Near Full Moon Nights

All,

What do you all do when the moon is near full? Deep sky is out. No planets positioned well for observation. Even looking at the moon itself is not very interesting!

Don't you hate it when those rain clouds move out, and the sky looks so clear and blue, and then you see the big round moon rising in the east?

Poor man's DSO - double stars

Dmitri

One other thing, rays on the moon show up better at full moon.

Plus I don't gripe about the neighbor's lights.

Mike

I've been addicted to double stars for lots of decades. I only consider the bright moon periods as another observing opportunity.

Color contrasts, magnitude contrasts, position angles, triples, equalateral triples, quads; lots to see.

I can take a break from large aperture viewing and use smaller more comfortable stuff.

Seeing determines the view, not transparency so much.

Fun times,
John

Catch up on sleep.

I didn't use to do anything.

But last year I was visiting Romania, and I was out observing, and I fell asleep, and a crazy dog came and bit me.

Now, every full moon I get in a nasty mood and sit around all night shaving.

Alex

I've just come from outside - even Albireo looked pathetic (a high haze besides the Moon). But speaking of double doubles: I've bumped into a nice double some 30' from Albireo - Struve 2539.

Dmitri

Worked on my observing chair, read, checked the internet for interesting possible purchased. Practiced star hopping, even tho when I got there I couldn't see M51 with my 12" Dob. Both M57 and M13 will still worthy. Planned to buy a set of Televue plossls. Gosh guys, there are tons to do when the moon is full.

All,

I am back from the weekend. Thanks for all your responses.

Last night I got less than an hour to look at DSO's in Sco and Sag. Then all of the sudden I couldn't see them very well any more. Even M22 became blahhh with very few stars visible in my 90mm. You guessed it, the moon rose in the mean time.

I did get a look at the double Graffias and M6 and M7 looked good. Incidentally, I often view Alberio, and I ran across gamma Delphinus last year. I haven't yet put together a nice collection of doubles to fall back on on bright moonlit nights.

I do follow the lunar 100 articles in S & T, but I haven't made an organized search for them.

Better tonight, and tomorrow night.