No cloud

[night-vision]

Finally had some clear skies,

I set up at around 8pm and waited for the darkness to set in,

I spent a bit of time on Jupiter earlier in the evening and was rewarded with some colour, saw a dark band (brownish) around the lower quarter and a lighter band (looked white) on the top quarter, I was well impressed, along with some colour saw 3 moons although there was a higher object in the FOV that maybe was a fourth moon?

Moved onto NGC 104 this would have to be my favourite at the moment, in the short period of time owning my scope 47TUC never ceases to amaze me. Went from a 40mm down to a 9.7mm to try and get a good perspective of it.


From there went onto Pleiades and onto The Great Nebula in Orion, wow, I've not seen the Nebula like that before, very distinct I could have looked at it for hours.

Grabbed the list that glenc did of 95 DSO and turned the scope to NGC 55,
my note's say 15mm very hard to see and focus, 20mm much better the Galaxy looked vertical and on edge.

From there went to NGC 1291 and from my notes again, 20mm it looked like a cloudy star, 15mm looks better, looked like cloud with a star next to it, 9.7mm wow, the star was actually part of it and I could make out a spiral It was so faint though, it took quite a bit to focus on and make out what I was actually seeing.

Onto my next DSO, NGC 1316 also from my notes, this was very hard for me to see, anything below 15mm was impossible for me to focus, could just make of the cloudy look of the Galaxy.

Tried a few others without much luck, finished up looking at Mars and called it a night.
All in all had a great night/morning and looking at the time I should head to bed.

[Ric]

Hi Mick, it sounds like you had a great night out and thats what it's all about. The great nebula in Orion has to be one of my favourites as well, I never get tired of looking at it.

Cheers

[§AB]

nice report! How did you go as far as wind and seeing were concerned? Because here the wind ruined any chances and stars were twinkling like all hell so I didn't even bother because experience tells me nights like last night absolutely suck and are the nights when a small RFT would be handy.

NGC1316 is a large elliptical, so basically you won't see anything more than a hazy glow regardless of your telescope. My 10" shows it as a large oval glow. One to try for, which for some reason I overlooked, is barred spiral NGC 1365. The spiral arms should just resolve in an 8" according to some amatuers.

NGC104 is sensational, I find its best at 400+ magnifications. Also look for NGC362, quite nice in good seeing.

[night-vision]

Hi Ric,
It was awesome.

Originally Posted by §AB

nice report! How did you go as far as wind and seeing were concerned? Because here the wind ruined any chances and stars were twinkling like all hell so I didn't even bother because experience tells me nights like last night absolutely suck and are the nights when a small RFT would be handy.

Thanks §AB,
I set up in Kooweerup and the wind was fairly gusty until around 11:30-12:00 then settled into a still night, from setup till this time I was cursing quite a bit as it made it hard to focus and like you say the stars where twinkling like hell, all the deep space stuff was attempted after 1am.

NGC1316 is a large elliptical, so basically you won't see anything more than a hazy glow regardless of your telescope. My 10" shows it as a large oval glow. One to try for, which for some reason I overlooked, is barred spiral NGC 1365. The spiral arms should just resolve in an 8" according to some amatuers.

Thanks I add that to my list.

NGC104 is sensational, I find its best at 400+ magnifications. Also look for NGC362, quite nice in good seeing.

Looking at my notes again, I did have a crack at NGC 362 but didn't write anything down. oops, another one to go back too. Another one from my notes was NGC 3532 and all my notes say is cool

[§AB]

How was your seeing?
Here in Berwick, when I looked out my window at midnight, there were patches of low cloud as well as wind and potentially crap seeing

NGC3532 is another southern hemisphere superlative - best open cluster in the sky Looks great in my 4.5", I have observed it with an 8" under moonlight and that was mindblowing, now I shall observe it with my 10" without moonlight I made a sketch of it with the 8". At summer star parties, always show NGC3532 to the crowds - guaranteed oohs and aahhhs! Gotta love living in the southern hemisphere

Tonight will no doubt be cloudy (and windy) but I will be at work till midnight so I'll be too tired to go out anyway.

I hope Saturday night will be fine clear and calm, and it should be according to the weather models.

[night-vision]

Originally Posted by §AB

How was your seeing?
Here in Berwick, when I looked out my window at midnight, there were patches of low cloud as well as wind and potentially crap seeing

It got much better as the night progressed, no cloud or wind. I'm not sure if it's a measure of clarity or night vision but could make out 7 stars in Pleiades with naked eye @ about 1:30am

NGC3532 is another southern hemisphere superlative - best open cluster in the sky Looks great in my 4.5", I have observed it with an 8" under moonlight and that was mindblowing, now I shall observe it with my 10" without moonlight I made a sketch of it with the 8". At summer star parties, always show NGC3532 to the crowds - guaranteed oohs and aahhhs! Gotta love living in the southern hemisphere

Yup going into my must show list.

Tonight will no doubt be cloudy (and windy) but I will be at work till midnight so I'll be too tired to go out anyway.

I hope Saturday night will be fine clear and calm, and it should be according to the weather models.

Me too, hopefully heading to Ballarat for the star party on Friday/Saturday night, which reminds me, I'd better PM Ken once I have my times sorted.

[§AB]

7 stars in the pleaides sounds good. Tonight looks ordinary it seems, bit of cloud and wind around. Also have some cumulus forming, indicating turbulent conditions and poor seeing.

Very early Tuesday morning, I was driving home from work at about 12:30am, was on the Monash going through Mulgrave and Dandenong - it was nice and clear but there was an area of low cloud towards Berwick. Lo and behold, turns out that patch of cloud was infact sitting right over Narre and Berwick

[ving (David)]

gah! i need to get out and do some observing... man am i lazy!

thanks for the report

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Doesn't matter how energetic you are Dave, the clouds will beat you at the moment But at least we are getting some of the wet stuff.