I woke at 5:30 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep, worrying about things at work. I could tell it was clear from the glow of moonlight in the window so I snuck outside without waking anyone with my binocular mount and the 15x70s. First some scanning around, more or less at random, to take in the views. Once again I'm impressed at how many colored (red, orange, blue/white) stars there are, and the new associations to see (which might have to do with the inverted view).
I found Sirius then did a little hop down to find M41, which even in the moonlight and hazy horizon was lovely with scattered stars, with two prominent orange stars in the center. The depth of field was nice. Orion next, viewed through a gap in the trees: the entire sword, with the great nebula very clear and hinting at its full 2 degree extant -- just imagine it under a darker sky! The the belt, with the S-shaped trail of stars. I tried to find M35 but did not, and M46 & 47, but did not -- star hopping is a little awkward as yet, and I didn't have an atlas so I relied on memory. I noticed Leo just edging his front above my roof, and thought I could sweep up M44, the Beehive -- I aimed the mount in azimuth to where I though it would be in front of Leo's forepaw, then swept up with the mirror, and voila, there it was. It nearly filled the view and spangled with its double stars; looked more like a large Christmas tree.
I ended by giving up what night vision I had and looked at the moon, sharp with details and black sky all around it to the edge terminator (no earthshine, facing away?) with some purple and yellow fringe. Amazingly sharp rays and a chiaroscuro in the mare. So much detail to find.
I often wish I could observe in the mornings; the seeing is much calmer, and it's a very nice way to start the day -- I feel refreshed rather than tired out from the night. Wish I could make more time for it in my schedule.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018
one double and the moon
The the sky the night of the 19th was quite obscured with marine haze and it was dewy and cold, and I was tired... I tried one double but was discouraged of seeing many of the B stars, so went on to a very rewarding session on the moon.
BU 677: Upped the magnification, to make sure no trick; checked the CDSA index to make sure what I was seeing -- 2 delta mag but very wide faint stars. There's another one I notice with averted vision and then can hold with direct, which is another of the set. [AB was the first, AC the second 11.2, 15.5"]
20H 47M 10.72S +34° 22' 26.8" P.A. 120 SEP 8.1 MAG 4.94,10.03 SP K3III
I used 310x and binoviewers, as the seeing was good 8/10. I started out with crater John Herschel, then South -- the two observing buddies with adjacent craters, both with rough and rubbly floors, but Herschel being the larger. I was able to just make out Sharp Rille and a quavering line below the Louville hills. Gruithuisen Domes were interesting, being among the largest of the type and steep-sided. Harbinger Mountains and Prinz Rilles next, and I could see a few more smaller of these besides the main five. Crater Caroline Herschel was a night sight, a multi-terraced, sharp round crater. I checked crater Kriger to see if it had its rabbit ear shadows, but they were stumpy -- I must be a day late to catch them. The Marius Rille made a great impression (no pun intended), long and sinuous with a long rounded hook. I checked carefully for Suess Rille but could not see it.
BU 677: Upped the magnification, to make sure no trick; checked the CDSA index to make sure what I was seeing -- 2 delta mag but very wide faint stars. There's another one I notice with averted vision and then can hold with direct, which is another of the set. [AB was the first, AC the second 11.2, 15.5"]
20H 47M 10.72S +34° 22' 26.8" P.A. 120 SEP 8.1 MAG 4.94,10.03 SP K3III
I used 310x and binoviewers, as the seeing was good 8/10. I started out with crater John Herschel, then South -- the two observing buddies with adjacent craters, both with rough and rubbly floors, but Herschel being the larger. I was able to just make out Sharp Rille and a quavering line below the Louville hills. Gruithuisen Domes were interesting, being among the largest of the type and steep-sided. Harbinger Mountains and Prinz Rilles next, and I could see a few more smaller of these besides the main five. Crater Caroline Herschel was a night sight, a multi-terraced, sharp round crater. I checked crater Kriger to see if it had its rabbit ear shadows, but they were stumpy -- I must be a day late to catch them. The Marius Rille made a great impression (no pun intended), long and sinuous with a long rounded hook. I checked carefully for Suess Rille but could not see it.
plato craterlets and more
The night of the 18th had quite good seeing, which I hope I exploited well. Using Big Blue and starting with binoviewers, at 310x (I likely could have gone higher), I saw five of the craterlets on the floor of Plato right off (A, B, C, and D) and with a little effort e, which is near a mass of slumped rock. Crater W was also visible within the bowed in rubble fall. Really exciting. Of course I spent time going over other detail in the area, but this was a highlight.
