Short but sweet

[Buckethead 2.0]

After work and after arriving home, I grabbed my Bushnell 10x50 binos and went to the park across the street. In between the many thin and elongated clouds, I could catch a glimpse of Jupiter. The atmosphere was horrendous, but after a couple weeks straight with cloud cover or just flat out rain, I decided to try to see something, anything.

On top of all the clouds, the Moon is nearing the full phase as you well know, so that complicated my efforts too. But I was determined regardless. I could make out Ganymede, Callisto and Io. According to my astronomy app, Pluto was near Jupiter, but I knew there was no way my binos would be able to pull in Pluto, especialy on a night as I just described above.

Neptune is out there between the Moon and Mars, but again, that is not going to happen either. More dodging, bobbing and weaving on my part, avoiding clouds as best as I could, I moved the instrument to Mars. A nice, clear, orangey cream sweet morsel of a planet. How I wish I had a scope. In time, Eric, in time....

Back to Jupiter. The clouds broke enough to see Saturn. After, I decided that is about all I will see this morning (this was 2:30 - 3:00 am), I went toward the Moon. You know those horror movies where the Moon is being thinly covered by fast moving clouds? It was just like that. Then the clouds cleared a bit, and for about 1 minute, I got a perfect view of the Moon. Nice terminator, (and shadows) highlighting many craters on the westward facing side, where the terminator is currently.

Well, the clouds didn't give up, but I did. Good night and good morning everyone.

Time for some ZZZzzzzZzZ's for me now. Guten morgen, and ¡buenos días!

[Buckethead 2.0]

Oh yeah, tomorrow (oops, I mean later this morning) I will tell you about the critters I saw.

[terrynak]

Thanks for your report Eric!

I was observing early this morning as well. Europa eventually appeared from behind Jupiter to join the others in a line. Two of Saturn's moons appeared as bright dots just below the planet. Didn't feel like looking at the moon (and studying the features on the terminator closely like I usually do) since it was so late.

Hope you get your scope soon, but it doesn't have to be big like your previous 10-inch. Can see a lot of detail on planets with a smaller scope. Might want to consider a refractor or a Mak.

[Juno16]

Hi Eric,

Glad you got some clearer skies and got a chance to look about.

Yeah, Neptune would be tough in binos. I caught it with my newt as only a dim blue spec. Uranus is a much better view. At least with a scope. Depending on conditions, it might be viewable with binos.

Thanks for the report!

[Buckethead 2.0]

Might want to consider a refractor or a Mak.

I know, that's why in my signature, I have "refractor: tbd". I know which one I want, it's just going to be a while to afford even a small frac. Thanks for reading my report, Terry.

[Buckethead 2.0]

Hi Eric,

Glad you got some clearer skies and got a chance to look about.

Yeah, Neptune would be tough in binos. I caught it with my newt as only a dim blue spec. Uranus is a much better view. At least with a scope. Depending on conditions, it might be viewable with binos.

Thanks for the report!

Thank you, Jim.

[10538]

Nice report Eric. I hope you can get your scope soon. Waiting to hear about your critter friends. I think I live in the possum capital of the world but better than running into a bear at 3 am! All sorts of wildlife here! Thanks for sharing your session with us!

[Buckethead 2.0]

Nice report Eric. I hope you can get your scope soon. Waiting to hear about your critter friends. I think I live in the possum capital of the world but better than running into a bear at 3 am! All sorts of wildlife here! Thanks for sharing your session with us!

Thank you, Ed. I just finished my critter thread in the Off Topic subforum a short while ago. I saw some of your possum friends' friends.

[Greenman]

Hi Eric I get your frustration odd, as mentioned before how common even slightly clear nights are accompanied by a fullish moon. Just a cosmological joke at our expense I expect. I think even a scope will struggle with Pluto

Nice session, and I often use my 10 x 50’s on nights when the sky is variable. Scopes take time to set up, and that is incompatible with fickle skies.

[Buckethead 2.0]

Hi Eric I get your frustration odd, as mentioned before how common even slightly clear nights are accompanied by a fullish moon. Just a cosmological joke at our expense I expect. I think even a scope will struggle with Pluto

Nice session, and I often use my 10 x 50’s on nights when the sky is variable. Scopes take time to set up, and that is incompatible with fickle skies.

No, I wouldn't bother setting up a scope with that much cloudiness. I just meant I am looking forward to getting one. And I am not frustrated at all. Other than after two weeks, I was getting itchy to do some viewing, if that's what you mean.

[KingNothing13]

I love when the moon looks like the stereotype horror "spooky" moon.

Nice quick session!

[Greenman]

Hi Eric I get your frustration odd, as mentioned before how common even slightly clear nights are accompanied by a fullish moon. Just a cosmological joke at our expense I expect. I think even a scope will struggle with Pluto

Nice session, and I often use my 10 x 50’s on nights when the sky is variable. Scopes take time to set up, and that is incompatible with fickle skies.

No, I wouldn't bother setting up a scope with that much cloudiness. I just meant I am looking forward to getting one. And I am not frustrated at all. Other than after two weeks, I was getting itchy to do some viewing, if that's what you mean.

Yeah I translated itchy into frustration;)

[Buckethead 2.0]

Hi Eric I get your frustration odd, as mentioned before how common even slightly clear nights are accompanied by a fullish moon. Just a cosmological joke at our expense I expect. I think even a scope will struggle with Pluto

Nice session, and I often use my 10 x 50’s on nights when the sky is variable. Scopes take time to set up, and that is incompatible with fickle skies.

No, I wouldn't bother setting up a scope with that much cloudiness. I just meant I am looking forward to getting one. And I am not frustrated at all. Other than after two weeks, I was getting itchy to do some viewing, if that's what you mean.

Yeah I translated itchy into frustration;)

I think the pharmacy has topical medications for things like that. Lol

[Greenman]

ROFLMAO!

[Thefatkitty]

Wow, now that's an early AM session! At least you got some time in If it helps, the Moon reached full about two nights ago and is now in the waning phase. Another few nights and it shouldn't mess with your views of the planets.

Have you looked on any local online buy & sell sites for a scope? You might be surprised at what you can find...

Nice session and all the best,

[Buckethead 2.0]

Wow, now that's an early AM session! At least you got some time in If it helps, the Moon reached full about two nights ago and is now in the waning phase. Another few nights and it shouldn't mess with your views of the planets.

Have you looked on any local online buy & sell sites for a scope? You might be surprised at what you can find...

Nice session and all the best,

Thanks, Mark. Yes, I have checked online to a degree, but I should do some more looking, I think that is a good idea. As for the early hours, it's nothing for me, because I work evenings until 1am or as late as 3 am. It always depends if we got our work done sooner or later.

[helicon]

Sounds like a good session Eric. Not sure about Neptune through binos - you'd probably have better luck trying to catch Uranus, small, greenish, distinct from a star.

[Buckethead 2.0]

I love when the moon looks like the stereotype horror "spooky" moon.

Nice quick session!

Thanks, Brett.

Sounds like a good session Eric. Not sure about Neptune through binos - you'd probably have better luck trying to catch Uranus, small, greenish, distinct from a star.

Thanks, Michael and for the tip. In using my phone app, I knew Uranus was in the mix too, but it was covered by clouds in that section the whole time.

Miraculously, Jupiter and Mars stayed mostly in the clear. I gues Uranus has more clout. I mean cloud.

[Bigzmey]

Nice bino session Eric!

[Buckethead 2.0]

Nice bino session Eric!

Thanks Mr. Bigz!