Time change session

[Bigzmey]

11/05/2023

Location: home, Bortle 7.
Equipment: SW 182mm Mak on iOptron AZMP mount.

EPs:
TV Plossl 32mm, 50 deg (84x, 2.2 exit pupil, 0.6 deg TFV)
TV Delite 15mm, 60 deg (180x, 1.0 exit pupil, 0.34 deg or 20.4’ TFV)
TV Delite 11mm, 60 deg (245x, 0.7 exit pupil, 15’ TFV)
TV Delite 7mm, 60 deg (386x, 0.5 exit pupil, 9.6’ TFV)
TV Delite 4mm, 60 deg (675x, 0.3 exit pupil, 5.4’ TFV)

What is the better way to celebrate the time change day than to do some observing? Thanks to that sunset was around five and by the time I had dinner and stepped out the sky was as dark as it can get at Bortle 7.

Our property is surrounded by a few large trees, and I observe in the openings between. The largest opening and the darkest (or I should say little less bright ) is facing east. According to SkySafari it was occupied by Pisces. I could not tell since the grey sky below the great square of Pegasus was completely void of stars. This is why no matter how much I love to use manual mounts I switch to GoTo when observing from home.

Pisces famous for their galaxies, but they are also a treasure trove of doubles. I have spent a few fine nights chasing both and still have plenty to go.

Maks are famous for their lunar and planetary performance, but larger size Maks are great for splitting doubles to. They can go to crazy powers on doubles, and the stars look as sharp as in APO fracs but at a fraction of price.

PISCES DOUBLES

STF 3063 (9.3, 10.3, 1.1”) – white, uneven pair, snowman split (386x, 675x).
BU 488 (7.4, 10.3, 12.4, ab3.3”, ac40.3”) – AB, FAIL; AC, white, gray. The faint C was resolved with AV (386x).
STT 10 (6.5, 10.2, 9.5, ab28.1”, ac174”) – pale yellow, white, white (84x).
STF 32 (6.8, 10.6, 29”) – white, gun metal (84x).
STF 37 (10.6, 10.7, 5.8”) – gray pair (84x).

STF 36 (5.7, 9.5, 9.9, 13.1, ab28.1”, ac174”, ad77.7”) – ABC is a colorful white, blue, silver triple (84x). Faint, greyish D was resolved with AV (386x).

S 387 (9.0, 9.0, 42.2”) – yellow pair (84x).
BU 1346 (10.9, 11.6, 5.7”) – tight pair of faint gray stars in the same FOV with S 387 (84x).
AG 6 AC (8.4, 10.9, 73.1”) – yellowish, silver (84x).
STT 550 AB (6.0, 11.5, 172”) – golden, silver (84x).
STT 18 (7.9, 9.7, 13.5, ab2.1”, ac46.6”) – AB, lemon, bluish, tight split (180x). Very faint C was resolved with AV (386x).

STF 51 (8.3, 10.4, 3.5”) – yellow, blue (180x).
STF 58 (9.2, 10.6, 46”) – orange, silver (84x).
STTA 8 AB (9.0, 9.3, 44.4”) – yellowish pair (84x).
STTA 9 (7.8, 8.8, 10.3, 13.1, ab117”, ac122”, cr20.8”) – ABC, yellow, white, white (84x). Faint greyish R resolved at 245x.
STF 63 (9.0, 11.4, 12.2, ab32.9”, bc118”) – yellow, gray, gray (84x).

STF 67 (9.0, 9.6, 2.3”) – uneven yellow pair (245x).
STF 71 (9.3, 10.6, 8.9”) – yellow, white (84x).
STT 20 (6.1, 7.2, 12.8, ab0.6”, ac150”) – AB, FAIL; AC, snow white, gray (386x).
STF 74 (8.6, 9.6, 3.1”) -yellow, orange (180x).
STF 75 (9.6, 11.3, 5.2”) – orange, brown (84x).

STF 76 (9.1, 11.8, 3”) – white, gray (386x).
STF 77 (10.4, 10.5, 10.3”) – grayish pair (84x).
STF 78 (10.3, 10.5, 5”) – yellowish pair (84x).

STF 82 (8.8, 9.7, 11.9, 12.9, ab1.8”, ac75.5”, cd10.8”) – another version of Double Double: AB, yellow pair, and CD, fainter gray pair, wide apart (180x).

STF 87 (9.2, 9.9, 6.1”) – pale orange pair (84x).
STF 88 (5.3, 5.5, 10.7, ab29.8”, ac90.8”) – beautiful pure white pair with faint silvery sidekick (84x).
STT 22 (7.3, 10.5, 8.4”) – white, silver (180x).

[messier 111]

hi bigzmey,
How do you find the Delites?
Personally I'm a little disappointed when I look at Saturn, I find it dark compared to the Delos.
the view must be really different with a 7 compared to what you had before.
And like always nice read , thx .

[Bigzmey]

hi bigzmey,
How do you find the Delites?
Personally I'm a little disappointed when I look at Saturn, I find it dark compared to the Delos.
the view must be really different with a 7 compared to what you had before.
And like always nice read , thx .

What I found over the years of observing is that "every man to his taste" applies to EPs to a high degree. I only had brief experience with Delos. The form factor and sensitive eye position did not work for me.

I do like Delites. To my eye Delites are exceptionally sharp, have good light scatter control and has better control of glare compared to my favorite DSO EPs which are Pentax XWs. To capitalize on the strong sides of Delites I use them for lunar, planetary and double splitting.

Coming back to your comment did you compare Delos and Delite of similar FL on the same night in the same scope?

[StarBru]

What a great session, and I enjoyed reading your report as always! Thanks for posting!

[messier 111]

hi bigzmey,
How do you find the Delites?
Personally I'm a little disappointed when I look at Saturn, I find it dark compared to the Delos.
the view must be really different with a 7 compared to what you had before.
And like always nice read , thx .

What I found over the years of observing is that "every man to his taste" applies to EPs to a high degree. I only had brief experience with Delos. The form factor and sensitive eye position did not work for me.

I do like Delites. To my eye Delites are exceptionally sharp, have good light scatter control and has better control of glare compared to my favorite DSO EPs which are Pentax XWs. To capitalize on the strong sides of Delites I use them for lunar, planetary and double splitting.

Coming back to your comment did you compare Delos and Delite of similar FL on the same night in the same scope?

yes, the same telescope.
one of my friends told me that the 3mm delite was the one that darkened objects the most.
It is true that the delos are very demanding in terms of eye placement.
I compared it to the 3.5 delos.

[Ylem]

Very nice productive session Bigz! Now that the time change has taken place, I need to get out before it gets too cold

[John Baars]

Very extensive session and report!
I liked the STF3063...on the edge of the possibilities, well done!
Thanks!

[Bigzmey]

Thanks Bruce, Jeff and John!

[Unitron48]

Nice session, Andrey. Some great captures. I haven't been out for awhile. Got to get a fix soon!

Dave

[Bigzmey]

Thanks Dave!

[helicon]

Nice report Andrey and you win the VROD for the day re: The Pisces double stars. Congratulations, once again.

[Bigzmey]

Thanks Michael, much appreciated!

[kt4hx]

Very well done Andrey. Some nice doubles action, and taking advantage of the time change is always a plus. Sounds like a "Deliteful" outing! As always congrats on a very deserved VROD.

[John Baars]

Congratulations on the VROD!

[Bigzmey]

Thanks Alan and John!