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Cassini Probe Dazzles

Most excellent. Thank you, fathers of astronomy and today's astronomers. Thank you, rocketry. Thank you, probe builders, programmers. Thank you, photography. Thank you!
 
nice, although LOL at Phil 'finally' being able to see it with his own eyes, because I see it every clear night.:D
I saw Saturn with rings last night through my telescope as well, which was awesome. I am going to get a better telescope next year though, hopefully one that can resolve the double star, as well as Saturn better:cool:
 
MattTheTubaGuy said:
nice, although LOL at Phil 'finally' being able to see it with his own eyes, because I see it every clear night.:D
I saw Saturn with rings last night through my telescope as well, which was awesome. I am going to get a better telescope next year though, hopefully one that can resolve the double star, as well as Saturn better:cool:
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What size scope have you got. I've split it with every scope I have ever owned
 
"Both" stars?

First Pluto, now poor little Proxima...

:(
 
actually I'm not sure if I got round to looking at Alpha Centauri, because the telescope I was using is really flimsy, and I just didn't get round to it. Saturn is about 30'' across, and the separation of A.Cent A and B is about 15", so I should have been able to just see them separated. oh well, I will try next time.
 
MattTheTubaGuy said:
actually I'm not sure if I got round to looking at Alpha Centauri, because the telescope I was using is really flimsy, and I just didn't get round to it. Saturn is about 30'' across, and the separation of A.Cent A and B is about 15", so I should have been able to just see them separated. oh well, I will try next time.
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It is well worth the effort. I recall our local astronomy club hosted some Italian amatures once. Their number one request was to see Alpha Centauri. There excitement and sense of wonder was infectious, and really made me appreciate just how wonderful many of the objects in the southern sky were.
 
JamesMG said:
MG... What do you/have you had? I lost my three Meades in a fire. :mad:
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When I lived down under had a nice little 8inch long focal Celestron Star Hopper. Now in the US I am still in the binocular stage of learning the sky, but want to get something guided - maybe 10 or 12 inch when I am ready. Dobs are too hard on my back these days lol

Sorry to hear about the Meades....any chance at least the mirrors were salvagable?
 
MG and TEH Monkey Ghost(boy)... :D

All gone... in order of acquision,

1 8" Dob... standard dob light bucket, easiest (?) on the back.
2 10'" Schmitt Cassegrain
3 ~4" (90mm) Maksutov Cassegrain (1st gen ETA)
 
Thats a horrible shame. What was the Maksutov like to use. I have day dreamed of getting one, but no one seems to be able to tell me exactly what it is good for
 
MG... you 8" dob was almost equivillant to my 10". I suppose my use of "light bucket" should only refer to the 12/14/16 inchers and up. I haven't been out to star parties but from what I've read the big boys only go to around 30-36" (ymmv).

Dobs and other reflectors are best for planetary and more local objects (globulars, etc).
The suspended mirror or "spider" will block at some of the light, so brighter objects are better targets. The Mak puts this at the end so minimizes this affect.

Whereas reflectors are better for extragalactic targets.


Oddly, when I got to chat with RandI for 90 minutes, the majority of the discussion was astronomy and scopes. Cool.


<damn... 18 minutes>
 
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Fnord said:
"Both" stars?

First Pluto, now poor little Proxima...

:(
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To be fair, it's far from certain that Proxima is actually part of the Alpha Centauri system. It may just happen to be nearby at this particular time.
 
Oh and BYW... one of these days... I think I'll get one of the new gen ETAs.

I live in and (try to ) ttravel in an RV nowdays. I really should get another scope. Where I spend most of my time nowadays (that's not a word, jim) I have a VERY limited skyview. Burn the trees I say... BURN them ALL. :)
 
Carp... just realized I did more that anyone to derail the thread.


Haloooo? LarianLeQuella?
I believe we were discussing Saturn?
 
LarianLeQuella said:
I've been sitting here for a while just drooling over the images that Cassini just sent back. It's amazing to see the things that this probe has done.

Dr. Plaits thoughts on it: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/08/05/saturn-and-the-nearest-star

I find it amazing that the camera was able to actually see both stars in the system! Just amazing!
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Not that amazing. Even my little 6 inch scope can do that in good conditions. Of course, I may struggle to get that particular picture...
 
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