doogs38]

Thanks mate. I have sooooooo many more images of Pigs :-) Alex

[LewisM]

Guiding is flawless on the Sunshine Coast. Perfect clarity, VERY good seeing.

[Doogs38]

Another clear night in SEQLD with great transparency but poor seeing ... or so I think. Oh well :sadeyes::D

[RickS]

I'll still take it over clouds any day :D