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[magic612]

This week has MUCH easier objects to observe; you can spot all eight of the solar system's planets with nothing more than your eyes and some simple binoculars (7x35's or 7x50's). Here's how:

[Paulie pchris00]

Mercury is the wild card. I'd like to see them all in one night, and for good measure, throw in Ceres and Juno. With the Sun and Moon, that would be quite a solar system night! Too bad Garradd is down in the muck now.

[magic612]

Late in the week is best for all of them anyway. Mercury and Venus both will be higher later in the week - and besides, we can find Neptune and Uranus with just a star chart.

Just need clear skies to cooperate for us!

[Paulie pchris00]

June 22-23, 2012- 6:10 PM CDST- 5:15 AM CDST

Sun- check.
Moon- check.
Mercury- check.
Saturn, Titan, Rhea, Dione, Iapetus, Hyperion, and Tethys- check, check, check, check, check, check, and check.
Mars- check.
Pluto- check.
Neptune- check.
Uranus- check.
Jupiter, Callisto, Ganymede, Io, and Europa- check, check, check, check, and check.
Venus- check.

With Ceres and Vesta rising near Jupiter, I thought I might be able to find them, but the morning twilight washed them out. For good measure then, I observed space rock 18 Melpomene. No comets were observed, though.

Twenty-one objects observed in our solar system in less than twelve hours. Of the major bodies, only Ceres and Triton went unobserved, but not without an effort. Mimas and Enceladus were washed out near Saturn's rings. Miranda would have been nice, and I should have tried for Garradd, but I'm pleased to have seen everything that was considered a planet at some point this century. It will be hard for me to top last night as my best solar system night ever.

Full write up later.

[patrickm]

Jesus.

[atomant]

I was there to witness the dusk to dawn solar system marathon. Congrats to Paulie!


Here's Paulie squeezing out the last bit from the sun with two solar scopes.


Hint of clear skies ahead in the horizon.


Dave arrives just in time with his 10in light bucket to join us in observing: la luna, Mercury, long lasting ISS and dancing fireflies.


Note: Pollux and Castor forming a dipper like handle with Mercury.


Shooting DSO fish in the milky way barrel.


Tom stayed long enough to help catch Jupiter and Venus rising.
He brought along his new 8in Schmidt-Newt light bucket. Hope to read more about it.


Paulie's setup to catch the morning stars. Note the night owl's brew for dusk to dawn observing.

[scottmason]

Beautiful sunset and milky way shots. Did you hook the cam up to any scopes?