Just went out

[DanM]

I just went skygazing tonight. I saw the ISS, expecting Progress M-07M to be trailing nearby. I didn't see it at first, however, I saw it a few minutes later following almost the same orbital plane as the iss, just a bit south. Several minutes after that, I saw the X-37. Now my dad and I are gonna go try to see Jupiter through our scope.

 

[Pyromaniac605]

I assume you mean this X-37. That must have been a strange outing indeed, did you see any UFOs? That would complete a weird night of stargazing. :lol:

Darren

 

[DanM]

Yes, I mean that X-37. I wish we saw UFOs. I might soon, because I'm going out to see Jupiter.

EDIT: I just got back in, Jupiter and it's moons are so beautiful. I was able to see Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Castillo very clearly. There was another object along the same plane as them, but idk if it was a moon or star. I also forgot to mention our attempt to view the ISS through the telescope. I couldn't get it down, but my dad was able to track it. He couldn't see the panels at all though. I guess we need a higher power view piece.

 

[Pyromaniac605]

What telescope are you using?

Darren

 

[DanM]

I know it's part of the Meade Digital Electronic Series, I believe 80 or 90 mm.

 

[DarkEnergy]

There was another object along the same plane as them, but idk if it was a moon or star.

From checking Stellarium with your description, the object was likely a star if it was in plane. But Jupiter and Uranus are appearing very close this month, so you might have seen Uranus. It isn't in plane with the moons though, but that might just be because I'm checking 2 hours after your post.

 

[DanM]

Yes, this morning my dad was reading and said that what we saw might have been Uranus. It was funny, because for the past week my mom has been constantly telling Uranus jokes.

 

[george7378]

Yes, this morning my dad was reading and said that what we saw might have been Uranus. It was funny, because for the past week my mom has been constantly telling Uranus jokes.

Tell her it's actually pronounced Ur-UH-nus (because it is) and it makes it a lot easier to talk about it :lol:! Also, well done on the sighting - I saw it for the first time a week or two ago, and it is now close enough to be in the same field of view as Jupiter. I was also watching the same scene with the four moons and the other object (star) in the plane - here's a photo from last night of Juptier with the closest moon, Io:

 

[dbeachy1]

That's a great shot!! :thumbup:

Good stuff!

 

[DanM]

This guy says it Ur-AH-nus. Then it's not urine or "Uranus." VERY nice photo. My dad and I are thinking of getting a universal photo mount for our telescope. Do those things work well?

 

[george7378]

That's a great shot!! :thumbup:

Good stuff!

Thanks - I really like taking pictures of the planets - it is great to see features like the cloud bands coming out during processing

VERY nice photo. My dad and I are thinking of getting a universal photo mount for our telescope. Do those things work well?

Thanks again! I have never used a universal photo mount - do you have any pictures of it? I just have a bracket to hold my camera so that it looks down the eyepiece and that works very well.

 

[bwog]

How do you see the ISS at night? According to Heavens Above, every single sighting is at 6 in the morning!

 

[tblaxland]

How do you see the ISS at night? According to Heavens Above, every single sighting is at 6 in the morning!

It varies. Currently, I am getting evening passes. At other times of the year, I get morning passes. Other times no passes. It is just a function of the alignment of your observing site, the ISS orbital plane and the sun.