Smithysteve Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 What are we waiting for? On this big 'merry go round' planet of ours we have to wait for the right time of year to see some things at their best. Over the year, I look forward to seeing all my favourite objects again! When they turn up, I enjoy them briefly before they drift off again. I am always adding new sights to the list, so the list is slowly growing and as i slowly improve my optical hardware, they are getting better to look at too! Right now I am looking forward to Orion, with the great M42, being 'up there' and available in the early evening sky.? It's great to see Auriga, and Gemini coming into view with all the wealth they bring.? Ursa Major is swinging round to be directly above us...? In the new year, Jupiter it's moons, their transits, it's GRS, belts and barges.? I am looking forward to 'The Spring galaxies' in and around Leo. ? So what are you looking forward to? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 (edited) I am looking and waiting for only one thing ------- A CLEAR SKY !!!!! I have had a customers NEQ6 sat on my pier in the obs for three weeks waiting for a clear sky so I can test it for a guiding problem. Edited December 1, 2015 by Graham Smithysteve and philjay 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 My focus is on planetary observation, had a few good early morning visits to the back yard for Jupiter, Mars and Venus. Like others, heavy winds and stratus clouds have been a real party pooper.... I hope to bag Uranus and maybe Neptune in the future. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werisit Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 I'm looking forward to Jupiter at a more sociable hour and trying to do some sketching of it's details. And trying to bag a few more fuzzies, especially Messier's from the Virgo Galaxy cluster. And yes Graham, A CLEAR SKY!!!! Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Trying the new Dob out at Belper, with Jupiter, Mars and Saturn to look forward to in the new year. Hope to get a tracking platform for it in 2016 and try a bit of planetary imaging. I now have the Dob mount, and am in the middle of a few mods to the scope. The tube is 50% flocked, and i should have my new focuser soon. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+seven_legs Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Going to Belper to see Orion Nebula through my 14" dob for the first time. Trees and houses block the view from my back garden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philjay Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 19 hours ago, Graham said: I am looking and waiting for only one thing ------- A CLEAR SKY !!!!! I have had a customers NEQ6 sat on my pier in the obs for three weeks waiting for a clear sky so I can test it for a guiding problem. Yep same here Graham. Last time I used a scope was 22nd Nov. Havent even been able to use my solar scope due to weather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 8 hours ago, seven_legs said: Going to Belper to see Orion Nebula through my 14" dob for the first time. Trees and houses block the view from my back garden. You are going to absolutely love exploring M42 using the 14". I saw it in mine at EMS4 and pretty much lost my dark adaptation on it! I'd never seen so much detail in it as that night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Among the many things I am waiting to see, there is a slightly unusual three for one object I want to examine in more detail with my dob. M104 the Sombrero Galaxy, Canali 1 the Stargate asterism and Pothier 11 the Jaws asterism. They will all appear in the same field of view with my 25mm eyepiece... Left to right - Stargate, Jaws, Sombrero... Stargate asterism... Sombrero galaxy and Jaws asterism... Smithysteve and catman161 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animaal Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 I'm waiting for Saturn. For some reason, I never managed to take a good image of it... despite it possibly being the most spectacular of the planets. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 (edited) I want one really good night to spend in Virgo, other than all those galaxies, I want to get 3C273. This is a Quasar and is achievable in an 8" scope, but it's difficult to identify as it just looks like a star. It varies a bit but is around mag 12.5 - 13. It's around 2.4 billion light years away, so probably the furthest object visible in amateur scopes. Edit, You can print them and put them in poly pockets to take out with you. 3C273-A.pdf 3C273-B.pdf 3C273-C.pdf 3C273-D.pdf 3C273-E.pdf Edited December 12, 2015 by BAZ Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 (edited) 3 hours ago, BAZ said: I want one really good night to spend in Virgo, other than all those galaxies, I want to get 3C273. This is a Quasar and is achievable in an 8" scope, but it's difficult to identify as it just looks like a star. It varies a bit but is around mag 12.5 - 13. It's around 2.4 billion light years away, so probably the furthest object visible in amateur scopes. Edit, You can print them and put them in poly pockets to take out with you. 3C273-A.pdf 3C273-B.pdf 3C273-C.pdf 3C273-D.pdf 3C273-E.pdf That sounds an interesting target Martyn, I will put it on my bucket list ? Like you say it is a long long way away ? So well worth trying to see something sooooo far away! Thanks for sharing that one.. 3 hours ago, BAZ said: Edited December 12, 2015 by Smithysteve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 On 9 December 2015 at 17:40, animaal said: I'm waiting for Saturn. For some reason, I never managed to take a good image of it... despite it possibly being the most spectacular of the planets. Hi Animaal, Saturn is worth waiting for. I love it too. It's amazing to think just how far away it is when you are looking at it. It is also great to pick out half a dozen of its moons and details in its rings and subtle shades on its disc. Saturn is going to quite low to our horizon for a few years though! I love Jupiter too and am looking forward to transits, GRS viewing and details in Jupiters bands etc. thanks for sharing, lots to look forward to. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 14, 2015 Share Posted December 14, 2015 I'm hoping to see the comet. I've also got plans to do an all-out imaging assault on the Hyades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted December 15, 2015 Author Share Posted December 15, 2015 18 hours ago, Sunny Phil said: I'm hoping to see the comet. I've also got plans to do an all-out imaging assault on the Hyades. That's great Phil, have you given up on the Sun? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now