Vesta and Ceres Observation

[mike a feist]

Interesting and useful photograph! The star to the left of Vesta is the 84 Virginis star I mentioned and the brighter star up to the right is 78 Virginis. The fov of the Clubman 70 using a K20 eyepiece just includes these two stars which must be separated by about 2.3 or 2.4 degrees (from measuring Uranometria).Thank you for posting this.......and look forward to seeing more. Vesta will be getting closer and closer to 78, reaching it in a week's time, around the 25th/26th. Ceres also gets close to it but unfortunately not until about the 9th May, by which time Vesta will be heading by 64 Virginis. regards maf

[mike a feist]

19th April Saturday: 0130-0145BST. It had been raining the previous evening but after midnight the clouds cleared. From the back garden, the Moon was hidden behind the rooftops. Used the Tasco 50mm spotting scope (@ x12) on a light tripod and soon located the relevant field-stars, then Vesta and then Ceres. At this magnification, these two about fitted/not quite fitted thte fov. Vesta is now "quite on its way" from 84 towards 78 Virginis. [Vesta Obs#157, Ceres Obs#49] regards maf

[David1952]

Hi,

Managed to get another image last night. Same exposure and stacking as before. But one can see clearly the movement of Ceres and Vesta against the stars, by comparing with my earlier post below.

David

[mike a feist]

Another interesting photograph! Thank you for posting it........regards maf

[mike a feist]

23rd April Wednesday: 0215-0245BST, sky clearing with few strip if cirrus remaining but finally clouded up again. Used Tasco 50mm (x12) from the back garden. Vesta now within 1/6th fov of 78 Virginis. Ceres also seen again. [Vesta Obs#159. Ceres Obs51] regards maf

[coldfieldboundary]

At last, no longer a midnight match, so I went for the first time for this couple. Already low in western sky, but still quite above Spica. Always with a printed chart by hand, both were easily found. In the same eyepiece, Vesta ( now mag. 7 ) just near a reddish star and Ceres ( now mag. 8 ) as a loose star. But not surprised again, the colour of both were not that obvious white, but a gray/yellowish hint.