An almost-a-report

[turboscrew]

It was mostly clear last night, and that was my sauna-night, so I checked how my new grab 'n go scope (Omegon AC 102/660) does in observing while cooling down between löylys.

It did fine. Couldn't see much, tough, because of the moon. I couldn't even see Chertan (of Leo) with naked eye.

I had some targets in mind: Beehive (M44), Pacman (M67), Pinwheel (M101), Whirlpool (M51), Andromeda (M31) and moon.

During the first cool-off, I scanned around half way between Regulus and Pollux, and after a while, a patch of tiny diamonds on a light blue velvet (due to the moon) appeared. The patch seemed to fit quite well in the FOV of the 20 mm "super" (super-what?) eyepiece that came with the scope. The "super" 10 mm (also came with the scope) didn't add anything. Just smaller FOV.
Then back to löyly.

During the second and third cool-off periods, I scanned somewhat widely between Regulus and Procyon, but didn't find the M67.

It was clear that I had no hope of seeing the galaxies due to the moon that hung pretty close to the center of UMa and Leo, so I had to drop them and go with the moon.

During the next cool-off periods I looked at the moon. The moon was bright. The image looked quite sharp, but painfully bright. I thought that a grey filter ND06 (25%) would be good for a small scope, like this, but no. Then I changed to ND09 (13%), but that didn't help much either. I need to get much darker filter for the moon.

I was impressed enough, however, to retire my 10 x 50 binoculars from astronomy. From now on, I'll use the binoculars only for terrestrial. They suck big time compared to the new scope.
Also, I think this kind of scope is very good for a beginners. Also, the AZ-3 was quite good. I didn't notice excess vibrations and such. The vibrations from touching the scope died very quickly.

[helicon]

Nice first light Juha. I was out there last night as well in spite of the moon and slightly hazy conditions. Because of the natural LP I couldn't make out all of the stars in Ursa Minor. Looked at Polaris for the first time which naturally is much higher in the sky, having moved to 48.9 latitude from 38.2. I struck out with the Leo galaxies as well. I was using the 5.1" Astronomers Without Borders Newtonian. If I had been using the 10" Dob I might have had more success, but still the galaxies would have been faintish versions of their normal appearance I would guess. Hope you can get out again soon.

Edit: Congrats @turboscrew on the VROD for 4/17!

[Unitron48]

Sorry you didn't get to your primary targets, but that's the way it goes sometimes! Valuable first light though. Looking forward to your next session!!

Dave

[Butterfly Maiden]

Nice report Juha. It sounds like you have a good scope now.

[turboscrew]

Nice report Juha. It sounds like you have a good scope now.

It looks like it has already become my "sauna-scope", but does as a grab 'n go as well.

[turboscrew]

I knew the moon would be a problem, but just couldn't resist. Those opportunities have been as common as chicken's teeth. I just didn't realize that the darkness comes so late already. I thought there would have been more time before the moon gets that far.

[Bigzmey]

Congrats on successful first light Juha!

Finding the targets will be much easier, when the Moon not around or less than 50% phase. Having 50mm RACI finder in addition to red dot also helps a lot.

[Makuser]

Hi Juha. A very descriptive first light report with the new Omegon AC 102/660 telescope. I recommend a variable density (1%-40%) polarizing filter. You can adjust the brightness of the moon, Jupiter, or Saturn to just the right level with this one filter. Thanks for your well written first light report Juha and hope that you get another observing opportunity again soon after the moon starts it's waning phases.

[notFritzArgelander]

Hi Juha. A very descriptive first light report with the new Omegon AC 102/660 telescope. I recommend a variable density (1%-40%) polarizing filter. You can adjust the brightness of the moon, Jupiter, or Saturn to just the right level with this one filter. Thanks for your well written first light report Juha and hope that you get another observing opportunity again soon after the moon starts it's waning phases.

An excellent recommendation. I use the Baader unit and the solar continuum filter on the Moon and Sun.

[davesellars]

Hey Juha, good to see you got first light with the new scope pretty quickly! Yep, you can pretty much forget most DSOs at this state of illumination though... :p Some of the brighter open clusters can be still pretty good though...

