Setting a record

As part of the Stargazing Live TV event on ABC this week, the Uni of Melbourne was a site for the attempt on the world record for most people looking at the Moon through optics at the same time. This was a coordinated attempt across lots of sites across many cities.

Melbourne had other ideas.

Probably a new personal best for number of annoyed amateur astronomers at the same time.

I did take Dobby in the car, but didn't bother dragging it all the way into the universe, coz I know how these clouds work by now - and there were no gaps to be expected in these.

So L&K and I got counted, tagged, lead into the marshalling area and sat and watched the big screen showing Brian Cox and Julia Z doing the show. When the time came for the 10 minutes of gazing that were required for the attempt we all laughed darkly, gazed at the clouds, held our phones up with various apps running and took ironic photos.

The 10 minutes finished, we watched a bit more of the show and slowly packed up to leave.

The clouds parted for a 30 second glimpse of the moon, just to remind us of what could have been, then closed over again. There was much groaning. At least most people there got a quick go with the new mini telescopes they had bought with their ticket.

Apparently, the record was set. Over 40,000 people participated - which is awesome. But of course, they couldn't count us in that.

Bloody Melbourne. Again.

Picking the gap

Jupiter was at opposition back on May 9th, but was clouded out that night. Last night at 11pm I had a quick look out the front door and was pleased to see that not only was Jupiter nearly at zenith, but the sky all around it was clear, as was Saturn further down to the East.

Grabbed Dobby and started with the 13mm on Jupiter, which was very bright, but clearly saw two strong bands and a fainter, smaller, third band. The moons were in interesting positions, with (quick check of JoveMoons) Callisto and Ganymede close together and Io in close all on the right of the image, and Europa stuck out on the left by itself.

I tried the blue filter, which reduced the glare a bit but I'm not sure if I saw any extra detail with it. I also tried it with the Barlow, but that just magnified the atmospheric distortion so wasn't really worth it. I then put the yellow filter on my 6mm ep and found the extra magnification worked well, and the filter enhanced the bands a bit.
Had a good look and grabbed a few photos on the mobile.

I then had a quick look at the bright star to the North. Just because it was quite prominent and ruddy. It was Arcturus, the red giant in Bootes - although the constellation was not visible in the light polluted low Northern city sky. I don't notice Arcturus very often, but as the third brightest star in the night sky, and an interesting red giant as well, I'm going to work to memorise it as another sign post.

I then swung over to Saturn, now high enough in the eastern sky to be visible above the neighbours and the bushes in my garden.

It's been a long while since I last observed Saturn (has it been since the science day last year at the primary school???)

These observations were rushed, as the bastard clouds were rapidly approaching, sweeping around from the South West. I lost sight of Saturn behind clouds twice as I was observing due to the broken leading edge of the clouds. I tried a couple of rushed photos and then the clouds covered the sky almost entirely - except for a gap low on the East where Mars shone brightly. Unfortunately too low to bring the scope on to.

Some interesting more observing to do.
Saturn reaches opposition on Wednesday June 27th, and Mars on Friday July 27th. Maybe I should try firing up T for another dark sky excursion?

Jupiter

Just a quick note that last Saturday evening I showed Slim what Jupiter looks like when viewed through Dobby.
It was a pretty nice evening, very clear and with good transparency, so got a good view - Slim was moderately impressed.
Unfortunately Saturn was still too low to see.

Jupiter nearly at opposition

It was a beautiful clear night on Friday night (technically Saturday morning) the 28th of April and it was time to drag Dobby out to the front step.

The moon was a bright gibbous, so a quick look for some globular clusters in Scorpius was fruitless. Not that I spent much time, it was cool and I was a bit tired.

Jupiter was well worth the time though, and provided an amazing view of clear bands and a positive sighting of the GRS almost exactly at the middle of its transit across the face of the planet.

I snapped a couple of quick shots with my mobile, which as usual over-expose the planet, but show the disc and moons nicely.



Also attached is an image from the Juno Moons app showing the simulation of what I was looking at.