What do you think is the purpose of amateur astronomy?
To have fun.
Do you share you observations?
Yes, on the Observing Log page, individual sessions on observing sessions pages and in my observing blog.
Why do you log your observations?
After too many Oh, that one again's at the eyepiece, I started to keep track of the objects I observed. Soon after I first started keeping track, I started adding object descriptions. By doing so, my observing log was born.
How do you log your observations?
At the eyepiece, I use a digital memo recorder. This allows me to quickly describe a lot of detail without having to move my eye from the eyepiece. Also, I don't need to waste scarce and precious time under clear skies scribbling notes on paper.
After an observing run, I work out my observations in AstroPlanner, translate them to English and upload them to the website.
What are you trying to achieve by logging your observations, what is your goal?
Nothing. I am just doing what I like to do.
Why this website?
Because I am having a heck of a lot of fun practicing astronomy and I feel like sharing it.
As you will see, browsing this website, I share everything: My observing plan, my observing runs, my observations and - what I try to put by far the most emphasis on - the joy that astronomy brings me.
What Bortle class is your home observing location? How about observing sites abroad?
I don't know and I don't care.
This Bortle thing has become nothing more than a popular pseudoexpertise expression, even going so far as to "classify" locations at half number ratings. Just to demonstrate a supposed skill level, in lieu of sharing actual experience and actual expertise.
What's the highest SQM value you ever measured?
Sorry, I am not participating in the SQM competition, either. I only care about what I see in my eyepiece. But since you asked: SQM values - always measured towards the zenith - are included in my observing log for every observing run since autumn 2008.
Here's a little anecdote, one that truly happened: I personally know someone who called an SQM measurement "the highlight of his observing year" and posted it as such on an astronomy forum. As if that were not enough, he forgot to mention he made the measurement in dense fog.
Also: SQM is nothing. Transparency is everything.
What magnitude is the faintest DSO you ever observed?
No idea. I believe (read: I know) magnitudes for extended objects are close to useless. "Surface brightness" values are even worse. What I do care about is the brightness of an object on a Blue POSS plate; that's my standard candle for visual astronomy.
How do you compile an observing plan?
I use the AstroPlanner planfiles that match my observing guides and I plan to observe objects close to their transit times. I minimize planned observations for objects below 40° elevation due to the rapidly increasing detrimental effect of the atmosphere closer to the horizon.
Do you use a GOTO telescope?
Yes I do. I do so because I find it not the least bit challenging nor exciting to manually point a telescope at a position in the sky. Also, I live in one of the worst parts of the world when it come to clear spells: it can go for months without any break in the clouds here. Therefor I want to make to most of my observing runs and do not want to waste my scarce observing time moving my scope from one position to the other by hand.
What software / astronomy apps do you use?
A computer running MacOS with an internet connection, AstroPlanner - that application can truly walk on water - and Microsoft Office. That's all.
On my phone and tablet I use Sun Surveyor to determine dark times and Moon set & rise times whenever I do not have a computer nearby. I sometimes use SkySafari, but only to determine how to best set up a timelapse sequence by displaying the field of view for the camera and lens combination used.
Are you a member of any astronomy forum or group?
I am a member and Object of the Month author on Deep Sky Forum, I am a member of the Webb Deep-Sky Society and I am the 'owner' of the Deep Sky Hunters group and the Clear Skies group.
I shy away from most other forums, primarily due to so-called "moderators" (a.k.a. God's gift to astronomy). Also, the endless repetition of objects. Because of forum members who somehow have a strong personal need for a forum in their lives, too. Or members who see amateur astronomy as a competition. Because of posts in which attempts are made to turn exceedingly dim and/or boring objects into rocket science. Also, due to those who cling to an Excel sheet with 500 beaten-path objects that they pieced together sometime in the pleistocene.
I also believe a lot of forum members would benefit from adding the text Need to reobserve !!1! to their forum signatures: would save a whole lot of posts and would greatly improve the signal to noise ratio.
As I have seen time and time again, so very many "experienced" (...) astronomers that are active on forums have skipped the very basics. Such as celestial mechanics, understanding right ascension and declination, directions and angular dimensions, both on star charts and in their eyepiece. Literally not being able to determine cardinal directions: the ability to determine north, south, east and west. Not understanding position angles, degrees, minutes and seconds of arc. Not wanting to understand any of the previous. Who are thereby forever stuck in a level of "expertise" that is in essence precedes the very beginner's phase. Without even realizing it themselves.
Already we have seen that some, in their frantic desire to draw attention by "being the first to observe", even believe that they can see infrared. Others post observations for Abell 17 and 32. Still others (adults, mind you) hand out certificates to one another for observing a selection of Messier objects over a period of several years.
When it comes to "observations" posted of the OIII cloud near M31 and other equally ludicrous claims, I have the following to say: Yes, I believe these folks truly did see these object. I really do. Also, I know that we, humans, do not see with our eyes. We see with our brains. Our eyes, specifically our retinae, are mere 'photon-catchers'. In that regard I would like to point to this publication that provides for a very simple explanation for these "observations".
That's just not my cup of tea. And I have better things to do.
Did you discover any objects?
I ran into a few objects that are - to the best of my knowledge - unknown and undesignated. Details are on the Discovery pages.
Are you an astrophotographer?
No, the overwhelming majority of what I do is visual astronomy. I do set up a timelapse sequence once in a while and I like to hunt for meteors, but I do not practice prime focus astrophotography (yet).
Do you have a backyard observatory?
No, but I have plans 🙂 .