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23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:59 pm
by Mike Q
Since I still work five days a week my observing time is limited to weekends, so last night, with the full moon rising ...... I rolled out the 16 inch and went for it. My list was basically the grand tour of Orion. I have been waiting to do this for what seems like forever.
Stop one was M42 an 43, the 9mm/100 was in place and I was rewarded with an image that I could not quite bring to focus, it was going to be one of those nights. I switched to the 11mm/82 degree for 160x and was rewarded with a good sharp image. The six stars in the trap revealed easily and I was able to just make out the F, G and one of the H stars. That was about as good as it was going to get. Anything else I went for was completely blown away by the extremely bright moon.
With it now being bright enough to almost read a book I plugged NGC 2022 into the hand controller and hopped back on the eyepiece, again the moon all but completely washed it out leaving me with a fuzzy little bluish ball with no real visible detail.
Jupiter was in a decent spot so I figured I would switch to it. I had to drop down to a 14mm/82 to find focus, but as rewarded with all the bands and a moon transit.
I ended the night with the Pleadies. In went the 30mm/82 degree which just barely gets all of it in the FOV. The image was VERY sharp and crisp, at least I knew my collimation spot on if nothing else.
One hour after I started I was packing it in, my worst fears had been realized, I had been mooned.
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 2:34 pm
by helicon
Nice report Mike. Getting 8 stars in the Trapezium is quite an accomplishment. In spite of the moon and its glow you managed a fine session. Congrats on earning the VROD for the day!
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:40 pm
by Bigzmey
Nice session and congrats on the
VROD, Mike! Trade your full moon clear night for my rain.
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:51 pm
by kt4hx
I applaud your chutzpah in getting out under the full moon Mike! It is the worst source of light pollution we have, but you still got something for your effort. I am currently on lunar holiday, waiting for it to release its tight grip on the sky. Then again, I am fully retired so I am not restricted to weekend observing any longer. Congrats on your VROD.
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 6:57 pm
by Mike Q
When you are limited in the time you can get out, you have to take chances when they come up. Thank you all.
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:47 pm
by John Baars
Congratulations on the VROD!
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:00 pm
by Mike Q
Bigzmey wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:40 pm
Nice session and congrats on the VROD, Mike! Trade your full moon clear night for my rain.
No deal, here in the Midwest we get our fair share of rain, especially this time of year.
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:04 pm
by Mike Q
helicon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 2:34 pm
Nice report Mike. Getting 8 stars in the Trapezium is quite an accomplishment. In spite of the moon and its glow you managed a fine session. Congrats on earning the VROD for the day!
I honestly figured six would be the max for the night, but when I was able to resolve three more I was impressed.
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:06 pm
by Mike Q
kt4hx wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:51 pm
I applaud your chutzpah in getting out under the full moon Mike! It is the worst source of light pollution we have, but you still got something for your effort. I am currently on lunar holiday, waiting for it to release its tight grip on the sky. Then again, I am fully retired so I am not restricted to weekend observing any longer. Congrats on your VROD.
I am actually going to be in Virginia in a couple of months to do some observing, I will be in the Whitehead area.
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:41 pm
by kt4hx
Mike Q wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:06 pm
kt4hx wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:51 pm
I applaud your chutzpah in getting out under the full moon Mike! It is the worst source of light pollution we have, but you still got something for your effort. I am currently on lunar holiday, waiting for it to release its tight grip on the sky. Then again, I am fully retired so I am not restricted to weekend observing any longer. Congrats on your VROD.
I am actually going to be in Virginia in a couple of months to do some observing, I will be in the Whitehead area.
Not familiar with where that is honestly. What county is that?
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 11:13 pm
by messier 111
congrat on this fine report , thx .
Re: 23 March 2024 disaster
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 11:51 pm
by Mike Q
kt4hx wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:41 pm
Mike Q wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:06 pm
kt4hx wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:51 pm
I applaud your chutzpah in getting out under the full moon Mike! It is the worst source of light pollution we have, but you still got something for your effort. I am currently on lunar holiday, waiting for it to release its tight grip on the sky. Then again, I am fully retired so I am not restricted to weekend observing any longer. Congrats on your VROD.
I am actually going to be in Virginia in a couple of months to do some observing, I will be in the Whitehead area.
Not familiar with where that is honestly. What county is that?
Sorry, it's Whitetop, not Whitehead. It's near the VA, NC and Tenn border.