Observation Session – 23 August 2014

Location: Pic du Midi foothills, France

Session duration: 2 nights

Sky conditions: Excellent transparency after midnight

Instruments:

  • 100mm apochromatic refractor
  • 200mm Newtonian reflector
  • 150mm Newtonian telescope

Targets:

  • Mars
  • Jupiter
  • M45 (Pleiades)
  • Venus

Observation notes:

The session alternated between lunar, planetary and deep-sky observation, with repeated checks against older notebook entries.

Observers noted subtle differences in contrast and brightness that led to extended discussion between sessions.

Members present: Maxime Dallois, Ayoub Berrabeh, Lucille Godefert, Claire Dumont

Observation Session – 09 August 2014

Location: Parc naturel du Vercors, France

Session duration: 2 nights

Sky conditions: Moderate turbulence, seeing ~6/10

Instruments:

  • 80mm refractor
  • 7×50 binoculars
  • 100mm apochromatic refractor

Targets:

  • Rigel
  • M45 (Pleiades)
  • The Moon
  • Double Cluster (NGC 869/884)

Observation notes:

The session alternated between lunar, planetary and deep-sky observation, with repeated checks against older notebook entries.

Observers noted subtle differences in contrast and brightness that led to extended discussion between sessions.

During lunar observation, Adama Traoré remarked that the Moon seemed closer than geometry should allow; no instrument reading confirmed the impression.

Members present: Adama Traoré, Maxime Dallois, Claire Dumont, Sophie Martin