Look to the East tonight... Plus other astronomy chat

[DixieDean]

The Barlow fits into the scope where you would normally fit the eyepiece and then the eyepiece is inserted into the other end of it.

Inside the Barlow are more lenses that have the effect of doubling the magnification so... I have 10mm and 25mm eyepieces but with the 2x Barlow these become 5mm and 12.5mm eyepieces. Effectively, it doubles your eyepiece collection in one go and will work with any further eyepieces you buy at a later date. you can also get 3x 4x 5x etc.

There is a calculation you can do to work out the max/min focal length your scope can handle which I'll try to look up. It's all based on the aperture of your scope and the focal length of the tube assembly.

[DixieDean]

Here's one... http://www.csgnetwork.com/telescopemagcalc.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Focal Ratio of your scope is the length of the tube assembly divided by the diameter of the primary mirror.
eg. My scope is 650mm long and the main mirror is 130mm (5") in diameter so my scope has a focal ratio of f5 (650/130).

Enter your info plus the size of eyepiece and it will show the maximum theoretical magnification the scope can produce and what magnification any given eyepiece size in the list produces on your scope. It also shows what a 2x Barlow will add.

Be careful about trying to achieve the max because bad seeing conditions and light pollution will limit what you can see so it is quite often better to view objects at a lower mag in order to get the best view.

A good eyepiece is really important but they can be quite expensive so a good Barlow lens can negate some of that cost. Hence the reason I'm still saving the pennies

HTH

Richie

[ctibbits]

Thanks for all the info Dixie!

[murf]

I was going to wait until it rises earlier in the evening (about mid-May).

Is there any reason to look early evening (other than being warmer and more kid friendly?)?

I would have thought things would be clearer later on when it was darker.

[ctibbits]

The spec sheet with the scope actually has the highest useful magnification listed as 260X. So it looks like the 2X Barlow will only be half of that max. I think I will order it this weekend

[DixieDean]

I was going to wait until it rises earlier in the evening (about mid-May).

Is there any reason to look early evening (other than being warmer and more kid friendly?)?

I would have thought things would be clearer later on when it was darker.

Just the kid friendly bit. I've been out at 3am sometimes just to get a good view of some planets... not good for being up and about the next day.

[murf]

Comets are like buses...

This one could be visible with the naked eye.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21701641" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ctibbits]

Got my Barlow lens in yesterday but unfortunately I could not take a look last night. Im hoping there are clear skies tonight so I can use it some. Does anyone know the best way I can locate the comet that is visible right now. All I can tell from reading is that it is low on the horizon towards the west and best visable right after sunset. Im going to have to go on top of a parking garage to see it so don't want to go through everything tonight to not get a shot at it.

[ctibbits]

Just finished readign the article Murf posted. About as clear cut instructions as you can get for the 12th and 13th So I guess the only question for me is that this shouldn't change if I was viewing from the 30th parallel rather than the 51st of London right?

[juckster]

I think you have to look down from and to the right of the moon.

It should be clearly visible even to the naked eye, so I'm hoping for clear skies

[DixieDean]

Some good info re. PANSTARRS here:
http://www.space.com/20147-comet-pan-st ... ewing.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And a pic taken in New Zealand:



My garden is west facing but the end of my garden has tall trees and behind that the M1!!! (a very bright traffic sign light is just beyond the trees (GRRR).
So... My plan is to move the scope back into my 1st floor flat and set it up there. This should give me a better chance to see it but the heat from the house will affect the optics and mirrors on the scope.

Here in London the best night looks to be Tuesday just after sunset. Good luck all and please let us know if you get to see it!!!.


Cheers


Rich

[DixieDean]

Also... Here's a chart to show where it will be over the next few weeks/months:

[DixieDean]

Just seen this image of Saturn posted on an astronomy forum that I frequent. It's absolutely stunning!!!

