For many years, Sunday night has been observing night at the Bruce Observatory, open to members and public alike. On paper every Sunday from early Oct to April (barring a few) are potential observing windows on the universe.  Alas, the British weather often dictates that paper is screwed up and chucked in the waste bin, as in reality over the course of that period probably 60% of Sunday open nights are cancellations due to weather conditions.  

When we do get to observe through the 5" f15 vintage Cooke refractor housed in the Bruce Observatory for over a hundred years, planetary and Lunar views can be exceptional when 'seeing' is good.  Generally, magnifications of above 120x-150x in the UK are a waste, magnifying poor atmospherics only.  We have found that 12 -13mm eyepieces used on the Cooke produce the optimum 'high magnification' image pleasing to the eye.

The Bruce Observatory. (Click for larger image)

Following better than expected successes at the Bruce Observatory during October, November started in a similar vein with the Nov 5th date coinciding with clear skies and just a few fireworks, Steve, and an aurora...but more on that in the Aurora sightings feature. Views of Saturn were again impressive at various magnifications, 13mm being the 'sweet spot' for power versus clarity.  Neptune was again tracked down and had noticeably moved in relation to nearby stars.  The image was rather underwhelming, with increased power doing little to enhance the outermost planet.

Rotating the dome round to view Jupiter, (now clear of trees), lower magnification was first employed (21mm). Three Galilean moons were in attendance - all on the same side with Callisto above Io and Ganymede further out.  It was decided to try the colour filters on the eyepieces in order to enhance aspects of the Jovian atmosphere.  They are not dedicated planetary, or special wavelength designs - just the Meade filter pack variety.  Some were better than others for this purpose - the green and blue filters highlighting the darker banding on the disk just a smidge. 

WDAS members, steps and Cooke refractor. (Click for larger image)

All the remaining open night dates in November were non-starters, cloud and rain preventing any observations.  Our weather in a nutshell - three successes in October and just the one in November.  I wonder what December will have in store?

'Stealth mode'. (Click for larger image)