On a Clear Sky

Clear Skies!

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It’s 4 AM and Jupiter, Mars, and Orion are right above my balcony. Whatta treat!!

Been such a long time since we’ve had clear skies and when it was clear last night, I just had to take the Dob out! – despite loosing much sleep…with upcoming exams, oh noo!

Btw, Jupiter doesn’t look nearly like the picture I took…after 1/2 and hour struggling to get (and focus) it into the field of view of the camera. You’ll actually be able to see its orange rings with a 24mm Plossl, and swirls on it with a 10 mm Plossl eyepiece! Mars was orange as usual. And the Nebula with its Trapezium, frozen in time. Bout time I get some filters – for some colour with the nebula and for better definition of the Great Red Spot. And I reallyyyy wanna see the Horsehead nebula on Orion!

Any thoughts on good filters? I’m thinking Baader’s Moon and SkyGlow filter – seems like a good all around filter for both sodium vapour wavelengths (light pollution) and for contrast.

Clear skies!