Seven Planets in the Sky Tonight

[carolinarider09]

Well, if you have clear skies, tonight you can see seven planets, all at the same time.

What you need is a clear sky, fairly low horizons, and minimal light pollution. 

Oh and you will need a telescope to see at least three of them, Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus.

But Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will all be naked eye objects.  The charts shows the location of six of the seven planets just at dusk. 

[Patrick]

This will be neat ! I hope they don't get mixed up and run into each other.

[J.Mencalice]

And in addition, the Leonid meteor shower occurs tonight (Monday) into the nighttime hours into Tuesday.  Mostly an eastern declination off the horizon.
Should be pretty neat as the moon shall not be so bright tonight.
The far reaches of Western Colorado and Eastern Utah are perfect for stargazing this time of the year; a lawn chair and sleeping bag make it cozy.

[GiG]

Pretty sure there are more than 7 planets in the sky tonight or most nights 

[Wizzard]

Pretty sure there are more than 7 planets in the sky tonight or most nights 

you beat me to it. LOL

[carolinarider09]

Ok wise guys 

Seven planets in our solar system that you can see if you look up at the time shown on the map. 

However, there are only six shown because Venus is off the screen. 

And, you could, can, see these six with a telescope (albeit Pluto will be a bit tough unless you have a large scope at least 10" or more in aperture, and then there is knowing where it is since it is dim).

Since I do have a 24" scope, if you want to drop by and have a look at Pluto and Neptune, just let me know. 

[scooperhsd]

You're not close enough - but if I'm ever back that way again - I may have to take you up on that offer.

[GiG]

Ok wise guys 

Seven planets in our solar system that you can see if you look up at the time shown on the map. 

However, there are only six shown because Venus is off the screen. 

And, you could, can, see these six with a telescope (albeit Pluto will be a bit tough unless you have a large scope at least 10" or more in aperture, and then there is knowing where it is since it is dim).

Since I do have a 24" scope, if you want to drop by and have a look at Pluto and Neptune, just let me know. 

Thanks for the invitation! 
No way I can make it tonight, though.
Posed to be clear here tonight, so it'll just have to be viewing on the deck. Usually dark skies to the south (farmland), but there is light pollution to the east. Love the meteors.

We'll see....

[Skinhead]

Ok wise guys 

Seven planets in our solar system that you can see if you look up at the time shown on the map. 

However, there are only six shown because Venus is off the screen. 

And, you could, can, see these six with a telescope (albeit Pluto will be a bit tough unless you have a large scope at least 10" or more in aperture, and then there is knowing where it is since it is dim).

Since I do have a 24" scope, if you want to drop by and have a look at Pluto and Neptune, just let me know. 

Thanks for the invitation! 
No way I can make it tonight, though.
Posed to be clear here tonight, so it'll just have to be viewing on the deck. Usually dark skies to the south (farmland), but there is light pollution to the east. Love the meteors.

We'll see....

You got any gummies left for the show?

[Jess from VA]

Speaking of the other plants, I always wondered how Uranus got it's name.

I looked it up and it's explained as a Greek god. 

Uranus is known as the “sideways planet” because it rotates on its side.   Kinky. 

[carolinarider09]

You're not close enough - but if I'm ever back that way again - I may have to take you up on that offer.

No problem, would be happy to oblige.  It needs to get out of the trailer anyway.  

Just make sure its an evening without too much of a moon.  

You will have to climb a ladder to see though the 24" scope.  

Oh, and actually the Deep Sky Objects are much more fun to look at.  But,  a couple of years ago, I was at a star party and had the 24" out and it was pointed at Saturn. I woman was on the ladder and as she looked into the eyepiece I heard her exclaim "It really does have rings".  

[..]

Clear night here in NE GA tonight.

I watched the Space Station cross the sky earlier this evening.

Hard to keep my eyes on it with all the other bright lights in the sky.

I use an app to let me know when the ISS is going to be overhead.

[carolinarider09]

Clear night here in NE GA tonight.

I watched the Space Station cross the sky earlier this evening.

Hard to keep my eyes on it with all the other bright lights in the sky.

I use an app to let me know when the ISS is going to be overhead.

 

[Alpha Dog]

You're not close enough - but if I'm ever back that way again - I may have to take you up on that offer.

No problem, would be happy to oblige.  It needs to get out of the trailer anyway.  

Just make sure its an evening without too much of a moon.  

You will have to climb a ladder to see though the 24" scope.  

Oh, and actually the Deep Sky Objects are much more fun to look at.  But,  a couple of years ago, I was at a star party and had the 24" out and it was pointed at Saturn. I woman was on the ladder and as she looked into the eyepiece I heard her exclaim "It really does have rings".  

One heck of a scope Mr. Carolina Rider.  This past summer the wife was holding an estate sale of her now past Father.  I took some of my items to sell one being a Meade refractor I bought almost 20 years ago that was just collecting dust and spiders in my shed.  I did bring it out to set it up and it still worked good.  Dropped in the Barlow lens and showed the wife and my son the rings of Saturn.  My son seemed to take an interest and asked about getting another scope.

