Doing some observing tonight

BobsYourUncle · #1 24-05-2006, 10:23 PM

Ok, so it's the coldest night we've had so far, going to get down to -2, but the weather is glorious. I've got uni tomorrow, but I'm doing my final year project, I can come in late

. Dark sky, not a cloud in site, and the jetstream is behaving, stars are perfectly still. I'm rugged up, ready to go, letting the scope cool a bit. I figure I might make a few posts here while I'm at it - I'm as amateur as amateur can be, so maybe someone might be interested, dunno. I'm in my neighbours backyard (I've got trees blocking the south in mine) so I have to move a little bit to get a wireless signal, but I'll cope. Now to decide what to look at...

BobsYourUncle · #2 24-05-2006, 11:46 PM

Well, I haven't been that successful. My scope needs to be collimated, it's a bit out, I'll have to read up on that. Second, star hopping sucks, lol. I think I might end up spending some of my tax return on an argo navis or similar, I'm not too good at finding those DSOs. I had a bit of a look at Jupiter to start with, less surface detail than last time I looked, and couldn't get it focused exactly right (collimation issue I figured). Also checked out the jewell box, w cent, and eta carinae (well, I'm pretty sure it was eta carinae I was looking at, I'm not sure what it's supposed to look like through a scope, I've only seen the colour photos). Couldn't locate M83 or M104

Getting cold now (don't have a thermometer, but laptop CPU is running at 18 degrees, compared to its usual 50-55

), and I suppose I should get off to bed. Slightly disappointing session, but practice makes perfect.

iceman (Mike) · #3 25-05-2006, 05:36 AM

-2 in QLD? That is cold!

A shame the session didn't go as expected, but you'll get the hand of it in n time. You really need to read up on collimation. it's extremely important to getting that sharp image where you're not always trying to adjust focus because it looks "off".

BobsYourUncle · #4 25-05-2006, 10:19 AM

Yeah it gets cold here in Ipswich. Brisbane was supposed to be like 8 degrees warmer

Still, it's not really normal for the temperature to get down that low this early in winter (well, it's not even winter yet).

ving (David) · #5 25-05-2006, 11:19 AM

hey next time you are out try my doubles list for crux

just click the blue text in my signature.... that'll give you something to look at

at leaset you got out hey

JimmyH155 · #6 25-05-2006, 03:58 PM

Got my grab N go 90mm refractor last night and pointed it to Jupiter. I reckon I definitely saw the spot (it is on the southern side isn't it?) which I have never really seen with my 8 inch Meade. Then pointed to Eta. What a view.. just point anywhere towards the brightest bit, there were dark lanes, luminosity and a yellow star that just Had to be Eta. I'll be out there tonite - Brisbane Burpengary surrounded by sodium vapour lamps Ugh.

ving (David) · #7 25-05-2006, 04:25 PM

g'day jimmy, sounds like a blast! whats the focal length of your refractor?

oh and the grs should be easy in an 8"

is it colimated properly?

fremanwarrior · #8 25-05-2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyH155

I reckon I definitely saw the spot (it is on the southern side isn't it?)

I spotted the spot for the first time a few nights ago too.. I fired up the 'Jupiter II' program just to double check.

It was the first time I had properly had a look at Jupiter with my Meade x3 Barlow (Thx Tony) ---> x417 magnification

fremanwarrior · #9 25-05-2006, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobsYourUncle

I think I might end up spending some of my tax return on an argo navis or similar

I'm doing the same thing sort of. I bought the encoders & cable from the Argo Navis guys (Cheapest I could find in Aus...got quoted $245 for EACH encoder from a so called wholesaler

), sourced the mounting kit from Bintel. All fitted and just waiting for the guy that sells the kit for the 'Dave Ek's Digital Setting Circles Project' http://home.earthlink.net/~david.ek/digicircles/ (He is on a week long HAM radio convention ATM)

BobsYourUncle · #10 25-05-2006, 06:33 PM

I had a go at collimation today, couldn't find any 35mm film containers, so i just used a piece of cardboard with a 5-6mm sort-of circular hole in the middle. Seemed to work OK, i had a quick test just then on jupiter and it looked much better, and that was with no scope cool-down and slightly worse seeing, so I was happy. I'm thinking of getting a collimating eyepiece though, $29 from Andrews for something that should be pretty useful sounds pretty good to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fremanwarrior

I'm doing the same thing sort of. I bought the encoders & cable from the Argo Navis guys (Cheapest I could find in Aus...got quoted $245 for EACH encoder from a so called wholesaler

), sourced the mounting kit from Bintel. All fitted and just waiting for the guy that sells the kit for the 'Dave Ek's Digital Setting Circles Project' http://home.earthlink.net/~david.ek/digicircles/ (He is on a week long HAM radio convention ATM)

The microelectronics engineer in me wants to have a go at a DIY solution using a laptop, it'd be an interesting project.

JimmyH155 · #11 26-05-2006, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ving

g'day jimmy, sounds like a blast! whats the focal length of your refractor?

oh and the grs should be easy in an 8"

is it colimated properly?

My 90mm has focal length 990mm. Its a Celestron Firstscope. I'll check out the 8 inch but think it is OK. Got to be the location. The other night was the clearest I've seen it in years - actually saw a bit of the milky way as well. Last night - no good. high cloud back!

I'm going to Bunya Mountains in a few weeks - that's awesome. Thinking of getting a 12 inch dob