Post by mikeyp on May 13, 2018 9:24:13 GMT
We could be in for a run of clear-ish nights - with the problem that now the skies seems light for much of the night.
Last night it was close to 11.00 p.m. when Jupiter became visible from our garden. I attached the camera to the Dob. and got a few pictures that I was fairly pleased with. I had bought a T-ring some months back but on the Dob this is not needed - the connections are all there. Amazing!
Later I put the camera - a Canon eos1100 - on a tripod and tried for Leo. I was pleased with this one as Coma Berenices was also visible on the picture. An unanticipated bonus.
A lot of stuff is fairly high at the moment so binoculars are hard work but we did manage the globular cluster M5 in Serpens which at magnitude 6 ish is fairly easy to spot and covers a surprising amount of sky. Higher still was M3 in Canes Venatici which Susan found in the Dob.
Corona Borealis was nicely visible - the lack of Moon at the moment helps with this one. Hercules was close behind and once again Susan quickly found it (she was on form last night!!) - a brilliant sight in the Dob.
Turning to Leo we found 2 out of 3 of the Leo Triplet and M96(?) further along.
Good to see Coma Berenices as well, especially the "hair" - a great sight in binoculars. The sky is often too light to see this from our vantage point - the lack of Moon again was beneficial.
We came in at 1.30 a.m. - where does the time go!! Still I doubt there will be many more observing opportunities this side of the year.
Pictures(!!) in other places.
Last night it was close to 11.00 p.m. when Jupiter became visible from our garden. I attached the camera to the Dob. and got a few pictures that I was fairly pleased with. I had bought a T-ring some months back but on the Dob this is not needed - the connections are all there. Amazing!
Later I put the camera - a Canon eos1100 - on a tripod and tried for Leo. I was pleased with this one as Coma Berenices was also visible on the picture. An unanticipated bonus.
A lot of stuff is fairly high at the moment so binoculars are hard work but we did manage the globular cluster M5 in Serpens which at magnitude 6 ish is fairly easy to spot and covers a surprising amount of sky. Higher still was M3 in Canes Venatici which Susan found in the Dob.
Corona Borealis was nicely visible - the lack of Moon at the moment helps with this one. Hercules was close behind and once again Susan quickly found it (she was on form last night!!) - a brilliant sight in the Dob.
Turning to Leo we found 2 out of 3 of the Leo Triplet and M96(?) further along.
Good to see Coma Berenices as well, especially the "hair" - a great sight in binoculars. The sky is often too light to see this from our vantage point - the lack of Moon again was beneficial.
We came in at 1.30 a.m. - where does the time go!! Still I doubt there will be many more observing opportunities this side of the year.
Pictures(!!) in other places.