Later I switched to 553x and went after some doubles, though the marine haze interfered:
BU 167: Four delta mag, <2" very faint point holds steady with seeing, just beyond first diffraction. Yellow-orange A, blue B.
21H 36M 13.98S +30° 03' 19.5" P.A. 88 SEP 1.7 MAG 6.37,9.95 SP G8III
AD Cyg: Very faint, hints of colors in finder, deep orange in the scope. Nice!
Ho 603: Orange and very wide separation B, bluish. [AB seen; BC is 11th mag 3.6" and should be doable in the 20-inch]
21H 32M 04.61S +34° 12' 06.1" P.A. 251 SEP 80.5 MAG 7.53,9.82 SP F0
BU 692: Tried pretty hard at 553x, 887x, but no sign of 11th mag. B. Disk at 887x, seeing is so good! Orange star. [5 stars in system]
21H 50M 05.37S +31° 50' 52.4" P.A. 10 SEP 2.9 MAG 7.47,11.03 SP K0
STF 2822: Yellow and light orange pair, ~1", 1 delta mag. Very pretty, subtle colors. [7 stars in system, many faint and wide.]
21H 44M 08.57S +28° 44' 33.4" P.A. 324.2 SEP 1.5 MAG 4.75,6.18 SP F6V+G2V DIST. 22.24 PC (72.55 L.Y.)
TW Peg: Deep orange star--orange in finder too.
Ho 178: Another 11th mag -- can't see it for the haze & moon's scattering light.
22H 11M 28.36S +32° 05' 09.9" P.A. 223 SEP 3.4 MAG 7.40,11.16 SP F0
STF 2881: Light orange stars, ~1 delta mag, 2-3".
22H 14M 34.67S +29° 34' 20.6" P.A. 76 SEP 1.3 MAG 7.65,8.24 SP F6III
Later I switched to 553x and went after some doubles, though the marine haze interfered:
BU 167: Four delta mag, <2" very faint point holds steady with seeing, just beyond first diffraction. Yellow-orange A, blue B.
21H 36M 13.98S +30° 03' 19.5" P.A. 88 SEP 1.7 MAG 6.37,9.95 SP G8III
AD Cyg: Very faint, hints of colors in finder, deep orange in the scope. Nice!
Ho 603: Orange and very wide separation B, bluish. [AB seen; BC is 11th mag 3.6" and should be doable in the 20-inch]
21H 32M 04.61S +34° 12' 06.1" P.A. 251 SEP 80.5 MAG 7.53,9.82 SP F0
BU 692: Tried pretty hard at 553x, 887x, but no sign of 11th mag. B. Disk at 887x, seeing is so good! Orange star. [5 stars in system]
21H 50M 05.37S +31° 50' 52.4" P.A. 10 SEP 2.9 MAG 7.47,11.03 SP K0
STF 2822: Yellow and light orange pair, ~1", 1 delta mag. Very pretty, subtle colors. [7 stars in system, many faint and wide.]
21H 44M 08.57S +28° 44' 33.4" P.A. 324.2 SEP 1.5 MAG 4.75,6.18 SP F6V+G2V DIST. 22.24 PC (72.55 L.Y.)
TW Peg: Deep orange star--orange in finder too.
Ho 178: Another 11th mag -- can't see it for the haze & moon's scattering light.
22H 11M 28.36S +32° 05' 09.9" P.A. 223 SEP 3.4 MAG 7.40,11.16 SP F0
STF 2881: Light orange stars, ~1 delta mag, 2-3".
22H 14M 34.67S +29° 34' 20.6" P.A. 76 SEP 1.3 MAG 7.65,8.24 SP F6III
Thursday, October 18, 2018
finished binocular mirror mount
I set up Big Blue to cool down after arriving home, but I ended up not using it at all last night! Instead I tried out my binocular mirror mount and was enthralled with the view. I'm very happy that it works, and that the mirror is good enough quality and the imperfections in my workmanship have no effect.
