27 April 2024

[Mike Q]

So tonight was going to be iffy at best. The clouds were rolling through quickly and appeared to be breaking up. The 102 was quickly set up and the GPS alignment on the iOptron mount landed Arcturus in the FOV of a 24mm eyepiece, a quick tweak and all was good to go.

The Beehive seemed an obvious choice. Off went the mount and M44 came into the FOV. Just as I got it focused clouds covered it . I waited several minutes and was eventually rewarded with a reasonably decent image. It has been windy the last couple of day and the conditions were definitely not even close to optimal. The area containing M81 and 82 were clear at the moment so I directed the scope there. M81 was centered nicely and I was just getting the image tweaked and here came the clouds again. Then to add insult to injury the smell of rain hit like a ton of bricks. Everything was tore down in record time and back in the house just as the first drops were falling .

In the space of an hour we went from 50 percent clouds to 100 percent clouds. Was it a wasted effort, probably. If nothing else it showed me that I can now set everything up in the dark with minimal issues

[Graeme1858]

So tonight was going to be iffy at best. The clouds were rolling through quickly and appeared to be breaking up. The 102 was quickly set up and the GPS alignment on the iOptron mount landed Arcturus in the FOV of a 24mm eyepiece, a quick tweak and all was good to go.

The Beehive seemed an obvious choice. Off went the mount and M44 came into the FOV. Just as I got it focused clouds covered it . I waited several minutes and was eventually rewarded with a reasonably decent image. It has been windy the last couple of day and the conditions were definitely not even close to optimal. The area containing M81 and 82 were clear at the moment so I directed the scope there. M81 was centered nicely and I was just getting the image tweaked and here came the clouds again. Then to add insult to injury the smell of rain hit like a ton of bricks. Everything was tore down in record time and back in the house just as the first drops were falling .

In the space of an hour we went from 50 percent clouds to 100 percent clouds. Was it a wasted effort, probably. If nothing else it showed me that I can now set everything up in the dark with minimal issues

Never a wasted effort Mike!

M81 and M82 are two of the subjects of the TSS April Challenge: viewtopic.php?t=34031

Graeme

[helicon]

Nice job Mike with the weather and all.

[helicon]

https://earthsky.org/space/giant-magnet ... etars-m82/

Note also the giant magnetar now lighting up M 82!

[Mike Q]

https://earthsky.org/space/giant-magnet ... etars-m82/

Note also the giant magnetar now lighting up M 82!

I barely even had a chance to get it focused before it was clouded over. So that will have to wait until next time lol

[messier 111]

I wouldn't say wasted time, but rather a short experience.
thx Mike.

[Bigzmey]

Still beats watching TV.

[Mike Q]

Still beats watching TV.

Well that would depend on what is on TV lol

[Thefatkitty]

If nothing else it showed me that I can now set everything up in the dark with minimal issues

And take it all down quickly as well! Good for you on getting out though, and hey, at least you got something. I'd love a quick peek at anything these days

Thanks for the read and all the best,

[Mike Q]

If nothing else it showed me that I can now set everything up in the dark with minimal issues

And take it all down quickly as well! Good for you on getting out though, and hey, at least you got something. I'd love a quick peek at anything these days

Thanks for the read and all the best,

I am not a quick peak kinda guy. Last night was an exercise in frustration for me lol. For the record it is much easier to tear down then it is to set up. Ohio is challenging to do astro in at the best of times. This is the time of year i usually write off. Clouds catch so much light from the cities 10 to 20 miles away and messes stuff up. Add to that this is farming country and right now tons of dust is being released into the air making it worse. Realistically for me astro season will start in July and run thru mid to late November

[helicon]

Congratulations Mike on winning the VROD for today. Considering most of us are clouded out right now you get the chance to bear the torch. And here's to all of us on getting some additional opportunities to get out there and observe.

[John Baars]

Congratulations on the VROD!

[Mike Q]

Congratulations Mike on winning the VROD for today. Considering most of us are clouded out right now you get the chance to bear the torch. And here's to all of us on getting some additional opportunities to get out there and observe.

Thanks

[Mike Q]

It looks like I will be joining the clouded out group starting tonight and it last about three weeks.

[messier 111]

Congratulations on the VROD Mike .

[Mike Q]

Thanks