Observing Log for Mike Durkin 7/12/2007 2:00PM-10:00PM Nazareth, PA Transparency: 8/10, Seeing: 4/5 about 65-85 degrees Coronado Hydrogen Alpha PST and 127mm Mak Went to Vinny house for the weekend. First started with the PST on a new photo tripod I got from B&H. The tripod didn't quite have the fine adjusting that I would have liked, although maybe it is good enough for normal photography. So using the 17mm eyepiece we were able to see quite a few prominences, especially one on the bottom portion of the disk, it seemed to be partially detached. After a bit I was also able to make out some details on the disk itself, but there on;y seemed to be one or two main dark areas. A little while later, I pulled out the 127mm Mak. Started out looking at Venus, mostly at 17mm(90x). Venus was a distinct crescent, and a couple of the kids thought they were looking at the Moon. I would estimate it was 10-30% illuminated. After that I tried finding Saturn, but it may be too close to the Sun, or it was already behind the trees before it was dark enough. After that I looked at the Moon, which was just under 50% illuminated. I showed Rob Vallis Alpes. Mostly observed at 30mm (51x) After that was Jupiter. We were able to see all 4 moons, however no shadows. I wasn't sure it I saw a gap in one of the belts, since Jupiter is pretty low and the seeing for it wasn't great. Mostly observed at 17mm(90x) I was also able to just make out M4 in Scorpius. Seemed to be a very faint fuzzy patch, maybe 20-30' in size. Observed with 30mm (51X) eyepiece. And to finish out the night, I showed Al M13 in Hercules. It was a "bright" fuzzy ball, maybe 30' in size, although I don't think I could resolve too many stars. 7/12/2007 8:00PM-9:30PM Waterfront Park, Freeport, NY Transparency: 9/10, Seeing: 3/5 about 75 degrees 127mm Mak AOS had one of it's public observing sessions at Waterfront Park. First looked at Venus. Very clear crescent, maybe 25% illuminated. After that tried looking for Saturn. It took me a while to find because it was so faint, but I eventually did see it. It seemed pretty small, but the ring was very evident. Viewed with 30mm(51x) and 17mm(90x). I showed some of the people and these seemed very impressed with it. After that I looked at Jupiter. Two bands were esily visible as well as 3 moons. I also thought that I saw the Great Red Spot, but Bill Bradley said that it was Io's shadow. When I got home later, I verified with Starry Night that Io's shadow was on Jupiter's surface. Just before I left for the night, I could see Io moving off the face of the disk of Jupiter on the opposite side of the other 3 moons. Also during the session, a satellite passed overhead to the east, possibly an Iridium flare. Other Log Entries <-- 2006 Jan  Feb   Mar   Apr  May  Jun  Jul   Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  2008 -->