I never use a filter for the Moon through any of my scopes although at full Moon there's not much interest as the contrast is completely washed out. My "cure" for the Moon being too bright is to apply sufficient magnification to dim it sufficiently... Your 4mm TV Radian and 5mm Delite would mostly likely be perfect for lunar observation with that scope.

[Thefatkitty]

Nice you got out Juha, and I so hear you on observations lately. Glad you're happy with your new scope as well! Make a solar filter for it; it'll increase your odds of seeing something in a 24 hour period !

All the best and best of luck,

[turboscrew]

Nice first light Juha. I was out there last night as well in spite of the moon and slightly hazy conditions. Because of the natural LP I couldn't make out all of the stars in Ursa Minor. Looked at Polaris for the first time which naturally is much higher in the sky, having moved to 48.9 latitude from 38.2. I struck out with the Leo galaxies as well. I was using the 5.1" Astronomers Without Borders Newtonian. If I had been using the 10" Dob I might have had more success, but still the galaxies would have been faintish versions of their normal appearance I would guess. Hope you can get out again soon.

Edit: Congrats @turboscrew on the VROD for 4/17!

Thanks! I really didn't expect that kind of honor.

[helicon]

Nice first light Juha. I was out there last night as well in spite of the moon and slightly hazy conditions. Because of the natural LP I couldn't make out all of the stars in Ursa Minor. Looked at Polaris for the first time which naturally is much higher in the sky, having moved to 48.9 latitude from 38.2. I struck out with the Leo galaxies as well. I was using the 5.1" Astronomers Without Borders Newtonian. If I had been using the 10" Dob I might have had more success, but still the galaxies would have been faintish versions of their normal appearance I would guess. Hope you can get out again soon.

Edit: Congrats @turboscrew on the VROD for 4/17!

Thanks! I really didn't expect that kind of honor.

Well, first light reports are kind of unique and deserving!

[turboscrew]

Nice first light Juha. I was out there last night as well in spite of the moon and slightly hazy conditions. Because of the natural LP I couldn't make out all of the stars in Ursa Minor. Looked at Polaris for the first time which naturally is much higher in the sky, having moved to 48.9 latitude from 38.2. I struck out with the Leo galaxies as well. I was using the 5.1" Astronomers Without Borders Newtonian. If I had been using the 10" Dob I might have had more success, but still the galaxies would have been faintish versions of their normal appearance I would guess. Hope you can get out again soon.

Edit: Congrats @turboscrew on the VROD for 4/17!

Thanks! I really didn't expect that kind of honor.

Well, first light reports are kind of unique and deserving!

But this one was a bit of a stub for even a first light report. I guess the "new twist" was doing it while sauna-bathing.

[Butterfly Maiden]

Congratulations Juha on receiving the VROD award.

[OzEclipse]

Congratulations on the first light, nice views and the VROD.

The visualisations of you coming out of the sauna to look through the telescope definitely fall in the "too much information" category.

[John Baars]

Congratulations on the VROD!
Nice report with the new telescope! A variable polarizing filter might help!

[jrkirkham]

Nice report, congratulations on the VROD. I see everyone weighing in on how they handle the bright moon with or without filters. I seldom use filters on the moon. I think I'm too lazy to screw them on and off, lol. Instead I turn all the lights on and don't worry about waiting for my eyes to dilate. I also couple the camera to the telescope and then watch the monitor instead of looking through the scope sometimes.

[notFritzArgelander]

Nice report, congratulations on the VROD. I see everyone weighing in on how they handle the bright moon with or without filters. I seldom use filters on the moon. I think I'm too lazy to screw them on and off, lol. Instead I turn all the lights on and don't worry about waiting for my eyes to dilate. I also couple the camera to the telescope and then watch the monitor instead of looking through the scope sometimes.

That works too!

[turboscrew]

A sauna session again with the 102 mm, to continue the checks.
Far too cloudy, really, but do you think I could have actually split the double at the Leo's neck (Algieba)?
With 6 mm BCO (110x) I saw two stars. SW from the brighter star, I (barely) saw another, notably dimmer star.
The atmosphere was restless enough, that I couldn't tell their colours. I think yellow and/or orange.
It, actually, took some time to see there was more than one star.