The WOW factor...

[asimov (John)]

Here's my version of an observing report. First written report in over 10 years. lol

1st & 2nd aug viewing log.

Seeing conditions: ranging from 8/10 - 3/10

Transparency: 9/10

Winds: S-SW 0-20 kph

Jet-stream: Present. 120-140 kph

12.5" newt EQ mount un-driven

Objects viewed.

Jupiter: At sunset. excellent view, Nth & Sth polar regions visible. 8 belts & GRS visible. Noticeable 'swirls' in temperate zones. 106-212X

Uranus: 45 mins to locate. Apparent disc easily discernable. No surface details observable. 318X

Neptune: 10 mins to locate. Apparent disk easily discernable. No surface details observable. 318X

Mars: Large apparent disk. No polar cap visible. Dark markings on surface easily seen. 106-397X

30 Doradus: Looped nebula: Tarantula nebula: Extremely complex in structure. Bright visually. 66X

omega centauri: globular cluster. Stars resolved to core. Takes up entire field at 66X.

omega nebula: Very bright. 'comet' shape very apparent. 66-106X

Trifid nebula: Resolved beautifully at 106X Dust lanes very apparent. 4 central stars observable.

Lagoon nebula: Quite bright. Detail resolving over time. 66X

Antares: Could not 'split'. 212-397X

Attempted location of pluto. Not found. 397-636X

Observed numerous other 'faint fuzzies'.

[asimov (John)]

I'm trying to verify weather or not I captured Triton visually last night...Here's what I saw..

[davidpretorius]

what is transparency? and how do we rate it, as opposed to seeing???

[davidpretorius]

Asmimov,

To get the magnification figure, with my focal length of 1250mm dividing 6.5mm = 192. to get to your 318x, do you have a longer focal length for your 12.5" newt. and what type of barlow?

thanks

dave p

[asimov (John)]

Hi Dave. Excellent reporting, by the way...Umm, the focal length of my scope is exactly 1600mm divided by FL of eyepiece.

[asimov (John)]

A term used to measure how transparent (Clarity) the sky is, low moisture, low pollution etc.

[asimov (John)]

Dave. I have the 1.25" APO series 4000 2X from meade

[davidpretorius]

thanks again,

Is this a fair summary?
seeing conditions = clouds etc?
transparency = low moisture, jet stream etc?

[asimov (John)]

No. ie: The rule, or way it was done back in the old days was this, as far as seeing conditions are concerned: the Antoniadi scale....'The observer indicates with a roman numeral the quality of the seeing according to the following scale: I-perfect seeing, without a quiver....II-slight undulations, with moments of calm lasting several seconds.....III-moderate seeing, with larger air tremors.....IV-poor seeing, with constant troublesome undulations.....V- very bad seeing, scarecely allowing the making of a rough sketch.....All seen at the EP of course.

Where the scale from 1-10 came from, I have no idea. I only came across it when I joined this forum. I usually stick to the Antoniadi scale.. So the term seeing is directly related to wind/air currents/thermals/atmospheric turbulance etc.

Transparency was never a 'factor' back in my day. My interpretation of this is how much dust/fog/dew etc is in the air.

[asimov (John)]

I think this simulation I found pretty well confirms it was Triton I saw last night?...

[davidpretorius]

well done, very exciting. if the clouds go away i will have a wander over into the east and have a look for uranus again