tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56416050145044444302024-02-20T05:39:57.216-08:00Deep Sky ObservingPrana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-73569028556899586022013-08-05T09:31:00.000-07:002013-08-05T09:31:57.295-07:00Bright Night Targets at Houge Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last night I taught a beginner astronomy class for the <b><a href="http://www.sjaa.net/">SJAA at Houge Park</a></b>. After the class, I went outside and joined the public star party, using my 10" f/5.7 Dob. The idea was to show some of the constellations I'd described in the class, and show a few of the objects within them. Hercules, Ophiuchus, Serpens Cauda and Sagittarius.Green laser to outline the constellations. The green laser worked wonderfullyfor that - the sky, with some significant moisture content (things were getting pretty dewy) was brighter than the really good nights at Houge - it was nearly impossible to see the Milky Way other than as an imagined brightening higher up, through Cygnus mostly. But the bright stars that make up our recognized constellation figures showed decently enough.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.toledoastronomy.org/members/everton_allen/Star_Clusters/m11%20Wild%20Duck%20Cluster%20lx200%2013%20x%202min%209-18-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.toledoastronomy.org/members/everton_allen/Star_Clusters/m11%20Wild%20Duck%20Cluster%20lx200%2013%20x%202min%209-18-08.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">M11 - The Wild Duck Cluster<br />
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I had forgottenthat I also had listed a few items in the club's newsletter - and some of the attendees were coming up and asking to see them in the telescope.NGC 7662 - The Blue Snowball - forget it. Way to bright down low in Andromeda. M11 - The Wild Duck, in Scutum... well... where the heck was Scutum in that muck? I had to pull out a chart to guess at the approximate location - but fortunately I landed right on the target. Interesting, finding people saying they saw the object, after it had drifted out of the field! I made sure to call them back, and have a good look. It is really a nice sight, and showed decently in the less than ideal conditions.<br />
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I had described and shown photos and drawings during class of M8 and M22 in Sagittarius. M8 showed well with a UHC filter - the glow and bright knotted sections of nebulosity were obvious, and the associated open cluster adding to the aesthetic. M22 looked washed out. Kind of disappointing, but it was there, and that was about as good as it got.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSEjWSDgHq0DEPZM1CdTC3lU2riHVUD2CZy94nCwp_tgMaJIcxy" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSEjWSDgHq0DEPZM1CdTC3lU2riHVUD2CZy94nCwp_tgMaJIcxy" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Eta Cassiopeia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://www.astroimages.org/ccd/pics/m15-lrgb6-resize.jpg" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Globular Cluster M15</td></tr>
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I took people on a tour of three double stars - which are easy on less-than-ideal nights. The obvious Albireo - bright and colorful. Then over to theEpsilon Lyrae, the Double Double - splitting nicely at high power. Everyone enjoyed that - and asked the usual question - "How many miles between them?" I dunno. A few arc-seconds? :-) Then I jumped over to Eta Cassiopeia, in order to show the copper penny. I love Eta Cass, what a great color.<br />
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There were long lines of people, and a good turnout of volunteers with telescopes. I am sure they were showing Saturn - even with it dropping down into the muck now. I finished up with a comparison of some globular clusters - M13, M92, and M15. Because of its highly condensed core of stars, M15 really showed the best. M13 and M92 required some "work" to see - and you certainly could resolve them, but I think it was too much for first timers to really "get it" when trying to see those dimly in the conditions. M15 on the other hand had that tight bright knot of deep core stars, and seemed to work well.<br />
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The one thing I would loved to have shown, but the conditions didn't allow, was the steam coming from the spout of the Teapot. I had describe that in class as well, but the real thing will have to wait for another night. So it goes, in amateur astronomy!<br />
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Sure had a fun time. Lots of interested beginners, and families with their kids.<br />
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Nights are getting longer, and weather is going to change. Get out and enjoy the sky, while you can.<br />
