Joy of Spring

I’ve been suffering a bit from workload these past 1.5 years. One of the consequences is not being able to get out with the telescope as much as I used to. However, last Wednesday, a clear dark sky coincided with, well me just saying “sod it” and going stargazing. I am glad I did.

Io shadow transit and some fuzzies.

On 2nd February I actually got out with the telescope. Although the sky didn’t stay clear for long, I did manage to visit a couple of familiar friends, and also captured a shadow transit on Jupiter, which is always exciting.

February planetaries, clusters and galaxies. NGC 2371, NGC 2438, NGC 3166

Yesterday, on a clear, dark but cold and wobbly night, I tried to track down some faint fuzzies.

Io shadow transit, planetary nebulae and clusters

On 15th Jan I had the family out watching Io’s shadow (and Io, but that was too hard to spot) transit across Jupiter’s face. This happened to coincide with a Great Red Spot transit too, though I was the only one to spot that as it quickly went out of view.

Planets, nebulae and clusters.

I’ve got a couple of nights’ stargazing to catch up on. On 12th Jan I was out in imperfect conditions (slight fog and a bright rising moon) looking at secret deep objects.

Secret deep clusters and nebulae: NGC 1807, 1817, 1931, IC 417 and Stock 8.

More deep sky last night, and given the constellations that are prominent at present, this meant open clusters and nebulae. Once again I hunted down some of the Secret Deep objects.

The Rubber Stamp Nebula (NGC 1999), NGC 1245, and Caldwell 50 (NGC 2244)

For Xmas I got a lovely present of Steven James O’Meara’s latest deep sky companion “The Secret Deep“. So I went out to try it out.

December Delights: M42, The Crab nebula (M1), and The Perseus Lenticular (NGC 1023)

This December has not been the best month of stargazing for me: although the weather was OK at times, I was just too tired from work on many clear nights, and I had other competing demands such as sending in my butterfly records before Xmas. So I took the chance last night when, a front having just passed over, the sky was gorgeously clear.

The Pacman Nebula (NGC 281), the Fiddlehead Galaxy (NGC 772), and the Misty Clover Cluster (Trumpler 37)

Yesterday on a very cold but clear night, I hunted down three deep sky objects on the Hidden Treasures List.

October skies

Before the weather turned bad, I managed three consecutive nights out under clear skies, and here is what I saw.