The mount is smooth and mostly stable -- just a little vibration I think due to the metal strip holding the binoculars. I could sit comfortably and enjoy the depth of view two eyes provide. I used the 15x70s which are excellent. The steady view really does help one see more detail, and more stars. I mainly swept about and enjoyed picking out fresh associations of stars, which are lost with a narrower field of view. There's a physicality and presence to the view which I don't get in the finder when star hopping, when the stars have a more utilitarian purpose. And I noticed so many colored stars!
So totally worth it and I can't wait to have them out at a dark site, and to try my other binos with it. Next step is to make a cover for the mirror, and maybe attach a green laser to help with pointing -- though I had no trouble to sweep up M31, the moon, etc. with it last night.
The mount is smooth and mostly stable -- just a little vibration I think due to the metal strip holding the binoculars. I could sit comfortably and enjoy the depth of view two eyes provide. I used the 15x70s which are excellent. The steady view really does help one see more detail, and more stars. I mainly swept about and enjoyed picking out fresh associations of stars, which are lost with a narrower field of view. There's a physicality and presence to the view which I don't get in the finder when star hopping, when the stars have a more utilitarian purpose. And I noticed so many colored stars!
So totally worth it and I can't wait to have them out at a dark site, and to try my other binos with it. Next step is to make a cover for the mirror, and maybe attach a green laser to help with pointing -- though I had no trouble to sweep up M31, the moon, etc. with it last night.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
all the colorful stars
I planned to finish my binocular mirror mount last night but found the RTV I planned to use was too old; so will need to head to the hardware store today. I observed with Big Blue instead. Seeing was not very good and there was the usual marine haze. Moon and Mars through binoviewers after dark. Nearly precisely a half moon; nice scattering of rays and crater splahes. Then back after 9pm for doubles, 553x in spite of the imperfect seeing.
STF 2799: Equal yellow-orange, ~5" [Either my separation estimate is way off or I didn't see this...]
21H 28M 52.79S +11° 05' 05.2" P.A. 257.9 SEP 1.88 MAG 7.37,7.44 SP F4V DIST. 105.04 PC (342.64 L.Y.)
BU 163: Very close but clean split momentarily with seeing; both yellow-orange, 3 delta mag, <1" [AB seen; 5 stars in system but rest are too faint]
21H 18M 34.85S +11° 34' 08.2" P.A. 77.5 SEP 0.91 MAG 7.31,8.88 SP G0V+G6V DIST. 47.66 PC (155.47 L.Y.)
STF 2786: Pale yellow stars, B a slightly darker tint though 1 delta mag dimmer; well split 6-8" [My estimates off?]
21H 19M 39.36S +09° 31' 30.3" P.A. 189 SEP 2.8 MAG 7.49,8.20 SP A3IV
Ozone smell... I've noticed this lately, after 9pm there's an ozone smell in the air, as if it's going to rain.
STF 2765: Faint, matched, slightly red tinted stars, ~8" [AB seen though split over-estimated]
21H 10M 59.31S +09° 32' 57.9" P.A. 79 SEP 2.8 MAG 8.47,8.50 SP A3IV
S 781: Finder split, super-wide, equal yellow-orange stars [Though I looked at the time in case one of these stars had a close pair, I did not see any -- and turns out one of them is a BU, #270, 7.42/9.40 0.5" -- not possible in the 12.5-inch but maybe the 20-inch...]
21H 13M 27.24S +07° 13' 04.9" P.A. 172 SEP 186.1 MAG 7.25,7.17 SP A7V
STF 2742: equal light orange, wide, 10-12", pretty. [Why are my separation estimates so far off?]
21H 02M 12.51S +07° 10' 47.3" P.A. 215 SEP 2.9 MAG 7.41,7.64 SP F8
STF 2737: Easy yellow stars, very wide, 1 delta mag. [AB,C seen. AB is 0.2" and must've been wider at discovery. 5 stars in system -- but not physical, so how did it get in to CDSA 2nd edition?]
20H 59M 04.54S +04° 17' 37.8" P.A. 67 SEP 10.5 MAG 5.30,7.05 SP F6IV+DF4
STF 2735: Pretty orange and blue, Alberio-like, 2 delta mag, wide-ish ~6" [Again with the separation...]
