Astronomy

Observing Log for

Session Details


Sheriffmuir Road

56.1702, -3.90552

225m

Notes

A breezy night.

Observations

Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE

It was clear at home so I packed all of the astronomy equipment, including the Sky-watcher 200 scope into the car and headed up to the top of the Sheriffmuir Road hoping to spend some time getting some detailed images of the comet with a good polar alignment.

On arrival conditions were disappointing with a thick patch of cloud sitting to the north. The comet was hidden and I stood beside the car for 15 minutes waiting for it to clear. Eventually a reasonable gap appeared in the clouds, the comet was revealed and I rapidly started setting up camera and telescope.

Unfortunately, during this time further cloud built up in the west and rapidly moved in to obscure the view. I managed a few widefield images of the comet and a quick look at it with the 25mm eyepiece on the telescope (the comet filling the entire FOV) before the views were obscured.

Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE

Saturn and Jupiter

Before the cloud could envelop the southern sky I turned the 200mm scope onto Jupiter and then Saturn. Both presented beautiful views. Jupiter's bands could be seen with all four largest moons arranged in a neat line. Saturn had less detail but the rings made for a captivating sight before clouds rolled in.

Images