What are your thoughts on an Orion either 8 inch or 10 inch  Sky Quest Dobsonian ?  Or a scope for under $ 500.00.

I also have been tracking Saturn and Jupiter since this summer with the naked eye and it was neat when Mars lined up directly east and as red as one will ever see it a couple months ago.

[carolinarider09]

I have not purchased a "retail" scope in many years.  (I have include a link at the bottom of this reply with some information, supporting the below.  Its from 2012, but.....)

My apologies.  I missed the price limitation of $500. 

However, I have a couple of thoughts.  First, I'd pick a Dobsonian design.  They are easy to move (use at night), they are easy to transport, except for the base will take up some room, and they are fairly durable.  

I always opt for larger aperture.  More light gathering, brighter images and once you get past looking at planets and the moon, you will want to look at Deep Sky Objects (Do a search on Messier objects).  

One consideration is eyepieces.  I have a 10" Dob, f/5. as I remember (I grind my own mirrors so hitting 5.0 on the dot is not easy and really does not matter that much).  It has a 2" focuser.  I rarely use any eyepiece smaller than 20 mm..   The only time I might is when looking at planets.  

So eyepieces are another consideration.  I think I have a 7.5mm in the observatory but for the 24" and the 10" and the 12.5 inch in the observatory, I stick with the 20mm and the 35mm for visual observing.

Once you see the Orion Nebula using a 20mm or 30mm eyepiece, you will get a feeling for how big it really is.  And, in a 10", you might even see some color.  

The scope shown below has both the 2" focuser and a reasonable "finder".  The 2" focuser is the best way to go.  You can use a 1.24" eyepiece until you can afford or desire not purchase a 2" eyepiece but with the 2" eyepiece you get a bigger image area (I know its obvious but until you  compare them side by side the difference is hard to describe).

https://www.telescope.com/Orion-SkyQuest-XT10-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/p/102006.uts

One more item for consideration is a "pointing" device.  Today, it is relatively easy to add some digital encoders to your telescope, purchase a black box to allow WiFi connection to your laptop or phone and easily find objects.  However, that does add cost.  The best finder is one you don't look thorough but look at.  The 10" scope above has a look through finder which I have not used.  I have used the one below for many, many years (well only to initially set up the scope since I have digital setting circles on all but the 10").  

https://www.highpointscientific.com/telrad-finder-with-base-telrad?msclkid=e35542c14d511da676031d77cae1a234

You look at the back of the finder and see, superimposed on the sky, three three rings.  

What use is that you ask?????  

Well you have to buy a booklet (designed for outside use).

http://www.sky-spot.com/charts.htm

And then all you have to do is open the book, look at the page and see where to point your telescope to find the Deep Sky Object (DSO).  



http://www.sky-spot.com/messier.htm



https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/154949-orion-8-inch-dobsonian-or-10-inch/

[carolinarider09]

One thing I forgot to mention about telescope aperture.  Remember the area of a circle is Pi * R^2

So for an 8" diameter mirror the area is 3.14 * (4*4) or 3.14 * 16.

The area of a 10" diameter mirror is 3.14 * (5*5) or 3.14 * 25.

Since Pi is used in both calculations, you can compare the areas of the two mirrors by just comparing the square of the radius. 

So, a 10" diameter mirror has a surface area 25/16 times as large as an 8" diameter mirror.  Or almost 50% more area.  So.... if you can afford the extra dollars, you will get a mirror that has 50% more surface area than the 8" mirror, which means it has 50% more light gathering area. 

[Alpha Dog]

Thanks a bunch Carolina Rider.  Some great info you provided.  I was hoping the Dobsonian would do well, it certainly takes up less space and looked easier than the pass refractors I had.  I researched them some this pass summer and they got really good reviews.

[carolinarider09]

I don't know what your skill level is but......   The only issue with building your own Dob is the mirror. 

All other parts can be purchased easily (well the tube might require some research today).  I have aluminum tubes on my 10" and 12.5".

Grininding your own mirror requires two things  (well besides the mirror and tool) a 55 gallon drum or barrel to put the blank on and the space to park the drum and be able to walk around it.

For the record, if you rub two pieces of glass togehrer, you will get one of two shapes.  A flat surface or a sphere. No other shapes can happen unless you take direct steps to make them. 

What this means is that grinding n your own mirror can easily be done, if you take the time.  Also there is the "achievement" factor.

Making the mirror parabolic is also easily done, just takes some time and specific motions.  And, unlike the mirror in the space telescope, you can build a device to measure the surface of the mirror for about $30.  Its called a Focalut Tester.  Last one I built consisted of some oak, some metal rails (small), a mirocometer type thing to measure the distance, three razor blades, an old spice can and a lamp.

I know, it all seems like a lot of work.  But, depending on what you wish to accomplish, it could be an excellent way to work with your son on a project that few people do today. 

Anyway, just another thought.