§AB
04-09-2007, 10:12 PM
well, a clear night, promise of good seeing and a strong high pressure cell parked over us - with nearly hurricane force winds to ruin it :mad2: Now the weather chart shows calm conditions as per the high pressure, widely spaced isobars so where is this ridiculous wind coming form??
Scope: 4.5 inch Meade DS-114 Newt
Mags used: 121x, 151x
Eyepiece: 6, 7.5mm plossl
Seeing: 7-8/10, then rapid deterioration to 3-4.
Took the scope outside despite category 5 hurricane :doh:. Dropped in a 7.5mm plossl (121x) and aimed at Jupiter. Surprisingly, the view was tack-sharp. I checked my collimation by aiming at an out of focus star and for once it was right on the money :thumbsup: Encouraged, I increased power to 151x (33x/inch of aperture - over the recommeded limit for Jupiter) and amongst all the jiggling and bad vibes I could clearly see two white ovals/white areas nestled under the NEB while low contrast streamers presented themselves under averted vision. I spotted atleast 5 belts and the rift in the SEB but the GRS was not in view this evening. I was overjoyed by this result, but sadly the wind made it fruitless to press on any further.
At this point, as Hurricane Annoyance raged on, the seeing suddenly nose-dived into the ground. Jupiter was now almost akin to a flag waving in a breeze. At this point I packed up. Happy but not.
Now I'll try for Mars, if I do actually get out of bed at 3am, I'll report back :thumbsup:
Scope: 4.5 inch Meade DS-114 Newt
Mags used: 121x, 151x
Eyepiece: 6, 7.5mm plossl
Seeing: 7-8/10, then rapid deterioration to 3-4.
Took the scope outside despite category 5 hurricane :doh:. Dropped in a 7.5mm plossl (121x) and aimed at Jupiter. Surprisingly, the view was tack-sharp. I checked my collimation by aiming at an out of focus star and for once it was right on the money :thumbsup: Encouraged, I increased power to 151x (33x/inch of aperture - over the recommeded limit for Jupiter) and amongst all the jiggling and bad vibes I could clearly see two white ovals/white areas nestled under the NEB while low contrast streamers presented themselves under averted vision. I spotted atleast 5 belts and the rift in the SEB but the GRS was not in view this evening. I was overjoyed by this result, but sadly the wind made it fruitless to press on any further.
At this point, as Hurricane Annoyance raged on, the seeing suddenly nose-dived into the ground. Jupiter was now almost akin to a flag waving in a breeze. At this point I packed up. Happy but not.
Now I'll try for Mars, if I do actually get out of bed at 3am, I'll report back :thumbsup: