You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar

Observing >> Planetary and Solar System Observing Previous   Index   Next   Threaded

Pages: 1 azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA A sharp Saturn       #5265571 - 06/11/12 12:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This is perhaps the sharpest planetary vie Ive had in a year. Not that I get out often - I really dont. The warmer weather, higher humidity and jetstream shoved outta the way left me with some nice views of our ringed planet. I was out with the 70mm refractor. Just got out of work and so it was the simpler choice. Cooldown was as friendly as it gets tonight... almost imperceptable. I settled on 120x as the best all around mag with 163x better for Cassinis but little else. The 120x-130x mark has always been the ceiling here on this planet with this scope as it simply dims too much beyond that. Cassinis was held fair enough but only at the ansae. Its still a little too early to see it going much farther along. The A rings lesser brightness was evident as well. Often cassinis and the A rings brightness value would merge but better moments seperated them soon enough. The globe in a 70mm is a tall order beyond the prominent if soft equatorial belt and the polar region values. That nice aqua green band wasn't showing here at all. Not a chance , but in its simple way the 70mm provided a snappy crisp 3D globe and encircling rings. IT is modest after all but within its humble offerings, the 70mm provided a picture perfect crisp Saturn. Nice to see Cassinis finally through this scope again. Titan as the only moon seen, the haze extinguished the light of the others - that along with the light pollution here. Fun and a peaceful way to end the day. Pete Edited by azure1961p (06/11/12 12:06 AM) Post Extras:       E_Look Post Laureate Reged: 03/06/08 Loc: near New York Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: azure1961p]       #5265600 - 06/11/12 12:26 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice report from a 70 mm. Too bad you didn't use your SCT or Newt; you might have gotten some surface detail. But still, you got good, enjoyable views. Clouds dominated down here. Post Extras:       azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: E_Look]       #5265846 - 06/11/12 08:15 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Ed, Clouds slipped in later. I think they were on the way here - the ones you had. Either scope wouldve been better but that would have extended the evening well past midnight and I didnt want to do that as the session started at 11pm. Views wouldve been good though. Pete Post Extras:       Kon Dealer professor emeritus Reged: 01/05/11 Loc: Cambridge UK Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: azure1961p]       #5268179 - 06/12/12 02:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   We have had horizon to horizon clouds here since the beginning of April. Post Extras:       Scott Beith SRF Reged: 11/26/03 Loc: Frederick, MD Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: Kon Dealer]       #5268831 - 06/12/12 10:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Very nice report! Post Extras:       Scanning4Comets Markus Reged: 12/26/04 Loc: Deep Space! Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: Scott Beith]       #5268960 - 06/13/12 01:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice report! I was just outside with my 10" scope testing out my new crayford focuser and decided on Saturn right away! I usually go up to 300x on it as my scope throws up nice crisp views at this power with nice detail. Last night saturn was perfect at 225x using my 7mm Pentax XW and screwing the bottom of my 2" GSO barlow lens element right to the bottom of my Antares adapter. It was kinda breezy out, so 225x was top mag for tonight! Cheers, Post Extras:       azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: Scanning4Comets]       #5270364 - 06/13/12 10:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Guys. Markus, sounds like you had a nice night. 225x is still significant. Howd you like the Crayford? Pete Post Extras:       Asbytec Guy in a furry hat Reged: 08/08/07 Loc: La Union, PI Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: azure1961p]       #5272399 - 06/15/12 08:07 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice report, Pete. Real happy you had a night of great seeing. That aqua band is very difficult in my 6". It's not so much aqua, really...to me, if I see it at all it's just a tad lighter band. It comes and goes, but it's apparent something is there. Titan still eludes me in disc form, probably because the spurious disc at 8th mag is pretty small. Post Extras:       azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: Asbytec]       #5272547 - 06/15/12 10:14 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That aqua band was never seen as a band at all. The EQ belt was nice and subtle but crisp then the hemisphere lightened up above it but no discernable banding. Its just a little bit beyond the refractor, - maybe in 9/10 seeing itd pop in now and again? Nice to have a crisp Saturn finally. Hope the Mak is doing well. I didnt really care about the Venus thing. The whole prospect was a turn off besides the weather. Im observing in daylight over heated ground at a black dot cross a big white circle. The thermals are what killed the whole idea for me, but the weather had the final kill. Pete Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: Asbytec]       #5273046 - 06/15/12 03:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Oooh! Norme, is your avatar a drawing you made? It's beautiful! Post Extras:       Scanning4Comets Markus Reged: 12/26/04 Loc: Deep Space! Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: Rick Woods]       #5273923 - 06/16/12 03:46 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Thanks Guys. Markus, sounds like you had a nice night. 225x is still significant. Howd you like the Crayford? Pete Hi Pete! I loved the crayford! What a huge difference from my old rack and pinion focuser! The crayford is so much smoother! I have been out with my telescope 4 nights in a row! best mag for Saturn last night was 170x !!! I really only went out last night to check on my barlow lens, because for some weird reason I didn't try pulling it out of the new focuser to reach focus! It worked out fine! Cheers, Post Extras:       azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: Scanning4Comets]       #5274096 - 06/16/12 09:12 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ive got *an old* JMI NGT1 Crayford focuser that I ordered when my scope was being fabricated back in the day. I had recently had a 10" reflector and it was the stock rack and pinion deal and I was never fond of it. In the past they were sorta OK at the get go then as time and use went on there was side slop where the barrel would have too too much freedom in the rack and pinion housing. At least that was my experience with those conventional focusers. The Crayford was a revelation - and the get-go and years and years later. The tolerances are incredibly TIGHT. There is ZERO side slop and this thing has seen an awful lot of use, and under different temps, etc. .I dont like that the travel can feel a little lumpy in subtle way. Nothing that shifts the draw tube lateraly or anything but enough that you can feel the strong pressure of the way it is held. A very minor thing but mentioned in the interest of fairness. I love this focuser. It is absolutely NO different than when I first used it 15 years ago. It does not loosen over time. Glad you have found satisfaction in yours too. On focusers by the way... My Ranger - an another astro-item I dearly love, has a sliding draw tube focuser where in you push it in or pull it out by hand and then turn it clockwise or counter clockwise for fine focus. I dont like it. Its robust and beefy and Televue all the way BUT it has a design drawback independent of Televue. If you push the focuser forward, the refractor wants to pitch down. If you pull it out the scope pitches up. A real real pain in the neck at mid to highr powers, particularly where oculars arent parfocal, ie; ortho versus plossl. Pete Edited by azure1961p (06/16/12 09:19 AM) Post Extras:       Asbytec Guy in a furry hat Reged: 08/08/07 Loc: La Union, PI Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: azure1961p]       #5274353 - 06/16/12 01:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Pete, need to check on the Mak...make sure it's not getting moldy. Needs a good cleaning, been lazy. Rick, yes, had a great few nights with Saturn at opposition in very good seeing. The rings were just spectacular. Failed to glimpse Enceladus in the few observations prior to the tropical weather setting in. Really looked for spokes...no luck. Still, no complaints. Post Extras:       REC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/20/10 Loc: NC Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: Asbytec]       #5274474 - 06/16/12 03:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's pretty good views from a 70mm. I have an 80mm and strugle to see the CD at 90x on most nights. Sometimes I can use 120x, but the sky needs to be really steady, which most nights it's not. You must be in a good area for these views? Bob Post Extras:       Kraus sage Reged: 03/10/12 Loc: Georgia. Re: A sharp Saturn [Re: REC]       #5274594 - 06/16/12 04:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Saturn is this evening's first target. Two weeks ago, I could spy the disk's shadow cast on the ring. Tonight, I shall see if more shows as the Earth has moved further over in her orbit. Once I complete my work on Saturn, I slew to M-104. I'm so far behind in my galaxy work. Edited by Kraus (06/16/12 04:49 PM) Post Extras:       Pages: 1

Previous   Index   Next   Threaded

Extra information 3 registered and 3 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  RLTYS  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 1094 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Celestial Events*General Astronomy* -----   Beginners Forum   General Observing and Astronomy   Outreach   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Speciality Forums* -----   Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo   NEAF (Northeast Astronomy Forum) and NEAIC (Northeast Astro Imaging Conference)   AstroArt   Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties   Astronomy Software & Computers   AstroWebsites   Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and Others   Space Rocks   Stellar Media*Swap and Shop* -----   Shop and Swap Audio Components*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   IYA Archive Info

CN Forums Home