Planets and DSOs (Three Sessions)

[terrynak]

7-8-20 (early morning)

Got out the Meade 127NT for some planetary viewing shortly after midnight. Used the NexStar mount:



Initially struggled with the focusing as the seeing varied. Used 162x and 171x. Since my views are “upside down”, directions reported are the reverse of what I’m seeing.

• Jupiter – initially only Ganymede, Callisto, and Io was visible to the left of the planet. Soon Europa was visible as a dot sitting on the western limb – first time I’ve seen anything like this. Eventually Europa was fully out in the open and in line with the other moons.

• Saturn – interesting to see Rhea and Titan below the planet in a vertical line.

• Mars – again, the south polar cap was prominent, with some darker marking just above it. A very pleasing view.

7-8-20 (early evening)

Later that evening, got out the Galileoscope on the NexStar for some deep-sky work. Went from the heaviest to the lightest scope for this mount:



Not good for overhead targets because it’s a straight-through scope, but my other slow 50mm (Tasco 66TE) doesn’t have a dovetail bar for the mount.

• M13 – high overhead, so I was craning my neck to see this (16x).

• M5 – visible with direct vision at 16x, despite not being so high up in the sky.

• M4 – FAIL; could not see this.

• M80 – able to see at 29x.

• M11 – visible at 29x with a few stars popping in/out of view, but could only view for a few seconds because it was tough on my neck being placed so high up.

• M27 – just visible at 29x; more striking with broadband filter.

• M39 – very nice OC; got the bug and sketched this cluster (29x).

Pleased with what DSOs I could see with the 2" despite my aperture and LP limitations.

7-9-20 (early morning)

Around midnight it was time for some planetary viewing, so next it was the Meade Polaris 70 on the NexStar:



Used 143x and 150x.

• Jupiter – shadow transit of Callisto visible near the western limb just above the northern equatorial belt; was able to catch Callisto appearing as a dot on the same limb. First time I’ve seen both moon and its shadow just before transit.
  
  Also a tiny brown spot was visible on the southern equatorial belt just south of the shadow transit; don’t think it was the GRS because it was so small.

Unfortunately, clouds came in from the east (inland) before I could get to Saturn or Mars.

[Peter802]

Nice report Terry.
Thank you for sharing.

[Buckethead 2.0]

Bravo, Terry! Another fine performance and very well-written report. Thanks for sharing. I always learn something from your reports. Keep up the great work. I mean, play.

[terrynak]

Nice report Terry.
Thank you for sharing.

Thanks, you're welcome Peter.

Bravo, Terry! Another fine performance and very well-written report. Thanks for sharing. I always learn something from your reports. Keep up the great work. I mean, play.

Thanks, you're welcome Eric!

This is all new to me - looking at transits of Jupiter's moons, splitting double stars with 50/60mm scopes, studying the features of the Moon, and using 50/60mm scopes to find DSOs from city skies. A different way to enjoy astronomy, something which was unthinkable one or two years ago.

[Buckethead 2.0]

Nice report Terry.
Thank you for sharing.

Thanks, you're welcome Peter.

Bravo, Terry! Another fine performance and very well-written report. Thanks for sharing. I always learn something from your reports. Keep up the great work. I mean, play.

Thanks, you're welcome Eric!

This is all new to me - looking at transits of Jupiter's moons, splitting double stars with 50/60mm scopes, studying the features of the Moon, and using 50/60mm scopes to find DSOs from city skies. A different way to enjoy astronomy, something which was unthinkable one or two years ago.

Your go get 'em attitude is infectious! I might have to go to the pharmacy and see if they have something for it, if you keep it up. Thanks again for the inspiration, Terry.

[KingNothing13]

Nice Terry - thanks for sharing.

I am amazed at what you can see through the smaller scopes - great job.

[Bigzmey]

Nicely done Terry, keep them coming!

[terrynak]

Nice Terry - thanks for sharing.

I am amazed at what you can see through the smaller scopes - great job.

Thanks Brett, you're welcome.

I'm pleasantly surprised myself - given the LP in my city skies as well.

Nicely done Terry, keep them coming!

Thanks Andrey!

[Lady Fraktor]

Very nice Terry
Are you missing the dovetail for the 50mm?

[terrynak]

Very nice Terry
Are you missing the dovetail for the 50mm?

Thanks Gabrielle!

Except for the Galileoscope, none of my long focal length 50/60mm refractors come with dovetail bar. They are on a fork mount or a mount with a clamshell. Would rather use these scopes because they all use a star diagonal. But my three shorter focal length 50/60mm 'fracs do come with a dovetail bar AND a star diagonal.

Also like your article on small aperture, long focal length refractors.

[Lady Fraktor]

I thought it may be a lack of tube clamps which is quite common with these older refractors.
Canon makes lens rings that can be adapted for tube clamps then mounted on a dovetail plate.

[terrynak]

I thought it may be a lack of tube clamps which is quite common with these older refractors.
Canon makes lens rings that can be adapted for tube clamps then mounted on a dovetail plate.

Actually the Galileoscope and my 3 other faster 50/60mm scopes don't come with a dovetail bar, but have a ¼-20 mounting nut on the bottom so that a Celestron dovetail bar adapter can be attached to the bottom of the scopes:



These originally came with the standalone version of the Celestron Astromaster alt-azimuth mount, which are no longer sold in this manner.

The point of all this is that I would rather use my 50/60mm scopes on a GOTO mount if I want to seek out Messiers and other bright DSOs quickly and efficiently, since star-hopping from heavily LP skies is time consuming (and difficult at times). To do this, the scopes need to have a dovetail bar attached. The best chance of success in spotting them is when they are high overhead, which requires a star diagonal. I guess I could use my 3 faster 50/60mm scopes (F/7.0, F/6.7, F/5.8) - all of which use star diagonals unlike the Galileoscope - with higher mag. EPs. Impossible to see anything through a straight-through scope like the Galileoscope if the target is at or near the zenith.

I could get a pair of tube rings (and dovetail plate) for my 60mm scopes originally on a fork or clamshell mount, so that I have the option of using them on the NexStar. But low on my list of telescope equipment priorities.

[Lady Fraktor]

I have used these in the past for smaller diameter refractors and after showing my set up to Bryan he uses a set with his 60mm refractor.
https://www.ebay.ca/sch/sis.html?_nkw=T ... 3364761856

They do come in various sizes down to 50mm. Mount them on a dovetail bar and you are ready to observe

[terrynak]

I have used these in the past for smaller diameter refractors and after showing my set up to Bryan he uses a set with his 60mm refractor.
https://www.ebay.ca/sch/sis.html?_nkw=T ... 3364761856

They do come in various sizes down to 50mm. Mount them on a dovetail bar and you are ready to observe

Thanks for the info and link Gabrielle!

[John Baars]

Outstanding Jupiter observations!
Thanks!