Observing Report

Astro Home

Articles
   Gravitational Lens
   Variable Stars
   Astrophotography
   Observing Reports

Pictures
   Trip to Kitt Peak
   Astrophotography
   Visit to the VLA
   Sites in Tucson

Equipment
   Telescopes
   Cameras

Links
   Astro Clubs
   Observatories
   Organizations
   Other Websites

Tonight the Moon was 51% illuminated. I was hoping that the fact the moon was much dimmer than the last time I observed it, that it would appear much more observable. It was still extremely bright. I used a cardboard cut out, which I had made the last time, and it worked nicely again. Still have not ordered the Moon Filter.

The next target I found was one reason I wanted to get the T adaptor tonight. But alas, the football game didn't get done before 10pm so the astronomy shop was closed. I gazed over towards Orion and began hunting for M42. This would be my first diffuse nebula to look at through the scope. I didn't have my finder scope attached as I wanted to set up quickly, so it took me a good 2-3 minutes to find it. But once I did I was hooked to this for probably 15mins. The view was so much better than I had hoped looking from in the city at my home.

I then went on to look for something easier to find. Betelgeuse. This star has fascinated me since I was young [and not just because its meaning is "Armpit of Mighty One"]. I learned in an astronomy magazine I found at school that Betelgeuse had a bigger diameter than that of the entire orbit of Jupiter! To think of a star that big just amazed me. Click here to see what I mean. I wasn't expecting much in the eyepiece, but yet I still found it nice to ponder over it tonight.

Lastly, almost directly overhead, was The Pleiades. This is easily one of my more favorite objects to view, with or without aid.  This would be much different than times in the past though. With the most light gathering scope prior to this, was a 60mm Store bought brand refractor. Although this was still more than enough to view its treasures, the 120mm displayed it in almost perfection. I could not BELIEVE how many stars I could see. At 24x the stars filled the eyepiece edge to edge.