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Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-79884444760861281452012-09-16T10:57:00.001-07:002012-09-16T10:58:29.538-07:00A Close Site And Short Nite (Only A Northern Sky)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">When one is handed a lemon.....</span><br />
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Well, I had planned on a full three nights at CalStar this year, but
circumstances dictated otherwise. In retrospect, probably a good
thing. I'm not up to 110 degree heat, as a survivor of the infamous
Shingletown Star Party bake-a-thon (is that place still there after the
fires?) many of us recall. So, on Saturday I looked at the options of
closer (but brighter) observing sites, and eventually settled on joining
the Santa Cruz Astronomy Club at Bonny Doon Airport in 40 minutes from
my home south of Aptos. It had been a nice day on the coast, with
dinner on the Municipal Wharf, followed by the quick drive past ocean
and redwoods to the observing site.<br />
<br />
Arriving at sunset, I found a few other observers present. John Pierce,
Ron Yelton, Bill Seiler, a newbie woman named Terri, and off in the
dark distance... Dean. I quickly removed my 18" Obsession from the back
of the Fit, set it up on my Equatorial Platform, collimated, aligned
finders, got my laptop and battery set up on a collapsible table... pork
rinds and water in place, and before you could say "hey... there's the
Milky Way", I was observing.<br />
<br />
Bonny Doon is great for its convenience to those of us on the coast. I
had considered Coe, but it was twice the drive, and I thought the skies
only marginally better. I'd really be interested in determining a
mag-limit difference between the places on average nights. I do know
that when the fog is in, over Santa Cruz, BD can be dark. But last
night there was significant glow to the south over Santa Cruz, and to
the northeast over San Jose. The Milky Way never showed the sugary
granularity we so enjoy on the best nights. But... 40 minute drive,
wide open sky.... I'm not complaining. In fact, thanks to the SCAC for
making this available!<br />
<br />
So, all that said, I will report that I observed until about 12:15 a.m.,
and concentrated on part of the 140+ targets I had identified for the
three nights of CalStar (no, I didn't expect to observe them all). I
worked only a northern sky - curious what I could see from this
location. I was pleasantly surprised!<br />
<br />
I had commented to Dean, who is traversing the Herschel 400-II, that my
days (and I suspect his) of logging 50 objects a night, are done. These
tend to be tough, but doable, requiring exercising the eye and
patience, and swapping eyepieces and filters. My telescope is an 18"
f/4.5 Obsession, I track using an Equatorial Platform. Finders are a
Rigel Quickfinder and ancient Celestron 10x70. All filter views were
using an NPB. Eyepieces were all Nagler type II - 20mm/103x, 12mm/171x
and 7mm/294x. Total observing time was on the order of 3-1/2 hours.<br />
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When I was driving home afterward, the fog was coming in... and at 10
a.m. here, as I write this, it is still in. Fog means, dark skies.<br />
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For those interested in <a href="http://astronomy.santa-cruz.ca.us/bonnydoon">Bonny Doon</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />Next month, on new moon, I plan on joining the SJAA at Coe, and help out at that club's <a href="http://tinyurl.com/9qozuex">Half Messier Marathon</a>. Sounds like fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Here are the dozen targets I
tracked down last night...
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://personal.inet.fi/surf/deepsky/havaintoic1454.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://personal.inet.fi/surf/deepsky/havaintoic1454.gif" width="318" /></a>Abell 81 PK 117+18.1 = IC 1454 = PN G117.5+18.9 22 42 25.0 80 26 32 34"x31" 14.4 Cep<br />
7mm NPB - Easily visible, annular with averted vision, thick ring elongated E/W. Noticeable without a filter.<br />
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<a href="http://freescruz.com/~4cygni/faintfuzzies.blogspot.com/Abell86-finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://freescruz.com/~4cygni/faintfuzzies.blogspot.com/Abell86-finished.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Abell 86 PK 118+8.2 = PN G118.7+08.2 00 01 31.2 70 42 29 70" Cep<br />
12mm NPB - Suspected large annular, or perhaps just a large part of the
edge but not complete - mostly the thick western 2/3rds. With time,
haze shows.<br />
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<a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0411/ngc7023_misti_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0411/ngc7023_misti_full.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">NGC 7023 21h 01' 68° 00' 8 Cep<br />
12mm NPB - Nebulosity most noticeable surrounding mag 7.3 SAO19158.
