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Astrophotography Challenges for July 2008

Started by Mike, Jul 03, 2008, 06:22:27

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Mike

OK I know the weather forecast isn't looking great but don't forget that tonight and tomorrow are the dates for the Jupiter challange.
We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. Carl Sagan

Carole

I have it in my diary, fingers crossed for clear skies.

Carole

Carole

Back to the thread.  I looked on Starry Night and tonight seemed to be the closest to Mike's alignment challenge, so telescope set up hours ago, rain covers on at around 8pm.  10.30 Jupiter has risen, but is disappearing behind that tree, so I'll wait for another 1/2 - 3/4 hour so it's also a bit higher and past the tree.

Duhhh!! Clouds. 

It's now 1.12am and no sign of them clearing. 

Going to bed!!!

Carole


Fay

That sounds like a typical nights viewing Carole!!
It is healthier to be mutton dressed as lamb, than mutton dressed as mutton!

MarkS


Well done for trying.  Astronomy is like that ...

I did the same for the lunar eclipse in February - set up all my equipment and then went to bed to get up at the required time.  Guess what?  Solid cloud ...

Ian

right. went out to take a pic of Jupiter.

Tree's have grown, so can't see if from my observing position.

Made a drawing.

Translated to ASCII art...

.
         .      ..  O    .

My first hand drawing of an observation that is.

Ian

Sorry, I should label my drawing.

Star
      Callisto Ganymede Europa Jupiter Io

Instrument, Mark I eye ball (slightly used, optics a bit squiffy), 15x70 binoculars, mount two tired forearms.

The star is a little hard to make out, but could be mistaken as a fifth galilean moon :)

MarkS


This innovative and unique piece of work ought to be O.A.S. image of the month!

Carole

Ian, that is very amusing. 

Quoteeye ball (slightly used
Quotemount two tired forearms

It's no wonder the star was so faint as I think (from memory) is was a magnitude 12 (or thereabouts), I can't even see the moons with binoculars let alone such a faint star, but mine aren't as strong as yours, 8 x 40 or 10 x 50 or something.

Well done.

Carole

Mike

Even with a low magnification pair of binos the moons should be very clearly visible. Unless you have atrocious light pollution.
We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. Carl Sagan

Carole

I often can't see things that others can see so maybe it's my eyesight. 

i.e. I have never seen Andromeda with the naked eye at DSC when others can.

I do wear monovision contact lenses so in actual fact am only seeing distant things with my right eye (my left lens is for reading).

In all other respects it is not a problem, it would be more of a problem to wear both lenses for distance because then I would have to have reading glasses over the top which as far as I am concerned defeats the object of wearing contact lenses.

Carole

Carole

Yes, it could also be light pollution as I can't see much below mag 3.96 on a good night (with the naked eye). 

Carole

Ian

The star I observed and painstakingly drew was alot brighter than mag12, I don't think you'd mistake a mag12 star for moon of Jupiter. Just taken a look on Cartes Du Ciel and the star I saw is listed as mag 7.9 which isn't too bad for binoculars.

The moons are tricky with 10x50 but the 15x70 make them dead easy. I was resting on the roof of my observatory though. I've observed Saturn's rings with both as well, although to be fair, a certain amount of imagination is required using the 10x50s.

Carole

Sorry I don't have my references when I reply from work, I just remembered it being a faint star.  It might well have been 7.9 mg, actually now your have said it, that does ring a bell now ( I had looked it up on Starry Night and zoomed in).

I don't think I've seen Saturn's rings with the binoculars either. 

My binoculars were bought for birdwatching (another of my hobbies) rather than Astronomy, so it's not surprising really. 

Carole

Fay

Ian I like your sense of humour, very funny!

By observatory, do you mean that dustbin that covers the mount?
It is healthier to be mutton dressed as lamb, than mutton dressed as mutton!