I'm so wrecked!

iceman (Mike) · #1 12-05-2008, 03:10 AM

This is my 4th morning in a row of imaging Jupiter.. The seeing has been pretty bloody good, in some cases excellent..

I've got a hundred gigs of data still to get through, I don't finish processing one lot and i've got another night of data backing up on top of that.

I so needed a full nights sleep tonight before work today, and was hoping it would be cloudy (a change is coming) when I woke up but it was beautiful and clear. I looked through the eyepiece, hoping it would be crap seeing, but it was pretty good again.

So i'm out again, 4th night.

The expected cloud bank is now moving in from the NE and will reach Jupiter in about 10 minutes, so I'll be able to go back to bed shortly, thank goodness

danielsun · #2 12-05-2008, 03:19 AM

Good to hear that someone having some good seeing.
It has been nothing but thick cloud here for the last 4 weeks.

iceman (Mike) · #3 12-05-2008, 05:41 AM

It started clearing just as I finished packing up

but I suspect it would continue to be patchy.

Also I remember this from last year - sometimes when I try to go back to bed for an hour or two before having to get up for work, often I just lie there in a daze - unable to fall asleep but unable to move. Eventually sleep comes but not for long.

Sometimes you wake up feeling worse than if you'd just stayed up!

Lee · #4 12-05-2008, 06:52 AM

When you find yourself wishing for clouds, you need a rest Mike!

Garyh · #5 12-05-2008, 08:25 AM

Felt the same up this way Mike..Had so many lovely nights, I was staying up to 1-2am every night for a week maybe a bit more....and up before 6am...but have caught up a bit more the last few days

yeah the seeing was great the other night/last night but that low cloud just kept coming in from the east like usual when the seeing is good here...but did manage a few avi`s between the clouds

Shall keep a eye out on all your jup posts!
cheers

acropolite (Phil) · #6 12-05-2008, 08:35 AM

I envy you, I struggle without proper sleep. Maybe you could take some train sleeping lessons Mike....

AstralTraveller (David) · #7 12-05-2008, 01:49 PM

Mike,

I just came across on of those 'words of wisdom' raves you occasionally see. One of the points read: There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness. Don't stumble over it.

Dave

renormalised (Carl) · #8 12-05-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

Mike,

I just came across on of those 'words of wisdom' raves you occasionally see. One of the points read: There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness. Don't stumble over it.

Dave

Dave, there's one slight problem with that.....we're all WAY PAST that point!!!!!

Ian Robinson · #9 12-05-2008, 02:18 PM

I can't get to sleep before 2am , so used to shiftwork , working long double shifts and call ins) , staying up late studying , or fishing for jewie all night (in summer , two or 3 times a week unless I find they are biting their heads off - when I have been known to fish 4 nights in a row) , and of cause staying up late to do a spot of star gazing.
I can usually get by with 3 or 4 hours sleep (so long as I hit the pillow before the sun pokes over the horizon), but burning the candle at both ends eventually catches up with you and the need to crash becomes overpowering.

Beauty of getting older is you seem to need less sleep.

Two nights in roll the nutty neighbour hasn't had his back light on all night , too bad it's been cloudy (here)....

Chippy (Nick) · #10 12-05-2008, 05:10 PM

I agree the seeing has been surprisingly good the past 4 nights. I've been observing Jupiter through my new binoviewers (on 8" dob) and had no trouble pumping up to 400X+ (not sure of exact mag). Boy I love binoviewers... and Jupiter of course!

!

Sleep and health have suffered - minor problems.

AstralTraveller (David) · #11 12-05-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chippy

I've been observing Jupiter through my new binoviewers (on 8" dob) and had no trouble pumping up to 400X+ (not sure of exact mag). Boy I love binoviewers...

I don't think I could use that sort of magnification with mine. What brand of binoviewers and eyepieces do you use? I have a WO bino with the standard eyepieces.

cheers,
Dave

skwinty (Steve) · #12 12-05-2008, 10:54 PM

To quote William Herschel "The undevout astronomer must be mad"

renormalised (Carl) · #13 13-05-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skwinty

To quote William Herschel "The undevout astronomer must be mad"

I always thought Bill was a genius

leon · #14 13-05-2008, 02:24 PM

Go on you Mike, If only the clouds would part down Vic way, it has been rather ordinary for weeks on end.

Glad someone is having a good time.

leon

§AB · #15 16-05-2008, 11:13 AM

^^ calling it ordinary is basically praising this weather.

Disgusting, abhorrent, normal Melbourne weather is more fitting....

Chippy (Nick) · #16 19-05-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

I don't think I could use that sort of magnification with mine. What brand of binoviewers and eyepieces do you use? I have a WO bino with the standard eyepieces.

cheers,
Dave

I just bought the el cheapo Andrews BV. I'm using it with standard 15mm GSO plossils and a stellarvue OCA (although it will also work OK with my 2" GSO ED barlow - I even doubled them up for some fun). I can also get it to work with my 1.25" 2.5X GSO barlow if I use the 1.25 adapter from my 2" barlow.

I didn't expect much - and have been pleasantly surprized. I must admit that at 400X the image was starting to wash out a little and not razor sharp - still sharp enough to make out features tho!

You can push the moon a bit harder of course, and Saturn slightly less than Jupiter - but Jupiter is my ideal target ;-) Also its going overhead at a nice time at the moment - which makes for better viewing than Saturn generally.

Coooooollll !!!