Swadlincote 29/1/17 200f6 Orion optics Newt on eq5.
Stunning transparency from 3-5.30. The seeing wasn’t up to much , enough to spot a small dark barge on the northern belt of Jupiter . Some good colour and fine belts , just set the focus and watch them drift in and out. 150 magnification produced the best results.
M51 looked spectacular with clear structure to NGC 5195, the zenith being very dark. Canes Venatici ,Coma Berenice’s , and Ursa Major providing the best views. Both Virgo and Leo were high above town lights with little contrast.
A lovely galaxy session catching,
NGC 4631 (C32), the elongate “whale” right up to x120 where it streaked across the fov.
NGC 4656/57 averted view of the “hockey stick”.
NGC 4214 an irregular bright +9.7 galaxy.
NGC 4490 a bright “cocoon”.
NGC 4449 (C21) delightfully granulated , resolves into stars.
NGC 4565, the bright “needle”.
NGC 5005 (C29) lovely and bright.
M63, the “Sunflower”, M64 and the very bright M94.
Had a look at M3 , resolves into a sparkling globular with bright field stars.
The most stunning view was “Bode’s”)where the fov was filled with stars. Yet again no sign of Comet V2 Johnson in Bootes. I scanned the area several times , but nothing non stellar even at x120. Very odd to see Cygnus high in the north east and catch M13 and M92 in high Hercules.
Its well worth getting out in the early hours. Heavy rain yesterday had washed the sky clean, heavy frost covered everything especially the Telrad and the toes !
Clear skies,
Nick.