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I began this log on 8/19/99 since it was an official first light for my new 20" which I had just completed. The 18
point mirror cell was the last thing to be completed, and after
waiting for good weather I woke up early this fine August
morning. Once everything was collimated I had some views that I
will no doubt remember for a lifetime. I <u>love</u> planetary
viewing, and a major objective of the project was to end up with
an instrument that would provide excellent views of the planets
at high power. So far I'm pleased, as at full-aperture I am
getting very good images. I just want to say that my first
impressions are incredible. The scale and brightness of the scope
is thrilling; everything is just simply so big & bright. I
even got some hand-held VHS-C camcorder shots which came out ok.
But what a morning!
| Date/Time |
T |
S |
Inst |
Object |
Mag |
Description |
| 8/19/99 4:30 - 5:30 am
Back yard
|
8 |
5-8 |
20" |
Jupiter |
210x - 436x |
Incredible views. Seeing
would occasionally allow the higher powers, and when it
did I had some great views. Red spot clear to lower left
of planet, on the same belt a arm spiraled off. Using
mostly yellow & blue filters many belts visible with
detail. The moons were resolved into disks. Now I know
what people mean when they say the Galilean moons look
like disks... they mean little planets. |
| 8/19/99 5:30 - 5:30 am
Back yard
|
8 |
5-8 |
20" |
Saturn |
210x - 436x |
Awesome. Words cannot
describe how beautiful the planet appeared. Cassinni's
division all the way around disk. Another division was
evident at times on the outermost ring when the seeing
allowed. The contrast on this planet was excellent. The
shadow of the planet on the rings was incredibly sharp.
This is a good mirror. |
Email Shane
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