Perseids & More
Last night the Perseid Meteor shower was at its maximum. I went to the local astronomical society's activity at the Northernmost tip of the island in one of the darkest areas available in the densely populated island.
I took my 16x70 binoculars to do some observing from the dark site. The plan was to do as many Messiers as possible and to observe the planet Neptune which I had not yet seen this year.
As usual this event was well attended which meant that there were many cars with headlights and people milling around with torchlights. To avoid this I found the darkest lonely spot and swept the sky. The atmosphere was quite clear and the Milky Way especially to the North and the zenith was clear and showing its structure.
I started off in Sagittarius and viewed the M8, M29, M23, M22, M24, M17 and further up in Serpens, the M16. I Scorpius I viewed the M7, M6, M4 and M80 (not 100% certain). Further up in Scutum I observed the M11. In Ophiuchus I saw the M10 and M12 globulars. To the West I found the M3 in Canes Venatici and almost overhead the bright M13 in Hercules. Then it was off to the East with the M15 in Pegasus, the M27 Dumbbell in Vulpecula and the Coathanger Cr399. Galaxies were more difficult. I observed the M31 although it was still low and the spiral arms could be discerned, and I think I caught the ghostly shape of the M51.
The main target was Neptune (mag 7.8) I had prepared a chart since at 16x magnification it wouldn't have looked any different from a star. The planet lies in Capricornus and can be found starhopping from delta Cap. Above this star lies 45 Cap and to the West of this lies Star HD205829. Neptune is in line with these two stars at approximately the same distance. The planet was plainly visible in binoculars and even had a faint blue tinge (I hope the colour was not my imagination playing tricks on me).
In between observing with binoculars, I stared fixedly at the Cygnus/Lyra area keeping a watch for meteors. I saw two very bright ones appearing from the Perseid radiant and two satellites on polar orbit. Actually I was lucky to find another satellite accidentally while looking through the binoculars.
After I left the site, I continued observing from my home and saw another bright meteor but this was not a Perseid since it appeared in Cepheus down towards Camelopardalis. It could have been an Alpha Cygnid, Alpha Capricornid or a Delta Aquarid.
I took my 16x70 binoculars to do some observing from the dark site. The plan was to do as many Messiers as possible and to observe the planet Neptune which I had not yet seen this year.
As usual this event was well attended which meant that there were many cars with headlights and people milling around with torchlights. To avoid this I found the darkest lonely spot and swept the sky. The atmosphere was quite clear and the Milky Way especially to the North and the zenith was clear and showing its structure.
I started off in Sagittarius and viewed the M8, M29, M23, M22, M24, M17 and further up in Serpens, the M16. I Scorpius I viewed the M7, M6, M4 and M80 (not 100% certain). Further up in Scutum I observed the M11. In Ophiuchus I saw the M10 and M12 globulars. To the West I found the M3 in Canes Venatici and almost overhead the bright M13 in Hercules. Then it was off to the East with the M15 in Pegasus, the M27 Dumbbell in Vulpecula and the Coathanger Cr399. Galaxies were more difficult. I observed the M31 although it was still low and the spiral arms could be discerned, and I think I caught the ghostly shape of the M51.
The main target was Neptune (mag 7.8) I had prepared a chart since at 16x magnification it wouldn't have looked any different from a star. The planet lies in Capricornus and can be found starhopping from delta Cap. Above this star lies 45 Cap and to the West of this lies Star HD205829. Neptune is in line with these two stars at approximately the same distance. The planet was plainly visible in binoculars and even had a faint blue tinge (I hope the colour was not my imagination playing tricks on me).
In between observing with binoculars, I stared fixedly at the Cygnus/Lyra area keeping a watch for meteors. I saw two very bright ones appearing from the Perseid radiant and two satellites on polar orbit. Actually I was lucky to find another satellite accidentally while looking through the binoculars.
After I left the site, I continued observing from my home and saw another bright meteor but this was not a Perseid since it appeared in Cepheus down towards Camelopardalis. It could have been an Alpha Cygnid, Alpha Capricornid or a Delta Aquarid.
posted by Albireo at 8:14 PM
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