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Posts Made By: Sol Robbins

September 30, 2003 02:52 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Mars Sketch 9.29.03

Posted By Sol Robbins
Hi,

It seems that the dark albedo features have lost a bit of contrast and didn't appear as dark as I seem to remember.

The Northern Polar Hood was quite striking and showed decent delineation.

That attached sketch was done without filters.

Sol Robbins

October 8, 2003 09:41 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Saturn 10.08.03

Posted By Sol Robbins
Hi,

I've started my Saturn observing season with a sketch made this morning through my 6" refractor using 400x magnification. Yesterday morning, Saturn was outrageous through my 9.75" reflector at 389x & 458x.

The notable feature change as compared from last year is the SPR. Last year, there was South Pole had a solid but dark, (greenish/gray), oval cloud feature. Recently it is light with a darker doughnut shaped surround.

Sol Robbins

October 13, 2003 02:54 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Mars Sketch 10.12.03

Posted By Sol Robbins
Hi,

Mars is getting smaller and is waning quickly. I don't have much to say other than this opposition has been inspiring. Certainly the best I've ever seen Mars.

Sol Robbins

October 20, 2003 10:25 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

10.20.03 Saturn Sketch through 244mm Dob

Posted By Sol Robbins
Hi,

Had excellent seeing conditions for my first sketch through my new Dob. An active cooling fan really kept the image sharp. I decided to stop my mirror down to 244 m.m. which improved the star test by a wave or two.

The VFS filter setting I used showed two darker areas (condensations) on the northern edge of the SEB. Without the filter the SEB appeared smoother.

Sol Robbins

October 30, 2003 11:41 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

10.30.03 Saturn Sketch w/244 m.m. Dob

Posted By Sol Robbins
Hi,

Seeing conditions favored Saturn observing this morning. This is the second sketch of Saturn made with my 9 5/8" Dob. The optics are very good and are made by Guan Sheng.

There's nothing unusual seen during this observation other than Saturn's innate beauty.

BTW, soon another Guan Sheng mirror will be shipped to me from Antares in Canada. They have a little known service in that they sell tested and quality selected mirrors, (at a higher cost). After it arrives, I'll make a comparison between it and my 6" refractor on planets. Obviously on DSOs the Dob performs better due to aperture.

Thanks, Sol Robbins

November 1, 2003 12:19 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

11.01.03 Saturn Sketch

Posted By Sol Robbins
Hi,

This morning presented the best seeing conditions I've had in a long time. Nearly perfect. Saturn was very sharp at 406x in the 6" refractor.

The only feature of note was a small bay in the northern edge of the SEB just preceding the CM. There seemed to be a slightly darker and diffuse condensation just preceding the bay, also on the northern SEB edge.

I also got my first look at Jupiter with the GRS at CM this morning, but seeing was not as good since Jupiter was over a neighbor's house.

Thanks Sol Robbins


November 8, 2003 10:37 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Regarding Jupiter's GRS

Posted By Sol Robbins
Hi,

I spent several hours observing Jupiter. Of note is that I believe that the GRS is darker and pinker than what I had observed any time last year.

Sol Robbins

November 9, 2003 12:54 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Jupiter 11.09.03--Sketch

Posted By Sol Robbins
Hi,

Seeing conditions were rather good this morning. Jupiter showed good detail even at its currently smallish size. I believe it looked to be about 30" to 35" in apparent diameter.

The STb with its darkish condensations and adjacent southern bands showed really well. There appeared to be a bright area that encroached on the STb and SSTb. There were 2 decent sized bays on the northern edge of the NEB as well. There was also a bright and apparently segmented rift in the SEB.

The accompanying sketch was through my 6" refractor. Great views were had in my 244 m.m. Dob later on after it had cooled down.

Thanks, Sol Robbins

November 22, 2003 12:37 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Sketch-Jupiter 11.22.03

Posted By Sol Robbins
Hi,

I skipped going to a dark sky site but managed to set up 6" refractor and 244mm reflector for Jupiter and Saturn.

This Jupiter sketch, which was done with the refractor, shows some interesting detail. The festoons on NEB-S were quite prominent. Especially the one just right of center, (preceding), side. At first glance it appeared as a large dark splotch but eventually looked almost like a loop festoon.

The NEB-N showed 2 dark spots that had some lighter areas at close proximity. Not sure if they were ovals.

What was somewhat surprising was the EZ-N which appeared a little darker than the EZ-S. Usually this doesn't appear so noticeably to me.

Additionally, the tiger stripe-like banding in the southern region was pretty easy to discern.

Sol Robbins

November 22, 2003 01:34 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Sketch - Saturn 11.22.03

Posted By Sol Robbins
Hi,

Here's a sketch of Saturn using my 244mm reflector.

Of note was a dark condensation on the preceding side, just to the left of center, on the SEB-N. This feature appeared to rotate with Saturn's disk.

What was also interesting was an apparent darkening on the inside ansae of the B ring. I don't know if this was an illusion, but it was apparent more often than not and during the moments of best seeing.

Sol Robbins

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