Observation Report (1 May 05)

[Airconvent]

Place : Far end of East Coast Jetty
Date-Time : 1May05 0030 hrs.
Event : Singapore Poly Astro Club Overnight Obs
Equipment : 1 x Takahashi Refractor, 1 x Celestron ST90, 2 x C8 and 1 x Orion ED80 (mine)

When I received news from Remus about the event, SMS to alot of people I thought may want to go but to my surprise, no a single reply except for chung hooi who can't make it... (I just realised I missed Chris in the sms lost ! How could I have missed him?!)

The sky was pretty good and its a weekend , so I thought more will turn up. I myself was dog tired but I dragged myself there.

The sky was cloudy when I arrived with fair transparency but cleared up within 10 minutes. Some fast moving low clouds could be seen but that's all.

There was alot of new people there. Except for Remus, the Michael twins, club president Geraldine and Kun Loong, everyone else were strangers to me...most were sleeping which is a great waste since the sky was ok.
The usual crowd like Sam Lee, Michael, Phyliss, Woei Jiin, etc were MIA last night.

I set up my ED80 and proceeded to bump along the only objects that I know. Looking up, I think I could just make out the milky way (barely) and both M8 and Omega Centari were naked eye objects! I would say its a pretty good night inspite of the glare of the lights from the footpath along the beach as well as the moon what would rise 30min after I arrive.

My first object was the orange moon through the natural atmospheric filter.
The half moon was very nice and craters were razor sharp. Kun Loong joined me for a while to check out my ED80.

Was there for only 2 hours, so did not cover much. Activity at the C8 were light, so did not manage to see much there except for Omega Centauri which was always good on the C8.

Objects I covered included the moon, Jupiter@x120, Omega Centauri, M4, M6, M7, M22, M8 , M20, Jewel Box and the old favourite NGC6521 (I think) . I even tried M51 but there was simply too much glare and clouds over at the big dipper.

Maybe I was imagining things but the clusters I saw through my 32mm eyepiece were much nicer last night than my previous obs.

As I was packing up at 2+am, 3 Indian lady tourists came to me and ask to see something. As usual, I showed them the moon and Jupiter at x120 and their oohs and ahhs reminded me of CC when he was looking at Eta Carinae in Mersing!

In retrospect, there was alot of vibration using the 190D and I know why Vin Snr recommended I put the OTA on tube rings and place it on a more sturdy mount but inspite of the wobbling, I still got by as the wind subsided a short while after I arrived....those thinking of doing serious work on the ED80 will have to think about a more sturdy mount..


rich

[acc]

As I was packing up at 2+am, 3 Indian lady tourists came to me and ask to see something. As usual, I showed them the moon and Jupiter at x120 and their oohs and ahhs reminded me of CC when he was looking at Eta Carinae in Mersing!
rich

Gosh Rich wait till I get back to Singapore!!!! :violent:

[Jingguo]

wah looks like i missed out on d session again. was pretty tired yesterday. well off day 4 an astro addict man!

[MooEy]

hehe, seems like u had some fun. i wanted to go but it was a little far and no transport.

where was the moon yesterday? i tried obbing on friday but the moon was at sagi, which killed most of my fun.

~MooEy~

[Airconvent]

tonight zong would be at east coast again overnight (check out his post)
but...its raining now...

[David Lian]

I saw the SMS from Remus & Ric.But unfortunately I was grounded as kids' exam around the corner.
The sky was also clear in Jurong.
Regards
DL

[chrisyeo]

Yup, Remus msged me but I couldn't make it.
Would have loved to have been there.

Chris