Fixed broken foot of platform (but had to re-break  it to fit it on metal platform), duck taped electrical connections and added anti-slip tape on platform and rotating shaft.


Observations:

  • Failed to stack M51 at 9pm (sky probably not dark enough yet)

  • M109 (Vacuum Galaxy) - Ursa Major (got some 5s subs - had trouble stacking with less)

  • M106 (Galaxy) - Canes Venatici

  • NGC 4490 (Cocoon Galaxy) - Canes Venatici

  • Failed to stack M53 !!

  • M90 (Galaxy) - Virgo

  • M100 (Galaxy) - Coma Berenices (managed a few 10s subs - end result was not as impressive as it looked while stacking)

  • NGC 4459 / NGC 4474 (Galaxies) - Virgo cluster - was looking for Markarian’s Chain

  • NGC 4458 / NGC 4461 (Galaxies) - Virgo - part of Markarian’s Chain


M109 Vacuum Galaxy

M106

NGC 4490 Cocoon Galaxy

M90

M100

M100 annotated

NGC 4459 and NGC 4474 annotated

NGC 4459 and NGC 4474

NGC 4458 and NGC 4461 annotated

NGC 4458 and NGC 4461



Familiar Stars and Constellations - end of April

Familiar stars: 

Castor, Pollux, Procyon, Alhena, Sirius, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Mirfak, Algol

Alkaid, Arcturus, Regulus, Gomeisa, Meissa, Tejat, Propus, Elnath

Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Cor Caroli, Murphid, Alphard

Vindemiatrix, Spica, Diadem


Familiar constellations:

Orion, Taurus, Perseus, Auriga, Cassiopea, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor

Canis Major, Gemini, Leo

Bootes

Canes Venatici, Virgo, Corvus