Secret Still Observatory

'I saw the crescent, you saw the whole of the Moon'

Mark

1 minute read

A sketch made from an image taken on 28th April 2023 when the Moon was eight days old. The last few weeks have been so cloudy and the Moon so low as to make direct observation impossible.

Mark

1 minute read

A sketch made over two evenings, taking about one hour in total. Sketching was made easier by being possible before nightfall and the sketch pad therefore being visible without a torch.

Mark

2 minute read

    Integration time (running total):
    * OSC 139 X 120s (278m)
    * Total: 4h38m
    
    Integration time target
    * Target: 12 hours
    * Progress: 39%

The bright supernova SN2023IXF currently visible in M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy.

Mark

1 minute read

This evening Mars traversed the Beehive Cluster M44. It was a beautiful sight in the twilight but too low to photograph from the observatory so I made a sketch with the Dobsonian. The 1220mm scope coupled with the binoviewer and the 1.6x Barlow lens required to allow it to reach focus it was a gorgeous thing to witness, even if somewhat over-magnified hence excluding many of M44’s stars.

Mark

1 minute read

    Integration time (running total):
    * OSC 63 X 120s (330m)
    * Total: 5h30m
    
    Integration time target
    * Target: 6 hours
    * Progress: 92%

Another try in the latter stages of this year’s galaxy season where the weather has been so awful. Aiming for some good resolution and brightness using the 268C and a fast Newtonian.

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