hotspur
02-05-2010, 11:58 AM
Hi
Just a note on my small observing session last night,I really did not plan anything and was happy just sitting outside,with no observing gear except my eyes.After a port-around 9 pm,I decided to roll the roof of the observatory,within minutes I was up and going.I played around with polar alignment scope to see how well the alignment was -all dialed up very good.
The only object I viewed through scope was Saturn,(still very full moon,of course),Basically just left scope running as a check on gear,with a look every now and again.Dew heaters on as a bit of dew.Went inside to make a cuppa,our boys had "James Bond" on T.V so watched a bit of that.
After a while eventually returned to scope ,all working as it should.I sat for a good hour observing Saturn,not in any hurry-I have noticed some observers quick to look at something-then want to move on quickly,I always find I can gain a lot from these casual viewing/gear check nights.
The detail on saturn was good,I good make out the grey area on bottom half(top in scope),some moons.But best of all (and I'm getting to the highlight of the nite),was watching one of the moons appearing from the disc at 10.40 pm (approx).I checked 'starry night' and it was Titan,coming from across the front of the planets' disc.I have never seen this before,Sure a good few times with Jupiter,So what turned out to be a basic viewing night,starting at 9 pm.Turned out to most enjoyabe.
regards Chris
Just a note on my small observing session last night,I really did not plan anything and was happy just sitting outside,with no observing gear except my eyes.After a port-around 9 pm,I decided to roll the roof of the observatory,within minutes I was up and going.I played around with polar alignment scope to see how well the alignment was -all dialed up very good.
The only object I viewed through scope was Saturn,(still very full moon,of course),Basically just left scope running as a check on gear,with a look every now and again.Dew heaters on as a bit of dew.Went inside to make a cuppa,our boys had "James Bond" on T.V so watched a bit of that.
After a while eventually returned to scope ,all working as it should.I sat for a good hour observing Saturn,not in any hurry-I have noticed some observers quick to look at something-then want to move on quickly,I always find I can gain a lot from these casual viewing/gear check nights.
The detail on saturn was good,I good make out the grey area on bottom half(top in scope),some moons.But best of all (and I'm getting to the highlight of the nite),was watching one of the moons appearing from the disc at 10.40 pm (approx).I checked 'starry night' and it was Titan,coming from across the front of the planets' disc.I have never seen this before,Sure a good few times with Jupiter,So what turned out to be a basic viewing night,starting at 9 pm.Turned out to most enjoyabe.
regards Chris