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[gettr]

wooohooo

After spending the last few sessions looking for M81/82 (and other things...) I finally found it. Between checking out a bunch of new stuff and sneezing/sniffling from a cold that's trying to get started, I was able to find it in my new 2" 26mm Meade Series 4000QX ep in the WO ZS 80. It was nice to find something with the new equipment.... kind of justifies the purchase maybe....lol.

Dennis

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dennis,

Congrats on snagging these dim galaxies in around the Dipper neighborhood...

I don't own any 2" eyepieces, but have peered through a few. They are indeed a great addition to any scope.

Excellent job.

[gettr]

Thanks Joe.... One more item to add to the "snagged" list..... I was set up for over an hour and a half last night to catch a 30 second glimpse of ......Mercury! Clouds were starting to build in the west and I thought I was going to miss it. I finally spotted it in a gap between the clouds with the binos..... Got the 'scope lined up and caught a few seconds with it....changed to a higher power EP....gone! Gonna try again if we ever lose these clouds around here...sometime soon....

Dennis

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dennis,

This will be a great month for catching the elusive Mercury, and this Friday, the 11th of March, the crescent Moon will conjunct with the planet at sunset.

If clear, Chicago Astronomer Alan and I will set up by the Adler Planetarium to catch the event, and perhaps make new friends in the process. It will be good for taking some pictures.

Congrats on sneaking a momentary peek at Mercury...more to come I'm sure.

[gettr]

Fighting a cold, I manged to catch Mercury for a good long time last night! Being that low on the horizon, the seeing was lousy. But, at moments of clarity(very few), you could tell that it was a crescent shape and a burnt orange color. Very small and VERY bright.... so much that I put my lunar filter in to try and knock the glare back. Any suggestions here? Another list advised using a variable polarizing filter.

Dennis

[stargazer]

I agree with the other group. Useing a polorised moon filter will work or you could try using a colored filtred if you have them. I normally use the colored filters or the light pollution filter. They both help cut down on the glare and the pollution

Becky

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dennis,

I have had great success with using a variable polarizing filter on my reflector. I use a regular 35mm camera filter for this and place the filter in a holder I made up. This goes inbetween the focuser and secondary mirror and is easily accessed to adjust for the highest contrast. Works great for lunar observations!

Regular filters will also enhance the color and contrast, and that close to the horizon and sun's glare...I would use a dark filter of perhaps red or blue.

[timothy]

I too have been looking for M81-82 with my scope, but no luck yet. I saw mercury tonight 4-9-05 naked eye . I was amazed at how bright it was. When I saw it last year it did'nt seem as bright. Might have been the two different observing locations.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Oh man....

Two separate observations of Mercury, and I haven't seen a one yet!

And the way you two are describing it, it sounds like a arc lamp.

Got to capture soon.

[gettr]

Sounds like I'm gonna have to look into some filters. Thanks for the advice everyone.

Tim, when I was trying to find M81/82, I tried using the stars in the the dipper to help find it... I drew a line from the lower back star(Phad) to the front top star (Dubhe)and went out a few degrees and started looking. I found it at about 20x..... but it was dim and easy to miss.... good luck and I hope this helps!

Dennis

[timothy]

Dennis
I think my next purchase is going to be a 30 mm FL eye piece so I can get the lower magnification. Right now the lowest I can get is 60x.