Popular Post Smithysteve Posted May 27, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted May 27, 2016 It was 22.30hrs yesterday when I spotted a text from a nephew who is over from the states for a few weeks... "I would like to come and see your dome and setup if that is ok?" Well, of course it was! I text him back saying i was about to go into the dome for a viewing session. Come on over! He is staying just down the road... I had planned on bagging a few outstanding Messiers on my 'not seen list'. But decided to stick with some old faithfuls to pretty much guarantee a 'Wow' factor for him. The moon was below the horizon, the clouds had largely cleared away. So I opened up the dome and within two minutes had Jupiter in the 20mm Nag and the dome was internally lit with a 5m strip of red LED lighting in readiness. My nephew arrived and having not seen my setup before, was duly shown how the dome and scope worked. In particular how to use the coarse and fine (electric) focuser... Then the red LEDs were switched off... Outside the dome, I pointed out the three planets on show, how to find Polaris, etc. We then had a good look at Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. Impressive! We turned to two of the finest Globs on show M3 and M13. They both looked awesome! He was very impressed! Bodes galaxies next, M81 and M82 individually and then both in the same FOV. Wow! By 00.45 am, M57 ring nebula was well placed so we had a look through different EP's and it looked amazing with lots of stars as a backdrop... Then back to Jupiter... What a pleasure to introduce someone to a few wonders of the cosmos! I went off to bed with M57 in my minds eye! Great stuff! ? Brantuk, red dwalf, +Bino-viewer and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 It's wonderful when a friend or relative takes an interest in all your hard work. I bet he loved it and was buzzing when he finally went home. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Nice one. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Sounds terrific - it's great when you can show off the heavens and a bit of kit at the same time. I'll bet your nephew was well impressed. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 A good nights work there Steve. Do you reckon it will spark him off? Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 2 hours ago, Doc said: It's wonderful when a friend or relative takes an interest in all your hard work. I bet he loved it and was buzzing when he finally went home. It was a good show! I emailed him a list and pics of the objects we had been looking at so he could reflect on the night 1 hour ago, Brantuk said: Sounds terrific - it's great when you can show off the heavens and a bit of kit at the same time. I'll bet your nephew was well impressed. Thanks Kim, he was! (and I am always impressed!) ? 1 hour ago, BAZ said: A good nights work there Steve. Do you reckon it will spark him off? You never know Baz, but we always live in hope! Brantuk and BAZ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Glad you both had a great time, and very lucky that the weather played ball Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 39 minutes ago, Tweedledee said: Glad you both had a great time, and very lucky that the weather played ball Thanks Pete ? I hope it's good tonight and tomorrow night too! Three Astro buddies are coming over later, lugging their 10" dobsonians... followed by my grandson tomorrow night ... And fishing on Sunday! It's all down to clouds and the weather now! Cheers! BAZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share Posted May 28, 2016 Well we got away with it again, the skies held clear and three buddies and myself had a great night, basically looking at the same as my first post, with the bonus of 2 ISS passes. And other scopes... its also looking good for tonight too! I am picking up my 14 year old grandson this afternoon and hoping for clear skies again, plus the ISS is due again around 23.24 ish and 1.00 am ? Hopefully that will make 3 nights in the dome on the trot, a record! Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 8 minutes ago, Smithysteve said: Well we got away with it again, the skies held clear and three buddies and myself had a great night, basically looking at the same as my first post, with the bonus of 2 ISS passes. And other scopes... its also looking good for tonight too! I am picking up my 14 year old grandson this afternoon and hoping for clear skies again, plus the ISS is due again around 23.24 ish and 1.00 am ? Hopefully that will make 3 nights in the dome on the trot, a record! Living the dream And lots of public outreach Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share Posted May 28, 2016 Good sessions are few and far between! We have just got to make the most of it! There is only two to three hours of darkness at the mo too, but it is definitely nice to have warmer conditions! ? Beginning to feel like I am back on night shifts... ? Happy days! ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 On 27 May 2016 at 19:43, Smithysteve said: Thanks Pete ? I hope it's good tonight and tomorrow night too! Three Astro buddies are coming over later, lugging their 10" dobsonians... followed by my grandson tomorrow night ... And fishing on Sunday! It's all down to clouds and the weather now! Cheers! Well, to finish off, it's been a successful weekend, three nights on the trot in the dome, with a nephew, 3 Astro buddies and last but not least, my 14 year old grandson on sat night. (Followed with a 05.30 start on Sunday to go fishing with my grandson ) it was a bit déjà vu, except we also bagged a faint glob on sat night, M56 in Lyra. This is one I cannot remember seeing before, it was faint and the sky was still twilight, but three nights on the trot and good weather for fishing, whoa! Rare delights! cheers! BAZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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