K-Tec

Pickering Scale

  • Mullins
  • Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Proto Star
  • Proto Star
More
14 years 9 months ago #78682 by Mullins
Pickering Scale was created by Mullins
Following some useful advice in another thread I was checking out the Pickering Scale.

This link is excellent uk.geocities.com/dpeach_78/pickering.htm but I looking for more details on the technique.

Should I select any magnitude star near the object I wish to view?

OR

Would it be better to always use the same star (e.g. Polaris) to measure seeing over several nights?

Should I use my highest power EP?

Can I expect seeing to vary a lot over a night?

As usual, any advice appreciated.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
14 years 9 months ago #78686 by jeyjey
Replied by jeyjey on topic Re:Pickering Scale
I usually pick a random mag 2-ish star at between 45° and 70° of altitude. Polaris would work, but it doesn't need to be the same star each night.

Yes, you should probably use your shortest EP, perhaps even with a Barlow. I'd recommend somewhere between 50X per inch and 80X per inch for a refractor. An obstructed scope (Newt or Cat) will throw more light into the first diffraction ring, and so can probably get by with 40X to 60X per inch.

The original Pickering scale was developed with a 5" refractor, so as close to that as you can get helps (I use a 4", which seems to be close enough).

On most nights the seeing stays within the same Pickering number or perhaps varies between two adjacent numbers. But I've seen it move as much as 3 steps on the scale when a front is moving in.

Cheers,
-- Jeff.

Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium                              Colorado:
Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMD             Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130
APM MC1610 / Tak FC-125 / AP1200GTO               Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.102 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum