Observation by Alex Pratt: Lunar occultation of Aldebaran - disappe...

Uploaded by

Alex Pratt

Observer

Alex Pratt

Observed

2017 Nov 06 - 02:32

Uploaded

2017 Nov 06 - 13:22

Objects

Aldebaran
Conjunction

Equipment

NexStar 127mm f/12 Mak-Cass
Watec 910 video camera
IOTA-VTI GPS video time inserter

Exposure

1/2000th sec

Location

Z92

Target name

Aldebaran - alpha Tauri - R 692

Title

Lunar occultation of Aldebaran - disappearance at bright limb

About this image

I am now the steward of Melvyn Taylor's 127mm f/12 Maksutov-Cassegrain alt/az telescope.

The Aldebaran occultation (disappearance at bright limb, reappearance at dark limb), was an ideal first opportunity to use this fine little 'scope. I prefer Mak-Cass optics to Schmidt-Cass designs; they have larger f/ratios and can give notably sharp images with good contrast, particularly useful for lunar occultations.

Aldebaran is a type K5 giant star, so as expected, its occultations aren't instantaneous. The DB and RD events have durations of about 0.1s on the videos.

I always use Vega as first-light guest object for a new telescope (one of the few things I have in common with the great Leslie Peltier!) so that tradition can be maintained with a view through the eyepiece on the next clear night.

Files associated with this observation

R692_DB_20171106_0232_ARP.png (182.6 kB)

Like this image

Mr Leonard Entwisle, David Basey, Nick Hewitt, Jeremy Shears, David Swan, Peter Taylor, Ray Emery, Dawson, Peter Carson, Derek Robson, Tom Moran, Tim Haymes, Alan Thomas

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