http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/ Observing reports and questions Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:27:49 GMT mikesimonsen http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32033 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32033 It has been my pleasure to work on an interview with Albert Jones, highlighting his life story, variable star observations, comet discoveries and the story of Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:19:43 GMT Chuck http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32032 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32032 A couple weeks ago I bought a pair of 15x70 binoculars and I have been watching Jupiter every clear night I get. The view through the binocs Clearly show the Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:52:32 GMT shiprock520 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32031 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32031 Astosurf is what I use and it's called Jupiter2. It tells when and where the moons are in real time and is in French and Italian, as well as English. Also Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:34:34 GMT Geoff Gaherty http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32030 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32030 ... Mostly not. Or at least I've never been able to tell which moon is which without using a program like Stellarium or Starry Night. Geoff -- Geoff Gaherty Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:53:16 GMT sasidhar kondraju http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32029 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32029 Hello Bob, Thanks for the reply. I am using start charts called winstar 2 fo the same purpose. I think it works the same way as what you have said. but I Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:06:24 GMT Bob Speziale http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32028 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32028 ...more ... I neglected to mention Stellarium allows you to zoom in and out until the objects appear as they would in your telescope... Cleear skies, Bob ... Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:01:32 GMT Bob Speziale http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32027 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32027 Hi Sasidhar, I was also surprised at how small the planets appeared in my telescope the first times I saw them. At 80x Jupiter and Saturn looked like sesame Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:14:12 GMT garr http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32026 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32026 Hi Sasidhar, I use this Sky & Telescope app for Jupiter's moons positions and names. It shows when the moons' shadows are on the surface of Juipter and other Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:06:23 GMT Richard Albury http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32025 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32025 Hi Sasidhar I agree with Geoff in his reply Just about all young astronomers have exactly the same problem as you have described. Seeing Jupiter etc with the Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:21:29 GMT Eric Jamison http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32024 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32024 With Mars and Saturn favorably placed in the morning sky before sunrise I recently set up the TMB 130mm f/9.25 apo refractor on an alt-az mount to observe Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:45:49 GMT Eric Jamison http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32023 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32023 Hi Sasidhar, Glad to help. Akkana Peck has a nice Java applet shows the positions of the four Galilean satellites of Jupiter, and their shadows here: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:03:19 GMT sasidhar kondraju http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32022 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32022 Thank you Anthony. I am learning the nuances of astronomy. Though I had this telescope for long time now, I lived in midwest for long time and it was usually Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:01:17 GMT sasidhar kondraju http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32021 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32021 Hi Eric, Thanks for your reply and the notes on drawing. It was very useful. When I saw Jupiter, it looked like a small spherical little white in color with Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:43:26 GMT Chandramohan Panakkal http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32020 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32020 70mm retractor will definitely show the saturn's rings.But during this period of the year, the tilt is very less and rings are dge on.So it may nt be as Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:08:19 GMT Geoff Gaherty http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32019 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/starrynights/message/32019 ... This is normal. The planets are all very small in most telescopes and need more magnification than most objects. As you get more experience, your eye