Metacom Observatory
Visual Observation Reports
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| Date | Time | Temperature | Transparency | Seeing | Telescope and Eyepiece | Object | Atronomer | Observing Notes |
| January 7 2004 | 11:02PM | 18 Degrees F. | Good to excellent | Air is calm--seeing is remarkable for winter and this area | Meade Instruments LX 90; Meade Series 4000 15 mm Plossl EP |
Saturn | GNH | Saturn is bright overhead, full Moon Washes out most of the rest of sky, seeing allows cvery clear observation of Cassini Division and cloud bands are visible on the planets surface. Color is somewhat evident in rings and planetary body. Five moons are visible. Telescope needs to be collimated; this is evident in view in 6.4 mm Series 4000 Plossl EP. | January 7 2004 | 11:45PM | 20 Degrees F. | Good to excellent | Air is calm--seeing is remarkable for winter and this area | Meade Instruments LX 90; Meade Series 4000 12.5 mm Plossl EP |
Jupiter | GNH | Jupiter is bright at approximately 30 degrees declination in the east/Southeastern sky, full Moon Washes out most of the rest of sky, seeing allows very clear observation of the brown and white cloud bands visible on the planets surface. Axis of Jupiter at approximately 45 degrees to my view. Color is definitely visible on the surface. Four moons are visible. GRS is not visible. Attempt photographs and need collimation and better photo rig. | January 7 2004 | 12:08PM | 17 Degrees F. | Good to excellent | Seeing is excellent and is remarkable for winter and this area | Meade Instruments LX 90; Meade Series 4000 9.7 mm Plossl EP |
Moon | GNH | Luna is bright and full at zenith, more detail is visible on the surface than expected. No Moon filter used. Seeing is proven at best I have seen. No artifacts of seeing evident at Western limb of the moon. Contrast of dark, black sky at the limb excellent along with delineation of limb. several photos taken with satisfactory, but unremarkable results. | January 7 2004 | 12:18 PM | 18 Degrees F. | Hazy to good in this area of sky. | Excellent | Meade Instruments LX 90; Meade Series 4000 40 mm Plossl EP |
M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy |
GNH | Area of sky passes through haze;full Moon Washes out most of the sky, attempt to capture this Galaxy is unsuccessful. | January 7 2004 | 12:30PM | 18 Degrees F. | Excellent | Excellent | Meade Instruments LX 90; Meade Series 4000 15 mm Plossl EP |
M34 | GNH | Beautiful open cluster; was going to use 40 mm Plossl, but cold forced me to move on to other clusters | January 7 2004 | 12:36PM | 18 Degrees F. | Excellent | Excellent | Meade Instruments LX 90; Meade Series 4000 15 mm Plossl EP |
M44 | GNH | Another gorgeous open cluster; the full moon is washing out the contrast and the bitter cold is leeching the fun with the warmth from my bones. I move on. | January 7 2004 | 12:40PM | 17 Degrees F. Slight breeze building |
Excellent | Excellent | Meade Instruments LX 90; Meade Series 4000 15 mm Plossl EP |
Saturn | GNH | One last look at Saturn! Try 2X Barlow with 6.4 mm Series 4000 Plossl EP with unsatisfactory results. Looks like it is the barlow; doesn't work well with 15mm EP either.The rings are crisp, contrasty and Beautiful!The Ansae are crisp black between the planet and rings! I may try a moon filter for my next observation, it is so bright. Planetary and ring detail are somewhat washed out by the brightness; perhaps a polarizing filter will work. | January 7 2004 | 12:44PM | 18 Degrees F. | Excellent | Excellent | Meade Instruments LX 90; Meade Series 4000 12.5 mm Plossl EP |
Jupiter | GNH | One last look at our System's largest planet. Higher in the sky, the cloud bands are more pronounced. Just remembered that I wish to use colored filters to bring out planetary detail on both Jupiter and Saturn; my hands are much too cold to pursue this desire and gloves will not do. Perhaps tomorrow or Friday or on the Weekend. |
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