The Official Astronomy Thread

Crusader

Crusader

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Any of you guys had the opportunity to check out Saturn lately? I tried to pull an all-night observing session on New Years and it was one of the highlights of my viewing. It's definitely something to behold with it's ring very nearly edge on. Someone described it as a ball on a string, which is about as accurate as I think you can get.

If you haven't seen it yet, then it's definitely well worth it to get up very early (or to stay up very late) to enjoy the view.
 
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MisterBigglesworth

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Crusader...I tried last night to partake in the challenge with no luck. Got the starmap...got out the binocs, but I struggled to keep my hands still when viewing! Could see nice twinkles etc...but they were moving all over my FoV. How do I get around this and get the binocs to stop "bouncing" so much?

Told my wife about how far stars are, and in terms of light years what that exactly means...but she showed no interest and said it was boring. Different strokes I guess...it fascinated me though, knowing I could be looking at a star that doesnt even exists anymore...you basically looking into the past!
 
mercurial

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CrazyFig said:
Told my wife about how far stars are, and in terms of light years what that exactly means...but she showed no interest and said it was boring. Different strokes I guess...it fascinated me though, knowing I could be looking at a star that doesnt even exists anymore...you basically looking into the past!
Click to expand...

Exactly!
 
marine1

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I am having such difficulty trying to align my scope, when I use my goto, it goes in the wrong direction. It is making me mad. :mad:
 
Crusader

Crusader

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@CrazyFig: Did you try it while seated? I've found it helps to sit down and brace your elbows on arm rests. It also helps if you lean against a wall to give your arms support. Another trick I use is to keep the binos slight distance from your eyes (so you are stil able to see through them) but that they aren't making contact with your head. That should minimise the shake.

If you have a camera tripod there is an adapter you can get that will allow you to mount your binos, although I haven't found a place that sells something like that yet. I think it might make movement more difficult so I put up with the shakes.
 
Crusader

Crusader

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@Marine1: That's why I like my Dob, it does exactly what I want it to. ;)

Haven't used a Goto so can't offer much advice aside from reading the manual and checking that all the settings is correct especially if you have to add your location. If you are running on batteries you might want to use fresh ones. I've heard the scopes tend to do strange stuff if the batteries are close to being flat.
 
Crusader

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Heck, even for the price of the cheapest IS binos you can get a very nice scope which should show much more.
 
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MisterBigglesworth

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@ Crusader - Thanks...will give that a try, should eliminate the problem ;)

@ mercurial - Hahaha...have some pocket change around somewhere :p

Think I will give the rest arms on chair option a try...that should sort out the problem...think a mount for binocs will be a bit much at the mo...maybe its something to look at in future once I get the shakes sorted! :)
 
Crusader

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How would you guys feel about a "target of the month challenge"? I'll nominate an observation target for the month. Those of up with scopes can then hunt down the object and post their observation. No GoTo usage allowed. Should be a nice bit of friendly fun.
 
mercurial

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I don't know if I've asked this before, but can someone point me to a skymap/skychart that contains messier objects as well?
 
Crusader

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I think I've got a link to a set of free star charts at home, will check and post tonight.

I can highly recommend the Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas which sells for around R200. Very comprehensive and easy to use.
 
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Kalvaer

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Crusader said:
How would you guys feel about a "target of the month challenge"? I'll nominate an observation target for the month. Those of up with scopes can then hunt down the object and post their observation. No GoTo usage allowed. Should be a nice bit of friendly fun.
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Sounds like a good idea to me. Will force me to go out more as well.

mercurial said:
I don't know if I've asked this before, but can someone point me to a skymap/skychart that contains messier objects as well?
Click to expand...
You could use cartes du Ciel to print out what charts for what you want to view that night.

If its just messier objects your after though, Here is a link designed for the telrad, but makes it much easier as well to track them down. http://www.atmob.org/library/member/skymaps_jsmall.html
 
mercurial

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Crusader said:
I think I've got a link to a set of free star charts at home, will check and post tonight.

I can highly recommend the Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas which sells for around R200. Very comprehensive and easy to use.
Click to expand...

Kalvaer said:
Sounds like a good idea to me. Will force me to go out more as well.

You could use cartes du Ciel to print out what charts for what you want to view that night.

If its just messier objects your after though, Here is a link designed for the telrad, but makes it much easier as well to track them down. http://www.atmob.org/library/member/skymaps_jsmall.html
Click to expand...

Many thanks guys!
 
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Kalvaer

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Crusader said:
I can highly recommend the Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas which sells for around R200. Very comprehensive and easy to use.
Click to expand...
Have to agree with that. I bought it along with Sue French's Celestial sampler which I would also recommend. There are some things we cant see due to not being in the northern hemisphere though.

Oh and if you do get the Pocket Atlas . . Turn it upside down :eek:
 
Crusader

Crusader

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Yup, the only downside to the PSA is that us Southerners need to turn it upside down. It has 1500 DSO's listed by type including all the Messiers.

I'll get the info sorted for the challenge and post the first target tonight. Guess we can kick it off with the easiest one out there. :)
 
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