The Moon Maiden

[Nightspore]

 

I set the 102mm Altair Starwave up at around 01:30 BST 29/8/24. It had been predicted to be clear from midnight onwards. I was sceptical, naturally. The overall weather was quite warm. Although there were clouds as I got my gear sorted and assembled, they eventually dissipated to reveal a sky full of stars. I could even see the Milky Way. It was so beautifully panoramic and totally dope, I was actually quite excited. However, I believe there were some high altitude winds (130+ kph) directly overhead of my geographical location. I could easily make out Zeta1 Aquarii (190° 13” azimuth, 37° 13” altitude ) with the naked eye, which is always a good sign. Later I split Zeta1 Aquarii at 102x and 160x.

 

 

I had the tripod raised to maximum height as I intended the first part of the session to be in mono mode and I’d only switch to the binoviewer when Jupiter and Luna were high enough to be observed. The first target was a no-brainer Saturn (Aquarius) at 51x with the 14mm Morpheus. The 1.25” Baader BBHS prism really accentuated the yellow-orange of Titan. Later, with the 7mm & 4.5mm TMB’s, I am pretty sure I also saw a ‘totally based’ Rhea and Dione at 102x & 160x. A slight glitch was that I had to tighten the azimuth slo mo slightly as the clutch wasn’t properly engaging. This can happen in transporting the mount and is easily fixed.

 

 

With the Summer Triangle getting lower in the west it was easier for me to manipulate the OTA on the Porta II. I found M57 pretty easily even without an OIII with the Morpheus. As a consequence I also relatively easily located both ‘snowball’ clusters in Hercules. In full ‘kid in a candy store’ mode I looked at as many open clusters as I could find with the 14mm Morpheus. These included the Double Cluster (Perseus) and the Owl Cluster just below the uncomfortable looking throne of the vain queen Cassiopeia. However, it was only when I tried to find the Andromeda Galaxy (albeit unsuccessfully) that I caught the incredibly jewelled Double Cluster again with the 35mm Eudiascopic at about 20x, it almost took my breath away. After a while I could see a very low Moon. Also Jupiter and Mars. I viewed Jupiter at 102mm. 

 

 

After a short while indoors having a break I returned to the scope. Jupiter & Mars were now fairly high. The yellow 21.8% Moon (Gemini) was low but rising. It was finally time for the William Optics binoviewer! I decided to switch to the Baader Amici prism as it would save me time when I switched my attention to the Moon. I knew the GRS was near the Jovian western rim so started off with the 12mm GSO Plossls (119x). It wasn’t easy to make out, I was tempted to use a Baader Neodymium filter in the prism nose but was way too lazy to break all the gear down. Instead I swapped to the 8mm TV Plossls (178x) to look at Mars until the GRS was more equatorially centred. Jupiter rotates 28x faster than the Earth so I wouldn’t have to wait long. I could see the 87.9% Martian phase (Mars is in Taurus). There were hints of surface detail and I’m pretty sure the NPH was still there. I also detected a fleeting bright white albedo feature south of the equator, but it wasn’t consistent. Inevitably I turned to the Moon (Gemini). This was quite spectacular at 178x and atmospheric conditions were fairly still considering it was a gnat’s member over 33° in altitude. I swapped out the 8mm TV Plossls for the 15mm TV’s, this time the cheap generic Chinese new barrel end caps came off easily. At 95x the Moon was stunning.

 

 

The Moon Maiden overlooking the Bay of Rainbows was fairly well distinguished.

 

 

I’ve seen her better defined but it was still a rare treat and a bit of a  wow! Other highlights were Gassendi, Schiller and Aristarchus, although the valley itself was a tad too far from the terminator.

 

 

Finally, still at 95x I got a butcher’s at the GRS. I also started to notice a very faint diffraction spike. This is not totally unusual depending on target and conditions. By this time I could see Orion rising and looked at Beetlejuice (it didn’t go nova) with the 32mm BCO’s, before trying to find the Serpent Cluster between the belt stars. It was getting light so I raised the tripod height and switched back to the BBHS prism hoping to see the Orion Nebula with the 14mm Morpheus before it was too late. I couldn’t see the nebula but could make out the Trapezium stars as by this time it was early dawn. So, a successful and pretty ‘based’ night! 

 

 

[Nightspore]

 

 

New TV barrel end caps. Why are TV dust caps so weird?

[+seven_legs]

thanks for the report, very enjoyable read.

[Nightspore]

54 minutes ago, seven_legs said:

thanks for the report, very enjoyable read.

 

Thanks and you're welcome. It was one of those nights where almost everything went well.

[+Streetbob]

An enjoyable read. Thanks. I have found it’s not too often everything works well.

[Nightspore]

5 hours ago, Streetbob said:

An enjoyable read. Thanks. I have found it’s not too often everything works well.

 

Glad you enjoyed it. I did have to tighten the azimuth clutch on the Porta II. Apart from that it was pretty hunky dory.