I posted most of my recent posts under the Deep Sky Observing. Last night I noticed that the sky was not completely cloud-free and the moon was shining brightly. No deep sky observing tonight.
I have heard that observing the moon and planets during dusk would cut down the glare, and result in a better view, so I decided to try that. I set up my 90mm refractor right in the front driveway. No worries or cussing about street lights or stray headlights from passing traffic! I set up with a 12.5mm eyepiece (80X). It is notable that I did not have to use my 25mm eyepiece at all this night.
I aimed first at the 11 day old moon. The fine features I saw were simply fantastic! Large craters ranging from Copenicus, Clavius, Tycho, Plato, Archimedes, and too many others to name. The arc of smaller craters within Clavius was easily visible at 80X and also a short straight rille or line of hills stretched away from the peaks. Drowned craters at the edges of Mares Imbrium and Tranqulitatum. Many tiny craters within the maria and the rippled surface of Mare Imbrium. Also a tiny mountain peak in the lower left side of Imbrium. I spent a long time observing the moon, and never saw (or paid attention to) any yellow or purple fringes from my achro refractor.
Then I aimed the scope towards Saturn. I found it at 80X using the guide scope. It was still dusk and I could barely see Titan above and slightly right of the planet. But the detail was wonderful. The shadow of the planet on the rings and 3D effect were clearly visible. Switching to 133X, and could still see details clearly. I thought about going to higher power using my older .965" eyepieces, but I didn't go for them. The Cassini division was razor sharp all around the rings, and the shadow of the rings on the planet came in and out of view. I also saw the dusky area toward the pole on the yellowish disc for the first time.
It was getting steadily darker, and I aimed at Jupiter in the southeast sky. Again, I found it using the guide scope at 80X. As with Saturn, tonight's was probably the best view I have ever had. Three moons were visible, one must have been occulted or in transit. Two on one side, one relatively distant on other side. The cloud bands and zones were very clear on the planet. The wide dark bands flanking the equator had wavy details visible at their edges. The darker bands were visible toward the poles. The was some particular dark detail at the edge of the lower band, away from the equator. Red spot or moon shadow? Couldn't tell.
I told the guys at work this morning, that the things I saw last night were cool enough to give a guy a woo--- , well, you know what I mean.
In the recent past, I have been spending most of my observing time searching for DSO's, and shunning the nights when the moon was bright. Now I will probably change my observing habits to include more of these carefree dusk sessions looking at solar system objects.
Rick Wiseman
I have heard that observing the moon and planets during dusk would cut down the glare, and result in a better view, so I decided to try that. I set up my 90mm refractor right in the front driveway. No worries or cussing about street lights or stray headlights from passing traffic! I set up with a 12.5mm eyepiece (80X). It is notable that I did not have to use my 25mm eyepiece at all this night.
I aimed first at the 11 day old moon. The fine features I saw were simply fantastic! Large craters ranging from Copenicus, Clavius, Tycho, Plato, Archimedes, and too many others to name. The arc of smaller craters within Clavius was easily visible at 80X and also a short straight rille or line of hills stretched away from the peaks. Drowned craters at the edges of Mares Imbrium and Tranqulitatum. Many tiny craters within the maria and the rippled surface of Mare Imbrium. Also a tiny mountain peak in the lower left side of Imbrium. I spent a long time observing the moon, and never saw (or paid attention to) any yellow or purple fringes from my achro refractor.
Then I aimed the scope towards Saturn. I found it at 80X using the guide scope. It was still dusk and I could barely see Titan above and slightly right of the planet. But the detail was wonderful. The shadow of the planet on the rings and 3D effect were clearly visible. Switching to 133X, and could still see details clearly. I thought about going to higher power using my older .965" eyepieces, but I didn't go for them. The Cassini division was razor sharp all around the rings, and the shadow of the rings on the planet came in and out of view. I also saw the dusky area toward the pole on the yellowish disc for the first time.
It was getting steadily darker, and I aimed at Jupiter in the southeast sky. Again, I found it using the guide scope at 80X. As with Saturn, tonight's was probably the best view I have ever had. Three moons were visible, one must have been occulted or in transit. Two on one side, one relatively distant on other side. The cloud bands and zones were very clear on the planet. The wide dark bands flanking the equator had wavy details visible at their edges. The darker bands were visible toward the poles. The was some particular dark detail at the edge of the lower band, away from the equator. Red spot or moon shadow? Couldn't tell.
I told the guys at work this morning, that the things I saw last night were cool enough to give a guy a woo--- , well, you know what I mean.
In the recent past, I have been spending most of my observing time searching for DSO's, and shunning the nights when the moon was bright. Now I will probably change my observing habits to include more of these carefree dusk sessions looking at solar system objects.
Rick Wiseman
8" Zhumell Dob
90mm f11 achro refractor
4-1/2 f4 rich field newt reflector
