Finally, a good night

The winds died down and it is crystal clear here in south jersey finally.
Just did my first collimation tonight, used Venus first then went off and
checked it against Sirius, was fine. It was easier than I thought. Went to
Saturn and m42, m41, awesome viewing tonight... I'm off to look for dso's..

Hey David, very cool and clear transit of Gannymede across Jupiter tonight,
check it out...
Beware wives borrowing shoes (slippers), last time mine did she went out to
the car in them and stepped in dog ****.
Speedy recovery too...

The sky over DC was not as clear as it has been on occasion, but tonight was
able to see some texture on Jupiter with my Celestron 4.5" reflector and a
10 mm lens attached to a 2x Barlow. Clearly saw two small moons near the
planet, and what seemed to be a larger one at quite a distance from it.

Saturn was pretty good, but I think there was some haze that made it less
clear than it has been even though it was high overhead.- perhaps its just
moved further away and looks less clear than, say a month ago.

Pretty sure I saw Venus as less than a disc (i.e., that it has phases like
the moon) but the viewing was a but too hazy by the time I got out to be
certain.

As you say - finally a good night after lots of clouds.
Rgds

Alan





"John Damico" wrote in message
...
The winds died down and it is crystal clear here in south jersey finally.
Just did my first collimation tonight, used Venus first then went off and
checked it against Sirius, was fine. It was easier than I thought. Went
to
Saturn and m42, m41, awesome viewing tonight... I'm off to look for
dso's..

You and I both. I finally got a session in to observe Jupiter Moon
machinations tonight (Sa031404). Been a while according to the log book in
the observatory; nothing for me between late February and last night.
--
Sincerely,
--- Dave

----------------------------------------------------------------------
That this nation, under God, shall have a new
birth of freedom,
And that government
Of the People,
By the People,
For the People,
Shall not perish from the Earth.
--- Abraham Lincoln
----------------------------------------------------------------------

"John Damico" wrote in message
...
The winds died down and it is crystal clear here in south jersey finally.
Just did my first collimation tonight, used Venus first then went off and
checked it against Sirius, was fine. It was easier than I thought. Went
to
Saturn and m42, m41, awesome viewing tonight... I'm off to look for
dso's..

There were many Galilean events that I watch tonight. Seeing conditions 8 / 10
tonight. Io and it's shadows also transit near the planet's NEB after Ganymede
completed it's run.

Also watched as Europa reappeared near the limb of Jupiter around 12:15 am,
while Io shadow still on the cloud tops.

I missed the exit of the shadow of Ganymede while getting a good look at
Saturn and it's moons bunched up at the western side of the rings. Using a
chart from Guide 8 software I prepared earlier in the day, I picked out the
moon Iapetus from the background star field.

Turned back to Jupiter to watch the egress of Io and its shadow. The moon ,
Io, was viewed thirty minutes before egress. In all a great night of planetary
viewing, didn't mind the 19 degrees F temp when seeing is this good.


For the record;
9.5 inch f/15 A. Clark refractor at 258X and Orion V block filter)

John D. Sabia

"John Steinberg" wrote

Hope the entire eastern seaboard is being as well treated as we are.
Not to mention the left coast and all parts north, south, east and
west. Not Santa Monica and Tucson, though. They get too much of the
good stuff already.

Thank you for your good wishes. We got some more desperately needed rain
yesterday morning and last evening.

Howard "float away" Lester





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