Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
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
Orion Skyline 10 Inch
Orion XX16G
Stellina
AT102EDL
Mike Q wrote: ↑Sun Apr 28, 2024 2:47 am
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
-Michael Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50 Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl Camera: ZWO ASI 120 Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs Latitude: 48.7229° N
Note also the giant magnetar now lighting up M 82!
-Michael Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50 Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl Camera: ZWO ASI 120 Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs Latitude: 48.7229° N
Mike Q wrote: ↑Sun Apr 28, 2024 2:47 am
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,
Mark
"The Hankmeister" Celestron 8SE, orange tube Vixen made C80, CG4, AZ-EQ5 and SolarQuest mounts.
Too much Towa glass/mirrors.
Solar:
H/A - PST stage 2 mod with a Baader 90mm ERF on a Celestron XLT 102 (thanks Mike!)
Ca-K - W/O 61mm, Antares 1.6 barlow, Baader 3.8 OD and Ca-K filters with a ZWO ASI174mm.
W/L - C80-HD with Baader 5.0 & 3.8 Solar film, Solar Continuum 7.5nm and UV/IR filters with a Canon EOS 550D.
Member of the RASC
Mike Q wrote: ↑Sun Apr 28, 2024 2:47 am
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
Orion Skyline 10 Inch
Orion XX16G
Stellina
AT102EDL
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.
-Michael Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50 Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl Camera: ZWO ASI 120 Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs Latitude: 48.7229° N
helicon wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 12:45 pm
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
Orion Skyline 10 Inch
Orion XX16G
Stellina
AT102EDL