The kit required to capture images like this runs into thousands of pounds so I can only dream of ever being able to do stuff like this myself.
You could easily be fooled into thinking it was computer generated.

Sat_180313_ASI120MM_192418_RGB_FINALPROCESS.png

Here's the scope used - Over 5 grand just for the tube assembly!!!

Celestron C14 SCT Optical Tube Assembly: £5403.00

[juckster]

You can get some great pictures.

That one is fantastic !

The moon was low in the sky last night when I went to bed, but it was very big. Is that because we're coming close to the New Moon on 10/4/13 - i.e. is a new moon when it's closest to us ?

[DixieDean]

The Moon's orbit is elliptical so it appears larger at different points in a lunar month. From wiki...

The apparent size of the Moon varies because the orbit of the Moon is elliptical, and as a consequence at one time it is nearer to the Earth (perigee) than half an orbit later (apogee). The orbital period of the Moon from perigee to apogee and back to perigee is called the anomalistic month.

[ctibbits]

You can get some great pictures.

That one is fantastic !

The moon was low in the sky last night when I went to bed, but it was very big. Is that because we're coming close to the New Moon on 10/4/13 - i.e. is a new moon when it's closest to us ?

It was monstrous last night and orange for a good portion of the time. I was fortunate to have a football match at the time and it was stunning. Almost caught out moon watching at one point

[murf]

It was monstrous last night and orange for a good portion of the time. I was fortunate to have a football match at the time and it was stunning. Almost caught out moon watching at one point

Well, according to your avatar, you do play for Bareassalona...



(was about to delete your first sentence above but some people might find something weird to read into it....)

[ctibbits]

It was monstrous last night and orange for a good portion of the time. I was fortunate to have a football match at the time and it was stunning. Almost caught out moon watching at one point

Well, according to your avatar, you do play for Bareassalona...



(was about to delete your first sentence above but some people might find something weird to read into it....)

well played sir

[DixieDean]

I'm pretty sure I saw the PANSTARRS comet yesterday evening. It was only with a small pair of binoculars so I'm not 100% confident I did see it.

Clear skies are forecast for tonight so I'm going to set up the scope later (curse of death) .

At least I know exactly where to look so hopefully will catch it before it sets behind the trees behind my flat.

[DixieDean]

WOO HOO!!! definite sighting of a comet. Tail and everything!!!

[sleuth]

WOO HOO!!! definite sighting of a comet. Tail and everything!!!

Did you get thru a whole box of Kleenex-'2 Ply' Dix ??

[juckster]

WOO HOO!!! definite sighting of a comet. Tail and everything!!!

I'll take a look later on tonight.

Where in the sky is it at the moment Dixie ?

[sleuth]

WOO HOO!!! definite sighting of a comet. Tail and everything!!!

I'll take a look later on tonight.

Where in the sky is it at the moment Dixie ?

There it goes........

[juckster]

WOO HOO!!! definite sighting of a comet. Tail and everything!!!

Did you get thru a whole box of Kleenex-'2 Ply' Dix ??

Just ignore him, he'll go away eventually

[hornet]

The ISS has been visible over UK skies for the past few evenings.
Few more days left to see it, but apparently it will be very bright tonight.

[RomynPG]

The ISS has been visible over UK skies for the past few evenings.
Few more days left to see it, but apparently it will be very bright tonight.

ISS Through Moon by TheDaveWalker, on Flickr
(taken yesterday - seven 30 second shots merged together of the ISS as it cuts through the sky)

[DixieDean]

Nice pic.

[eagle224]

Saw the ISS tonight and amazed at how bright it was as you could clearly see it moving across the sky with naked eyes. Managed to follow it with my 100x spotting scope though not easy to keep up with.

[bloggie]

Astrology as opposed to astronomy so no doubt a niche interest but found a quick birth chart link here:
http://www.new-astrology.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[DixieDean]

If you posted that on an astronomy forum you'd get lynched!!!