Wymeswold Sunday 13th September 2020

[+Streetbob]

A completely clear evening and surprisingly warm I wasn’t going to give up the chance of some (relatively) dark sky observing.

 

I hadn’t used my iOptron zeq25gt mount for a while as I’d fallen out with it.  But after a bit of adjusting and fine tuning over the last weeks I decided to give it another try.

 

I arrived at about 8pm and set up. First using a compass and then Vegas & Arcturus for polar alignment.  I then used Alioth as a single star alignment to double check and it was nearly  centred.

 

Jupiter was the first target and seeing was good with very little shimmering (not sure about putting a number to it though).  Only 2 moons were on show, Ganymede and Io I think.

 

Next onto Saturn, viewed through ES 11mm this gave a superb clear view, not just a flat disc, but a definite sphere with shading across the globe.

 

Mars was not visible yet, so I made the most of the southern vista, something I don’t get from my back garden, and so went for M2 first.  Right in the centre of the eyepiece, my preferred view was with the Altair 15mm Ultraflat.  A clear fuzzy with a bright centre.  No stars could be clearly resolved but still worth seeing.

 

As I still wasn’t that confident with the mount’s GoTo performance I used nearby bright stars to sync (Almach) before heading for NGC752 a very open cluster of bright stars dotted on a hazy background.  NGC147 & 185 were rather underwhelming, but still I’ve seen them now.

 

By now Mars was rising above the trees. Detail was difficult to identify as it was extremely bright, even with the ES 6.7mm EP.  I think I need a filter for the best observing.

 

It was about this time that a few local youths thought it would be fun to stand at the end of the field and flash their torches.  As we were observing in the opposite direction and gave them no heed they soon got bored and disappeared.

 

The faint nebulae M76 &M74 seemed to be beyond my scopes capabilities that night so I mooched about and slewing via Enif to check alignment, got a good view of  M15. Onto M29 & 39 for some open cluster action.

 

The dew was beginning to form and as it was about 11.45pm I didn’t want to mess with dew heaters so packed up.

 

A most enjoyable session and thanks to Brian for the company.

[+seven_legs]

Nice report thanks 

[+Bino-viewer]

Looks like i missed out on a good night, especially considering i was there the previous Wednesday when we were mostly clouded out.

But i was up at 4 both Monday and Tuesday so had to miss out.....😭