Austin

AstroChallenge contributor

Points: 5562

Observations: 74

Kudos: 48

NameAustin Riba
LocationSanta Barbara, California
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Latitude34.4058592738
Longitude-119.696321208
Altitude10m

Beginner astronomer, constant neck-ache, Admin of Astrochallenge.com

Clear
Saturn

Orion 10'' SkyQuest dobsonian
100 points

I was woken up around 23:00 by some noise outside my window.

Raccoons again.

I opened the door and threw a couple of rocks to scare them away and when as I glanced upward, starlight. For the first time in weeks my instinctive look up was actually met by something other than overcast skies: Jupiter hanging low in the east.

Even though it is way past my bedtime, I just manage to pull out the scope, place it under the local street lamp and point it at Saturn. This is my first observation of the mighty ringed planet this year. He's as an impressive sight as I remember when I first got into astronomy a year ago.

So glad I finally got the telescope out. Here's to more clear nights!

Moon

Naked eye
0 points

Howl at the full moon!

Currently very cloudy in this locale. I hope to be able to get out and observe soon... but it's Santa Cruz and the spring cycle has started. Ever night now, the fog comes in. This will continue for a long time well into the summer. It means I have to travel to a higher elevation to observe. Not the end of the world but far from the luxury of just pulling my scope out the back door.

M105

Orion 10'' SkyQuest dobsonian
20 points

Another extremely faint galaxy I was able to resolve in Leo, grouped close to several others visible in the area.

M96

Orion 10'' SkyQuest dobsonian
20 points

Yet another faint smudge in the eyepiece, like a ship on the sea behind heavy fog. Leo is very, very rich in galaxies!

InstrumentObservations
Naked eye 7
Orion 10'' SkyQuest dobsonian 53
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars 2
Mead LX200 (Cabrillo Observatory) 4
LCOGT 1Meter Scope - Sinistro 8