Hello all.

Its been awhile since I posted/replied on the forums but I thought I would share my latest observing session.

Using my XT12 Classic dob I started with Jupiter and although the wind was a little breezy at times the unseasonably warm weather made for a nice evening. All four Galilean moons were on one side of the planet as the GRS was center stage. The pale pink color of the spot was obvious and the two main equatorial belts were a distinct brownish tint. There was a very dark feature on the SEB just to the side (following) the GRS. I noticed this feature in early October observations so it will be interesting to see how long it remains. Overall it was a grand view at 187x and 250x.

I then set my sights on Neptune. The small blueish disk showed itself with my 5mm Stratus at 300x. I was able to see the tiny speck of of its moon Triton with adverted vision.

Next Uranus was up and with the same 300x the more greenish disk of this remote world showed itself as well as the faint light of its moon Oberon. The other moon I have seen before (Titania) was to close to Uranus for me to see this night. It will be better placed tonight so maybe I will see it again then.

With the planets rounded up I then looked at a few DSO's. The Helix nebula was seen quite well with my 17mm Stratus and Ultrablock filter. A slightly darker center and subtle hint of structure was seen. The globular cluster M30 with its distinctive streamers of outlying stars was fantastic with many stars resolved. M15 was a surpeb ball of stars at 250x. I noticed on my chart there was a planetary nebula (NGC 7094) about 1.5 degrees from M15. I scanned this area with no luck at seeing anything. I then made a detailed chart from Starry Night and armed with this was able to find it. The nebula was very difficult and only just visible with filtration.

After that exercise I decieded to finish up the evening with some wide field views with my 120ST refractor. Using my 24mm Panoptic this gave me 25x and a 2.7 degree field. NCG 7789 in Cassiopeia was magnificent as a rich patch of stardust framed in between two pairs of stars on either side. Kemble"s Cascade was simply beautiful as its delicate string of 8th magnitude stars punctuated in the center by a 5th magnitude star angled across the entire field of view with the splotch of cluster NGC1502 at is end.The Double Cluster was amazing with its two bright splashes of stars completly encircled. The Andromeda Galaxy with M32 and M110 companions was very nice. M33 was just visible in my finder (9x50) and was a round featureless glow in the scope. The Pleides was awesome as the cluster fit beautifully in the field with plenyt of room all around.

At this time i noticed the glow of the Moon was coming so I took a quick look at Almach at 75x and called it a night.

Viewing with my 12" reflector is great but my little 4.7" refractor has its place in my arsenal as well.

Clear skies

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like you had a very enjoyable time under the stars. 

cgate:

All four Galilean moons were on one side of the planet as the GRS was center stage. The pale pink color of the spot was obvious and the two main equatorial belts were a distinct brownish tint. There was a very dark feature on the SEB just to the side (following) the GRS.

I don't know what it is about catching all 4 moons on just one side of Jupiter, but that's my favorite view of J's satellites.  And to catch the GRS in addition to the moons all on one side... that would've been a real treat.  Again, thanks for sharing. I hope to get out later tonight myself.  ~De

Very nice report.

cgate:

I then set my sights on Neptune. The small blueish disk showed itself with my 5mm Stratus at 300x. I was able to see the tiny speck of of its moon Triton with adverted vision.

Next Uranus was up and with the same 300x the more greenish disk of this remote world showed itself as well as the faint light of its moon Oberon. The other moon I have seen before (Titania) was to close to Uranus for me to see this night. It will be better placed tonight so maybe I will see it again then.

I am impressed with your being able to see the moons of Neptune and Uranus. This is something I have not been able to do yet with my 10".

Great report.  It is good to read them again.  There has ben too much lousy weather about the last few months.

Thanks for sharing,

L

Thanks for the replies double cluster869, leo731 and jodoak. Yes, it was good to get out and view. The good observing nights have been few and far between. 

jodoak:

I am impressed with your being able to see the moons of Neptune and Uranus. This is something I have not been able to do yet with my 10".

You should be able to see them with 10". The trick is to catch them when they are far from the planets themselves so that the glow will not drown them out. I use S&T's moon tracker utilitys to see when the satellites are in favorable positions.

Neptune's Triton is usually about the same distance and can be seen with adverted vision. Uranus's satellites are more trouble because of varying distances and because the planet is a little brighter.

