2 September 2023 Observation Notes.

 
Set up to observe Jupiter. The blocks on the stool are to increase it's height while observing at low angles. A head lamp is hanging on the side of the eyepiece case so I can reference "Turn Left At Orion", a reference notebook, and my journal. I was holding my Celestron red light to take the picture.


  
 
I wasn't planning on observing tonight because the forecast cloud cover was too much. However, at about 20:30 the sky was almost completely clear, with a few high cirrus far to the west.  Started at 21:30, but had to realign because I accidentally pulled the power jack out of the mount. At 21:45 I was on Saturn again. Was picking bright targets because sky was bright, even though the Moon wasn't up yet.The seeing was similar to last time I observed Saturn. About 22:17 a band of high thin cirrus passed in front of Saturn, causing it to be more unsteady and fuzzy, as though out of focus.

At 22:20 the 92% waning moon came up the Sapphires. I took time to go in and get my jacket, then at 22:45 started observing the moon. Looking along and near the terminator, I was caught by the odd shape of a crater. I identified it as Posidonious using TLAO and moon maps from Norton's 2000. Scanning southward, I noticed an interesting grouping and tried to sketch them. I later made tentative IDs using online Lunar atlases. I took quite a bit of time trying to sketch both sets of craters. 

At 23:16 I moved over to Jupiter, which was just a few degrees above the Sapphires. Using the 13mm eyepiece, I could basically see the two main bands in the atmosphere, and slight brownish shading in the polar regions.



After sketching Jupiter, I decided to try to locate Uranus. Was able to locate it, about 13 degrees above the SE horizon. In the 13mm eyepiece, it showed a definite disc, with a very faint bluish tint.

All of these observations were made despite intermittent passing cirrus. Unfortunately, just after midnight the clouds finally thickened up enough to make observing too difficult.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Observing Log 24 July 2022 I had tried to set up the scope and have it do a 2 star alignment a couple of weeks ago, but the battery charge got too low before I could finish. I ordered the AC adapter, and it arrived a few days later. This was the first time I had a chance to get out and try it. I picked a spot that gave decent views of the southern sky and set three flat paving blocks where the tripod legs would be. Power was run using an extension cord from the wood shop.I set up the telescope at about 23:00. The 2 star alignment function worked well. The only issue was that one of the stars I picked to try wasn't listed in the catalogue, so I had to pick another. Where I set up trees blocked the north and northeast skies. This limited my choices somewhat. Tried out the Sky Tour function. Still using the 25mm eyepiece. Some of the objects were hidden behind the trees or were still below the ridge line to the east. Did get a good view of Andromeda. No fine detail, but an elongated o...
Read more

26 March, 2025, Mars and an almost major oops!

This was my first opportunity to get out and observe for a month. Weather has not been very cooperative! The sky started out with some high, thin clouds. It seems like there was a lot of haze/humidity in the air, lights in the area showing definite halos. For some reason there wasn't any dew yet though. I started setting up at dusk, and made my first observation about 21:00 MDT. I did a solar system alignment using Jupiter, then observed that using 17mm Plossl (119.5x) and 13mm Plossl (156.3x) eyepieces.Seeing was much better than last time out, but at 156x it was hard to maintain focus. I would estimate seeing as Antoniadi 3. The North and South  Equatorial Bands were easily visible as distinct very light brownish bands. There were occasional hints of the South polar Band.  Since seeing was decent, I wanted to make another try at Mars. It is rapidly diminishing after opposition, which was not a real great one. Again used the 17 and 13 mm eyepieces. the view through the 17mm w...
Read more