8" F8.8 ISTAR-OPTICAL SIDEWALK ACTIVITIES IN 2017

[jamesling1000]

Hi All....

It has been almost a year since last Mars opposition that I posted in this forum....

And as this month of April again the giant gas planet, Jupiter is reaching opposition just a week ago, but due to our region has been raining since end last year, and only yesterday, which is our Good Friday holiday, after the heavy downpour and the sky starts to clear up during the late evening, that our group decided to do a sidewalk activities at the local library outside open area...

Last year, during the Jupiter opposition period, the Istar 8" F8.8 has shown very nice orange colour of the GRS, and last night, as GRS is only visible near to midnight, and Jupiter will be just upright, and hopefully we can see how great it will look like this time...

I loaded up all my equipment into my car after dinner, and when I reached the library area is already 9pm....
Immediately I started to unload my equipment with the help of another two friends who came earlier, and do the setup without any delay....

Unfortunately I could not attach any photo files into this forum as .........

I will show the utube link that the short video clip is taken from my friend's handheld camera, Sony RX100, which rivals even my DSLR video recording.. , and is just taken from the eyepiece of my telescope at 150X...



In this short video clip, you can see the orange GRS , as well as the swirling clouds bands at the equatorial region...
The actual visual view through the scope, u can easily see the spikes from the one side of the two equatorial cloud bands and they are not not the usual straight equatorial belting that we used to see.....and within these two broad equatorial cloud bands are many small peddle or oval shapes like view...and all these are packed just at around 150X.....

Regards

James Ling

[jamesling1000]

Hi All......

From the view of Jupiter, it really depends so much on the seeing condition.....and during the Good Friday night Jupiter observation, is not the GRS that really excites me, coz during last year Jupiter opposition, the colour is even more distinct (Orange)...
It is the spikes that I seen so easily this time..
But unfortunately I could not power the scope to 300X, as the view is degrading... and between 150x to 200x is still the best contrast I could achieve for the night even when Jupiter is just overhead ...

And I am very sure those with bigger aperture refractor than mine are even enjoying not the crisp and contrast view through their refractor, but also the more intricate details that I am seeing....

I hope to see someone else in Istarscopeclub can share their video recording of what they have seen and share among us in this forum..

Will keep all update again when Saturn is near to opposition... and hope this time my friend can capture this beautiful planet through his handheld Sony RX100, and share with all of you in this forum...

Regards

James Ling

[mahoref]

hi,James
very nice video of JupiTer through your achromatic Istar 204-f8,8
I'm thinking about getting a lens like that; Also hope for more meaningful video from DIR
the planetary declination is currently not intoxicating, until 2020 you can see from germany again in increasing declination-hard bread for planet Freaks
Regards Marc
owner of APM Apo 140 f7 and D&G FH 5"f18

[jamesling1000]

Hi Marc...

Thanks...
You will be able to compare how good is this 8" ISTAR against your APM 140...
I have the APM 152 ED quite similar to yours..

Regards

James Ling

[mahoref]

Hello James
I heard that you are using a chrome corrector for the Istar 8 inch refractor? Is said jupiter video also included with chromacorrector?
Regards Marc

[jamesling1000]

Hi Marc...

Yes, I have a chromacorr II N version fitted onto my 8"Istar...
There is a big difference when you use the chromacorr, as it eliminate both the false color and sharpen the view showing those intricate details... that otherwise be faint and difficult to see..

Before I acquire the chromacorr, the view appears softer if you compare it to an apochromatic refractor..
But after I fitted the chromacorr, even my 6"APM ED APO, is no longer able to come close to the Istar anymore..

I advice you, after you receive your 8"Istar, do a side by side comparison with your APM 140... Then slowly upgrade to acquire the CHROMACORR II. Write to VALERY, as he configures the whole set for me, and he may still keep one or two remaining units with him..

Regards

James Ling