1514d 2012/06/05

1514d 2012/06/05 16:00–20:00 EDT Foxmead POD & SW field 8–3 28cmsc ne


Transit of Venus

40 members of the Barrie, Midland, and Orillia astronomy clubs gathered in the field southwest of the observatory to observe the transit of Venus:
Elgin Quesnelle
Nicole Quesnelle
Marilyn Morris
Holly Pattenden
Fracois ven Heerden
Len Morris
Gord Michener
Peter Ridout
Greg Rothwell
Doanld and Dorothy Macdonald
Muriel & Alex Sinclair
Jack & Vilda Reid
Paul Cornish
Richard Lane
Dave Robitaille
Jordan Robitaille
Bruce Irwin
Alma Cruise
Louise Gervais
David Hyndman
Craig Welbourn
Doreen Holmes & Keith
Marg Walters
Helen Renaud
Vicki Sherwood & Bill
Mary Moreau
Robert Strachan
Dale Langfield
Alexander March
Buzz & Adam March
Kinga March
Jayne Evans
Geoff Gaherty

While most of the observers were out in the field, I stayed in the POD with the 28cm SCT at 70x, with the Kendrick full aperture solar filter in place. I concentrated on Venus' appearance between first and second contacts. I missed first contact because I was concentrating on the wrong limb. After I detected first contact, I tried to see Venus off the solar disk, but without success. Venus was extremely sharp, with fairly good seeing. I could see no trace of any atmosphere. Clouds obscured second contact, so I could not see whether the Black Drop was visible. Once Venus was fully on the disk, I went down to the field where François van Heerden and Dave Robitaille had set up a hydrogen alpha scope and Mallincam to record the transit and display it on a monitor for the people gathered. There were several other telescopes set up by those present.

Shortly after second contact the clouds closed in for good, except for a brief instant around 20:00, when the Sun peeped through with Venus still in transit.

1513e 2012/05/20–21

1513e 2012/05/20–21 18:30–21:30 EDT Foxmead POD 8 28cmsc & SW field 8 4cmrr


Observing the partial eclipse of the Sun at sunset with members of the Midland and Orillia astronomy clubs: Rick Crane, Jayne Evans, Geoff Gaherty, Louise Gervais, Gary Hains, Donald McDonald, Gord Michener, Marilyn Morris, and Peter Ridout.

We gathered out in the field to the southwest of our house so that we could see the setting sun with a relatively uncluttered horizon. We had two Coronado PSTs (Personal Solar Telescopes) equipped with hydrogen alpha filters, and everyone had eclipse shades. First contact with the Moon was observed just after 20:18 in the two telescopes, and almost immediately in the eclipse shades. We followed the eclipsed Sun down into the trees on the horizon, and some of our number walked out further into the field to get the last glimpse. Our observations were accompanied by bird songs and deer in the adjacent field to the south. We also all observed Venus and Mars with the 28cm Schmidt-Cassegrain at 127x. Afterwards we retired to the house for coffee and cookies.

Temperature: 29°C

1512e 2012/05/13–14

1512e 2012/05/13–14 20:40–23:30 EDT Foxmead POD 28cmsc

Venus: Just disappearing behind the house. Nice little crescent at 70x.

Back out at 22:30:

Mars: Seeing very poor.

Saturn: Titan, Rhea, and Iapetus are forming a perfect equilateral triangle. Best at 127x.

Supernova 2012aw in Messier 95 in AAVSO chart:

 Has faded from its first appearance, now down around magnitude 13.5. 127x.

Spent most of the evening galaxy hunting, mostly old favourites in Leo and Virgo:
M65, 66, 95, 96, 105, 104, 87, 91, 88, 90, 89, 98, 99, 100, 64, 49, NGC4567, 4568, 4564, 4038, 4039. Then I rotated the POD to the east to catch M13, 57, and M56, and ended up with some double stars: Albireo, 17 Cygni, Zeta Lyrae, and Epsilon Lyrae.

Temperature = 7.5°C

1511d 2012/05/13

1511d 2012/05/13 15:25–15:30 EDT Foxmead S deck 8cmrr

Sun: In white light 18x. 3 groups with at least 8 spots in telescope, sunspot number = 38. With naked eye could see no spots either with Baader filter or "eclipse shades."

1510d 2012/04/06

1510d 2012/04/06 15:30–16:00 EDT Foxmead POD 9 28cmsc

I found that the electrical problem was that my power bar was full of rain water from a recent storm! I switched to battery power, took the scope out of hibernation and had it go to:

Venus: slightly less than 50% illuminated, 70x.

Jupiter: pale in the blue sky, but belts visible, 70x.

Since I was on a roll, I then went to:

Sirius and Procyon, both clearly visible in a blue sky. Rigel, however, was not. 70x. This is the first time in my life I have ever observed stars in full daylight! Finally, I put on my Kendrick Baader filter and went to:

Sun: 4 spots in one group, for a sunspot number of 14, 70x. There's something quite terrifying about gazing into the face of Sol with a full 28 cm of aperture!

Temperature: 9.1°C

1509e 2012/04/04–05

1509e 2012/04/04–05 20:15–21:05 EDT Foxmead POD 8 28cmsc

Louise and I lifted the CPC1100 up onto the tripod just before supper.


Moon: nearly full, 70x

Venus: obviously less than 50% illuminated, 70x

Jupiter: just a glimpse before cloud moved in, 70x

It's great to have the CPC1100 back in operation!

Mars: north polar cap and some albedo features in south visible, but seeing very poor.

Temperature = 3.2°C 

2012/04/02

Yesterday, I had a visit from Katrina Ince-Lum, Sharmin Chowdhury, Phil Chow, and Blake Nancarrow. Blake returned my CPC 1100 mount which he had fixed. Today I reassembled the telescope, which was a bit of a challenge because I didn't bother to reread the disassembly instructions, with the result that I had to tear it all apart again and start over. It's now completely reassembled; the next step is to dismantle and remove the Explore triplet apo and CGEM mount currently in the POD.

Stage 2 of the transplant is now complete. I've packed the 127mm triplet away in its case, moved the CGEM into the house, and moved the CPC 1100's tripod out into the POD. Now all that remains to be done is to get Louise's help to carry the CPC 1100 tube and mount out into the POD, and heave its weight onto the tripod. However, she has injured her shoulder, so it looks like that's not going to happen today. It's probably going to be too cold to observe tonight anyway.