Shimmering Effect

Not sure if this question belongs in this section.


I was out observing Jupiter last night and it appeared to be quiet steady but when I moved the scope to a different location in the garden instead of the planet being steady in the eyepiece it appeared to have taken on a "shimmering" effect and I'm wondering why

I was using a William Optics ZS80mm, 2x Barlow with a 9mm eyepiece on both occasions.

When you changed your direction did you point the scope over a large patch of concrete or a building?

As I was observing the moon last evening over the neighbour's house it was boiling, it reminded me of a mirage when seen over a hot road.

That's the only explanation I can come up with.

I was also going to say what Paul said, and to also add if a kerosene boiler in a neighbours garden was also in the way, you know, just over the wall considering how low Jupiter is to attain in some scopes.

Seanie.

I started off outside the backdoor and seeing was perfect. The only thing that was really in the way were a few palm trees between us and the neighbour so no reason there.

It was when I went out the back of the house the shimmering effect happened. The scope would have been pointing over a flat roof with a puddle on it (self maintainence bird bath!!) and scope would have been a good degree of elevation over this.

You will eventually find a 'sweet spot' in your garden
and there can be many reasons why this particullar area
gives you the best seeing.
Over flat roofs giving off heat and so distorting the air
is never going to be good.