A few things we saw tonight

darkskybondi · #1 24-01-2009, 05:02 AM

Went along to the North Sydney observing session tonight. Was good fun. Helped me decide that I'll buy a wide field eyepiece next!

Just a little gratuitous field report:

Collimation remains a challenge but still managed to observe Eta Carinae, Tarantula, 47 Tuc, Saturn, Orion, and a couple of other objects through the night. Almost all of them were impressive. I am still new and confused by the physics of the fact that higher power eyepieces reduce the light that gets to your eyes. This seems weird and frustrating... Tarantula looks excellent with a 25mm EP but you switch up to 10mm and it's lost so much brightness.

There's still a lot of light pollution at the Turramurra site but regardless, it was a lot of fun and I learned a lot in the space of a few hours. Good fun having the biggest scope there tonight (10 inch) - what with being the centre of attention and all - but I'm looking forward to seeing what things look like through some bigger apertures in observing sessions to come!

Cheers
DSB

Davekyn (David) · #2 24-01-2009, 09:08 AM

Hi DSB,
Glad the conditions were right for you. Sounds like you had a good night. Know what you mean about the highs mag EPs diming the light. I think I get better results using a 2X barlow to match the magnification between...let's say a 6mm without 2XBarlow, then a 12mm with. I could be wrong given the 12mm is an ED with a lot more eye relief and simply better quality. Then there is the issue of weather a 2" may be brighter or dimmer than a 1.25" EP. I am only just learning as well...Perhaps someone would care to comment on the issue?

Yea...It is great having the biggest scope for the night

. Happened to me not long ago,except I had absoloutly no idea where to point the damn thing!

I am also thinking of adding two high quality EPs to match my scopes. Have a good one DSB

darkskybondi · #3 26-01-2009, 05:44 AM

thanks for the reply mate - i had the smallest scope this evening! see my next post.

cheers!
dsb

GrampianStars (Rob) · #4 26-01-2009, 06:13 AM

Still looks fabulous in a 13mm hyperion 68deg field of view

http://www.alpineastro.com/Eyepieces...s.htm#hyperion

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkskybondi

... Tarantula looks excellent with a 25mm EP but you switch up to 10mm and it's lost so much brightness.
Cheers
DSB