Re: Telescope and Mount Recommendation
I started with the Lunt 40 and the Sky Watcher Sky-Watcher AZ-GTI ¨C Portable Computerized GoTo Alt-Az Mount.
The Lunt 40 is $750 and the mount is $450.? I really enjoy it.? They make a double stack for it also that can be upgraded later.
Kind regards,
Patrick?
On Wed, Apr 16, 2025, 12:32?PM Shawn Loescher via <shawn.loescher= [email protected]> wrote:
The ranger (Austin) in North Carolina that we work for their annual statewide star party is interested in getting an entry level solar telescope. Does anyone have suggestions?
?
Do you think this one is better than the Coronado PST?
?
If neither, can someone recommend one near the $1000 price point? I see High Point has a good selection but I'm not sure which is the best one to recommend to them.
?
Does anyone know a good tracking mount to use with it? The club has the iOptron Cube and it works great. Unfortunately it has been discontinued or I would recommend it. I think they would rather have an easy to use tracking mount than manual but I am sure that Austin would be interested in any recommendations we can give him.
?
Thank you!
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Today in history | | In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope went into orbit. Its observations have resulted in more than 22,000 scientific papers, and it continues to ¡°shape our fundamental understanding of the universe,¡± NASA said. For its 35th anniversary, the agency released beautiful new photos and a video breakdown.?.?[CNET]
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George Reynolds
"Solar System Ambassador" for South Hampton Roads, Virginia
Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA)?
?
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YRSP: potential May date change - feedback requested
Our next scheduled?YRSP date is Saturday Night, May 31st. That date does not work due to Ranger Staffing.
I need feedback: we could move it to Friday Night, 30 May. Is Friday Night 30 May acceptable or?should I completely?cancel May? The previous [Memorial Day]?weekend?doesn't work and moving it a week later puts us a few days before Full Moon/SkyGlow.
Post a reply here or message me directly, either is fine.
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From Tuesday, April 29 through the 5 of May it looks promising. The forecast is currently okay for that day and the comet will be in a good position. Probably should post it as a window we will try to observe it in based on the weather.
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What day are you thinking, and do you want to try and make it a public event?
On Tue, Apr 22, 2025 at 5:57?PM Shawn Loescher via <shawn.loescher= [email protected]> wrote: I think I'm going to set up another comet watch at the Deep Creek Park for this one.
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I think I'm going to set up another comet watch at the Deep Creek Park for this one.
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Fortunately, it's going to be higher in the western sky each night. By May 3 it'll be near the Pleaides. How bright will it be? Also, it'll still be dusk sky brightness.?
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I think they're calling for rain here about that time.
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Comet SWAN has officially moved into the low western sky at sunset. Tonight it¡¯ll be 3.5¡ã up at 8:30 pm, with an estimated magnitude of 7.5. It won¡¯t¡¯ be easy at dusk, but worth a try if you have ?clear western horizon.
?
?
Position tonight:
1hr 43m
+ 35¡ã 22¡¯
?
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Re: Off-Topic, but Amusing
Thank you Jeremy.
On Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 01:22:20 PM EDT, Jeremy via groups.io <jsaria@...> wrote:
I think that this article, while plainly intended with an agenda by the author, points out that modeling complex systems is hard.? We aren't an environmental action club, but preserving the night skies is certainly within our sphere - I am certainly pleased that circumstances are not yet as dire as was predicted!
As citizen scientists and science enthusiasts, I am reminded that science requires a healthy skepticism, both in your own theories and in those of others.? We should be able to examine, evaluate, and either accept or reject based on the strength of the argument, solidity of the premises, and the observable data.
As an aside, great observing on Saturday!
Clear skies (eventually),
Jeremy
On Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 12:08 PM George Reynolds via <pathfinder027= [email protected]> wrote: Today is the 55th Earth Day, (1970-2025), and here is a link to some of the predictions that were made in earlier Earth Days in the 1970s or so:
George Reynolds
"Solar System Ambassador" for South Hampton Roads, Virginia
Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA)?
?
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Re: Off-Topic, but Amusing
I think that this article, while plainly intended with an agenda by the author, points out that modeling complex systems is hard.? We aren't an environmental action club, but preserving the night skies is certainly within our sphere - I am certainly pleased that circumstances are not yet as dire as was predicted!
