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  #1  
Old 22-01-2010, 05:02 AM
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iceman (Mike)
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Thumbs up I did it! I used my telescope!

No, this is not a joke. This is not april fools day!

I setup my telescope last night, first time in 4 months, and I actually used it! I took some video data of Mars at around 12:30am-1:00am, and got up again this morning to image Saturn at 4:30am.

Wow it had been a while.. I didn't forget anything but everything just took a little bit longer and felt a bit more clunky. The seeing wasn't horrible, which was nice for a change. But it wasn't good either.

Unfortunately fog this morning prevented any useful Saturn data - it was really dim even at 7.5fps, so I just captured 1 dim red channel and packed up. I couldn't believe how high Saturn is already! I was looking for it lower on the horizon but it turned out to be just a star

Anyway I'll process the Mars data later and see what comes of it.

Once I got into it, I was enjoying it enough - but it didn't start out that way. At the start, I had the usual thoughts... "please be cloudy", "please be horrible seeing" - anything to turn around and crawl back into bed.

But I fought through those feelings, and this morning I have that tired, gritty-eyes feeling that I remember.. LOL.
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  #2  
Old 22-01-2010, 06:12 AM
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h0ughy (David)
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well done - you never know mike i might end up taking a planet shot this year too
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  #3  
Old 22-01-2010, 06:55 AM
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sheeny (Al)
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Al.
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Old 22-01-2010, 07:02 AM
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Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
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Al.
Ditto!
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  #5  
Old 22-01-2010, 07:04 AM
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iceman (Mike)
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.. and to prove that I did get up and try for Saturn, here's the terrible result from a very very dim capture run of just the red channel.

Maybe next time
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  #6  
Old 22-01-2010, 07:35 AM
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h0ughy (David)
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we have just had a southerly change of some description come through - you would have had that to contend with?
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  #7  
Old 22-01-2010, 08:30 AM
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spacezebra (Petra)
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Congrats Mike, good to hear that you are back in action.

Cheers Petra d.
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  #8  
Old 22-01-2010, 11:03 AM
el_draco (Rom)
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Sob Sob Sob... Oh the INJUSTICE!!!

Sniffle... whimper... sob...

5 outa 7 weeks of holiday gone... 2 crap observing sessions...

NOT ONE pixel !!!!

Sniffle... whimper... sob...

Sniffle... whimper...

Sniffle...

boo hoo
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  #9  
Old 22-01-2010, 11:09 AM
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RB (Andrew)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman View Post
No, this is not a joke. This is not april fools day!

I setup my telescope last night, first time in 4 months, and I actually used it! I took some video data of Mars at around 12:30am-1:00am
...
...
Anyway I'll process the Mars data later and see what comes of it.
Hah !!
About time !!

I've been waiting to see you do Mars again, cool !

Now hurry up and process......
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  #10  
Old 22-01-2010, 11:52 AM
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rogerg (Roger)
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Good on ya Mike

Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman View Post
...At the start, I had the usual thoughts... "please be cloudy", "please be horrible seeing" - anything to turn around and crawl back into bed. ....
Yeah, I know what you mean.
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  #11  
Old 22-01-2010, 04:10 PM
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leon
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Yea I had wondered what had happen to your scope, your Planet stuff was always sensational.

Leon
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  #12  
Old 22-01-2010, 04:36 PM
bloodhound31
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Mike, I'd be happy with even that image of Saturn...it beats my best of the planet.... LOL.
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  #13  
Old 22-01-2010, 06:35 PM
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Satchmo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman View Post
I setup my telescope last night, first time in 4 months, and I actually used it!
Mike , You are definitely ready to take up a new hobby
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  #14  
Old 23-01-2010, 12:14 AM
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floyd_2 (Dean)
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There was a period not so long ago that lasted about 2 years where I didnt get the scope out once (shame on me). But I'm back...as usual! I'll see you outside tomorrow night Mike!
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  #15  
Old 23-01-2010, 04:33 AM
Nightskystargaz (Thomas)
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Mike,

Now since you got out, You'll have to get out more often.

,

Tom
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  #16  
Old 23-01-2010, 07:32 AM
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Doodles23 (Dave Bleser)
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We are both in the same predictament

Mike:

Yes. Your Saturn looks like our Saturn from a few days ago. And we also are immersed in fog and constantly irritating clouds and what I call "Sky Sludge". Typically, in January, we get 3-4 nights of possibly clear enough Skies for dragging the scope out. So don't bother getting on a flight to Miami as it's the same story here. We pray for the Southern winds and the super seeing that comes with it. Instead we get a jet stream right over our face.
Are you serious that you had to wait 4 months????? What is your temperature at night in your winter time?
We did finally get a halfway decent Mars with our C14 on Jan 20th as you can see here.

Dave in Miami
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