Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Nov 28, 2009 5:48:07 GMT -6
Day After Thanksgiving Observation Session
28 November 2009
A clear night beckons attention, and so it was with two Chicago Astronomers this Friday evening after Thanksgiving. Bill and I headed out to a Chicago Astronomer site, just south of the Adler Planetarium and close to the lakefront - with a clear eastern sky.
I brought out the Celestron 11 SCT, as it's getting easier to set up and break down with each session and I wanted full 11 inch aperture at my call. Slipping the in-the-field dew shield on, I was ready to keep the dew at bay. Made from a windshield sun block screen, it does the job ok for now. (I intend to make one from stiffer material later.) I also used the motorized focuser for this session, but the threads just don't jive with each other well. I am able to have a bit of the threads "engage" a bit with some pressure as I tighten, and that is what I did.
Using my red LED headlamp, (which came in very handy), I illuminate both of us during a pause in our observations.
This was the first occasion that I used independent power to run the tracking via 12v battery and a homemade clamp & socket set-up. Worked quite well...and also served as a mini step stool for those objects around 20 degrees above the horizon...
We took some time to test out the nearly 1/4 Moon, but viewing conditions this evening just was not steady, as the Moon was very turbulent - but we still studied it with Bill's Bino viewers, which bring an added dimension of relaxed viewing using both eyes.
We examined various lunar artifacts, including the "Lady in the Moon", which I could not readily make out, but made my own pattern...which we both liked better.
Using binoculars, I scan the heavens, while Bill, (being the expert Deep Space Object locater), targeted stuff, like the M44 open Star Cluster, some planetary Nebulae and I wanted to view the Whirlpool galaxy, but it eluded expert Bill's targeting...and we blame the poor viewing conditions.
Searching at the tail end of the Big Dipper for the Whirlpool Galaxy proved futile this evening. I think it was still too low in the muck. Better chance at a later session.
It was now 2:30 am and Bill had to depart, but I strayed on for another hour, enjoying Mars, Saturn and leisurely exploring the sky with no particular destination and at total randomness.
The drives were not behaving well this evening. Although tracking well, the nudging via control paddle was off. One axis did not respond well...and changing the balance helped a bit, but did not solve it. Later on by myself, I discovered that the R.A axis slo-mo control was loose, and the clutch did not lock. The tiny hex nut was loose and did not grab on to the shaft - and the clutch would not fully tighten - and now, the knob was spinning freely. To be corrected later, and hope this is the problem with the slewing.
I remained until 3:30 am solo, listening to the radio and enjoying the sky when clouds started to move in and conditions degraded much..and I packed it in. And besides..I was cold....radio said it was 30 degrees by the lakefront where I was, but I'm sure it was colder. (Winter astronomy is the folly of youth!)
There was frost on the equipment now and certainly below freezing. Breaking down the equipment goes fast, but the motorized focuser that I had to press on earlier at the start of the session...was now on tight...and I could not remove it. With the cold, the metal just contracted and locked it in firmly. Leaving the ring on the scope, I was able to remove the motor part and pack the OTA away. Deal with it later.
Another enjoyable observation session to document and remember. I think there will be another tomorrow...
