Mersing 24/08/12

[Astrosiao]

Following the very very beautiful photos of our dear fellow forummers at Mersing from last week, CKNJJ and myself decided at split second to visit Mersing.

We went up in the afternoon and arrived just before 6.00pm. On the way up, it was already raining, hence not a good sign.

Most of the night was 75% cloudy with portions of sky drifting in and out of seeing.

Anyway, i was there with my entirely new setup:

Losmandy G11 (non Goto, not used to it!)
Orion 80mm shortube refrac as auto guidescope.
ES 127 APO main scope.
Celestron Nightscape CCD (3rd time out)

Felt very frustarted throughout the whole night due to the seeing conditions.

Eventually, only managed to take this object and I REALLY dont know which cluster this is! haha

10x1min lights
10x1 min darks
calibrated with bias frames
auotguided with PHD



thanks, still have plenty to learn and experience.

[Astrosiao]

I THINK this is M28...

[shirox]

nice!!! so you guys found the chalet? Glad you were able to at least get some data.

[cataclysm]

Hi,
Good venturing spirit! Never easy to sort out a new setup, more so on an unfamiliar ground, Glad that you guys still managed to get sometning..lol.

[Gary]

No need to feel very frustrated as this is the nature of our hobby and nobody can 100% guarantee a place will be always milky way clear on a particular night in Johor. But I believe there is always something new to be learnt every trip up north regardless of the sky condition so technically there is no trip that can be considered totally wasted.

For example, in this trip, you get to know the driving route to Mersing, getting more familiar with your new setup and get to know CK better and enjoy his company.

And you still manage to capture a nice globular cluster! So congrats and keep trying!

[Astrosiao]

nice!!! so you guys found the chalet? Glad you were able to at least get some data.

Hey, yup we managed find it. Thanks for the directions and tips.

Hi,
Good venturing spirit! Never easy to sort out a new setup, more so on an unfamiliar ground, Glad that you guys still managed to get sometning..lol.

Thanks, yes, slightly overwhelmed by the new setup and number of components. I think I need to tidy up the routing of the numerous power/data cables so that I dont't stumble upon them in the dark.

[Clifford60]

Hi J, thanks for sharing the great attempt under lousy sky. Is it slightly to the right of the top star of tea pot?

[Astrosiao]

Hi Clifford, yes I only remember its to the right of teapot!

[Clifford60]

Then it should be M28, a very small GC, not easy to see well on visual. Next time try M22 a bigger GC on the left of the same star but further left.

Did you kena poisoned by Mersing night sky? Elton is going next month, maybe a bigger group + good AP teachers there will help a lot.

[Mariner]

Fwah. Macham like gold dust...

Nice!