Quick grab and go in the garden.
Skybred
March 15, 2026
8:30 PM – 9:15 PM
Published Mar 15, 2026
English
Clouds and lights, but some nice double stars, Uranus and Jupiter. I came with a long plan about fainter open clusters that did not survive the reality of the sky conditions. New neighbours with a huge TV and a very tiny dog. The mini-dog heard me in the garden and barked high-pitch for 20 mins until the neighbours wondered why the ruccus. No problem for me, but this is my territory, sorry.
Bortle 4, ~54°N
Overcast, 3°C, Humidity 89%, Wind 9 km/h
Session Notes
Clouds and lights, but some nice double stars, Uranus and Jupiter. I came with a long plan about fainter open clusters that did not survive the reality of the sky conditions. Important discovery about a systematic database error with double stars.
관측 (10)
Planet
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TeleVue Panoptic 24mm, Takahashi FC-76 DCU, Omegon Baby AZ, Tele Vue Nagler T6 9.0mm
Seeing: II
·
Transparency: 2/5
Guided by a star hopping pointer from the Pleiades, found two characteristic neighbors (13 Tau, 14 Tau) at second attempt. Not the world's biggest challenge at 2.9 FOV. Confirms the usability of finding pointers with brighter stars that this software suggests for its star hopping algorithm. The printed finder chart helped.
DoubleStar
Perseus
TeleVue Panoptic 24mm, Takahashi FC-76 DCU, Omegon Baby AZ, Tele Vue Nagler T6 5.0mm, Tele Vue Nagler T6 9.0mm
Seeing: II
·
Transparency: 2/5
A database error in my software that I did not realize before observing. The database cited the companion as mag 3.9. But it is mag 10. So nothing seen. Still a nice golden star.
The reason for the database error: There is a spectroscopic double at 0,1'' separation with that mag. This was erroneously taken as the mag of the visual double. This kind of error afflicted about 100 stars, so the practical observation was an important test! Actually, I also had Tau Per on my list and failed with that too. While I was frustrated to not see the double, it proved valuable...
DoubleStar
Perseus
TeleVue Panoptic 24mm, Takahashi FC-76 DCU, Omegon Baby AZ, Tele Vue Nagler T6 5.0mm
Seeing: II
·
Transparency: 2/5
Weak companion, but clearly visible even with thin clouds interfering. Tak cooled down by now, quick as always.
DoubleStar
Perseus
TeleVue Panoptic 24mm, Takahashi FC-76 DCU, Omegon Baby AZ, Tele Vue Nagler T6 5.0mm
Seeing: II
·
Transparency: 2/5
A beautiful symmetric pair which I stumbled upon when looking at Gam per and Tau per. Remember and revisit from memory. Would be and interesting addition to my double star repertoire.
Planet
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TeleVue Panoptic 24mm, Takahashi FC-76 DCU, Omegon Baby AZ, Tele Vue Nagler T6 5.0mm, Tele Vue Nagler T6 9.0mm
Clouds in the west, so away from Perseus to Jupiter high up. Tak now perfectly cooled. Vague perception of some structure above/below the two cloud bands. One moon very close and I think it is Io, but a quick check to test this software reveals it is actually Ganymede. At higher magnification the moons still look the same size. We need a bigger scope.
DoubleStar
Canes Venatici
Takahashi FC-76 DCU, Omegon Baby AZ, Tele Vue Nagler T6 9.0mm
Seeing: II
·
Transparency: 3/5
Grab and go allows a quick change in location. So I move on the grass to get a view over the house in direction east to wrap this quick session up before the clouds come. Cor Caroli an easy first target. I remembered it to have more color contrast than I see now. Still nice.
DoubleStar
Leo
TeleVue Panoptic 24mm, Takahashi FC-76 DCU, Omegon Baby AZ, Tele Vue Nagler T6 5.0mm
Seeing: II
·
Transparency: 3/5
I always return to this golden jewel. It's color, it's symmetry and that it is so easy to find. Fast food for the double star lover!
DoubleStar
Ursa Major
Takahashi FC-76 DCU, Omegon Baby AZ
Last one today. Often avoided because I deem it too trivial, but it is not. A fantastic asterism and a beautiful easy double star.
DoubleStar
Gemini
TeleVue Panoptic 24mm, Takahashi FC-76 DCU, Omegon Baby AZ, Tele Vue Nagler T6 5.0mm
Another favorite that I can never ignore. Even though today it is close to zenith. But just a little nudge from Jupiter, so we gratefully visit the brilliant white twins.
DoubleStar
Perseus
TeleVue Panoptic 24mm, Takahashi FC-76 DCU, Omegon Baby AZ, Tele Vue Nagler T6 9.0mm
Seeing: II
·
Transparency: 2/5
Expecting an easy double and not seeing any... the same fascinating database error that led me to think Gamma Per was a showpiece. Now fixed.
