What kind big-time equipment were you taking to 500-750x?
Christopher
Bob Jardine wrote:
>Looking out the window yesterday, as many TACOs noted, did not inspire
>confidence that skies would be clear. But both the NWS and CSCs
>agreed: FP would be clear from late afternoon until around midnight.
>Furthermore, CSCs predicted good seeing -- a solid blue bar. So about
>6 cars, 6 'scopes, and 6 people risked it.
>
>Well, it wasn't perfect. Lots of dew; ah, the sounds of the season:
>hair dryers and hand-squeezed bulb blowers. But otherwise, very nice.
>Cold but nothing that normal winter observing layers didn't handle.
>The seeing was perhaps not the best I've ever seen, but maybe in the
>top 10.
>
>I pushed the power up to over 750 on Saturn at one point...that was a
>bit beyond the limit, but fact that I was tempted to try it may give
>you an idea about how good the seeing was. I had rock solid views at
>over 500X for extended periods of time. Gobs of detail everywhere.
>
>I checked out Amphritite again, then comet C2002/T7. It was small but
>nicely shaped. And very easy to find, right between Alpha Tri and M33.
> Check this one out if skies clear again.
>
>The rest of the night I spent going back and forth between the fabulous
>views of Saturn and working on multiple stars (triples, quads, etc.),
>using a list from the December S&T; I had done most of these before,
>but it was a fun project anyway. Near the end, Jamie suggested that I
>give up trying to split AB Sigma Orionis. I was wondering why I was
>having so much trouble with it. Turns out I had misread the list and
>was trying to make 5 out of 4. After that, I felt a little bit
>stupider, but at least happy that neither my 'scope nor my eyesight was
>completely broken.
>
>We lost the sky totally at around midnight, just as predicted. But it
>was enough.
>
>Joe Bob sez: happy holidays, everyone!
>
>
>__________________________________
>Do you Yahoo!?
>New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing.
>http://photos.yahoo.com/
>
>
>