20H 55M 40.64S +04° 31' 57.7" P.A. 281 SEP 2 MAG 6.45,7.54 SP G6III-IV
STF 2744: Split, 1.5", near equal yellow-orange stars. [4 stars in system, fainter]
21H 03M 03.09S +01° 31' 55.9" P.A. 102.2 SEP 1.19 MAG 6.76,7.33 SP F7IV DIST. 70.82 PC (231.01 L.Y.)
So many colored stars!
Howe 55: Bright light orange with fainter bluish B, very wide separation. Second nearly as faint star a little further out and to the side.
Ho 292: Extremely faint B, 2", PA to north? Averted vision only. [Seems like a yes!]
22H 23M 15.11S +05° 38' 47.8" P.A. 65 SEP 3.9 MAG 7.66,11.24 SP A2
STF 2920: Blue-white stars, very wide, 1 delta mag. [AB seen, AC too faint]
22H 34M 31.58S +04° 13' 20.6" P.A. 144 SEP 13.7 MAG 7.55,8.85 SP B9.5V
BU 701: Orange star. Could be a slightly mis-shaped disk, or the very wide separated bluish star 2-3 delta mag. [AB is the former, AC is the latter -- 11.97 mag 126"!]
22H 28M 07.24S +12° 14' 55.5" P.A. 176.8 SEP 0.99 MAG 7.34,9.62 SP K0V DIST. 66.4 PC (216.6 L.Y.)
Ho 296: Snowman. Light orange. Very tough. [Totally awesome catch! 0.43". 2 other pairs in system very wide and faint.]
22H 40M 52.71S +14° 32' 57.5" P.A. 43 SEP 0.43 MAG 6.14,7.22 SP G4V DIST. 33.8 PC (110.26 L.Y.)
STF 2908: Orange and blue (for faintness). Very wide separation, 2 delta mag.
22H 28M 11.55S +17° 15' 47.9" P.A. 113 SEP 9 MAG 7.74,9.68 SP G9III
I'm impressed by all the colors in this part of the sky. Why are many doubles colorful? Many variables are colorful too, and are also binary... wonder why.
STF 2799: Equal yellow-orange, ~5" [Either my separation estimate is way off or I didn't see this...]
21H 28M 52.79S +11° 05' 05.2" P.A. 257.9 SEP 1.88 MAG 7.37,7.44 SP F4V DIST. 105.04 PC (342.64 L.Y.)
BU 163: Very close but clean split momentarily with seeing; both yellow-orange, 3 delta mag, <1" [AB seen; 5 stars in system but rest are too faint]
21H 18M 34.85S +11° 34' 08.2" P.A. 77.5 SEP 0.91 MAG 7.31,8.88 SP G0V+G6V DIST. 47.66 PC (155.47 L.Y.)
STF 2786: Pale yellow stars, B a slightly darker tint though 1 delta mag dimmer; well split 6-8" [My estimates off?]
21H 19M 39.36S +09° 31' 30.3" P.A. 189 SEP 2.8 MAG 7.49,8.20 SP A3IV
Ozone smell... I've noticed this lately, after 9pm there's an ozone smell in the air, as if it's going to rain.
STF 2765: Faint, matched, slightly red tinted stars, ~8" [AB seen though split over-estimated]
21H 10M 59.31S +09° 32' 57.9" P.A. 79 SEP 2.8 MAG 8.47,8.50 SP A3IV
S 781: Finder split, super-wide, equal yellow-orange stars [Though I looked at the time in case one of these stars had a close pair, I did not see any -- and turns out one of them is a BU, #270, 7.42/9.40 0.5" -- not possible in the 12.5-inch but maybe the 20-inch...]
21H 13M 27.24S +07° 13' 04.9" P.A. 172 SEP 186.1 MAG 7.25,7.17 SP A7V
STF 2742: equal light orange, wide, 10-12", pretty. [Why are my separation estimates so far off?]
21H 02M 12.51S +07° 10' 47.3" P.A. 215 SEP 2.9 MAG 7.41,7.64 SP F8
STF 2737: Easy yellow stars, very wide, 1 delta mag. [AB,C seen. AB is 0.2" and must've been wider at discovery. 5 stars in system -- but not physical, so how did it get in to CDSA 2nd edition?]
