Urban Astronomy II

[nevers]

It is good to be back and I feel the same way about ya'll. There were plenty of times I wish I had an ear to bend.<br /><br />Anyway...I'm sure ya'll already know about it but if not, there is a good opportunity for us "Urban Warriors" in the early morning hours. Sometime around 5:45ish there are 5 visible Planets to see: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The first three are not good objects telescopically due to their proximity to the horizon, but, they make a pretty sight set against a backdrop of the pale blue sky.

 

[nevers]

Yesterday morning when I came home from work it was actually clear outside so I took a quick and not very good picture of the Mercury, Venus and Mars part of the sky. Below is the picture. If you are able to watch the early morning sky, on the 12th - 14th of January Mercury and Venus will become one bright spot in the sky!

 

[nevers]

Apparently it's been cloudy in all major cities across the world. Anybody have any luck lately? Somebody please tell me the Stars are still up there. Las Vegas has already doubled its total annual rainfall for the year and it even snowed last friday: 6 inches in some parts. I'm not sure if there's an end in sight anytime soon for the clouds and rain.

 

[bbrock]

Brad<br /><br />Last night there was a hole in the clouds for about one hour and I actually saw stars. I didn't think they existed any longer. I got my binoculars and found the comet before it clouded over again. Sure was exciting. Hope to catch it again next year!<br /><br />Bill<br /><br />

 

[nevers]

Hopefully it will clear up before then! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[nevers]

Hey, it finally cleared up! What is it: 2 months? Anyway, I kinda went to dark skies but not really. The Moon was at 93% plus even though I was almost 40 miles away, the Sky Glow from town was so awful it was really more like Urban Observing.<br /><br />I went with my son to a site we'd never been to before. It's "town-side" of the Valley of Fire but has pretty good horizons. We got to see the Comet "Markholz" (or whatever it is). I couldn't see it naked-eye or even the tail through the telescope (not even at low power), but I saw it. The nucleus was really bright and the surrounding glow were huge. I spent most of my time surfing in Cassiopeia (looking at things away from the moon) and found a few obscure NGC's and even a couple of Planetary Nebulae. I broke down and looked at the Moon. I'd never really seen it away from the City where the radiant heat, dust and such disturb the atmosphere. I was able to look at it super crisp @ 360x.<br /><br />We didn't spend much time out there but it was time well spent and a long time coming. I'm hoping the weather will hold for next months' new moon. The picture below is of our "camp" and facing towards the south and Las Vegas. The exposure is only 15 seconds but due to the light from the moon, it looks like broad day-light. You can even see mixed among the stars, the beam from the Luxor. I did a little tricky experiment: with the shutter open I ran up and stood by each 'scope for just a few seconds. You can see my "ghost" image at both 'scopes. My son is sitting in the chair.<br /><br />Hope to hear from some of you other Urban Warriors out there sometime soon.

 

[bbrock]

C_lou<br /><br />Next time you visit M35, there is a small fuzzy cluster about 1 degree away ( NGC something or another ). I love this group of clusters. M38 also has one of these faint fuzzy NGC's close by. I have resolved a few stars in them at 300x. M37 "I think" has a couple of red giants that have migrated close to the center of the cluster. My favorite are M35 and M37. I think M36 needs more vitamins. <br /><br />clear sky<br />Bill

 

[nevers]

Great session c_lou! I can only imagine what a hassle the "dew" problem would be. Auriga has another open cluster called NGC 2281: it's on the "Urban" List. It's magnitude is 5.4 and it's realatively large at 14'. I was surprised how nice of an object it was even from town here.<br /><br />The cluster Bill spoke of is NGC 2158: mag 8.6 and 5'. It's fairly small and dim but I've been able to see it with my 5" Newt from the backyard.<br /><br />Yes, the weather has be unfair to us for the last few months: seems like a nationwide problem. I'm glad you got a break.

 

[bbrock]

Brad<br /><br />I noticed you own an AstroView 100mm EQ. I have ordered the 120mm ST. You woulden't believe how much I have struggled to decide weather to get the short tube or the standard tube. In the end, the portability of the short tube won out. I guess I will just live with the chromatic aberation. <br /><br />Have you had any problems with the 100mm? There are not many reviews available for the 120mmST. Any limitations that are note worthy?<br /><br />Clear Sky<br />Bill

 

[nevers]

