Observing report 6th aug

[asimov (John)]

Seeing conditions:8/10

Transparency:10/10

Wind:nil

jetstream: no idea

Dew: medium

Another pleasant nights viewing starting just before midnight. 152mm F/8 achro EQ5. This 'cheap' refractor never ceases to amaze me. On DSOs it's pretty damn good..If this is any indication, I just can't wait to get my hands on an APO!

Lagoon nebula: Very pleasant to look at @ 50X

Triffid: Someone's been dropping burnouts on those bitumen roads! (dust lanes) Blacker than in the reflector @ 50X-160X

Omega nebula: Spent 3 hours on this sketching it. Nice views!

Tarantula nebula: I love looking at this. The more you look, the more you see. Really nice details @ 50X

Globula's: Saw quite a few of these that I don't know the names of.

Split antares @ 80X ?? Fact. Using the aperture mask

Mars: This planet brings out the worst in everything. The telescope, the seeing. But I must admit it's the best view of it I've copped so far. Using the aperture mask & the fringe killer I saw the dark markings & the polar cap...Is this dwindling, or what? seems to be getting smaller (the cap I mean)

I've been waiting for mars to get higher while I'm typing this, so I'm off to have another gander!

Update: Just got back in. The seeing is deteriorating swiftly. 5/10.

Mars was a total washout! Not to worry.

I'm excited though! because I caught the orion nebula!!! Oh what a wonderful sight! @ 50X the nebulousity extended more than I've ever seen it.
4 stars in the trapezium. Would you believe, while I was viewing it, TWO satellites crossed my FOV? 1 I managed to track for about 15 secs. The other one was too quick for me. I got up close & personal with the orion neb. @ 80X & 160X I'll never get enough of the orion nebula.

Pleiades: There up there at 5.30am....Saw em'.

Horse head nebula: Could see the nebulousity where it's located. Can't expect miracles out of a 6" achro now can we?

[Kieken]

Why is everybody having cloudless nights . Don't forget to post the sketch you've made of the Omega Nebula. Three hours is pretty long so I'm curious .

[asimov (John)]

Already up kieken...in the observing challenge section.

[jackenau]

Would have to say, or agree with you Asimov, Last night was one of the best nights for viewing I have seen since I started this wonderful pastime.

Lots to look at, particularly around zenith. (dew was a bit of a problem, so I kept my observing sessions down to about 30 minutes at a time, covering the scope etc for the same amount of time and the resuming my observing session, before concluding around 1am). Started around 8pm and unfortunatley had to work this morning, hence the cut off around 1am.

Now if only I new what I was looking at, but boy it was good. Some really faint fuzzies up there.

Ken M

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Nice observing run, that night was a nice night, but a little too cold for me without being fully prepared. Nice work.

[asimov (John)]

Hi Guy's, & thanks. It's even better tonight, But I haven't been to bed for a couple of days so I'm gonna have an early night. (maybe)

[dhumpie]

The conditions here have been excellent as well (particularly on Sat when I was at the Astrofest in Linville!!!). have been out observing the past two nights as well for quick sessions with my Orion 80ST. Transparency has to be the best I have seen the past couple of nights. Logged only a few objects through my spotter scope...M57: nice lil' doughnut at 40x with the UHC, dumbbell nebula: nice rectangle with the UHC with some faint extensions, M13: fuzzy ball with condensed core, Omega Centauri: nice big ball of fluff with some stars resolved at 40x, 5189: very small and faint at 40x with the UHC.

More to come on the weekend.....

Darren

p/s: the Veil Nebula and the North American were awesome on the weekend through my new 102 f/5 with the UHC and the 32mm Plossl in place

[ving (David)]

horse head... I understand this can acutally be seen w/out a filter if its dark enough and you have enough aperture and a good imagination. I am working on this one.

what sorta UHC you got?

[davidpretorius]

very nice asimov, tassie weather is crap, am down in hobart on business for the rest of the week and i am missing my scope!

[dhumpie]

What you need is a travel scope Davo

Darren