As citizen scientists and science enthusiasts, I am reminded that science requires a healthy skepticism, both in your own theories and in those of others.? We should be able to examine, evaluate, and either accept or reject based on the strength of the argument, solidity of the premises, and the observable data.
As an aside, great observing on Saturday!
Clear skies (eventually),
Jeremy
On Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 12:08 PM George Reynolds via <pathfinder027= [email protected]> wrote: Today is the 55th Earth Day, (1970-2025), and here is a link to some of the predictions that were made in earlier Earth Days in the 1970s or so:
George Reynolds
"Solar System Ambassador" for South Hampton Roads, Virginia
Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA)?
?
|
Today is the 55th Earth Day, (1970-2025), and here is a link to some of the predictions that were made in earlier Earth Days in the 1970s or so:
George Reynolds
"Solar System Ambassador" for South Hampton Roads, Virginia
Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA)?
?
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If your TV has been messing up or your Roku has been pixillating, it may be due to a current solar storm.? Here is the news from spaceweather.com?
GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G2):?Moderate () geomagnetic storms are possible on?April 22-23?when a??(CIR) is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. CIRs are transition zones between fast- and slow-moving streams of solar wind; they contain enhanced magnetic fields akin to those of CMEs. Sky watchers across Canada and northern-tier US states from New York to Washington should be alert for auroras.?Aurora alerts:?. A LARGE HOLE IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE:?A large hole in the sun's atmosphere is facing Earth and spewing a stream of fast-moving solar wind directly toward our planet. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed the opening, which stretches almost a million kilometers across the sun's southern hemisphere: This is a "coronal hole"--a vast region in the sun's atmosphere where magnetic fields have opened up, allowing solar wind to escape. The hole looks dark because hot gas normally contained there is missing. It's on its way to Earth. At the top of the page, we predicted a CIR (co-rotating interaction region) would hit Earth on on April 22nd. This giant hole is the driving force behind it. Fast solar wind flowing from the hole is compressing slower-moving solar wind in front of it, creating CME-like shock waves and magnetic fields that comprise the CIR. G2-class geomagnetic storms are likely when the CIR reaches Earth.??to receive an instant text message when the storm begins.
George Reynolds
"Solar System Ambassador" for South Hampton Roads, Virginia
Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA)?
?
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Re: NWRP Saturday April 19, 2025
lets see........................not a single set of stars..............no...............not a single gaggle of stars...............no too broad.........Pair?.......................not defined enough..........................I give up.
On Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 10:57:09 AM EDT, Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
Not a single double. Single double, did I really phase it like that??
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Re: NWRP Saturday April 19, 2025
Not a single double. Single double, did I really phase it like that??
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Re: NWRP Saturday April 19, 2025
What? No doubles?? :)
On Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 07:33:08 AM EDT, Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
Despite a rather gloomy outlook the sky cleared for the BBAA Skywatch at Northwest River Park Saturday, April 19. It was good to see so many friends and be able to observe at least a few deep sky objects. Here are a few I observed with my trusty Orion 10" Dobsonian.
