TheSkySearchers

Last night, 9/3/21, I had high thin cloud layers racing overhead. I figired it was a no-go.
I had to go with my wife to Champaign, about 30 miles away,  to drop off her Sienna for some brake work Sunday evening for early Monday service. On the way back home I noticed a lot of stars. I began to hope that by the time I reached home the sky would still have a few openings.


I have an Orion 150 f9 Richey Chretien that came from Henry's collection. I do not think he ever used it. I had played around with it in daylight to figure how many spacers I would need to reach focus with a diagonal. There is one large opening in the tree cover near the house so I set up the CG4...too light, but it was quick and quick was what I was after. I mounted and balanced the RC by the light of my cell phone and sat down in my trusty Vestal viewing chair behind a Meade 40mm wide FOV EP for my search and view adventure. I had no finder scope mounted.

I had nice view of Altair, a cold white/blue in color. Slipping east and north to Tarazed revealing a slightly golden color. Fine views. Tarazed was naked eye visible. Then west and south to Alshain which seemed more yelliw than Tarazed.
The RC gave nice contrasty pinpoint views.

I waited for Jupiter to clear the trees and spent the rest of my time there.
With my 12.5 docter EP Jupiter revealed the GRS moving from right to left in my fov. There were moments of sky when the redish hue of the storm peaked. The north and south equitorial bands were nice. The north band was dominant.
Saturn had already passed out of view behind the trees ahead of Jupiter.

It was a short outing but it was satisfying.
My objective was to see how the f9 RC worked for visual. It works very well for me.
As you may see in the site photo the opening was small, but at least it was open !

Peace and clear skies to you all.

Nice report John. Sounds like your 150 RC provides really detailed views of Jupiter. I don't think I've seen Jupiter quite as clearly with my Z8, I'd love to try an RC some day.

The Happy Parrot wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:05 pm Nice report John. Sounds like your 150 RC provides really detailed views of Jupiter. I don't think I've seen Jupiter quite as clearly with my Z8, I'd love to try an RC some day.

I cannot compare it well in one outing, HP, but It seemed very close to what I get with my ES 127 APO and maybe a bit more contrasty across the fov. This surprised me as the RC has a pretty large secondary obstruction. The baffling in this RC tube is extensive.

When I have a long duration clear I will mount them both and do a side by side. This RC came with several very robust spacers to mount on the visusl back so as to acheive focus for either AP camera mount or visual viewing.


The sky condition was very transparent for a short time last night and this helped.

Thank you for reading my brief report.

Ckear skies to you.

Hi Mark. A very nice observing report with the limited open sky available to you. And you got a chance to work with some legendary RC optics too. Thanks for your report Mark, and the best of wishes for many clear skies and observing opportunities.

Nice report Mark. I'm glad you decided to use your RC as a visual scope. I knew you'd like it.

Cheers

JayTee wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:32 pm Nice report Mark. I'm glad you decided to use your RC as a visual scope. I knew you'd like it.

Cheers

Thank you JT.
And if I want to try some AP ... I never say never.

Makuser wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:57 pm Hi Mark. A very nice observing report with the limited open sky available to you. And you got a chance to work with some legendary RC optics too. Thanks for your report Mark, and the best of wishes for many clear skies and observing opportunities.

Thank you Marshall.
I may try to find some more sucker holes tonight.

Really nice that you were able to het some views in Mark!
Henry would be pleased.

Sounds like a great scope for either viewing or imaging.

Hope that you get an opportunity to really put it through the paces very soon!

Hi Mark, thanks for documenting your observations through the 150mm RC that belonged to Henry. I am sure he would be happy that you put it to good use with both some stellar observing and Jupiter- congrats on today's VROD.

Congrats on the VROD, Mark!

Thank you all for the VROD encouragement.

Congratulations Mark on receiving the TSS VROD.

Glad that the Orion 150 f9 Richey Chretien works for visual Mark. Looks like a fun scope. And congrats on TSS VROD!

Congrats on the "new" scope...and the VROD!! Always fun to break in different optics!

Dave

Congratulations on the VROD!
Nice instrument you have got there!

You need to take a chain saw to those trees Mark!

Congrats on the VROD.

Regards

Graeme

Graeme1858 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 11:58 am You need to take a chain saw to those trees Mark!

Congrats on the VROD.

Regards

Graeme

Yes...well Graeme I have taken one or two out in my SE view with said instrument..., but I must consider all of my furry and feathered friends who share this little bit of Eden.

The two swaths I now have, SE-S and SW-W are used effectively by setting up my kit and letting the earth rotate the targets into the zone. I can view "upcoming" targets in Skyfafari to plan these astronimical ambushes.

This works for leasurely visual outings near the house.
Thank you Graeme

I have a 20" Stihl chainsaw that you can borrow!!!