Highlights of previous live lunar and planetary imaging sessions

I operate the instruments from indoors at my PC. The 127mm MCT and 250mm Newtonian uses a Meade StarFinder handset (a basic version of AutoStar) that originally came with the Meade 4504 reflector, and the 150mm OG is controlled with a dual axis EQ5 handset. I'm not wireless yet - both the ToUcam (USB) and controlling handsets have 15-metre extensions (RJ-11 / RJ-45 leads).

Thanks to Mike Brown and Brian Jeffrey for their help on ToUcam imaging techniques - you have been a great help! I hope to install another ToUcam on my 80mm f/5 refractor to give a wide-field whole Moon image, which will be occasionally interchanged with the high-res high magnification view during the observing session.

11 March 2003 - 19:00-21:00 UT (Seeing A3, light wind)
250mm f/4.8 Newtonian and Philips ToUcam Pro

Mare Imbrium, Apennines, Mare Serenitatis

13 March 2003 - 20:30-22:00 UT (Seeing A3-4, intermittent cloud and gusts of wind)
250mm f/4.8 Newtonian and Philips ToUcam Pro

Southern uplands, Tycho & Clavius

14 March 2003 - 20:30-22:00 UT (Seeing A3-4, clear, slight wind)
150mm f/8 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro

North polar area

15-16 March 2003 - 20:30-00:01 UT (Seeing A3-4, clear, slight wind)
150mm f/8 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro

Jupiter

16 March 2003 - 20:30-23:00 UT (Seeing A3, clear)
150mm f/8 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro

Bailly

17 March 2003 - 20:30-22:00 UT (Seeing A3, clear then clouded out)
150mm f/8 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro

Saturn

11 April 2003 - 20:30-21:30 UT (Seeing A3, clear then clouded out)
150mm f/8 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro

Plato

8 May 2003 - 21:30-23:00 UT (Seeing A3, complete cloud cover intermittently)
150mm f/8 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro

Albategnius

11 May 2003 - 21:30-00:20 UT
(Seeing A2-3, cloud cover intermittently)
150mm f/8 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro

Despite cloud and not too brillaint seeing, we had a great view of Clavius and Tycho in the southern uplands, scanned northwards to the Riphean mountains, had mighty Copernicus in our sights, and then north to the Jura mountains, Sinus Iridum, Plato and the Alpine Valley, with views of the north pole.

Right: Mighty Clavius.

13 May 2003 - 21:45-23:00 UT (Seeing A3-4, complete cloud cover intermittently, windy, aborted due to cloud)
150mm f/8 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro

Complete cloud cover at times, with very poor seeing and a wind wobble factor. Still, we had nice views of the Aristarchus area with Prinz, Herodotus and Schroeter's Valley. In the south, Mersenius, with nearby Gassendi, Schickard on the terminator with Phocylides. In the north, a nice view of walled plains near the limb.

Right: Schickard.

15 May 2003 - 01:00-01:30 UT (Seeing A2)
80mm f/5 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro, plus Mogg x2 lens

Near Full Moon, a test run for live images of the eclipse. Image enlarged.

6 June 2003 - 22:00-22:30 UT (Seeing A3)
80mm f/5 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro, plus Mogg x2 lens.

A nice waxing crescent.

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7 July 2003 - 22:00-23:40 UT (Seeing A3. Cloud ended session.)
80mm f/5 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro, plus Mogg x2 lens.

A nice 8 day-old phase.

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8 July 2003 - 22:00-23:45 UT (Seeing A3. Cloud ended session.)
80mm f/5 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro, plus Mogg x2 lens.

8 days old, Copernicus, Tycho and Clavius near the terminator.

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9 July 2003 - 22:15-23:45 UT (Seeing A2-3)
80mm f/5 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro, plus Mogg x2 lens.

9 days old.

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10 July 2003 - 01:20 UT (Seeing A3)
150mm f/8 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro, plus x2 Barlow lens.

Mars, bright south polar cap and Solis Lacus near meridian.

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29 August 2003 - 22:56 UT (Seeing A3, lots of cloud spoiling view!)
150mm f/8 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro, plus x2 Barlow lens.

Mars, bright south polar cap, Syrtis Major to the left.

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Total eclipse of the Moon

8/9 November 2003

80 mm f/5 achromat and Philips ToUcam Pro, plus x2 Mogg focal reducer.

Clear view for about 45m up to near-totality, then clouded out.

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