List: 24/04/19 NWRP Orion 10" Ptly To Mostly Cloudy
Messier 35
(Open Cluster in Gemini)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:36:48 PM
Comment: Beautiful open cluster, with a myriad of stars in this cluster. I switched to lower power for an even better view. This looked great in William Kiff's 8" Celestron SCT at low power as well.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 3
(Globular Cluster in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:45:03 PM
Comment: David Wright suggested this beautiful globular. Easily resolved, especially at the edges.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Black Eye Galaxy - M 64
(Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:48:57 PM
Comment: A large, elongated galaxy, with a much brighter core.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Needle Galaxy - NGC 4565
(Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:56:18 PM
Comment: Very low surface brightness, especially on this hazy night. This is normally a spectacular galaxy, but not when viewed under thick, hazy skies.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Sunflower Galaxy - M 63
(Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:57:49 PM
Comment: Round galaxy next to a fairly bright star.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 66
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:01:09 PM
Comment: The brightest of the Leo Triplet
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 65
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:01:35 PM
Comment: Only slightly fainter than M 66, therefore the second brightest in the Leo Triplet.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
NGC 3628
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:02:56 PM
Comment: Very low surface brightness, highly elongated, and by far the faintest of the Leo Triplet. I had to use the old trick of rocking the scope back and forth to see it.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 95
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:07:33 PM
Comment: More elongated than nearby M96, but lower surface brightness
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 96
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:08:10 PM
Comment: Fairly bright galaxy with high surface brightness. Brighter than nearby M 95.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 105
(Elliptical Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:10:20 PM
Comment: Small, 9.3 magnitude galaxy but with high surface brightness
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Ghost of Jupiter Nebula - NGC 3242
(Planetary Nebula in Hydra)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:17:02 PM
Comment: This is one of my favorite planetary nebulae, and it holds magnification well. I was barely able to see the CBS Eye. I looked at it in Jeremy Mitchell 12" Celestron Dobsonian but hazy skies knocked the brightness down considerably.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
U Hydrae
(Variable Star in Hydra)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:21:38 PM
Comment: Wow, a gorgeous blood red carbon star 690 light years away. David Wright and William Kiff saw it as well.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Sombrero Galaxy - M 104
(Spiral Galaxy in Virgo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:50:55 PM
Comment: Several of us were barely able to see The Sombrero Galaxy in a small break in the clouds at the conclusion of a night at NWRP.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Whirlpool Galaxy - M 51
(Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 10:00:17 PM
Comment: Quite literally the last object observed at the BBAA Skywatch at Northwest River Park in Chesapeake as clouds covered the sky. You had to look quick, but a few club members did get see it for a few brief moments through my 10" Orion Dobsonian.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
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Re: NWRP Saturday April 19, 2025
glad you had a good night.
On Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 07:33:08 AM EDT, Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
Despite a rather gloomy outlook the sky cleared for the BBAA Skywatch at Northwest River Park Saturday, April 19. It was good to see so many friends and be able to observe at least a few deep sky objects. Here are a few I observed with my trusty Orion 10" Dobsonian.
List: 24/04/19 NWRP Orion 10" Ptly To Mostly Cloudy
Messier 35
(Open Cluster in Gemini)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:36:48 PM
Comment: Beautiful open cluster, with a myriad of stars in this cluster. I switched to lower power for an even better view. This looked great in William Kiff's 8" Celestron SCT at low power as well.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 3
(Globular Cluster in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:45:03 PM
Comment: David Wright suggested this beautiful globular. Easily resolved, especially at the edges.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Black Eye Galaxy - M 64
(Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:48:57 PM
Comment: A large, elongated galaxy, with a much brighter core.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Needle Galaxy - NGC 4565
(Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:56:18 PM
Comment: Very low surface brightness, especially on this hazy night. This is normally a spectacular galaxy, but not when viewed under thick, hazy skies.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Sunflower Galaxy - M 63
(Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:57:49 PM
Comment: Round galaxy next to a fairly bright star.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 66
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:01:09 PM
Comment: The brightest of the Leo Triplet
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 65
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:01:35 PM
Comment: Only slightly fainter than M 66, therefore the second brightest in the Leo Triplet.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
NGC 3628
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:02:56 PM
Comment: Very low surface brightness, highly elongated, and by far the faintest of the Leo Triplet. I had to use the old trick of rocking the scope back and forth to see it.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 95
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:07:33 PM
Comment: More elongated than nearby M96, but lower surface brightness
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 96
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:08:10 PM
Comment: Fairly bright galaxy with high surface brightness. Brighter than nearby M 95.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 105
(Elliptical Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:10:20 PM
Comment: Small, 9.3 magnitude galaxy but with high surface brightness
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Ghost of Jupiter Nebula - NGC 3242
(Planetary Nebula in Hydra)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:17:02 PM
Comment: This is one of my favorite planetary nebulae, and it holds magnification well. I was barely able to see the CBS Eye. I looked at it in Jeremy Mitchell 12" Celestron Dobsonian but hazy skies knocked the brightness down considerably.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
U Hydrae
(Variable Star in Hydra)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:21:38 PM
Comment: Wow, a gorgeous blood red carbon star 690 light years away. David Wright and William Kiff saw it as well.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Sombrero Galaxy - M 104
(Spiral Galaxy in Virgo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:50:55 PM
Comment: Several of us were barely able to see The Sombrero Galaxy in a small break in the clouds at the conclusion of a night at NWRP.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Whirlpool Galaxy - M 51
(Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 10:00:17 PM
Comment: Quite literally the last object observed at the BBAA Skywatch at Northwest River Park in Chesapeake as clouds covered the sky. You had to look quick, but a few club members did get see it for a few brief moments through my 10" Orion Dobsonian.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
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NWRP Saturday April 19, 2025
Despite a rather gloomy outlook the sky cleared for the BBAA Skywatch at Northwest River Park Saturday, April 19. It was good to see so many friends and be able to observe at least a few deep sky objects. Here are a few I observed with my trusty Orion 10" Dobsonian.