I always use my Starry Night to flip my image and see where the satellites are going to be. You have to be carefull of false sightings because faint field stars around 14th mag. might be mistaken for a moon.

Clear skies

Great report, cgate .  Too often we forget about the distant worlds beyond Saturn.  Thanks for the reminder.

The Helix has always been elusive for me.  It stays so close to the horizon that finding it in my big dob is very difficult -- the eyepiece gets so close to the ground and being the rotund codger that I am it is hard to be comfortable at the EP.  I have seen it in my 120mm ST, but I'd really like to take a gander at it with a larger instrument.

Your description of the views through your short tube refractor make me want to take mine out again soon.  Perhaps tomorow night would be a good chance to do that?  Thanks again, observing reports that inspire me to get out and observe are my favorite kind.

cgate:

You should be able to see them with 10". The trick is to catch them when they are far from the planets themselves so that the glow will not drown them out. I use S&T's moon tracker utilitys to see when the satellites are in favorable positions.

As soon as I can get out to observe I will try to see them. Haven't had only a couple of clear nights and I was gone during  both of those.

zachsdad:

Great report, cgate .  Too often we forget about the distant worlds beyond Saturn.  Thanks for the reminder.

The Helix has always been elusive for me.  It stays so close to the horizon that finding it in my big dob is very difficult -- the eyepiece gets so close to the ground and being the rotund codger that I am it is hard to be comfortable at the EP.  I have seen it in my 120mm ST, but I'd really like to take a gander at it with a larger instrument.

Your description of the views through your short tube refractor make me want to take mine out again soon.  Perhaps tomorow night would be a good chance to do that?  Thanks again, observing reports that inspire me to get out and observe are my favorite kind.

Thanks zachsdad.

My trusty 120ST has served me well over the years in more ways than one.

Its too bad you can't see the Helix with your big gun.  

 I observed the next night and looked at the Sculptor galaxy NGC253. I think this galaxy is about the same declination as the Helix. There is a globular about 5 degrees below that (NGC288) that is most impressive for being so low. It resolved quite well into a faint ball of stardust. Sorry, maybe I should not have mentioned those. Maybe this will give you an excuse to use your 10" again? Would that telescope enable you to see that low?

Clear skies

cgate:

Maybe this will give you an excuse to use your 10" again? Would that telescope enable you to see that low?

It would be much easier with the 10" because the rocker position is about midway down the length of the tube instead of being all the way down at the mirror as it is in the Obsession.  It makes a lot more difference than I ever thought it would.

cgate:

I observed the next night and looked at the Sculptor galaxy NGC253. I think this galaxy is about the same declination as the Helix. There is a globular about 5 degrees below that (NGC288) that is most impressive for being so low. It resolved quite well into a faint ball of stardust. Sorry, maybe I should not have mentioned those.

zachsdad:

It would be much easier with the 10" because the rocker position is about midway down the length of the tube instead of being all the way down at the mirror as it is in the Obsession.  It makes a lot more difference than I ever thought it would. 

I was thinking you could raise the whole scope via a stand or sturdy table or something to the level as your 120ST?

To much trouble? To much work? Sorry, I was thinking again. Just ignore me. I'm used to it.

No appology needed, those are good ideas, but when the Obsession is pointed at zenith the eyepiece is just about seven feet high now requiring me to use a step stool to reach it.  That's not too bad, but I don't want to go any higher.  The overall weight of the scope is about 125 lbs so lifting it onto something would damage me .  If, however, I were to plan my session to start with lower altitude objects, I could use the wheelbarrow handles to roll it onto a platform via a ramp.  I could always reattach the handles later and bring it down for viewing higher objects . . . Now you've got me thinking.

Actually I was talking about the 10" scope not the 18".

By the way did you say those were good ideas?  I'm sorry but could you say that again in my good ear.

Now if you will excuse me I have to go copy that last post to hang on my wall.

Do you think if I have it framed, that would be too much? 

Between you, and northof48 in another thread talking about the Helix I became inspired and tried again last night with the Obsession.  It was almost ridiculously easy.  I'll post an observing report later today with all the details, but all I can say is my targeting skills with the big scope must have improved greatly in the past year.  I drew a bead with the Telrad and only had to nudge the scope a bit to put the big planetary into the FOV of my 26mm eyepiece. 

Thanks for the inspiration . . . that's why I like reading observing reports!