Toa Payoh Observation

Post by **zong** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:36 pm

The sky looks not bad tonight, will go out to Toa Payoh Park tonight for observation. Anyone interested, I should be staying there up to 11 if good, or later. Call me if coming

Post by **zong** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 12:56 am

What happened today:

8, near 9pm: Decided to start off the night nearer to "home ground". Set up at the neighbourhood for "public viewing" of Jupiter.

9:20pm: reached the park, set up scope again, and went right for those setting objects first, then moving east.

10:30pm: realised that I only let the public view Jupiter but I hadn't caught it in detail myself!! Quickly turned to Jupiter. Had a nice view of the bands and its 4 moons after long-time-no-see, and followed it as it set behind a HDB block. Soon after, eric came, and we went back to scorpius. Tried sagittarius, but my lack of experience there yielded nothing much. Somehow I still can't even find M22!!! I know theoretically how to starhop there, but i find nothing in the view..

11:15pm: clouds came in and I decided to pack up and leave.

Objects found today:
NGC4755 (Jewel Box), Alpha Centauri (double star), NGC 6231(Sco Jewel Box), NGC 6242 (Open cluster above 6231), M7, M6, Jupiter.

Failed objects:
M22, Omega Centauri (too much light pollution)

Thought-I-saw-them objects:
NGC 4852/4439/4349/4337 (in Crux) - They are in a straight line connecting Alpha/Gamma Crux. All open clusters. Saw a few stars where they were supposed to be, but too sparse to be open clusters, yet too many to be stray stars. Anyone verify?

6441: between M7 and the tail star. It's said globular cluster in my Cambridge Atlas, and I thought I saw a blob, but I cannot verify.

Hope the others who did make use of the 1hr clear skies to view something

luke5v8 · Post by **luke5v8** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:29 am

zong wrote:Hope the others who did make use of the 1hr clear skies to view something

Over north-east of my home was cloudy these few days (my hdb house level 12, faces an open sky towards NE & span across South), but tis morning at 4.30am, for the 1st time spotted Pleiades. I've been trying to see it since wed. Spent 2 mornings admiring alpha tauri & Hyades open cluster! Have been waking up tis week at 4.30am every day just to hunt at them. Found myself dead-sleepy after work :? but it was all worthwhile

It has been abt a week since I started learning astronomy, and I've been pretty excited so far learning from u guys [glow=red] - Thanks guys[/glow] :!: & I think it's about time I consider buying a good bino, my existing is too small, and I suspect sometimes it burrs the star's vision more using it

Post by **Airconvent** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:36 am

luke5v8 wrote:
zong wrote:Hope the others who did make use of the 1hr clear skies to view something
Over north-east of my home was cloudy these few days (my hdb house level 12, faces an open sky towards NE & span across South), but tis morning at 4.30am, for the 1st time spotted Pleiades. I've been trying to see it since wed. Spent 2 mornings admiring alpha tauri & Hyades open cluster! Have been waking up tis week at 4.30am every day just to hunt at them. Found myself dead-sleepy after work :? but it was all worthwhile

It has been abt a week since I started learning astronomy, and I've been pretty excited so far learning from u guys [glow=red] - Thanks guys[/glow] :!: & I think it's about time I consider buying a good bino, my existing is too small, and I suspect sometimes it burrs the star's vision more using it

ah good...another hardcore astronomer in the making..maybe you can be WeiXing#2?

staying awake is a key requirement for astronomy. to spot that odd object or take take advantage of clear sky, you must be ready to go anytime.
and yes, M45 is a very nice object to look at and now that you have seen it on the bino, you will be able to see it naked eye even when it is very dim...
congrats!

rich