Mira's Maximum Seems Past

Mira appears to me to be fainter now. This evening I could see it again after some days of cloud. The star is still brighter than Menkar (alpha Ceti mag +2.53) but now visibly fainter than Hamal (alpha Arietis mag +2.0). I would say that it is mag +2.2.

Mira

Mira does not seem to be getting any brighter. This evening was the first time I could see it since the evening of the 16th. The star was brighter than Menkar (alpha Ceti mag +2.53) but slightly fainter than Hamal (alpha Arietis mag +2.0). I would say that it was mag +2.1.

This evening there was the beautiful sight of the bright Venus below the Crescent Moon which had its dark part showing the ashen light. The Moon is, of course, heading towards a total lunar eclipse at the next Full Moon .

Mira Brightens

I observed Mira visually this evening and saw it is as bright as nearby Hamal (Alpha Arietis) making it magnitude +2. How bright will it get at maximum?

Gamma Velorum

Last night was particularly clear and I got a clear view to the south unobstructed by low cloud or haze on the horizon. Below Canis Major I could see down to Suhail al Muhlif (Gamma Velorum) with the naked eye. At that moment it must have been some 6 deg above the horizon. This is a multiple system with a giant Wolf Rayet star. Also visible were Naos (Zeta Puppis) and Alsuhail (Lambda Velorum).

Observing Session

The sky remained reasonably clear so I took the opportunity yo set up the scope. I managed quite a list. Starting M42, M43, NGC1977 (faint), M47 (nice double star in the centre), M46 (the UHC filter reveals NGC2438 beautifully), M97 (couldn't see any detail), NGC2392, The galaxies M81 and M82 (for the first time this season), NGC2244, the nearby double 8 Mon, NGC2264 and finished off with Saturn before the wind got too strong and I decided to turn in.

Mira

I saw Mira this evening. It is living up to its name and is amazingly bright. In my opinion it is brighter than nearby Menkar (Alpha Ceti +2.53) and at least as bright as Mintaka (Delta Orionis +2.23). This is much brighter than its average maximum brightness of +3.5, although it is known to go up to +2 on occasions. I found an updated lightcurve for the star here

Definitely one to watch in the coming evenings.

M76 through the UHC Filter

On the 8th February I had missed out on seeing the M76 through the new filter (I had forgotten about it). Taking an opportunity between cloudy periods I took out the scope and observed it. The difference is evident. At a magnification of x120, for example, without the filter it is an elongated haze. With the filter the two lobes are easily visible. Approaching cloud soon cut the session short. The RH was 72%.

Just as I was setting up the scope the ISS passed overhead heading from the SW to the NE, disappearing close to the zenith just by Capella. It was very bright and checking it afterwards on heavens-above.com confirmed it was mag. -1.0.

Saturn in Opposition

I sadly missed the moment of Saturn's opposition as last night the weather was as bad as forecast. I did manage a naked eye glimpse through a gap in the clouds but the intermittent rain and extensive cloud cover discouraged taking out the scope.

UHC Filter

I bought a UHC filter (Astronomik UHC) with the hope of seeing faint planetary nebulae in spite of the light pollution in the sky. The filter arrived yesterday but I couldn't use it due to the cloud cover. Tonight was clear but the RH was 81% so it was slightly misty.

I started off with the M42 which did show a greater extent and more structure. Then I went for the real test with the planetary nebulae. I went for the bright Eskimo Nebula (NGC2392). The centre was bright but I still could not see the surrounding halo. I then viewed M46 to see if I could observe NGC2438 (mag 11; surface brightness 11.7). I was never certain I had seen this nebula but with the filter it was quite evident. I then tried the Owl Nebula (NGC3587) in Ursa Major. I had seen this only once on an exceptionally clear night. This nebula has a magnitude of 11 and a surface brightness of 12.1. Without the filter it couldn't be seen but with the filter I could see its ghostly shape quite well.

The filter also improved the view of the M1 Crab Nebula (mag 8.4; surface brightness 11) but not as much as for the planetaries.

Saturn is one day from opposition and worth a look. The moon Tethys was to the East of the rings, Dione to the West of the rings and Rhea close to its North East. Titan was further West with Iapetus near to its North.

The Moon

While viewing Saturn on the 5th February, I also took the opportunity to photograph the moon. This is my photo of the Atlas and Hercules craters. For a larger version visit my Flickr site.

Saturn at Opposition

Saturn is at opposition on the 10th February and with the next few days forcast with cloud and rain I took my chance to view it at its best. The visible moons were all to the West. Starting from the North were Titan, Dione and Tethys very close to each other, and Rhea Southernmost. Iapetus was far out to the West.

I also took a chance photographing it with my small camera at the dob's eyepiece. With this equipment this is at the limit of possibility. Anyway, I am attaching it to the post.

Venus and Mercury

The two inner planets are close together in the Western evening sky. After many days when I could see only Venus or nothing at all due to cloud to the West, today I managed a glorious view of Venus shining brightly and tiny Mercury brighter than I could remember, both setting in the evening twilight.

I tried a quick peek through the telescope. Venus is obviously gibbous. I could not view Mercury as it was too low for my dob. It had dropped to below the neighbour's wall as seen from the low position of the dob's mount. However it was a beautiful naked eye view.

This is a photo of the two planets taken on the 5th February.