A break in the weather ...

[ZeroID]

It's been raining, windy or cloudy here for about 2 weeks but last night we got a short gap in the incoming fronts so I put the scope out on the deck to cool when I got home.
About 9:30 turned off all the house lights, moved the scope to the hard base and got in about 35 minutes of reasonable seeing up near zenith and finally spotted the Butterfly Cluster. 20mm wideview GSO found me the pattern ( isn't Stellarium good ? ) and then the 2 x barlow gave me a full FOV of the cluster. :) Seeing wasn't too bad, reasonably stable but transparency was not the best with some faint high clouds wafting about.

Beautiful sight and quite well defined. I think my cheap chinese has got a reasonably good mirror. Tick another one off the list. Just after 10 the clouds began to move back and that was the end of it. My star fix for the week ... :thumbsup:

[Suzy]

Hi Brent,
The Butterfly Cluster sure is a beauty. M-7 is a great one too and right next to The Butterfly. Glad to hear you had a clear night.
Looking good for tonight here as well. Everyone at Qld Astrofest must be mightly pleased that the clouds have cleared just in the nick of time.

[renormalised]

Everyone's caught a lucky break:)

Someone must've slipped the rain and cloud gods a few extra notes:):P

[ZeroID]

Hi Suzy, I've already found M7, and a few other DSO's etc but I am just starting to make observation notes using Astroplanner. Starting to get a method in my viewing and understand the terminology and data. So I am going back to objects I have seen and re evaluating my comments and keeping records. Not my usual style.

I would have continued looking and M7 is so close but the cloud gods said that was enough so no choice. Between Stellarium and Astroplanner it's a pretty good combination for planning your viewing and identifying what you've seen or looking for.

And I just spent the afternoon in the garage working on the 10" dob build while it rained outside. Coming along nicely.....I think.

Glad to hear they've gotten some good weather for Astrofest.

[seeker372011]

maybe the odd telescope has been sacrificed?

[ZeroID]

Hope not !! Could have been sacrificed in my direction.

There is a 12" f6 EQM ON Trademe been listed 3 x now and still hasn't sold. It reached $350 the first time and he has got it up at $750 Buy Now. If I hadn't got my 10" well under way I'd have been tempted. 12" mirror alone is over $1000 here and this has been made by an expert so dang good buy for someone with enough dedication to need it.

[ZeroID]

Temptation has been removed. Someone did the 'Buy Now' option, just hope it went to a good home.

And we had another break in the weather, couple of nice clear still nights. So I managed to get out last night on the sheltered home pad for about 45 mins in Scorpio's Tail, NGC6231, M7, Butterfly. Then the frost arrived about midnight. Nice clear views though. I am surprised at how well my 10 x 50 binocs work with clusters. They are the best way to find them before I aim the scope and they get through the worst of the LP.
The weather is predicted to turn bad again from his afternoon so back to the workshop.