20H 59M 04.54S +04° 17' 37.8" P.A. 67 SEP 10.5 MAG 5.30,7.05 SP F6IV+DF4
STF 2735: Pretty orange and blue, Alberio-like, 2 delta mag, wide-ish ~6" [Again with the separation...]
20H 55M 40.64S +04° 31' 57.7" P.A. 281 SEP 2 MAG 6.45,7.54 SP G6III-IV
STF 2744: Split, 1.5", near equal yellow-orange stars. [4 stars in system, fainter]
21H 03M 03.09S +01° 31' 55.9" P.A. 102.2 SEP 1.19 MAG 6.76,7.33 SP F7IV DIST. 70.82 PC (231.01 L.Y.)
So many colored stars!
Howe 55: Bright light orange with fainter bluish B, very wide separation. Second nearly as faint star a little further out and to the side.
Ho 292: Extremely faint B, 2", PA to north? Averted vision only. [Seems like a yes!]
22H 23M 15.11S +05° 38' 47.8" P.A. 65 SEP 3.9 MAG 7.66,11.24 SP A2
STF 2920: Blue-white stars, very wide, 1 delta mag. [AB seen, AC too faint]
22H 34M 31.58S +04° 13' 20.6" P.A. 144 SEP 13.7 MAG 7.55,8.85 SP B9.5V
BU 701: Orange star. Could be a slightly mis-shaped disk, or the very wide separated bluish star 2-3 delta mag. [AB is the former, AC is the latter -- 11.97 mag 126"!]
22H 28M 07.24S +12° 14' 55.5" P.A. 176.8 SEP 0.99 MAG 7.34,9.62 SP K0V DIST. 66.4 PC (216.6 L.Y.)
Ho 296: Snowman. Light orange. Very tough. [Totally awesome catch! 0.43". 2 other pairs in system very wide and faint.]
22H 40M 52.71S +14° 32' 57.5" P.A. 43 SEP 0.43 MAG 6.14,7.22 SP G4V DIST. 33.8 PC (110.26 L.Y.)
STF 2908: Orange and blue (for faintness). Very wide separation, 2 delta mag.
22H 28M 11.55S +17° 15' 47.9" P.A. 113 SEP 9 MAG 7.74,9.68 SP G9III
I'm impressed by all the colors in this part of the sky. Why are many doubles colorful? Many variables are colorful too, and are also binary... wonder why.
Monday, October 15, 2018
two nice observations
I let out Big Blue to cool the evening of the 14th but poor transparency forced me to "cancel" the night -- but not before making two nice observations:
The moon and Saturn were in close proximity, well within the FOV of my 80mm finder. The moon looked great, with a lot of detail and the earthshine was bright. Saturn was small, orange-yellow and elongated -- not enough magnification to show too much. A satellite glided slowly up the side of the view.
While writing the above down in my notebook, a looked up in time to see a meteor travelling from Equuleus to the western half of the box of Pegasus, with a white, lingering trail. Really nice view.
I was tired from spending the day building the binocular mount, which is nearly finished and which I want to try out this week.
The moon and Saturn were in close proximity, well within the FOV of my 80mm finder. The moon looked great, with a lot of detail and the earthshine was bright. Saturn was small, orange-yellow and elongated -- not enough magnification to show too much. A satellite glided slowly up the side of the view.
While writing the above down in my notebook, a looked up in time to see a meteor travelling from Equuleus to the western half of the box of Pegasus, with a white, lingering trail. Really nice view.
I was tired from spending the day building the binocular mount, which is nearly finished and which I want to try out this week.
from the 13th
Seeing was better this evening but there was a typical marine haze. 553x mostly.
SU Cyg: Orange in the finder; lighter in the scope. Wide separation, 3 delta mag.
STT 390: Very wide, 2-3 delta mag. A few other faint star actually closer in could be part of a system. [Four stars in system but not closer in than this...]
19H 55M 06.50S +30° 11' 41.6" P.A. 22 SEP 9.9 MAG 6.63,9.50 SP B6V+A5V
STF 2580 = 17 Cyg: Yellow and blue, wide separation. [11 stars in the system; just call it a cluster!]
