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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Alley Imaging with the C11/CG-5 mount

24 July 2013

The E.T. (Owl) Open Star Cluster

This cold front passing over us now, made for clear clean skies and great for some solo scope time. I set-up the C11 on the CG-5 mount- and the duo worked beautifully. Using the Sky-fi wireless connection, I used the iPad mini to slew and control the scope. It too also worked beautifully, but the snag was my sloppy polar alignment and tripod leg bump. The major situation were the intense alley lights pouring down the tube, but even so, I was able to snag some summer targets....

Exploring the Cassiopeia region, I was bouncing off clusters and binaries and ended up at my favorite summer time open cluster, The E.T.

Of course, we got to slew to the Double Cluster in Perseus...

Sinking in the west, another favorite of mine is M57...

But, I was punching through utility wires, (ergo the ghastly orange lines), in order to grab the Ring Nebula...but even with the near zero suitable conditions - the ring was easily viewed and imaged.

Lastly, Vega - (The locale of the "Contact" trip...or did she go...?). finally slipped away from the obtrusive light pole fixture and I calibrated the C11 with just slight nudging...

During this session, I was using two apps to control the mount via the Ipad Mini. First was the old faithful "Luminos". Does it well and never a complaint. But, I had just recently downloaded "Sky-Safari Pro". They had a sale and a reduction on the normal price - so I bit. It also also worked great and the mount responded to both great. Even bouncing between the two apps during the session was no problem and the wi-fi signal picked up by the iPad without hesitation.

I like some attributes..and dis-like several on both. A full detailed review at a later date.

But...this was a nice solo time with the scope and the Universe....of what I can target from this spot....

[regichuck]

I'm itching to see M57 through the beast at the next star party. Sad to say, I've never been able to see it in my life.

Regards,
Carlos

[mojocvh]

Man I NEED to get

1. time
2. skies

get my karma back in line with the universe.

Way too much **** going on right now.



AndyB.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Carlos...

M57 is not as vibrant as the pics reflect.

Mostly a smoke ring of faint grey, I can discern just a slight tinge of color on a good transparent night. At the Chicago Astronomer observation site right there by the Adler, I find it difficult to locate - with all the glare from that one street lamp behind us. But, C.A. Bill can pick out anything and quickly.

But yes, we will share M57 with you soon.

Andy,

There have been times in my life where I left astronomy behind.

Life situations, work...women.

But, it always waited for me to return...and pick up where I left off.

Hang in there bud.

[mojocvh]

Joe.

Sometimes you look to the stars and you suddenly realise just what purity actually means.

AB.

[regichuck]

Joe, I'm not expecting much, especially with the light pollution that we have, but I've been hunting for this thing with a 60mm refractor since I was a kid and it's just one of those things I must see with my own eyes before I die.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Heh..

You probably swept across it many times.

In a scope of 60mm, the size of M57 would be very small indeed.

Let's see if we can target the ring for you during our next Chicago Astronomer session.

(Also,

We had a private session last night and we got around to talking about your hybrid scope. We think that the views were good and sharp. It may even be worth to swap out the gearing for a top notch scope!)