Jupiter sketching under a hazy sky...

I was out observing Jupiter yesterday evening, specifically looking for the Great Red Spot, which was transiting the Central Meridian at about 21h53m UT.

I was in the observatory about twenty minutes before that C.M. Transit, with pencil and paper at the ready.

During the observing session, I couldn't confirm that I saw the GRS, but there was a distinct gap in the South Equatorial Belt, which I figured was most likely due to the paler colouring of the GRS.

It was a  hazy evening with mostly only 1st and 2nd magnitude stars on show. 

By about 10pm the haze and clouds finally blotted out the stars. 

I've a few lunar pictures from earlier in the evening to put on, but they can wait till the next post.

Last Night's Jupiter sketch.

Seeing: Antoniadi III

Last night was cold and windy, and the fast moving clouds were also playing havoc with my Jupiter observations.

Tal1 did a good job of dampening down the vibrations of the gusting wind - even at X169 the image was pretty well vibration free.

I decided to make a brief sketch and then get back to the warm fire as quickly as possible to draw up my results.

Here is the finished sketch in pencil.

Tal1 captures the Great Red Spot.

Just before supper last night, I had a quick look through the telescope.

Jupiter was shining brightly over in the East, so I trained the scope onto the King of the planets.

With the 15mm Kellner and X3 Barlow I was able to up the magnification to X169.

Considering the pretty poor seeing I was surprised to see any detail on the gas giant.

Whilst observing I thought I saw the great red spot.

It was only just visible through my 110mm reflector.

Messier Revisited.

This year I'm hoping to sketch a lot more of the Messier objects list - using the Tal1. 

To get me started, I've reworked a couple of my sketches from last years collection.

Also I've added a photo of the Pleiades that I took; I think back in November.  

I'll have to dig through my CD's to find the actual date.

I've had Tal1 for nearly two years, and in that time I've not as yet attacked the Messier list with any real conviction.

Over the years I've seen many of the Messier objects through various telescopes, but it will be interesting to see what the mighty Russian reflector is capable of.

With Tal1 as company it will be nice to revisit some of my Messier favourites.

I'm expecting mostly to make sketches of my Messier-Tal1 findings, but sometimes it will be easier just to train our Nikon D50+ 300mm lens onto my intended target.

The picture below of M45 was taken with our 70-300mm telephoto lens.

I wonder if the 300mm lens will capture the Beehive Cluster ?

The Messier Album an observer's handbook.

One book that is indispensible if you're chasing the Messier objects is, The Messier Album an observer's handbook by John H. Mallas and Evered Kreimer.

John H. Mallas visually observed and sketched the Messier's with a lovely 4" Unitron refractor. 

Whilst Evered Kreimer photographed the Messier's with his 12.5 inch Cave reflector...again another beautiful looking instrument.

Between these two astronomers, they managed to produce a beautifully illustrated and informative book. 

John H. Mallas's sketches in particular give a wonderful representation of what you will actually see through most small telescopes with the naked eye. Equally Evered Kreimer's black & white photographs are really impressive ... 

Most of the photos in this book are black & white.

Although there are 16 pages in the back that contain colour pictures of the Messier objects, from several other amateur astronomers. 

In total the volume runs to some 230 pages.

Plus if you look on Amazon, you can pick this up for only only a few pounds.

If I was only allowed one Messier book on my shelf this would be the one.

Astronomy by Candlelight.. Happy New Year...

I do a have a red safelight in the observatory, but I find no reason to hook it up and use it...

The reason being...... I enjoy candlelight.....

The soft subdued glow of the naked flame imparts a feeling of warmth that no red safety light is able to do.

Also when my hands feel a bit cold, I move them for a while closer to the flame.

Now if I could also run my RA drive on mechanicals, be it a wind up clock, or maybe a falling weight, then that would be my perfect astronomy set up.