This course was on Friday 15 Feb, attended by the following members:
Ibrahim Al-Hashimi,Abdullah Al Hashimi,Ahmed El Syed,Peter Steer,Maureen Steer,Adam Torry,Hadi Farha,Mohd Allosh.
It was very pleasant experience with old and new members, this page is dedicated to all of this course members to give there views and comments, please feel free to post comments and questions.
Adam has sent me his comments, it's superb, I would love that all of you read and use this valued summery.
Advanced Astronomy Course – 15/2/08
Adam Torry – Notes
Preparation
Remember six P’s, Astronomy is no exception – Use a checklist and take time to get things set up during daylight hours. I saw how, later on, this preparation really benefited the group’s enjoyment of the evening.
When using a red dot finder it is not necessary for accurate calibration, memorise instead where the dot points to when object is in centre of main scope’s field.
I have trouble adjusting telescopic finders – I must take time to practice with the finder removed from the OTA so I can work on turning the screws simultaneously in opposite directions. Again, take time to get the finder aligned accurately during daylight hours.
I have never taken time before now for proper polar alignment but learned by watching Hasan, it is actually a fun challenge which requires patience and practise. I had never, before tonight, seen high magnification still views; there is always considerable drift – so nice to concentrate on what you are actually seeing rather than keeping the object in the centre of the field.
Always search for Messier objects with binos.
Don’t worry about sand on optics (can simply be blown away) unless it is humid in which case more care needs to be taken. DO be careful of getting sand near any greased component such as focus mechanism – these should be sealed in the Middle East.
Observations
Sun
Setting sun half below horizon, beautiful sight through binos. No detail seen.
Open Clusters M <ASK HASAN FOR THE 2 M NUMBERS>
12” Dobsonian Reflector 26mm EP
I didn’t take enough time over this observation, but it taught me a great deal about the value of the Dob. Having seen open clusters before with a small refractor – all you really get to see is a very feint group of stars whereas through the Dob hundreds of bright blue stars were visible.
M42 – Great Orion Nebula http://www.nightsky.at/Photo/Neb/M42_M43_APO_detail.html
12” Dob 26mm EP
An amazing amount of detail, bright wisps and the shape of the nebula easily seen. No colour observed. Many stars within the nebula – two especially bright.
120mm Refractor – German Equatorial. Zoom EP on low power.
Not bad, but not a special as the above, fainter and seemed to have less shape through this equipment.
Mars
12” Dob 26mm EP
Rather disappointing. Mars was too small and little detail was observed. Slightly brighter towards one of the poles. (Possibly Mars is near winter solstice on that pole).
Feel the refractor would have come into its own here, must try next time.
Pleiades (M45)
http://www.astrophoto.net/m45_med_res.jpg
12” Dob 26mm EP
Thought it would be much brighter. Stars all blue 50-100 in field. Must try again on a night without moon. Would like lower magnification and/or wider field of view than the EP offered/
Saturn
12” Dob 26mm EP
Always special to see Saturn, don’t think I’ll ever tire of it. Was a fair size even in this eyepiece (I assume it must be near opposition). Was rather low in the sky.
5mm EP
What a battle to get it into the field! Several of us had a go, and wow was it worth it when done, spectacular views of the rings seen although I couldn’t make out the Cassini division. Wind a real problem with this high power as I had to constantly hold the scope resulting in a lot of shaking.
15mm EP
This gave the best views of the planet as it was a good compromise between Magnification and ease of use. Titan and Rhea easily seen and another satellite (possibly Dione? – maybe Hasan can help here) I may have even seen a fourth, about mag. 12 but it could have been a star. Some banding on planet’s surface observed although it was very bright and a filter may have brought out more detail. <CAN HASAN RECOMMEND GOOD FILTERS FOR JOVIAN PLANETS?>
120mm Refractor – Zoom EP on high power.
What a pleasure to see the planet steady as a rock in the centre of the field, this equipment was far superior to the Dob for the planet although I could only see Rhea clearly and Titan was just about visible. On the disk itself, for the first time I could relax and take my time to view it without the drift (it was almost a strange experience for it not to be moving as I am accustomed). I find Saturn also a great experience to share with other observers as it can be appreciated by anyone. Great to just take your time taking turns instead of the constant battle to keep it in the field with the Dob. Made out banding on the surface (if I didn’t imagine it from seeing too many Voyager photos!) No Cassini division seen as the rings were tilted at quite an oblique angle from us. Can’t wait to try to photograph this, something I thought was only possible with professional level equipment until now.
Moon
12” Dob 5mm EP
What a sight, I felt as though I was about to land on top of one of the many mountains seen on the terminator, really felt I could explore the whole thing with this equipment. Drift was not really a problem since the Moon’s size and simplicity of the equipment, it was easy to keep it in field even at this high power, would even like to try this eyepiece with the 2x Barlow next time.
I didn’t try the refractor but I suspect it was even better than the Dob because the motor would allow you to freely explore the surface. I heard some of the others in the group delighted at the Moon and would enjoy hearing their observations.
Other Notes
Searched for M31 but couldn’t find it since it was too low in the sky and the moon was very bright.
Saw two satellites. Couldn’t follow with naked eye.
Would like to find Uranus without GOTO.
Must ask Hasan best time to view Mercury, must be possible this near the equator at next elongation and I’ve never seen it. Would like to see it together with Venus for comparison.
Remember to take time to absorb the information my eye is receiving, the images will become far richer.
Equipment Merits
The Dobsonian mount was a pleasure to use, so simple and steadier than expected. Would like to be able to lock the azimuth (is this possible?) as the wind caused problems. The Dob was especially good when it came to low magnification work when little light was available from the object. I should like to go galaxy hunting with this scope.
I liked the red dot finder for speed and simplicity but it was limited to finding objects of a magnitude of about 4 maybe 5 so I feel some things will be hard to spot with this set up.
The refractor was far superior when it came to higher magnification although for the half or second or so you could keep it still the Dob couldn’t be beaten for live viewing of anything.
The view of Saturn really emphasised the importance of the mount – the Dob has around 5 times the light gathering power of the refractor but the steady view the motorised German Equatorial gave was worth its weight in gold. Yes – I have read this in a book, but to experience it really gives you a real feeling of equipments capabilities.
I enjoyed Peter’s binos, crystal clear very wide field, perhaps he could let me know make and model although I think they were 12x35s and I would prefer 8x50s. My binos are a decent set of 7x50s but I can’t get them to focus properly, need to check if it’s me or the optics.
Although the quality of the spotting scope was good quality I thought it was almost useless astronomically and prefer binos, it may have had some use if the magnification was lower as it was light enough to hold fairly steady.
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12” Dobsonian Reflector |
120mm Refractor on German Equatorial |
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Stacks of Light!! |
High Contrasting images |
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Cheap |
Rock steady |
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Simple |
Quick finding |
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Deep Sky objects |
High Magnifications |
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Photography |
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Planets |