Hi Bill,<br /><br />First off, I'm kind of a penny pincher. I browse Orion's clearence section all the time and waited month's without finding the 120mm ST. When the 100mm showed up at clearence, I ordered it instead. I still think sometimes about getting the 120 ST too: simply for it's bigger aperture and f/5 vs the 100mm's f/6. But that's kind of silly so I haven't.<br /><br />I've had no real problems with the 'scope that were caused by it's making. The problems I've had were caused by freaks of nature or neglect on my part. Once, a big wind kicked up and blew my picnic tent over and into the 100mm. That was super scary but the 'scope came away unscathed. Another time I left it set up during the day while I was sleeping and I don't know what happened, but when I got up, I found it outside, laying on the ground. I don't know what really happened: if a tripod leg gave out, the wind knocked it over or somebody pushed it over, but, one of the tangs on the dovetail snapped off right at the bolt hole that holds the 'scope to the mount. ARGH...!<br /><br />When that happened is when I got the LXD55. You don't know how bad I wanted to order the 120 ST just because but I've held off and finally fixed the dovetail with JB Weld. It seems to holding on ok and the mount and 'scope still work beautifully. Visually, I've only really noticed chromatic abberation on things like Jupiter, Saturn, Pleiades, and Stars like Sirius & Capella. Some on the Moon while in it's fuller stages but that's really it. The abberation shows up on dimmer stars photographically.<br /><br />On the 100mm, the lense cover comes with a built-in aperture mask. I've found by using it, the "purple fringe" disappears entirely.<br /><br />Last year at GCSP, somebody had the 120 ST: it's views were awesome. For an Achy 'scope, you can't beat the price. I still want one someday. I think you will really, really enjoy it. The slo-mo controls are really smooth with no hesitation and the lock-down knobs are solid. I bel

 

[bbrock]

Hi Brad<br /><br />I appreciate your reply. Your high valuation of the 120ST means quite a lot. The portability issue weighed heavily in it's favor. In fact my wife agreed to invest in a "Travel Scope" after attempthing to takd the 10" one time on a camping trip. Not enough room with everything else. After buying the 10" reflector, I was afraid anything that looked like a very serious telescope would get me in hot water. The AstroView looks like half a telescope, but the 120 mm aperture is a serious aperture for any refractor. If it can stand it's own ground in clear images with moderate magnification, I will be tickled to death. Most of the time I have little time to view the heavens. On weekends I can take the time to set up the Atlas 10 or the Dob, but it still takes two or three trips back and forth with all the equipment from the basement. The AstroView I can pick up and carry in one trip. I look forward to trying this scope. <br /><br />I thought of the aperture mask. If I get into a lot of trouble with cromatic aberation I will try increasing the focal ratio by using the mask. I will likely try to push it over 200x. Especially if that is the only scope I have with me on trips. <br /><br />Much thanks Brad<br /><br />Clear Sky<br />Bill

 

[nevers]

Hi c_lou - <br /><br />As usual, great report! I'm glad somebody is getting to observe. I remember when I started out, "power" was what I thought was best for observing the sky. Now, I find myself more and more inclined to want to look at things in low power. For Urban observers, targets like Pleiades, Hyades, and Melotte 111 are easy enough objects to find. Now it's just a matter of containing them in a single glance. I saw an ad at Astromart for a Parks 50mm EP. Anybody ever hear of this?<br /><br />That's great you could even see a hint of fuzz for M78. It's always been one of those unattainable objects for me from my backyard. M110 is another that I keep trying for over and over again. Have you thought about scanning Ursa Major? It's riding high in the sky these days later at night. M97 may be a challenging object to find.<br /><br />Well, my forecast is calling for rain all through the weekend so I'll have to hope you can get out and I'll just read what you've done. Thanks c_lou...

 

[bbrock]

c_lou<br /><br />Great Report. I can relate to it very well, I did about the same this past weekend. Actually I spent the ovservation session Saturday Night playing with Setting Circles on objects I was familiar with. I'm trying to develope an effective technique for applying this. <br /><br /> I haven't tried M78 with the telescope, but I have seen it with my 15x70 binoculars, a faint fuzzy disk. The nebula I have had most trouble with is the California Nebula in Perseus. I have done all I can do. I personally think diffuse nebula are tough to view even with narrow band filters. You wonder how anyone ever found these things. The Vail Nebula is a classic example. I looked for this nebula in the center of its star field for over thirty minutes with a whold range of EP's. NOTHING. I put a nebula filter on a 25mm plossel and there it was. -- Not real obvious, but I could make it out. I wondered how anyone could have discovered this very "nebulous" object. <br /><br />Clear Sky<br />Bill

 

[nevers]

The California Nebula is one object that has been haunting me too! Of course I'll never ever see it from my backyard: heck, I can't even think about seeing the Veil. I don't think the filters Orion sells will bring out the Cali Neb. I think you need one of them fancy Hydrogen-Beta filters, very dark skies and probably a good bit of elevation to see it. I think a smaller aperture 'scope would do better at seeing it: something like an 4" f/4. I donno...?<br /><br />Here's a good link to filter guides: Lumicon Filter Specs<br /><br />Anyway, hey, it cleared up for about 5 minutes today. (The forecast calls for rain all through the weekend and as far as the extended forecast predicts. What a rip-off!) I took a 'scope outside and snapped a quick picture. It's pretty cool! (And blue too - my favorite color.)

