[Paul G. Abel]

I see we have the same magnitude estimate for tonight Nick! It does seem to be brightening quite quickly!

[Paul G. Abel]

I have it! Couldn’t see much of M101 except for a faint core. Anyhow SN 2023ixf was quite easy to see tonight and I used an AAVSO chart to make a magnitude estimate. My estimate was 117+4 giving an estimated visual magnitude Mv= 11.3. A slight orange colour present I thought.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by Paul G. Abel.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by Paul G. Abel.

[Paul G. Abel]

Interesting- I really struggled to see it and M101 last night with my 12″ Newtonian. I will try again tonight.

[Paul G. Abel]

I use a lot of AAVSO charts- I tend to put (AAVSO) after the chart sequence but it does generate a warning that the sequence isn’t recognised but as Gary says, the observations still go into the database and you can review it and see it there.

I also like the fact that the BAA VSS database requires both Julian and standard date formats, this greatly reduces the possibility of errors and typos coming into the date or time.

Cheers,
-Paul

[Paul G. Abel]

Indeed- I find them to be perfectly fine for visual use. I certainly wouldn’t want them with magnitudes listed to 2dp since that kind of precision is not usually possibly visually!

[Paul G. Abel]

Hi Lars,

For Venus, use a 50mm blank circle. I crease all mine in free software package called ‘the Gimp’. The phase can be constructed using the ellipse tool, you can get it to produce the right phase using the formula: W= 5*(1-2*phase). So if Venus is 60% illuminated, you would put the phase = 0.6 in the formula and the value you get for W is the width of the ellipse.

You can use a similar thing for Mars but be aware that the terminator changes sides- in a normal mirror inverting telescope with north at the bottom, features pass from right to left (i.e from the following side to the preceding side). Before opposition, the terminator and therefore the phase is on the left (preceding side), and after opposition it is on the right or following side. The phase on Mars is not always at 90 degrees, but the value Q in the BAA handbook (or the value ‘maximum phase’ in WINJUPOS) will tell you where the widest part of the terminator lies.

Jupiter is fairly easy, you need to use an ellipse 60mm wide by 40mm in height (it cannot be a circle as Jupiter is appreciably flattened). Finally the Saturn Section has some excellent templates which can be used to draw on with the rings, Cassini Division and the C-Ring all correctly depicted.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me.

Cheers,
-Paul

[Paul G. Abel]

Thanks Sally!!! Glad you enjoyed them! Hopefully the skies will clear at some point and we can all try them!

[Paul G. Abel]

It was a splendid weekend- one of the best Winchester weekends I can remember (but I think I say that every year!)

[Paul G. Abel]

Finally had some clear skies tonight and I just made this observation. Using HR3082 as a comparison star, I estimate a Mv~ 5.5

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[Paul G. Abel]

Mine arrived a few days ago.

-Paul

[Paul G. Abel]

This looks fascinating Jeremy! I will take a look!

[Paul G. Abel]

Agreed Gary! It was a great event- one of the best Christmas meetings in a while!

[Paul G. Abel]

Been a nice sunny morning here in Leicester. Observed the eclipse with the students from Leicester University Astro-soc who had organised the event. Made some drawings with my 40mm PST including one showing the lunar limb close to a sunspot.

[Paul G. Abel]

Hi David,

The south polar cap is now too small to see, but the north polar hood is becoming prominent. There is currently a large regional dust storm underway (although it might be receding) so you’ll find features like Solis Lacus a bit more challenging to see at the moment.

Cheers
-Paul

[Paul G. Abel]

Two drawings I made on the 1st – 2nd October in average seeing. The western end of the dust storm can be seen with dust in Argyre, Erythraeum, Solis Lacus, Ophir and Candor.

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[Paul G. Abel]

I got a reasonable view of the western end of the dust storm last night. It is interesting that Argyre I and Campi Phlegraei were very bright and the whole region looked like a pseudo SPC. Evidence of dust can be seen in Eyrthraeum and Solis Lacus. It will be interesting to watch how the storm evolves and changes the albedo features. UK observes can examine the regions effected over the next few weeks.

Cheers,
-Paul

[Paul G. Abel]

Hi James,

I write to Alan regularly and have done so for very many years! I would like to buy a copy of the book.

Cheers,
-Paul

[Paul G. Abel]

Very interesting- thanks Gary! I’ll take a look if ever we get a clear sky! Tuesday is looking promising.

Cheers,
-Paul

[Paul G. Abel]

Just had a look at the area- I identified the stellar field quite quickly from the AAVSO chart. I couldn’t see the nova with my 12” Newtonian, although skies here are a little hazy now.

[Paul G. Abel]

Absolutely the worst year I can remember for clear nights (and indeed useable clear nights).  I honestly cannot recall a year with so few useable nights.  A rough count gives me just 49 clear nights for the whole year.  I am hopeful that 2022 will be an improvement!

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