Observing Report 11/26/03
Equipment: Heep ('umble 4.5" DS Newtonian on EQ mount, 900mm, f/8)
Eyepeices: 20mm, 10mm, 6.7mm Meade Plossls, 2x Orion Shorty Barlow
Location: Newmarket, Ont. (approx. 44n, 79w)
Time: 0300 - 0400 UT
=======================================================
Thank God, a sucker hole! After literally weeks of cloud, Sunny Southern Ontario was treated to a night of ... well, more cloud, but interspersed with brief spells of clear skies. Just to put this in perspective, here we have had six clear nights since Thanksgiving. Count 'em six. And BTW, for those of you from America, our Thanksgiving took place on Oct. 13. And three of those nights were under a gibbous, nearly full moon. So I've been suffering through a dry spell of epic proportions.
So, last night at around 0300 UT (10:00 PM local), I look up from my kitchen window, where I was allegedly preparing to make shortbread, and I see Saturn, Castor, and Pollux. Yes, to my astonishment, the clouds have parted. A perfect opportunity to test my latest toy: an Orion Shorty barlow I purchased from Astromart. Actually, I had purchased it about two weeks ago, but never had the opportunity to use it, considering the weather coditions.
So I raced outside and set up Heep, dropped in the 20mm EP (45x), and took a look. The image was still a little wobbly, but the scope was already pretty cool because I keep it in my garage. Seeing was excellent, because within 15 minutes, the view was razor sharp. Cassini Division, plus a couple of surface bands, were visible in the 10mm EP, as well as at least three moons.
I then dropped the 10mm into the Barlow, for a screaming 180x view. Wow. The image dimmed a little, but the planet is so bright to begin with that I didn't lose any detail, in fact the south polar region showed a distinct colour difference between the very center of the cap and the outside fringe; and I got a faint view of the inner "C" ring just at the ansae. I don't think I've seen Saturn as sharp in my life.
I moved on to M42, which was very bright in the 20mm, a bright cloud around the Trapezium, and delicate swweps of cloud extending into space. But as always, the best view was with the 90mm. The image filled the eyepeice and showed a wealth of detail. Again, I bumped up the magnification to 180x using the Barlow, in an attempt to see the E and F stars of the Trap, but couldn't find them.
I wanted to wander back to Gemini, to try nail down NGC 2158, M35's ghostly and distant companion, but by that time clouds had moved in again, and stayed for the duration. Total viewing time: 50 minutes. It wasn't much, but I got my fix. Judging by the weather recently, it may have to last me a while.
Clear nights ... dark sites,
Darren
Equipment: Heep ('umble 4.5" DS Newtonian on EQ mount, 900mm, f/8)
Eyepeices: 20mm, 10mm, 6.7mm Meade Plossls, 2x Orion Shorty Barlow
Location: Newmarket, Ont. (approx. 44n, 79w)
Time: 0300 - 0400 UT
=======================================================
Thank God, a sucker hole! After literally weeks of cloud, Sunny Southern Ontario was treated to a night of ... well, more cloud, but interspersed with brief spells of clear skies. Just to put this in perspective, here we have had six clear nights since Thanksgiving. Count 'em six. And BTW, for those of you from America, our Thanksgiving took place on Oct. 13. And three of those nights were under a gibbous, nearly full moon. So I've been suffering through a dry spell of epic proportions.
So, last night at around 0300 UT (10:00 PM local), I look up from my kitchen window, where I was allegedly preparing to make shortbread, and I see Saturn, Castor, and Pollux. Yes, to my astonishment, the clouds have parted. A perfect opportunity to test my latest toy: an Orion Shorty barlow I purchased from Astromart. Actually, I had purchased it about two weeks ago, but never had the opportunity to use it, considering the weather coditions.
So I raced outside and set up Heep, dropped in the 20mm EP (45x), and took a look. The image was still a little wobbly, but the scope was already pretty cool because I keep it in my garage. Seeing was excellent, because within 15 minutes, the view was razor sharp. Cassini Division, plus a couple of surface bands, were visible in the 10mm EP, as well as at least three moons.
I then dropped the 10mm into the Barlow, for a screaming 180x view. Wow. The image dimmed a little, but the planet is so bright to begin with that I didn't lose any detail, in fact the south polar region showed a distinct colour difference between the very center of the cap and the outside fringe; and I got a faint view of the inner "C" ring just at the ansae. I don't think I've seen Saturn as sharp in my life.
I moved on to M42, which was very bright in the 20mm, a bright cloud around the Trapezium, and delicate swweps of cloud extending into space. But as always, the best view was with the 90mm. The image filled the eyepeice and showed a wealth of detail. Again, I bumped up the magnification to 180x using the Barlow, in an attempt to see the E and F stars of the Trap, but couldn't find them.
I wanted to wander back to Gemini, to try nail down NGC 2158, M35's ghostly and distant companion, but by that time clouds had moved in again, and stayed for the duration. Total viewing time: 50 minutes. It wasn't much, but I got my fix. Judging by the weather recently, it may have to last me a while.
Clear nights ... dark sites,
Darren
