I bin scanned the Sun at 17:00
GMT in clear conditions and saw limb darkening but no sunspots.
Although most of the sky was covered by cloud, I was able to bin scan
the Moon at 22:05 GMT. It was a waxing gibbous phase and Kepler showed
nicely on the terminator. The ray systems of both Tycho and Copernicus
were showing well.
Although conditions weren't good, I attempted some constellation photos
and managed to catch Cassiopeia.
July 4th
At 00:00 GMT I took 10 images
of the Plough and stacked them using Microsoft ICE. I did some further
processing.
At 21:20 GMT, the Moon was due south in twilight and very low down. It
was approaching full phase and Tycho's rays were dominating the lunar
landscape. Some craters were on the terminator but I didn't know their
names. It was a nice view, though.
July 5th
I went out for a bin scan at
23:15 GMT, only to find that most of the sky was covered by cloud. I
was able to see the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) through thin cloud, whilst
Alberio, Epsilon and Delta Lyrae split well, along with Mizar and
Alcor. I could make out 2 moons to the east of Jupiter and, well, that
was all that could be seen.
At 20:55 GMT, I bin scanned an almost full Moon low down near the
horizon. Tycho's rays showed well and there were a couple of craters on
the terminator. Copernicus and Kepler were both showing ray systems and
Plato looked great amongst the lunar Alps. I bemoaned the fact that my
back had not sufficiently recovered to take a telescope out and snap
the Moon.
July 6th
Bin scanned the Sun at 12:30
GMT and was pleased to see some sunspot activity had returned.
July 7th
Conditions were quite clear
and the sunspots had moved from the day before.
July 8th
Despite the poor conditions, I
was still able to see the sunspots but they had changed from the day
before.
July 9th
There was lots of cloud but I
managed to see the sunspots through it with my bins.
July 10th
I bin scanned the Sun at 12:00
GMT but didn't see any sunspots.
July 12th
After a layoff, I attempted a
hydrogen alpha shoot but the disc was very quiet.
July 13th
I bin scanned a waning gibbous
Moon at 07:05 GMT. Grimaldi was well away from the terminator, due to
libration but neither Tycho nor Clavius could be seen.
July 15th
I bin scanned the Sun at 12:10
GMT but didn't see any sunspots.
July 17th
After a very wet and cloudy
day, I was amazed to see some clear sky at 22:30 GMT. I was too tired
and back trouble prevented me from using a telescope but I started off
with a bin scan of Jupiter, showing 3 moons on one side and one on the
other. Despite finding M11 a struggle, I uncovered what appeared to be
3 open clusters on eastern Sagittarius, which I mentally noted for a
revisit with a star chart. M8 was clear enough, as was Alberio and the
other double stars. The Milky Way looked quite impressive until a bank
of cloud moved over from the east.
July 19th
I managed a rare hydrogen
alpha shoot, although the surface was very quiet.
July 20th
Bin scanned the Sun at 12:15
GMT but didn't see any sunspots.
July 22nd
I tried to catch the Sun with
my PST at 19:10 GMT but, as I was setting up, a bank of cloud moved
over. I could make out some surface details but was unable to take a
photo.
July 24th
I caught the Sun with my PST
at 17:10 PST but there was very little to be seen.
I went out for a bin scan at 22:15 GMT. I was able to see M26 as
well as the Wild Duck Cluster (M11) and even M8 and M22. Alberio split
but M57 didn't show, although both doubles in Lyra (Epsilon and Delta)
clearly did. There was a lot of cloud around and only a few faint stars
were visible south of M22, so my attempts at catching some of the
fainter deep sky objects in Sagittarius failed. I consoled myself with
2 of Jupiter's moons, a surprisingly good view of the Andromeda Galaxy
(M31), with Melotte 20 and M34 showing well, despite the poor elevation
July 26th
I was pleased to see
that it had finally cleared in the south by 22:30 GMT, allowing a bit
of Messierising. The Lagoon (M8) was easy enough and I was amazed
again at M22 through binoculars. Quite amazing. I finally caught my
first glimpse of M70 and M69 at similar brightness, looking just like
twins. Their small size made them easier to spot in modest instruments.
M54 (actually quite similar in size and brightness) looked brighter,
due to higher elevation. Further east was M55, another globular cluster
that was more diffuse, as it was larger, despite being brighter.
I did a constellation shot of the area later.
Jupiter in Capricorn added some extra interest.
I also took one of Cassiopeia and Perseus.
July 27th
Bin scanned the Sun in clear
conditions at 13:40 GMT but didn't see any sunspots.
I saw a nice waxing crescent
Moon at 20:20 GMT and there were some nice craters near the terminator.
