Wymeswold session in good seeing conditions (3 September 2023)

[+Bino-viewer]

Last nights session reinforced my belief the 'ad hoc sessions' are often the best.

I arrived a little later than planned at 20:15hrs to a deserted Wymeswold CC with only Doug there for company.

 

You'd think setting up something as basic as a Nexus DSC push to computer with a even more basic manual alt-az mount a straightforward procedure.

Not for me. But once i realised my initial scope set up position was 90º out, and i was still on GMT -1 hour, then watching the unit

seemingly completely crash doing a 3 star alignement, several reboots later, we managed to get the thing setup (30mins later)

 

All then went swimmingly.

 

Perfect conditions, 16ºC, little wind, dew a non issue and good seeing for the most part made it a really good session.

Its a pity there weren't more of us visual observers there to enjoy it.

 

Lunar, the four outer gas giants all put on a really nice show, with Saturn and Jupiter as good as i'd seen them for a long time.

We could happy crank up the power to over 200x (even 260x) with little or no image breakdown.

 

We also did a few doubles, M27, M13, M11, Bodes M81 / M82 + a few others (the usuals)  The stars were beautiful pinpoints, with plenty of 'diamonds on black velvet' views on all the clusters we viewed.

Comets were hunted, a futile endeavour,  one invisible somewhere behind the cricket pavilion, another which turned out to be 23rd magnitude. Maybe i need some new reading glasses.

 

I've started to go back to mono viewing a bit more than i used to. Not so long ago i was 100% bino-viewing.

But i enjoy doing both, and can happily transition from one to the other.

I have recently put together another set of Vixen LVWs. These were my original eyepiece set from when i first started out observing

20 or so years ago. They were eventually sold, and i've regretted doing that so decided to see if i could replace them. They still pop up on the used market

so over the last year, i've gradually found replacements one by one. 

My 'Mono' set is now, Vixen LVW 3.5mm,  5mm, 8mm, 13mm,  Docter / Noblex 12.5mm,  LVW 17mm , 22mm, and my APM 7-15mm zoom.

My 2" Televue 35mm Panoptic has been sold, with some of the proceeds of that used to buy the replacement Vixen set.

 

Anyway, what a great session. Sometimes in this hobby, everything comes together, and you are rewarded with some amazing views

which you remember for years. Last night that happened.

 

Before we knew much about it the clock had passed by midnight, and we called it a night half an hour later.

See you all at the next session 😀🔭

 

 

Edited September 4, 2023 by Bino-viewer

[+Streetbob]

Nice report. Perhaps I should have put mine here too.

[+Bino-viewer]

Also a few notes on the Wymrswold site itself. @Daz Type-R @BAZ @tuckstar

 

The entry gate still has its 'Poundland' padlock.

But we managed to get in and out ok.

 

Several small concrete bollards have been put up at the east side of the building i'm assuming for extra security.

We don't ever use this area anyway.

 

On the main south side where the break ins and damage to the building occurred, the two points of entry have been reinforced

with additional boarding and makeshift doors that are padlocked  with small additional locks.

 

To be honest, they looked a bit Heath Robinson, but i'm assuming they are temporary security additions until something more permanent 

(like steel shutters or metal railings) can be fitted.

 

I checked all round the building and all appeared well and secure.

I don't know if they have fitted alarms, but as we now have no interior access, it's difficult to tell.

Last night interior access wasn't needed anyway : it was a lovely warm evening.

 

Over on the west side of the building, on the block paved area where we usually set up and observe (in from of the scoreboard)

4 picnic tables have appeared taking up all the space. 

But we easily moved two of them to one side and replaced them once we had packed away later.

They actually make very useful places to put eyepieces cases on and other gear !!

 

It was very quiet up there all night, we never saw a soul, not even a dog walker.

 

 

 

Edited September 4, 2023 by Bino-viewer

[+seven_legs]

Nice reports all.

Been far too long since me and Rob(Newtyng5) observed. 

Need to test Robs 12" stellalyra Dobsonian.