Southern Equatorial Belt

Roy Stewart · Post by **Roy Stewart** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:36 am

Great observing session last
night, Tom and Myself spent
about 5 hours out in my backyard
splitting some very nice doubles..

Also got some nice pic's of the
last quarter Moon, Jupiter came
into view a little after 12:30am
But by 2am it was nice and high
in the S.E sky... Even though it was
only 10-15 degrees below the Moon
u could clearly see the Southern Eq belt...

So the Giant will be back to almost
full glory by the time the B.S.P comes around..

Cheers Roy

Tom Walsh · Post by **Tom Walsh** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 12:42 pm

Ya great nights viewing Roy. The time flew by!
Great to see Jupiter back again as well as seeing Neptune and Uranus for the first time!
The moon was very nice as well, plenty to see along the terminator. Alot of nice double stars in Cygnus and Lyra.
The ISS looked great shooting across the sky and there were also plenty of satellites about to keep us entertained.
If you get a chance Roy will you post up the pictures that were taken.
Looking forward to the BSP!

Frank Ryan · Post by **Frank Ryan** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 1:26 pm

Feck it lads, I was out last night myself but just after the ISS pass it
got cloudy, high thin clouds, so I packed it in.
Got up at 4 to give a go at Jupiter but it was worse.
What a difference a few miles can make.

That said Sun nights supposed to be clear.

Roy Stewart · Post by **Roy Stewart** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 2:36 pm

Here's a few of the pics
I took last night...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55109139@N ... hotostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55109139@N ... otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55109139@N ... otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55109139@N ... otostream/

Cheers Roy

P.S
I just found out that pics are clearer
in RAW file format.... DAMN

Tom Walsh · Post by **Tom Walsh** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:29 pm

Great stuff Roy!

Roy Stewart · Post by **Roy Stewart** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:29 pm

I was having a look
at tomorrows weather
and its meant to be
as clear if not clearer
than Friday night....

So I'm up for another
session... I might try
Eq align with the wedge...
Well try to get used to it before
the B.S.P..

Cheers Roy

Frank Ryan · Post by **Frank Ryan** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:36 pm

Nice shots Roy.
You should try stacking a few in Registax.

Roy Stewart · Post by **Roy Stewart** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:15 pm

Cheers Tom & Frank

Ya I will do, thats my next port
of call... I'm gonna try doing a bit
using the wedge tomorrow night..
Wish me luck, I'll need it..

Cheers Roy

Dave Lillis · Post by **Dave Lillis** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:20 pm

A good start there Roy with those images. Stacking 20+ images is the way to go.

I was also out till about 3-4am in the observatory, hunting down craters on the Moon, also like you all said Jupiters southern eq belt is on the way back, its great to see Jupiter at a good altitude again, unlike in recent years where it was skimming the southern horizon,
Dont know about the weather tonight, if its clear, then Roy, I'll be there,. I need a good session with the obsessionator. The 12" is fine and all, but you miss the aperture.

Roy Stewart · Post by **Roy Stewart** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:47 pm

I'm putting my faith in sky news
weather, they've got it bang on the
last couple of days...
They say its gonna be clear by
about 7pm and clear up til about
2am when a bit of fog might roll in...

Cheers Roy

Gordon Lalor · Post by **Gordon Lalor** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:24 pm

Nice photos there Roy. What kind of exposure were you using for Jupiter?

I was looking at lyra and cygnus myself on thursday night. Some lovely doubles in lyra, and i got to see the ring nebula.

Frank Ryan · Post by **Frank Ryan** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:31 pm

Looking at the sat images, it'll be sunny this evening.
There is a chunk of High Alt cloud out off the coast that seems to be breaking up.
Hopefully in 10 hrs or so it'll be gone.
Gonna hit for observing at 2Am.
(no work tomorrow!)

Roy Stewart · Post by **Roy Stewart** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:00 pm

Hey Gordo...

It was a 3sec exposure at ISO400...
Need to stick a barlow on the next time
I might pick it up a bit better...

By the way Tom, Dave and myself are
going out my place tonight if ur interested??

I sent out a club txt last night, so lets see who comes..

Cheers Roy

Dave Lillis · Post by **Dave Lillis** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:06 pm

Roy, looks like the clouds have broken up, almost have the van loaded, I'm off tomorrow so can say on till v. late, yipee

Roy Stewart · Post by **Roy Stewart** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 6:36 pm

Perfect... I got the powertank
Fully charged and the hair dryer
at the ready, so don't forget to
bring the extension cable for me...

Cheers Roy