Sugarloaf Observing on Friday 20th Dec

Hi Aubrey,

I had technical issues and only managed the Orion nebula.

Michael.

Thank you Michael.
M42 is always outstanding!
Would you believe I was looking at your spectacular image of it at the back of Sky High for 2019?

Kind regards,

Aubrey.

michael_murphy wrote: It was great to see you Darren, thanks for the biccies.

Michael.

You too Michael...I won't lie, I had a couple of those fallen biscuits on the way home. As you said 5 second rule and all that ; ) 

Thanks to you and Ben for helping me better understand the benefits of different types if scopes. 

I hope you and yours have a great Christmas, and that we'll have many clear skies during 2020.

Kindest regards, 

Darren. 

Hi Aubrey, 

I hope you're feeling somewhat better today. You were missed last night, but you were there in spirit as we had a look at some double stars in Ursa Major. 

Added to that, I managed to get to observe Messier 35. You might recall that I started to sketch it from my back garden earlier in the week, so I was excited to continue it under the dark sky of County Wicklow. Well, it looked magnificant: So bright; so rich, and so colourful. But by the time I put pencil to paper the clouds blew in, and that was that. 

We also managed to get quick look at Messier 45 through my f/8 XT6 parabolic Newtonian Reflector. Using a 32mm Plossl the 'Seven Sisters' filled the eyepiece, and the main stars were only gorgeous. I may have seen some nebulosity around Merope, then again it may have been dew on the eyepiece!

So, while it was a rather short session, we did see some nice sights, plus the chat was great!

I hope you and Valerie have a lovely Christmas, and a peaceful New Year! Thanks for all your support, encouragement, and advice throughout 2019, and here's to many clear nights during 2020.

Kindest regards, 

Darren. 

Thank you for your kind comments, Darren.
I am at the white mucus stage now. (Sorry about the detail)
So it's Neil Med morning and evening right now.
The paracetamol stage is over.
I'm still indoors all the time.
And to think we have lots of clear nights coming up.
I'm quite sure my current Cassiopeia sessions are over for a few weeks.
The "W" will be high on the northern sky at the end of January 2020.
I reckon that will be the time to return to this splendid constellation. 

Congratulations for your detailed observation of M35, Darren.
You might not realise but there is a double star within the outskirts of M35 and it is very easy to see. STT 135 has an orange primary. The secondary is probably white.
There is no problem seeing it at 40X.
You will find its information on www.stelledoppie.it

M45 is by far the brightest open star cluster in the sky. And I'm sure you did observe nebula around Merope. I have to observe it some time.

Can I take it you did observe Mizar and Alcor on Friday? Mizar was my first ever double star way back in 1977. No wonder I have been keen on them ever since.

May I wish you, Darren and Michael, a very happy Christmas and clear skies for 2020!!

Let's overeat for the next few weeks!
Sure we'll lose it all in January 2020!

Next week I will start the usual summary of best observations of 2019.

Christmas Blessings from Aubrey.

Good morning Aubrey, 

And very many thanks for your message. It sounds like you're over the worst of it, so hopefully you'll be 'right as rain' come Christmas day. 

Also, thank you for informing me about the double near M35... I like your description of it: Orange primary next to a white(ish) star. Along with NGC 2158, I'll keep an eye for it next time. 

I believe we did observe Mizar and Alcor during the meet-up session. Amazing to read that you first split it back in 1977...thanks for sharing that with us.  

I'm looking forward to reading about your observational highlights from 2019 too. 

Take care, and here's to recharging our batteries (metaphorically and literally) over the Christmas period so we're energised for many a clear night in January. 

Darren.