Ptarmigan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/23/04
Posts: 2352
Loc: Arctic
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I just came back from starwatching. It was a clear and cool night. I got a new eyepiece, Orion 15mm Expanse Eyepiece. Great eyepiece right there.  Let see what objects I saw:
Jupiter
Beta Cygni-Beautiful double star with a blue and yellow star.
M15
M29
Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
M32
Pleiades (M45)
Ring Nebula (M57)
A productive night for one.
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Ptarmigans=Cute and Cuddly
Meade Starfinder 8
Nikon 10x50
Rebel XT
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markan
super member
Reged: 07/13/09
Posts: 126
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I've had 2 good nights in a row. Early September was the last time I was out. Some DSOs on Friday night and some variable star observations last night. Tonight looks promising as well.
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Sky-Watcher 100mm ED f/9 refractor
Sky-Watcher 200mm f/5 reflector
EQ5 mount, Orion SkyView AZ
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Tim L
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/17/08
Posts: 563
Loc: Austin, TX
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Ptarmigan,
Sounds like a great night! New toys to try out are always fun.
Okay, I've just GOT to ask--NO observing since JUNE? Am I understanding that correctly? Your location is listed as Arctic--if that's accurate (so many of the location listings are jokes!) then I totally understand (lack of darkness and all).
But if not that, what? 
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Tim
Zhumell Z10 dob
Meade 60mm refractor
Zhumell 1.25" eyepiece and filter kit
Zhumell sky-glow, UHC, and OIII filters
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Ptarmigan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/23/04
Posts: 2352
Loc: Arctic
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The Arctic is full of mosquitoes in the summer, especially in Alaska. Actually, I live in Texas.
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Ptarmigans=Cute and Cuddly
Meade Starfinder 8
Nikon 10x50
Rebel XT
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Tim L
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/17/08
Posts: 563
Loc: Austin, TX
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Hey Ptarmigan,
Howdy to a fellow Texan! So what keeps you away from the eyepiece for 4 MONTHS???? Maybe you're more disciplined with your free time than I am...
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Tim
Zhumell Z10 dob
Meade 60mm refractor
Zhumell 1.25" eyepiece and filter kit
Zhumell sky-glow, UHC, and OIII filters
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scopethis
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/30/08
Posts: 629
Loc: Kingman, Ks
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The other night was my first time out since June. All I've had here (during new Moon cycle) is rain, clouds, or high wind--same lousy conditions tonight.
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Ptarmigan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/23/04
Posts: 2352
Loc: Arctic
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Hot weather, high humidity, clouds, and mosquitoes.
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Ptarmigans=Cute and Cuddly
Meade Starfinder 8
Nikon 10x50
Rebel XT
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Tim L
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/17/08
Posts: 563
Loc: Austin, TX
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Quote:
Hot weather, high humidity, clouds, and mosquitoes.
Concise and to the point!
The only benefit we had to months of drought in my area was a lower-than-average mosquito problem. They sure recovered fast when we got some recent rains, though!
Glad you had a good time viewing.
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Tim
Zhumell Z10 dob
Meade 60mm refractor
Zhumell 1.25" eyepiece and filter kit
Zhumell sky-glow, UHC, and OIII filters
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Feidb
super member
Reged: 10/09/09
Posts: 127
Loc: Nevada
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I live in Las Vegas, and last year I only got out 4 times, not for a lack of trying. It was either wind, clouds, or rain... yeah, even in Las Vegas. This year has been much better, though mostly in the latter half of this year. I went out in January, April, and not until I think it was July. Then a bunch of times since. I am limited to going out Saturdays and maybe Friday once in a while. And, for safety reasons, I never go out alone. Sometimes it's a matter of not finding someone to go out with me.
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Present gear:
16" Meade LightBridge
Meade 50mm straight through-finder
Lumicon green laser pointer
Orion Q-70 26mm, 32mm, and 38mm
Parks 2X 2" Barlow
Hyperion 17mm, 8mm
1 1/4" 18mm Russell Optics Bertele
1 1/4" 12.5mm and 6mm Coulter Optical Orthoscopics
1 1/4" X 2" 32mm Edmund Scientific war surplus Erfle
Tirion star atlas (white stars, black background) hand-laminated
Megastar
And a partridge in a pear tree
To nudge or not to nudge, that is the question
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starrancher
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/09
Posts: 585
Loc: Northern Arizona
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Quote:
I am limited to going out Saturdays and maybe Friday once in a while. And, for safety reasons, I never go out alone. Sometimes it's a matter of not finding someone to go out with me.
I know exactly what you mean . 
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LXD75 AR5
LXD75 SN8
Series 4000 Plossls
Misc. other stuff
Fort Rock , Az .
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Ptarmigan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/23/04
Posts: 2352
Loc: Arctic
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Just came back from another session of starwatching. I saw:
61 Cygni
Dumbbell Nebula (M27)
M27 was quite faint because it was larger than the Ring Nebula. With the Lumicon Deep Sky Filter, it was more visible, especially when I used the 15 mm eyepiece. Moderate power dilutes the light pollution and makes it more visible. I may have seen Neptune, but I am not sure because it was faint and likely looked like any other star.
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Ptarmigans=Cute and Cuddly
Meade Starfinder 8
Nikon 10x50
Rebel XT
Edited by Ptarmigan (10/24/09 12:45 AM)
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Tim L
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/17/08
Posts: 563
Loc: Austin, TX
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Quote:
Quote:
I am limited to going out Saturdays and maybe Friday once in a while. And, for safety reasons, I never go out alone. Sometimes it's a matter of not finding someone to go out with me.
I know exactly what you mean .
I guess that's why some people want a "grab-and-go" setup--so they can "grab and get away"!  
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Tim
Zhumell Z10 dob
Meade 60mm refractor
Zhumell 1.25" eyepiece and filter kit
Zhumell sky-glow, UHC, and OIII filters
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Tim L
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/17/08
Posts: 563
Loc: Austin, TX
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Ptarmigan,
Cool! 
I like 61 Cygni, but for whatever reason, I don't get to it much. I usually gravitate to the other arm of the cross and look at U Cygni and omicron 1 Cygni for the color contrasts they offer.
I'll have to get back to 61 next time I'm out. Thanks!
Edit: the only way I can tell Neptune is to add magnification until it looks different from a star. Uranus is a bit easier to resolve, and a little trickier to find, but not impossible.
Edited by Tim L (10/24/09 10:27 AM)
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