Just started viewing, and saw something cool last night

The_B_Man

Hi,

I just got a telescope over xmas (Skywatcher 130p dobsonian) and I was looking at the sky last night about 6pm. There was no clouds and I could see Jupiter clearly and about 5 of its moons. I could also make out colour and bands around the planet.

Then I moved the scope up and to the right at a cluster of stars. I dunno what this cluster is called. Anyway, as I was looking, a perfect white dot flew passed. I thought it was awesome, the fact that I saw something moving in space that could be millions of miles away. Although, the speed it flew passed, I'm thinkin it might have actually been a satellite. It didnt have a tail or anything, it was a perfect white dot, so thats why I'm thinkin it was a satellite. I had just saw the ISS about 15 mins before (with the naked eye! I couldnt manually track it), flying pretty much north, and this was moving left to right in my dobsonian, which is upside down and backwards so I think that means it was also flying north, except in a much more easterly direction.

Anyway, I figure I'll never find out what it was but it was still a pretty cool thing to see, after only being out about 3 of 4 times with the scope.

henbane

Likely a satellite. If you want to find out which one, try http://heavens-above.com/ or go to the time you were viewing in Stellarium and turn on satellites, you should see it pass.

The_B_Man wrote: »

Hi,

I just got a telescope over xmas (Skywatcher 130p dobsonian) and I was looking at the sky last night about 6pm. There was no clouds and I could see Jupiter clearly and about 5 of its moons. I could also make out colour and bands around the planet.

Then I moved the scope up and to the right at a cluster of stars. I dunno what this cluster is called. Anyway, as I was looking, a perfect white dot flew passed. I thought it was awesome, the fact that I saw something moving in space that could be millions of miles away. Although, the speed it flew passed, I'm thinkin it might have actually been a satellite. It didnt have a tail or anything, it was a perfect white dot, so thats why I'm thinkin it was a satellite. I had just saw the ISS about 15 mins before (with the naked eye! I couldnt manually track it), flying pretty much north, and this was moving left to right in my dobsonian, which is upside down and backwards so I think that means it was also flying north, except in a much more easterly direction.

Anyway, I figure I'll never find out what it was but it was still a pretty cool thing to see, after only being out about 3 of 4 times with the scope.

Wailin

The cluster of stars is the Pleiades, also known as M45 or The Seven Sisters. Yeah you should download stellarium, its a brilliant free software that shows you where everything is in the sky and you can zoom in on images of galaxies and nebula.

Tomk1

You have to take a look at Orion.

Other software that is mind blowing is Universe sandbox, got it steam sale for less than 5 euro.

ZeRoY

Tomk1 wrote: »

Other software that is mind blowing is Universe sandbox, got it steam sale for less than 5 euro.

Thanks, didnt know of it, looks great. Free version also avail:

http://universesandbox.com/download/