Seems like forever ago since I was last outside with the scope!
In fact my last imaging opportunity was the 26th May!!
Nice to be out amongst it tonight, imaging Jupiter with the GRS and the new NEB upheaval rotating into view.
Seeing is ok for the most part, not great but better than average which is nice for a change. I can't believe how much bigger Jupiter is since I last saw it!
Something is starting to fog up which I'm not happy about..
I hope other Sydney/Newcastle guys are out amongst it tonight!
I've been wanting to do a bit of planetary for ages but obviously can't get that sort of image scale with the refractor, time to drag out the 12" I think.
I have been soooo demotivated because of the weather, and other stuff going on. Haven't been out under the stars since the SASI Mudgee Star Party, which concluded on the Anzac Day weekend - 9 weeks this coming weekend but who's counting .
I'll be out there tonight setting up and hoping that the weather does as the forecasts are saying, clear through till Thursday, and I can leave everything setup in my nice little secure area at home.
melbournes just had a few nice nights, way out in the far east side anyway, probably our lot for another month or so. but it is very wet dew dripping and a bit colder than 10 deg.
My lawn is like a rice paddy - I am afraid to put the scope on the lawn in case it sinks! Might have a go at Neptune late tonight from the solidity of my driveway.
Yeah, rub it in! Having missed the weekend, I went out last night at 1am after finishing all the work at my desk, to observe that the sky had remained clear until then! Well, I consoled myself with the fact that the stars were twinkling madly. Sigh.
I was sorely tempted to have a crack at Joop last night, but by the time it cleared the houses, I was too stuffed to set up and give it a first go.
Add to that my general displeasure at having to wait so damn long to have a GLIMPSE at the stars, I felt like it was payback by not setting up in the first place.
Deeno and I decided to set up in my driveway last night and it didn't disappoint. Our Argo N's were working overtime, catching up on all the objects in the sky at this time of year of which we haven't seen for ages, due to the woeful weather of late.
Bit dewy however, and was a good test of dew heaters.
Waited till Jupiter came up in the east, seeing not too bad with plenty of occasional crisp views and detail.
As you say Mike it looks bigger than usual. Hope you got some good data.
Might get out again tonight as lookin' OK.
Make hay while the sun shines as they say,or see stars while the sky's clear.(as it may not last)
Cheers
Well I was out amongst it last night too. The dew was unbelievable at Point Clare, and you wouldn't believe it - The Thousand Oaks dew system imploded - and gave up on me. A great shame....hopefully Bambo can help work out if it is salvagable over the wénd.
Still, I had some nice views in the early evening before the seeing went crap at about 11pm. Best view was of M20 - I saw more stars in the heart than I have before...and some of the stars in M22 showed more orange colour than I can remember, which was a nice find. Tried to hunt down some obscure galaxies in Centaurus, but without much luck.
I finally got the scope out last night for the first time since the Pony club meeting 3 new moons ago. With all the rain last week and over the weekend had the submersible pump in the backyard on all day yesterday and by night the yard was pretty firm.. Had a mate and his son over for a while for a viewing. They were amazed and blown away by what we can see up there. Dew was getting very heavy my way by 10pm. Overall I'm glad I got out there.
Can't get out there tonight though, I was supposed to be going out till 9pm but I'm giving it a miss as I'm coming down with a bit of a lurgy. Hopefully I'll get over it by the weekend if conditions are ok for the Pony Club and anyone's going up there.
BTW Mike glad you got some data, looking forward to the final result.
Got the dob out last night at last. Problem was I couldn't find the Argo Navis, oh no, I'd left it at the beach house.
Only one thing to do, star hop and enjoy. LP wasn't that bad but pulled the pin about 11 and was happy.
One question, Is light pollution better or worse in winter than summer? After not having a scope out for about 2 months it seemed a bit darker last night than in the warmer months.
Our Argo N's were working overtime, catching up on all the objects in the sky at this time of year of which we haven't seen for ages, due to the woeful weather of late.
