PDA

View Full Version here: : A Very Good Night


glenc
11-07-2021, 02:43 PM
On the 9th July 2021 I observed from a dark hill at Leycester, about 10km west of Lismore, NSW.
The west, north and east horizons were clear of obstacles.
There was a hill on the south side and some light pollution to the east.
Rain cleared the atmosphere on Friday afternoon and I washed my secondary mirror to stop it fogging up. I use a 12” (305mm, 1500mm focus) collapsible Dobsonian telescope. It is portable and you don’t have to bend over or use a ladder when looking straight up.

My eyepieces are a
26 mm, 58x, field 54’ for large OC and with a UHC filter for large nebulae
11 mm, 136x, field 36’ for OC, GC and galaxies
9 mm, 167x, field 24’ with a UHC filter for most nebulae and PN
4.7 mm, 319x, field 15’ for planets and PN when the seeing is good

On Friday night I observed for 5 hours from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, 11:30pm to 1:00am and 3:30am to 5am. It was windy till 1am. I saw more than 200 objects in 5 hours without using a star map, 15 OC, 45 GC, 25 nebulae, 37 PN, 63 galaxies and more than 30 objects in the Magellan Clouds.

I don’t like goto telescopes because they are too slow. When I was younger I used star maps and now can find the location of many objects for memory.

Attached is a list of most of the objects seen last Friday night, I may have omitted a few.

xelasnave
11-07-2021, 04:54 PM
Thanks Glen..feels like being there..I am right with you re goto ..I am on my 4th goto and its only this last one that I have bothered ... faster without and often you stop along the way as you notice something.
Alex

glenc
11-07-2021, 06:13 PM
Hi Alex, nice to hear from you

glenc
13-07-2021, 05:10 AM
I also saw M51, forgot to list it.

Tropo-Bob
13-07-2021, 07:36 AM
Gosh Glen.

That was a big night and a great effort.

glenc
13-07-2021, 04:16 PM
Thanks Bob

glenc
15-09-2021, 03:07 PM
Saw 52 galaxies between 2:15am and 3am today with a 30cm Dob at 135 times.

Tropo-Bob
16-09-2021, 08:14 AM
Hi Glen,

Are U just enjoying the views whilst improving yours skills, or are doing a bit of supernova hunting?

Either way, I am impressed!

glenc
16-09-2021, 03:00 PM
Bob, just enjoying the views.