Short Mersing Trip Report - 08 Feb 2008

[kazumacat]

You all are so cool la.. Passion on astronomy~! All the way sia~
And the Hot accessory is that Nagler... Went to search for it..
OMG 82deg????? Even 100deg~!!! Really is like looking thru a tunnel~!
I wld love to peek thru those things~!! LOLx..
With such often visiting, sure those people at the customs are used to it..
Unless is new staff, stupid stupid~! Bleahx

[elton]

Weixing, your focal reducer is also a coma corrector, that's why it is so sharp at the edge. I think M42 was the star of the night. Usually I'm used to viewing at med mag to frame the whole nebula or at higher mag to study a part of it. With the Hot Accessory, it was doing both at the same time, like being in a spaceship parked in front of the nebula. Flying down the Markarian chain at higher mag past all the reasonably bright galaxies was also fun. Tried horsehead again but could not make it out, though could barely detect a dark rift running south of Alnitak. Btw, we used a paracorr so Obby's f/5 was sharp to the edge.

[Canopus Lim]

Actually we saw a lot of things and I cannot remember exactly what was seen. Also the time on target is very brief as the clouds roll in very fast. It was rather windy..one of the windier nights in Mersing.

The 'hot accessory' is rather impressive. Without glasses, I can take in about 90 percent or more of the FOV and it makes my 17 Nagler (supposed to be the most immersive Nagler) like a straw. I was actually not used to the Nagler's FOV after looking through hot accessory; found it 'narrow'. Also, with the paracorr on a f/5 scope, my Pan 35, 17T4, 11T6 and Elton's hot accessory was really sharp to the edge. Sharp sharp and no mirror coma seen (for the first time for me). With paracorr a f/5 Newtonian field will be similar to a f/8 Newtonian.

All in all, it was a fruitful trip as we saw quite many objects although not in detail due to the less than ideal seeing conditions and strong winds (preventing high magnification due to vibration on the scope). The Markarian chain and Leo pair galaxies were nice in the 'hot accessory' due to the large field and higher magnification.

Customs:
To enter Msia, just tell Msia customs that you are going to Mersing to see stars and take pictures and will be back on the same night. Tell them that before they even ask...

For Singapore customs, EASY. Just tell them that you went to Msia to see stars and tell them that those 'suspicious' things are telescopes. I never once have any problems with Singapore customs...unless maybe one drives a Msian car.

[acc]

VinSnr I thought we answered your queries on ur customs question before. At the rate you are worrying u will never make it to Mersing... Juz go lah... So many trips I made and only once did I have to pay a refundable deposit to the m'sian customs. Sg side no problems at all :roll:

[Airconvent]

Hi weixing
Looks like you had a good time...! Do post an announcement in future so that those who can drop everything and join in (like Matthew) can participate.
And what a wonderful toy you have to try for this trip....ethos! ethos! ethos!
How is the site condition and light pollution? Getting worse?
Cheers