Observing Report 08/22/03
Equipment: Heep ('umble 4.5" DS Newtonian on EQ mount, 900mm, f/8), 16x50 bino's
Eyepeices: 20mm, 10mm, 6.7mm Meade Plossls
Location: Newmarket, Ont. (approx. 44n, 79w)
Time: 0300 - 0430 UT
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I'm not sure if this should be posted here or in Solar System Observing, so here goes:
How two nights of similar temperature and clarity can lead two two wholly different outcomes amazes me. Friday Aug. 22, the sky over Newmarket was clear and dark, limiting magnitude about 4.0. So I decided to put Heep out to cool and view Mars, which had been exceptionally sharp and bright the last time I had viewed it. Thought I might take a glance at a few of my favourite DSO's while I was in the neighbourhood, so to speak.
So: Put Heep out in front yard at twilight. Head out an hour later. Neighbour's porch light blazing away. Curse, haul Heep into back yard. Neighbour's 3000 watt montion sensor light comes on as soon as I blink. Curse some more, decide to take Heep to local park. Park car in farthest parking lot, get out and scout around. Streetlights blazing everywhere, decide on another spot. Drive to other end of park, where streetlights are fewer. Drag Heep from car to middle of football field. Set up scope, polar align, yadda yadda. Get Mars into finderscope. View looks promising with 20mm (45x) so I decide to drop in 6.7mm (135x). View sucks. Seeing obviously poor, no detail visible other than SPC. Wind gusts buffet miserable mount, cause image to scat, bop, and jitterbug all over field of view. Struggle vainly for another twenty minutes. Give up, pack Heep away, and curse all the way to bed. Curse in sleep all night.
Anyone want to trade it their shack in the back of beyond for a lovely suburban home?
Clear nights ... dark (I wish) sites,
Darren
Equipment: Heep ('umble 4.5" DS Newtonian on EQ mount, 900mm, f/8), 16x50 bino's
Eyepeices: 20mm, 10mm, 6.7mm Meade Plossls
Location: Newmarket, Ont. (approx. 44n, 79w)
Time: 0300 - 0430 UT
=======================================================
I'm not sure if this should be posted here or in Solar System Observing, so here goes:
How two nights of similar temperature and clarity can lead two two wholly different outcomes amazes me. Friday Aug. 22, the sky over Newmarket was clear and dark, limiting magnitude about 4.0. So I decided to put Heep out to cool and view Mars, which had been exceptionally sharp and bright the last time I had viewed it. Thought I might take a glance at a few of my favourite DSO's while I was in the neighbourhood, so to speak.
So: Put Heep out in front yard at twilight. Head out an hour later. Neighbour's porch light blazing away. Curse, haul Heep into back yard. Neighbour's 3000 watt montion sensor light comes on as soon as I blink. Curse some more, decide to take Heep to local park. Park car in farthest parking lot, get out and scout around. Streetlights blazing everywhere, decide on another spot. Drive to other end of park, where streetlights are fewer. Drag Heep from car to middle of football field. Set up scope, polar align, yadda yadda. Get Mars into finderscope. View looks promising with 20mm (45x) so I decide to drop in 6.7mm (135x). View sucks. Seeing obviously poor, no detail visible other than SPC. Wind gusts buffet miserable mount, cause image to scat, bop, and jitterbug all over field of view. Struggle vainly for another twenty minutes. Give up, pack Heep away, and curse all the way to bed. Curse in sleep all night.
Anyone want to trade it their shack in the back of beyond for a lovely suburban home?
Clear nights ... dark (I wish) sites,
Darren
