Posted on 09/23/2022 11:27:46 AM PDT by Red Badger
Meh. I'm 63 so I've seen it already...
Two of the biggest thrills I’ve had in my life was to clearly see Jupiter and Saturn through a fairly modest backyard telescope. There’s nothing like being able to make out the bands of Jupiter with it’s moons and the rings of Saturn in real time with your own eyes..
We had our monthly meeting (astronomy club) Wed. nite, I saw Jupiter through our 10” refractor, but the air was too turbulent to get a good sharp image. We couldn’t make out any bands at all. I think we should’ve tried filters, as the image was quite bright.
Our refractor is a 10” f/13 doublet with a
tri-space corrector, making it a 5-element system. On good nights, it’s incredible.
10” refractor is pretty good sized for a club. Probably doesn’t fit in the backseat of a Tesla!
Me too but maybe my luck will turn around on this run. 😃
In my 115mm dia. scope, Jupiter and Saturn are amazing. People can’t believe that they are looking at the actual object. I have been accused of putting a picture of Saturn in front of the lens.
And don’t get me started on the Moon…😀
🔭
Yes indeed.
The first time you see either one is unforgettable.
I have a few eight-by-ten colour glossy pictures of Jupiter taken in the 80s by our top secret space program
I will have to try and find them
Nope. It’s housed in a dome. When we were building the observatory, we were waiting forever for the dome. There weren’t any to be had in the size we needed.
Finally, the manufacturer called and said one became available, do we want it?
Yup, we wanted it!
The dome was originally slated to go to Iran.
Due to a trade embargo put in place by President Reagan, we ended up with it.
https://rockfordamateurastronomers.com/
To blazes with binoculars. I’m setting up my telescope for this show!
Top ten closest oppositions, +/- 100 years from the present
Size of Jupiter in arc-seconds in last column:
1951-Oct-02 15:12:00.000 49.926
1939-Sep-27 22:52:48.000 49.888
1963-Oct-07 07:31:12.000 49.880
2022-Sep-26 20:00:00.000 49.877
2034-Oct-01 12:19:12.000 49.871
2117-Oct-01 09:26:24.000 49.866
2058-Oct-10 20:57:36.000 49.864
2046-Oct-06 04:38:24.000 49.859
2010-Sep-22 03:40:48.000 49.858
2070-Oct-15 13:16:48.000 49.852
The ten smallest, there’s not much difference:
2076-Mar-31 22:52:48.000 44.22823
2005-Apr-06 18:04:48.000 44.22869
2017-Apr-11 10:24:00.000 44.24385
2088-Apr-05 15:12:00.000 44.25058
2064-Mar-27 06:33:36.000 44.2519
1922-Apr-07 20:57:36.000 44.25462
1993-Apr-02 01:45:36.000 44.25559
1934-Apr-12 13:16:48.000 44.25957
1981-Mar-28 09:26:24.000 44.27511
2100-Apr-11 07:31:12.000 44.27767
I used to be a member of an astronomy club but I let that go for over a decade.
Where I live now the night sky is a lot more open.
The scope weighs a ton so I often use some good binoculars for quick viewing when it’s suitable.
Went to the Newark Planetarium when I was a kid and left stunned. I wanted to be an astronomer. Started a club called the Smith and Jones Space Academy Observatory that all my cousins and the neighborhood kids joined. (Names changed to protect those involved.) The lady next door had a rocket on her wall because they bought a Rocket Oldsmobile, and she gave me the rocket for my “clubhouse” (our basement).
Never went into it for real. But I’m still surprised that some people don’t know the basics.
Every kid should get taken to a good planetarium show for kids.
My refractor and mount together weigh about 70#. I have to put it all together in segments.
Our 10” at the observatory is easily hundreds of pounds. We’ve had it down twice over the years. Scaffold, block and tackle, and six of us with slings underneath, carrying it like pallbearers🙄 to the other room to do work on the clock drive.
Binoculars are great! A lot lighter than a scope, for sure!
I have a 10x50, a 10x42, and a 15x70. The last go on a tripod.
I use the 10x42 for bird watching.
Wow 10 inch refractor!
It’s a beast. I have to learn how to post pictures, I would be glad to show it, we are really proud of it.
Did you buy it or make it?
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