First look at Jovian Giant

[Nortilus]

OMG, I actually decided to stay up tonight and take a look at Jupiter with my new GSO 8" Dob.
All I can say is I am getting more and more hooked on this looking up stuff.
I also hunted down the Jewel Box Cluster which is really amazing.
And got my first look at Alpha Centauri. That is some sight too I must say. All these years thinking that it is only 1 star there but the sneaky little bugger has a baby brother right next to it. Amazing.
Too bad my night was cut short by clouds, because the moon was just getting into view, that and the horde of mozzies. I reckon they like amateur astronomers as must as we like amateur astronomy.

[ballaratdragons]

Suprise, suprise Nortilus, Alpha Centauri is a Trinary System!
Problem is the 3rd star cannot be seen as it is so small and dim.

And for another suprise, that small dim star that we can't even see is actually the closest star to earth (Proxima Centauri).

Amazin' stuff huh!

[beren]

Cool Nortilus, have a look at Acrux too, the brightest star in the Southern Cross, its a triple star system .

[ving]

I think some time back i saw proxima!?

congrats on your finds :)
great stuff this isnt it :)

[rumples riot]

Later in the night look for Omega Centauri, huge globular star cluster, it is very close to alpha centauri. You will need to look on a chart for it. That will blow you away.

Actually, if you have a large enough scope you can see proxima centauri. It is nearly out of the FOV in my scope when observing alpha.

Anyway glad to see that you are enjoying your new found love. it won't go away either, you will be hooked for life.

[Nortilus]

Will do. The problem is that the southern cross doesn't observable untill about 10.30 for me at the moment. (Stoopid Tree) I was still up at 1.30 packing my scope and stuff up. Oh well small price to pay I suppose.

[Exfso]

You can always "trim" the tree. Been there, done that.

:whistle:

[rmcpb]

Do what I do, cart the dob all over the backyard to get around the tree problem. Can get most of the sky that way but its a bit of a drag sometimes.

On second thoughts do you need to borrow a chainsaw for a subtle tree trimming session? :)

[Mick]

Top stuff Nortilus, can't wait to have a look at your scope. There was an ISS pass last night at about 60deg just beautiful. There is one on the 3rd at 19:16 almost overhead at 80deg.

[Nortilus]

was that what that big bright a$$ thing was last night hooning overhead.
I thought thats what it might be. Cool.
Yeah Mick, it is a nice scope. I have never really had a good chance to look at things through a good scope before and all these things in the sky to look at now.

[Mick]

Yes that was it, bright hey :)