February observing challenge - from Davo - Page 2

davidpretorius · #21 31-01-2006, 12:24 PM

thanks for supporting the thread ving, now i must go and look up "sigma orionis"

ving (David) · #22 31-01-2006, 12:32 PM

its the bright star above alnitak in the belt

very pretty dave, you'll like it

gaa_ian (Ian) · #23 31-01-2006, 08:34 PM

Our Feb. challenge will be getting a look at anything but clouds

These challenges are great though, I look forward to being able to tackle them again

mickoking · #24 31-01-2006, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ving

so i didnt! I got out my poor old wobble-o-tronic 60mm f16

talking about 2 steps back! I havent looked thru this scope since i bought my 8" and now i know why! wobbly tripod, dodgey plastic 1" focuser and even dodgier EPs.... i gave it shot anyhow. with a 4mm EP @ 250x i could just make out rigels partner. admittedly the seeing was pretty bad (3-4/10) and the sky wasnt at it darkest (still pretty dark tho).

Rigel with a 60mm DST not too shabby

ving (David) · #25 07-02-2006, 12:35 PM

thnx mick

wasnt easy...

ok heres another fer ya davo!

ghost of j00p neb: man i had a task and a half finding it. the problem was that i was out too early and not all the major stars in the constellation were visible yet. kept hopping around the wrong star you see! anyhow as it got darker and more stars were aparent the task got easier, tho i still stumbled accross it....
shows up as a definite blue planet looking object at 80x (15mmGSO SV) with plenty of other stars withinthe FOV. due to exeptionally bad seeing and 1/2 a moon being out no real detail could be seen, but at least the colour did, brilliant blue.
am going back to this one later...

also viewed: numerous open clusters near or in carina, and saturn which was a white blob... seeing must have been close to 0/10 its the worst i have been out in. i stared on saturn at 80x and could just make out the casini div, then bumped it up to 160ish and lost 90% of detail

i want better seeing damn it!

davidpretorius · #26 07-02-2006, 01:21 PM

yes ving, i generally look for sirius when i step out side. it is nice and high, so has been very still for a while, but last night, it was twinkling shockingly.

no hope for any cassin division on saturn!

and this morning jupiter was the same!!