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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Seven Hour Solo Observation & Imaging session
Great company with Jupiter, Saturn & the Moon

29 May 2010

Now, I already had two evenings of public astronomy this week:

Details here...

astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=StarParty&thread=2727&page=1

...and really, was not up for yet a third.

But, a clear sky and beautiful temps does things to an astronomer and off I went to the Chicago Astronomer private observation session spot for some imaging with the C11 beast.

I just couldn't help it...and just for a couple of hours. It turned out to last seven....

Coming up to the area, the police blocked off access to traffic - due to the upcoming fireworks show. I told them who I was and setting up a telescope at the site...and off I went, while others were complaining about being blocked.

Men of science have privileges... ;D

I set up at 10:00 pm and just as I was about to start, the fireworks started...

I took the moment to enjoy the show and I had the rest of the night before me to enjoy the sky. I brought along two scopes, the C11 and the C5 SCT's, as I intended to do a shoot-out between the two and compare views and imaging under similar conditions and set-ups. But I never got around to setting up the smaller C5...I was having just too much fun with the C11.

I spent some time aligning the finders scopes and Rigel with great care, and polar aligned the mount. (The use of the green laser makes this process incredibly fast and easy...every mount should have one installed.) I put on some tunes via MP3 player and clamshell speakers. MP3's are a godsend and long gone are the days of cassettes.

Just as I finished the adjustments and setting up the accessories, the Moon was up and rose quite far south.

The lunar views were still quite bubbly and distorted, but the crimson Moon is always one for pause.

Of recent, certain Chicago public areas of the lake front have been hotbeds of criminal activity and the Chicago Police have been using air support to flush out the dregs. Here, they make a pass and inspected me and my observation site - illuminating the area with a bright spotlight...

I installed the green laser to the C11 on it's bracket and it makes a great pointed and aid in locating objects...

The Moon was still much too low for any serious imaging and I was starting to lose Saturn into the western muck. Any imaging would have to be now...and they came out pretty damned good...

Using the Canon Powershot S3 on full manual and attached to the C11 with a 25mm eyepiece, I observed heavy atmospheric flux and razor sharp images were not to be this session, but despite the turbulence, I was surprised at the moments of clarity...

I also did some video of Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon. here is the first attempt at Saturn:



It came out half decent without post processing or any "Registax" like build.


I now turned my attention toward some lunar imaging, as Saturn was becoming more distorted now...

These first images was taken thru the 60mm finder scope..

Attaching the camera to the C11, I zoomed in on various lunar features..

This next shot is interesting, as it's inverted and showing features often overlooked...

Sky conditions were worse in the southeastern skies as this lunar vid displays:



There was more unsteady viewing than solid sharp moments this evening. I wonder if I can afford some adaptive optics for my next scope...

I wanted to shoot Jupiter as well this session and had some time left, so I searched around for a target or two...

The Summer Triangle was well up and ready for enjoyment - with my favorite object - M57...

I observed M57, but failed in capturing any images...except one by sheer luck...

Taken thru the 60mm finderscope. I need to set-up a guiding scope for stuff like this.

Sometimes, I just enjoy using binoculars over telescopes - with the wider FOV and stereoscopic vision to scan the skies and pick up things...

I spotted Jupiter already up, snuck by while I was trying to image M57. Slewing the C11 to the Jovian planet, let's see this missing band again...

Flipping on the laser, I made a bee-line for it, but....

I was heavily dewed over.

Sigh...

Using a rear-window defroster I swiped from the Chevelle, I made a field project, spicing wires and using my spare battery I keep in the trunk. Flipping the OTA downward, I aimed the defroster up and in short while, I had a clear corrector plate once again...

( I do have the materials to construct a sturdy dew shield, but just haven't gotten around to it. This week...most certainly.

Now, ready to observe and try to image Jupiter...and, It came out pretty well - despite being low to the horizon...

The missing band is clearly evident, even in this mucky turbulent sky. I captured some video here as well...and I think the best of the session...



There were two satellites visible, but there was one just peeking out from behind the disk...I assume Io. I attempted to capture this emergence....but..

I was heavily dewed over again.....

While de-dewing the SCT again, morning was easing into my observation session. Checking the time, it was now, 4:00 am...

I still had about a half an hour to "look around", but the area was coming alive with wildlife, insects and ambient light...

I experimented with using the SCT "Straight-through without a star prism...



But, my corrector plate fogged up once again and I failed to make any comparisons on viewing differences. One more "defogging" run and now, the morning was at hand...

My two hour session, which became an all-nighter...was over. I was achy and tired...but not enough to prevent me from writing "Astro Joe" on the wild grass...

The morning city workers started to come in and looked at me a bit strange, but left me alone. Although, earlier in the session, a small group were excited to view celestial delights thru the scope.

Time to close up my mobile observatory, shut off the MP3 player and put away the dew soaked equipment...

This was an expected treat and shook out some problems in this session. The Losmandy mount was not tracking two days before - and taking apart the gears, I had discovered that the set-screws were free-spinning along the Dec. axis. With some alterations and improvements, tracking was now much better and kept targets in the FOV. I have discovered though, that the weight of the camera bogs down the slo-mo controls....and I need to add some weight to the counter-balance shaft - which has 22lbs now.

Also,

I'm not too keen on the webcam set-up I have been experimenting with. The software is clunky and the cam cheap and not light sensitive at all. With a lot of grain, it's also a chore to center the minuscule webcam lens to the image in the eyepiece. The Canon camera works much better.

It was now 5:00 am, quite bright out...and I was pretty tired. But I would do it all over again...and will soon.

It's what we do...


------------

Side notes:

I am disappointed that I did not search for Uranus and Neptune...which were both pretty close to the Jupiter area...

Pluto is in the area as well...but not too sure about locating it.

It will be the first order of business next time.


Also..

The first image above, with the C11 against a background of zigzag stars, is quite fitting...as that's the constellation of Aquarius and my astrological sign....

[susanna]

Absolutely amazing! Great pictures! I'm glad you got to get out there on your own and enjoy it!

[RobbW]

Joe, I know this was a quiet observing session by yourself, but I wish I had known about it. My wife and I spent the night downtown Saturday night to celebrate her birthday. On our way back to the hotel at the end of the night, we stopped to watch the fireworks display. I was thinking about the CA group and whether anyone was out observing at the Adler that night. I figured even if they were, they're usually only there until around 11pm. So, we would not have made it in time to meet anyone. I had specifically checked the CA forums earlier in the day before we left for the city to see if anyone was going to be at the Adler. Oh well, next time I'll just head over to the Adler anyway just to be safe!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Susanna,

Thank you.

Even after years of observing, it never fails to amaze me in prying secrets out from the cosmos.

Robb,

Access to the area was limited at the time, but I was able to pass barricades and conduct the session.

But...

You can always call my astro phone: [phone] - and see what I am up to and if in the area.

This last marathon session was a spur of the moment decision and not planned...but so glad I did.

More evenings should be spent like that.

[RobbW]

I hear ya about those spurs of the moment. Good call on your part. I understand the circumstances and the fact that it would have been difficult for me to get over by you anyway. I just get downtown so rarely these days. Oh well, just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you and the rest of the group, and that I had actually been within hollerin' distance of you that night!