Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jun 10, 2010 8:17:33 GMT -6
Unplanned Outer Planet Imaging Session - No go on Comet McNaught
10 June 2010
10 June 2010
After checking out Chicago Astronomer Linda's new 4" Vixen refractor, I came back home to get the damned 35mm film canister from within the C11 OTA. After which, I tightened up the drives on the Losmandy Mount.
A pleasant and successful time...
With the drives now working perfectly and with minuscule lag, and I wondered if I could set sight on Comet McNaught this early morning. With 15x70mm Binoculars, I scanned the early morning skies, but it was not to be. The street lights much too bright and the eastern horizon blocked by trees and buildings.
So....
With tight tracking now, I decided to see if I could locate Uranus again...and this time take some better shots.
Still very close to Jupiter, I found it pretty easy and could discern a disk. More greenish blue in the eyepiece, it comes out blue in the images...
Pretty bright, the desire is to overexpose the planet, but quick 1/8th or so exposures were sufficient and the first one is the best....all using a 25mm eyepiece and the Canon Powershot S3.
I took some time to scan for the comet, but no dice. When I came back to the C11 some 10 minutes later, Uranus was still perfectly centered in the eyepiece...sweet! ;D
I slewed over to Jupiter, with just the Rigel to guide me and conditions were good...
Two minor EQ belts were clearly observed and it took magnification well. 10mm and a 2x barlow worked well this morning. I tried taking shots with the 10mm, but it was displaying crud on the optics...and not good for posting. The above were taken with a 25mm.I stumbled upon Ganymede while using the hand controller on the now very responsive tracking and nudging...
The camera is displaying some aberration, but a Jovian satellite disk was perceivable.
It was now 5:00 am Thursday morning and the session was over. The city was waking up, traffic now was causing unwanted vibrations and the atmosphere was heating up...losing the clarity I had of Jupiter.
If clear, I will attempt to catch Comet McNaught later this evening by the lakefront.