Out at Keller last night with Josef checking out the club's skyscout. Josef has the skyscout now and will take it with him on a scouting outing this weekend. We were identifying and locating various stars.
After that, we were checking out a few things in the scope. We led off with Jupiter and wow, Jupiter is really looking good. Last night had excellent seeing for Jupiter. It was pretty good when we started looking. When we left, about 11:00, it was very still, very sharp. Really no boiling of any kind. Quite sharp with many bands. Opposition is on the 14th and Jupiter will be as large as it has been since 1999, last century! 😉
Then we were just winging it here and there. Albireo, M57, M27, M22, M8, M13, M51, M51, M82, M15, M31, Perseus Double Cluster.
And, it was definitely Perseid time. We weren't really looking for meteors, but Josef estimates we saw 25-30 of them in the two hours we were out there. Some up around Jupiter brightness.
When I got home, I set the scope up in the front of the house and had Gerarda come out and have a look at Jupiter, also did Albireo, M57, M13 again. While sighting the scope, we saw 3 more meteors. After that, we moved a cot and chair to the backyard and did lay back to watch the meteor shower. Gerarda stayed out for 20 minutes or so and I was out there for an hour. Counting the ones from the front walk, we saw 46 meteors total. Plus the 25-30 out at Keller. A pretty good night for the meteor shower.
All in all, AGNFA! 🙂
Jeff