I decided to leave my scope out overnight so it would be all cooled off to look at Saturn in the morning. I'm glad I did. I think this was my best view of Saturn's rings that I ever had. I easily saw the dimmer ring towards the planet (the C ring?) and sometimes saw a line way out beyond the Cassini gap - is that the Enke?
Then it got light. Next time I do this remind me to get up earlier so I have more time to view. And to leave the light shield in the garage so the bear doesn't mess with it again.
This scope is a 10" f9.6 2-truss scope with a Dob Driver II I am building. It still has some smoothness "issues", so I couldn't crank the magnification up as high as I wanted this time. ~240x was the most consistent good view, 350x was still great, but too jiggly. I even tried about 440x, but that was pushing it a bit too far. I know the next thing I need to do with this mount, so I will have to see if that fixes my vibrations.
Charlie
Then it got light. Next time I do this remind me to get up earlier so I have more time to view. And to leave the light shield in the garage so the bear doesn't mess with it again.
This scope is a 10" f9.6 2-truss scope with a Dob Driver II I am building. It still has some smoothness "issues", so I couldn't crank the magnification up as high as I wanted this time. ~240x was the most consistent good view, 350x was still great, but too jiggly. I even tried about 440x, but that was pushing it a bit too far. I know the next thing I need to do with this mount, so I will have to see if that fixes my vibrations.
Charlie
Fort Lewis Observatory: (37.238, -108.052) ~2360m (7744 ft.) elevation.
Darkness - typically 6.5+
Scope - Meade 16" LX200; f6.3 focal reducer
Focus - JMI Smart focus
Camera - SBIG ST-10XE; (~.5"/pixel)
Guiding - AO-8 and/or Meade 5"/DSI/PHD
http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory
