Go Back   IceInSpace > Equipment > Eyepieces, Barlows and Filters
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 07-03-2008, 02:54 PM
Peter Kalan
Registered User

Peter Kalan is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Malvern East 3145
Posts: 24
How to view planets during the day

Does anyone on know accessories need to purchase for my inch DOB so i can use it to view the planets during the day? Or does it only work at night?


Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-03-2008, 03:22 PM
§AB
Its only a column of dust

§AB is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New Iceland
Posts: 761
Jupiter and Venus can be seen during the day, but I'm not sure about Saturn.

You can use just any regular eyepiece.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-03-2008, 03:28 PM
rmcpb's Avatar
rmcpb (Rob)
Compulsive Tinkerer

rmcpb is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
Posts: 1,766
Hopefully this warning is unnecessary. Be very careful when observing Venus during the day as it is often quite close to the sun and you could blind yourself if you accidently get the sun in your scope.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-03-2008, 05:05 PM
Suzy_A's Avatar
Suzy_A
Registered User

Suzy_A is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Fremantle
Posts: 238
The easiest way is with a goto telescope. Set it for Jupiter or Venus or whatever and away it goes. Use a low power eyepiece and get it centred and then go to higher power.

If you don't have a goto, then it's a bit more difficult...

Use some sky software and figure out where the object is. Best way is to determine the azimuth and altitude. Then with a compass and something to measure the angle, figure out where it is. Then use binoculars to find the object. Its a good idea to have some sort of reference - like put a deck-chair in a location so that a roof or some object is in the field of view to give you a reference and then sweep the sky with the binocs. Once you've found the object and can reference it to the roof or whatever, then point your 'scope.

I've had a look at Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn during the day. Also Sirius, Canopus, A Centauri, B Centauri, Vega, Beetlejuice and a dozen or so other stars as well as a few comets. I've found all these with my ED80 or a 150 mm Mak.

There is not a huge amount to see - the contrast is really washed out, although some different coloured filters may help.

Obviously, you need to take care not to fry your eyeballs or other parts of yourself or equipment. With something like Mercury and Venus in particular, a great deal of care is needed. You may need to extend the tube or make some sort of sunshade to block the sunlight as even some sun coming down the tube but not even going on the mirror or lens may give enough reflection of the inside of the tube to fry you.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-03-2008, 09:24 PM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,548
And don't forget to leave the finderscope caps on as well. It will concentrate the sun light just as well as the main scope.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-03-2008, 01:27 PM
Peter Kalan
Registered User

Peter Kalan is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Malvern East 3145
Posts: 24
Thanks for the tips. But what about a filter? Should i be using one of these as well?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-03-2008, 04:10 PM
Suzy_A's Avatar
Suzy_A
Registered User

Suzy_A is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Fremantle
Posts: 238
You don't really need any filters, but if you try different filters - red, orange etc and also polarisers, you may get better contrast between the blue sky and the objects.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-03-2008, 10:05 AM
OneOfOne's Avatar
OneOfOne (Trevor)
Meteor & fossil collector

OneOfOne is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bentleigh
Posts: 1,386
The easiest way to avoid the Sun is to set it up in the shade and ensure that none of the scope catches the Sun. Of course you will need to check this shade as the day progresses so you don't suddenly find yourself out of the shade! When I have done this myself and have had to set up in the Sun, put the cap over the top as you move the scope around to a different target.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-03-2008, 12:49 AM
Peter Kalan
Registered User

Peter Kalan is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Malvern East 3145
Posts: 24
thanks. Ill try it out next clear day.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 05:48 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement