First observing session in over a month

[terrynak]

First time observing in over a month – got out the Bresser 6” F/8 Newt to take a look at the three naked-eye planets:



Air was moderately humid; the folding table surface was completely wet within an hour.

After an hour of acclimation, was able to get good views of Jupiter and Saturn using 190x (6.3mm Orion Sirius Plossl) and 200x (Agena Wide Angle 6mm), despite the first quarter moon being close (especially to Jupiter). The GRS was very prominent on Jupiter (just visible even at 37.5x) and the Cassini Division was sharp on Saturn. Besides Titan, Rhea and possibly Dione was visible.

After taking an hour-long break (and bringing the OTA back inside), went back outside for the highlight of the evening – Mars – now higher up in the sky. Using 133x, the disk was surprisingly large, with the Southern ice cap small but very bright. Took another break for about 20 minutes to let the OTA acclimate some more. Back outside using 190x and 200x, easily able to see a flattened “X” shape (Syrtis Major?) just below the cap, and a dark spot below the “X” and another spot to the right of it. Probably the best view of Mars I ever had through any of my scopes – never seen the planet looking this large and sharp before.

Looking forward to opposition next month, for an even better view of Mars…

[Juno16]

Nice report Terry!

I haven't seen a clear sky in a month either, due to other natural weather phenomena!

Sounds like a superb view of Mars that you got! I have only viewed Mars once and the only way that I could reduce the brightness enough to see and surface details was to use a cheap moon filter along with a cheap skyglow filter. Even though it was crude, it worked (somewhat) enough to see the darker areas of the planet surface. Of course, the ice cap was super bright white. I was thrilled!

Thanks for the nice 5 a.m. read Terry!

[notFritzArgelander]

Good you got some quality time in!

[terrynak]

Nice report Terry!

I haven't seen a clear sky in a month either, due to other natural weather phenomena!

Sounds like a superb view of Mars that you got! I have only viewed Mars once and the only way that I could reduce the brightness enough to see and surface details was to use a cheap moon filter along with a cheap skyglow filter. Even though it was crude, it worked (somewhat) enough to see the darker areas of the planet surface. Of course, the ice cap was super bright white. I was thrilled!

Thanks for the nice 5 a.m. read Terry!

Thanks Jim, it was good to get back out again. Not necessarily due to the weather, but just to take a break from observing.

It was great to see Mars this big and clear. Will try to up the magnification with a Barlow next time.

Good you got some quality time in!

Thanks nFA!

[helicon]

Nice that you were able to get out once again Terry. Observing opportunities certainly have been few and far between.

[Makuser]

Hi Terry. A very nice report from you here. I have had rain everyday for weeks now, and can't even get the smaller refractor telescopes out. Thanks for your fun read report Terry, and I hope that the skies settle down for all of us soon.

[jrkirkham]

Thanks for the report. A good night out is the medicine for a lot of ailments.

[John Baars]

(..........) Probably the best view of Mars I ever had through any of my scopes – never seen the planet looking this large and sharp before.
Looking forward to opposition next month, for an even better view of Mars…

I totally agree. One way or the other Mars showed me last months more details than have seen in many years. Many co-observers in my environment agree on that too. Maybe the dust-level in our atmosphere is not back yet at pre-lockdown levels?

[kt4hx]

Very nice Terry, glad to see you getting back out again. It does do a person good to get out under the night sky. Since getting home from my last business trip in mid-March, I've had 22 observing sessions at our dark site house, though I've not filed reports for most of them. Hope you get another chance real soon.

[terrynak]

Nice that you were able to get out once again Terry. Observing opportunities certainly have been few and far between.

Thanks Michael. Besides the weather, other things have kept me indoors at night lately, including other hobbies (e.g. stamps) and house cleaning activities. Apparently the collectibles market has shown an up trend since more people are spending time at home and rediscovering their hobbies.

Hi Terry. A very nice report from you here. I have had rain everyday for weeks now, and can't even get the smaller refractor telescopes out. Thanks for your fun read report Terry, and I hope that the skies settle down for all of us soon.

Thanks Marshall. Sorry to hear about the weather - no rain here for months. Although the humidity got heavy last night.

Thanks for the report. A good night out is the medicine for a lot of ailments.

You're welcome Rob. Yup, it was great to see the planets and their surface features with clarity last night.

(..........) Probably the best view of Mars I ever had through any of my scopes – never seen the planet looking this large and sharp before.
Looking forward to opposition next month, for an even better view of Mars…

I totally agree. One way or the other Mars showed me last months more details than have seen in many years. Many co-observers in my environment agree on that too. Maybe the dust-level in our atmosphere is not back yet at pre-lockdown levels?

Yup, also with with Mars riding high above the horizon (unlike Saturn and Jupiter), we're getting some really crisp views of the planet.

The 6" and 5" F/8 Newtonians are very good planetary scopes...

Very nice Terry, glad to see you getting back out again. It does do a person good to get out under the night sky. Since getting home from my last business trip in mid-March, I've had 22 observing sessions at our dark site house, though I've not filed reports for most of them. Hope you get another chance real soon.

Thanks Alan, it was good to get back out again after being indoors at night for over a month!

Eventually I'll get back into the faint open clusters and asterisms that I was heavily focused on before I took a break. In the meantime, I'm very fascinated by the views of the planets, especially through the 6-incher.

[MistrBadgr]

Hi Terry,
Enjoyed the report and like the looks of your scope. Is that a CG4 mount?

[terrynak]

Hi Terry,
Enjoyed the report and like the looks of your scope. Is that a CG4 mount?

Thanks Bill!

Yup, its a Celestron Omni CG4 mount. At first I was worried that the OTA would be overmatched for this mount, but I was wrong - it handles this 150/1200mm Newtonian with ease. Practically shake free.

[Peter802]

Nice report Terry.
Have been missing your adventures.
So happy that you can get out again.

[terrynak]

Nice report Terry.
Have been missing your adventures.
So happy that you can get out again.

Thanks for your kind words Peter!

[Bigzmey]

Glad to see you back in action Terry! It has been over 2 months since my last session. Mainly because of the smoke in the air, but other things to. I hope to get back to Anza for the new moon on October.

[terrynak]

Glad to see you back in action Terry! It has been over 2 months since my last session. Mainly because of the smoke in the air, but other things to. I hope to get back to Anza for the new moon on October.

Thanks Andrey! The weather has been pretty clear for the most part (at least in my part of So Cal).

The planets (esp. Mars) have been the main reason for me getting back into observing the past week.