After the rain

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:47 pm

What astro activities are you all going to engage in after the rainy season?

I have a few things I want to do:
1. Continue observing the moon. Now I have the Baader Moon and Skyglow filter and it seems to work. It can filter off the yellow haze due to light pollution and the moon from yellow colour turned to white. Also, looking through the filter with my eyes, the yellow light from the street lamps that are reflected to my neighbour's house are filtered off; so I think it does filter off light pollution from street lamps while very slight image darkening due to its high transmission of most of the visible wavelenghts. If there is good weather I will investigate it further.
2. Hopefully can go to Mersing to do DSO observing
3. Buy the observing chair (adjustable height and portable). I think this is THE MOST IMPORTANT astronomy accessory and I have not got it.

mrngbss · Post by **mrngbss** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:03 pm

Me:

1. Get out in the Sun and do more imaging in white light and H-alpha.
2. Get out in the night and do more imaging (of planets).
3. Try out eyepiece projection imaging of the Moon. Looks fun!

Post by **weixing** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:04 pm

Hi,
Hmm... too many thing need to test and sort out:
1) Try out my "transportation mode" setup and first light for the 8" F5 Newtonian.
2) Test the tracking accuracy for the 8" F5 Newtonian on Vixen GP-DX mount with motor drive.
3) Test the MPCC for visual and astrophotography.
4) Test the Vixen GA-4 on the 8" F5 Newtonian and hope there is no problem.
5) Find a replacement focuser for my 8" F5 Newtonian if got budget.
6) Find suitable eyepieces for my setup.

Now, just waiting for clear, weekend night sky!!

Have a nice day.

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:53 pm

For me, my astro programme for 2007 would be:

1. Finetune 11" AstroSky dob & observe with it, esp. at Mersing with you guys!
2. Test and observe with the Denk II binoviewer on various scopes!
3. Design, build and observe thru the 15" dob with Arief, Wu and Clifford!
4. Recce for suitable new dark ob site with Ian and fellow companions.

cataclysm · Post by **cataclysm** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:38 pm

Modify my SLR, try some IR photography.

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:43 pm

Focus on planets and moon while building the 15"

Post by **zong** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:54 pm

1) Hold more ob sessions at accessible places to get newbies on board.. our old stuff can't seem to sell, we need new blood!

2) Aim to see 100 meteors in the whole course of the year

3) Learn to find more objects!

jermng · Post by **jermng** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:39 pm

I think 2007 is the year I'll actually try some astrophotography .. some simple webcam imaging and DSLR photography ...
Probably aim to get a new mount in the 2nd half of the year too ..

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:19 am

I forgot to add one more and that is to observe Saturn! It has been quite a while since I saw it and I think it would look great on my Obby. I just need the clear skies, good transparency and observing chair.

From what I observed, the transparency is the best when it is quite cloudy and the air is still. However, too cloudy would mean also not being able to see anything, but the transparency is good as the stars don't flickle.

The transparency is the worse during a rain and immediately after a rain (especially a big one), the stars are really dancing with colours.

Post by **weixing** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:23 am

Hi,

The transparency is the worse during a rain and immediately after a rain (especially a big one), the stars are really dancing with colours.

I think it should be seeing, not transparency. Transparency is importance for deep sky observing and seeing is importance for planetary observing. Usually, transparency will be good after rain, but seeing will be bad after rain.

Have a nice day.