NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: David Pike
Date: 2023 Oct 9, 14:45 -0700
Re Eltanin: I set up in the bedroom (53.10N 00032W) before it got dark. But it was clear that the top of the window frame would get in the way, so at 18.15UT I went outside to observe by eye. I could see Vega, but I was unable to see Eltanin. However, I could see it’s little rectangle clearly through my x10 charity shop binoculars, so I came back inside rejoicing but with a sore neck. The only solution was to make room in the Astrovan and put the Smiths Mk2A up. This was excellent practice to remind me what all the knobs and dials are for, because I don’t believe I’ve shot astro from in there since pre-Covid times. I could see Vega, Kochab, and a hint of Eltanin so long as it wasn’t in the centre of the graticule. As soon as I started aiming seriously, I kept losing it. Something to do with eyes I suppose. Funnily enough, I could see its little chum Rastaban better, probably because I wasn’t aiming at it. I took a series of shots on when I imagined Eltanin was centred, and I got differences from GPS Spoof ranging from 17’ high to 27’ low, average 3’ high and with one shot only 0.3’ low, which all goes to show that inside my Smiths Mk2A could be cleaner, my eyes could be 50 years younger, and the sky could have been clearer. Still, it was good fun, no one accused me of peeping on them, and I wasn't too late to bed. DaveP