 

[nevers]

Long as I remember<br />The rain been comin' down<br />Clouds of misery pourin'<br />Confussion on the ground<br /><br />Goodness through the ages<br />Tryin' to find the Sun<br />And I wonder, still I wonder<br />Who'll stop the rain...<br /><br />(CCR)

 

[nevers]

I got some breaks in the clouds after all so I took my 'scope outside. I didn't use my LXD55-AR5/ST80 set-up though: there are still hit-or-miss rainshowers in the area and I'm too afraid I'm gonna get caught in one. I took my trusty Orion AstroView outside and managed to get a half descent shot of Jupiter. I'd like to have taken more frames but high, thin clouds kept obscuring my view. The temperature was 47f with 82% humidity - yuck!

 

[nevers]

I guess my complaining worked...it cleared up! But not before a good downpour this evening followed by heavy clouds finally turning from partly cloudy and then to clear skies around 10pm tonight.<br /><br />I wasn't in the mood to set any 'scopes up but I did take the Barksa 70mm Bino's out and managed to spot either M36 or M38 in Auriga. I have a very small table tripod with the slo-mo precision controller attached. The Bino's are very stable this way and I could see the faint glow the big cluster puts off: no individual stars could be resolved in my LP skies. I can't wait to get them to dark skies.<br /><br />I did take the Orion ST80 outside for bit but the dew was incredible. Yes, I said "dew" not "view"! The humidity is still high @ 75%. I didn't realize the Moon and Jupiter would be so close together tonight and it was nice to use the ST80 and catch them in the same FOV at 10x using a 40mm Sirius Plossl.<br /><br />Shortly after midnight the Moon got this weird haze around it: moisture. I cancelled my viewing session, brought everything inside and made this little colage: I hope you enjoy it.

 

[bbrock]

Brad<br /><br />I was set up last night with the Atlas 10. I too was working the sky until the moon came up. Then the Moon and Jupiter took the stage. I walked around on the moon for a few minutes, but the real star of the stage was Eruropa. About 11:45 EST Europa started closing on Jupiter and I realized it was going to occult the planet. At around 12:10 EST they merged. Actually I thought it was Io, until I checked Starry Night this morning. Starry Night showed a shadow of Europa, so it seems Europa passed in front of Jupiter. Shucks. I thought it passed behind and I quit observing. I coulden't make out a shadow, but the cloud bands were fairly clear. Seeing wasn't great. If I new there was going to be a lunar shadow, I whould have tried harder to resolve it. I was viewing at 240x. I could have waited longer until the pair was more overhead and went to higher magnification. <br /><br />Bill

 

[nevers]

I love "Moon Play" on Jupiter! It's one of the few things "Urban Observers" can really do without too much aperture or difficulty.<br /><br />Last night the weather was supposed to be clear. I took some pictures of Saturn & Jupiter. I wanted to try for M3 but the clouds (which weren't supposed to be here) wouldn't cooperate. The pictures I took are in the "Astrophotography" thread. Take a look if you dare...! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Here's a picture of my 'scope staring at clouds.

 

[nevers]

And here's what a 40% chance of rain looks like in the morning. ???

 

[nevers]

Tonight's photo is a picture of the rarely seen Mgmluxor Complex Nebula. It is one of the few nebulae that can be seen from Las Vegas, Nevada and surprisingly, tonight it was visible naked-eye!<br /><br />Usually, this assortment of various hydro-carbons, vapors, particles and reflective photons is invisible even to the most expensive CCD cameras. Captureing it's ellusive image is most certainly out-of-the-question even for the most die-hard and experienced astrophotographer.<br /><br />Due to recent changes of atmospheric disturbances, the Mgmluxor Nebulae has been visible to me for almost every night for what seems months on end. I thought I'd take a picture of it to share with the world!<br /><br />Thanks for looking...

 

[nevers]

Did I also mention you can see part of the Dark Matter that is associated with the Nebulae? It is very odd in shape and it's borders are peculiarly clean and distinct. You will notice it in the lower right-hand corner.

 

[bbrock]

Has anyone tried the Meade Deep Sky Imager. I've seen glowing advertisement reviews, but no real experience reviews. <br /><br />Clear Skies<br />Bill

 

[nevers]

I've not tried it nor seen one except in advertisements. There is a website called LXD55.com that has an extensive user photo/imaging gallery. You might want to try a search there. I'll bet you'll find something.

 

[nevers]

I finally got my own domain back - not my old 32bravo.com but a new one. If anybody is interested, the link is here: StarNevada.com. It's basically my old angelfire site but WITHOUT the pop-ups and advertisments. I got tons more space with it too and more bandwidth. Hopefully I'll start posting larger pictures and won't have to shrink them down to fit and load. I lose a whole lot of quality when I have to do that.<br /><br />Anyway, not much going on in the way of Urban Observing. It's still cloudy off and on and it even rained like the dickens earlier. Friday I was supposed to go back to Valley of Fire to do a public astronomy program with the Ranger out there: I had to canel due to inclement weather. I have another one lined up for May.<br /><br />Here's a picture of my new website "banner". I hope you like it and it would be nice to hear a little feedback from somebody as to how the new site works and looks.<br /><br />Thanks...