19H 46M 25.60S +33° 43' 39.3" P.A. 67.9 SEP 26.09 MAG 5.06,9.25 SP F5V DIST. 21.23 PC (69.25 L.Y.)
X Cyg: Must be in minimum it is much fainter than 17 Cyg. Reddish orange in the finder, more yellow-orange in the scope. No pair seen. [and no wonder; pairs are 16th and 18th mag.]
20H 43M 24.20S +35° 35' 16.1" P.A. 145 MAG 6.48, SP F7IB
STT 387: Overlapping disks, to a nearly hairline split with seeing. Half delta mag. [Very good!]
19H 48M 43.81S +35° 18' 41.3" P.A. 103.9 SEP 0.47 MAG 7.12,7.90 SP F6V DIST. 63.69 PC (207.76 L.Y.)
STT 394: Pretty orange and blue, well separated, 2 delta mag.
20H 00M 11.43S +36° 24' 50.8" P.A. 294 SEP 11.1 MAG 7.14,10.27 SP K1III
STF 2624: Arc of three stars and another farther out, 1-2 delta mag. [AB seen; 4 in system]
20H 03M 29.42S +36° 01' 28.6" P.A. 174 SEP 2 MAG 7.09,7.73 SP O9.5IIIE
25 Cyg: White and wide blue.
Starting to dew.
STF 2609: White A, B slightly yellow-white. Half delta mag, 5" [Not seen, a much closer pair]
19H 58M 34.37S +38° 06' 20.8" P.A. 23 SEP 1.9 MAG 6.69,7.64 SP B5IV
19 Cyg = HJ 603: Orange-yellow star with 2x fainter bluish B, well separated. [Not physical, 5 stars in system]
19H 50M 33.99S +38° 43' 20.7" P.A. 115 SEP 56.7 MAG 5.38,10.54 SP M2III
I feel tired... Transparency not all that good, calling it a night.
SU Cyg: Orange in the finder; lighter in the scope. Wide separation, 3 delta mag.
STT 390: Very wide, 2-3 delta mag. A few other faint star actually closer in could be part of a system. [Four stars in system but not closer in than this...]
19H 55M 06.50S +30° 11' 41.6" P.A. 22 SEP 9.9 MAG 6.63,9.50 SP B6V+A5V
STF 2580 = 17 Cyg: Yellow and blue, wide separation. [11 stars in the system; just call it a cluster!]
19H 46M 25.60S +33° 43' 39.3" P.A. 67.9 SEP 26.09 MAG 5.06,9.25 SP F5V DIST. 21.23 PC (69.25 L.Y.)
X Cyg: Must be in minimum it is much fainter than 17 Cyg. Reddish orange in the finder, more yellow-orange in the scope. No pair seen. [and no wonder; pairs are 16th and 18th mag.]
20H 43M 24.20S +35° 35' 16.1" P.A. 145 MAG 6.48, SP F7IB
STT 387: Overlapping disks, to a nearly hairline split with seeing. Half delta mag. [Very good!]
19H 48M 43.81S +35° 18' 41.3" P.A. 103.9 SEP 0.47 MAG 7.12,7.90 SP F6V DIST. 63.69 PC (207.76 L.Y.)
STT 394: Pretty orange and blue, well separated, 2 delta mag.
20H 00M 11.43S +36° 24' 50.8" P.A. 294 SEP 11.1 MAG 7.14,10.27 SP K1III
STF 2624: Arc of three stars and another farther out, 1-2 delta mag. [AB seen; 4 in system]
20H 03M 29.42S +36° 01' 28.6" P.A. 174 SEP 2 MAG 7.09,7.73 SP O9.5IIIE
25 Cyg: White and wide blue.
Starting to dew.
STF 2609: White A, B slightly yellow-white. Half delta mag, 5" [Not seen, a much closer pair]
19H 58M 34.37S +38° 06' 20.8" P.A. 23 SEP 1.9 MAG 6.69,7.64 SP B5IV
19 Cyg = HJ 603: Orange-yellow star with 2x fainter bluish B, well separated. [Not physical, 5 stars in system]
19H 50M 33.99S +38° 43' 20.7" P.A. 115 SEP 56.7 MAG 5.38,10.54 SP M2III
I feel tired... Transparency not all that good, calling it a night.
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