List: 24/04/19 NWRP Orion 10" Ptly To Mostly Cloudy
Messier 35
(Open Cluster in Gemini)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:36:48 PM
Comment: Beautiful open cluster, with a myriad of stars in this cluster. I switched to lower power for an even better view. This looked great in William Kiff's 8" Celestron SCT at low power as well.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 3
(Globular Cluster in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:45:03 PM
Comment: David Wright suggested this beautiful globular. Easily resolved, especially at the edges.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Black Eye Galaxy - M 64
(Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:48:57 PM
Comment: A large, elongated galaxy, with a much brighter core.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Needle Galaxy - NGC 4565
(Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:56:18 PM
Comment: Very low surface brightness, especially on this hazy night. This is normally a spectacular galaxy, but not when viewed under thick, hazy skies.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Sunflower Galaxy - M 63
(Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 8:57:49 PM
Comment: Round galaxy next to a fairly bright star.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 66
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:01:09 PM
Comment: The brightest of the Leo Triplet
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 65
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:01:35 PM
Comment: Only slightly fainter than M 66, therefore the second brightest in the Leo Triplet.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
NGC 3628
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:02:56 PM
Comment: Very low surface brightness, highly elongated, and by far the faintest of the Leo Triplet. I had to use the old trick of rocking the scope back and forth to see it.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 95
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:07:33 PM
Comment: More elongated than nearby M96, but lower surface brightness
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 96
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:08:10 PM
Comment: Fairly bright galaxy with high surface brightness. Brighter than nearby M 95.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Messier 105
(Elliptical Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:10:20 PM
Comment: Small, 9.3 magnitude galaxy but with high surface brightness
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Ghost of Jupiter Nebula - NGC 3242
(Planetary Nebula in Hydra)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:17:02 PM
Comment: This is one of my favorite planetary nebulae, and it holds magnification well. I was barely able to see the CBS Eye. I looked at it in Jeremy Mitchell 12" Celestron Dobsonian but hazy skies knocked the brightness down considerably.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
U Hydrae
(Variable Star in Hydra)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:21:38 PM
Comment: Wow, a gorgeous blood red carbon star 690 light years away. David Wright and William Kiff saw it as well.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Sombrero Galaxy - M 104
(Spiral Galaxy in Virgo)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 9:50:55 PM
Comment: Several of us were barely able to see The Sombrero Galaxy in a small break in the clouds at the conclusion of a night at NWRP.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
Whirlpool Galaxy - M 51
(Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Apr 19, 2025 at 10:00:17 PM
Comment: Quite literally the last object observed at the BBAA Skywatch at Northwest River Park in Chesapeake as clouds covered the sky. You had to look quick, but a few club members did get see it for a few brief moments through my 10" Orion Dobsonian.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, User Defined
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 6
|
Upper-level particulates are increasing, we have some smoke moving in and a frontal boundary nearby. Clear?[enough] skies are slim and I don't think anyone was coming anyway so I'm pulling the plug. When I set the dates in December, my Apple Calendar (or was it Google that I used?) didn't indicate?the Holiday and I chose this weekend b/c I postulated?the ECSP would be next weekend to avoid the SRSP conflict.
IF there's interest, I can see if we can move tonight's date two Saturdays from now (FQ Moon), otherwise we'll go with our already set May date. Message me directly offline.
There is a night hike tonight. If by chance the sky is 'doable', I will try to run over with my BinoTelescope and maybe a parallelogram with 25x100s since I live close-by.
Happy Easter, Troy
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Re: This Saturday: YRSP attendance
George,
?
I replied off-group ... hopefully I'll have an answer on Monday.
?
Happy Easter,
Troy
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Shawn Loescher
Kent Blackwell