Surrounding area shows much dim nebulosity, and bright knot surrounding 3
dim stars about 34 arcminutes west of bright star.<br />
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<a href="http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~mischa/gallery_ccd/ngc7133_newton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~mischa/gallery_ccd/ngc7133_newton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> NGC 7129 21h 41' 65° 50 2 9.3 Cep <br />
7mm -NPB - Ended up looking at very nearby NGC 7133 - much more
interesting. Containes three IC objects, and four distinct glows. Three
brightest are surrounding stars, fourth glow has a very dim star
involved and is identified as LBN 497. Very pleasing view.<br />
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<a href="http://www.narrowbandimaging.com/images/sh2_170_ap155edf_f7_pl3200_cs3_s2hao3_59x15min_svga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://www.narrowbandimaging.com/images/sh2_170_ap155edf_f7_pl3200_cs3_s2hao3_59x15min_svga.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">S 170 23h 59' 64° 23 20 Cas <br />
12mm NPB - Nebulosity is involved dimly throughout region mostly
involving three stars of nearly equal magnitude, and a fourth dimmer
star much removed to the south, out of line in what otherwise would form
a parallelogram. The north eastern star is most involved, with the
brightest and most extensive glow.<br />
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<a href="http://www.astrosurf.com/zoll/images/HFG1_ABELL6_HOOdeep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://www.astrosurf.com/zoll/images/HFG1_ABELL6_HOOdeep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Abell 6 PK 136+4.1 = PN G136.1+04.9 02 58 41.9 64 30 188"x174" 15 Cas<br />
12mm NPB - Fairly large undifferentiated glow, very dim stars involved, and occasional knottiness.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cristoraul.com/SPANISH/astromuseo/picture_library/abell/abell3-region.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.cristoraul.com/SPANISH/astromuseo/picture_library/abell/abell3-region.gif" width="315" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Abell 3 PK 131+2.1 = Sh 2-189 = PN G131.5+02.6 02 12 06.6 64 09 60" 16 Cas<br />
20mm NPB - Only suspected a glow. 12mm NPB glow appears to involve
several dim stars, but no detail. 7mm NPB reveals the suspected glow as
three dim stars, but these are involved in a half arc of nebulosity
extending from those three stars to the west, then around to a one dim
star to the south. Appears planetary may be annular with a missing
eastern edge.<br />
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<a href="http://personal.inet.fi/surf/deepsky/havaintopk101-8.1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://personal.inet.fi/surf/deepsky/havaintopk101-8.1.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Abell 75 PK 101+8.1 = NGC 7076 = PN G101.8+08.7 21 26 23.6 62 53 67"x47" 14.5 Cep<br />
20mm NPB - Easily visible with averted vision as a mostly round glow.
With 7mm NPB, appears mostly round but eastern half is much brighter and
more well defined. Somewhat annular and with a thin but complete
western "strand" that completes the disk.<br />
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<a href="http://skytour.homestead.com/files/n7538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://skytour.homestead.com/files/n7538.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">NGC 7538 23h 12' 61° 13 7 Cep Sh2-158 <br />
7mm NPB - Nice glow around a pair of brighter stars, at first appears to
just be localized to the stars, but with averted vision more and
brighter nebulosity appears throught the region immediately to the NNE.
Suspected much larger plume to the E of the bright area and curving
around to the S, as if mirroring the N but much more dimly.<br />
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<a href="http://www.meade.com/photogallery/lx200/Sibole/ngc7635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://www.meade.com/photogallery/lx200/Sibole/ngc7635.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">NGC 7635 23h 18' 60° 55 8 Cas sh2-162 <br />
20mm NPB - Easily visible especially around SAO20575. Extends noticably
NE/SE across the bright star, and away to the SE in a large dim glow.
7mm defines area SE of brighter area as the Bubble, a fairly even mostly
round glow somewhat elongated NE/SW, with several dim stars involved.
Mostly even brightness across Bubble, but with a less well defined ESE
edge.<br />
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<a href="http://www.astrosurf.com/obsrouen/NGC%207380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://www.astrosurf.com/obsrouen/NGC%207380.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">NGC 7380 22h 45' 57° 45 20 7.2 Cep <br />
20mm NPB - Nice open cluster with nebulosity. Glow encompasses entire
cluster, with nicely defined eastern edge, a line of stars running N/S.
A lesser chain defines the N edge of the nebulosity, which appears
mostly triangular in its brightest section. A dimmer section, also
large, appears to be brokien off to the south, as if separated by a dark
lane. Nice object.<br />
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<a href="http://cs.astronomy.com/blogs/astronomy/Sketches/Schwaar-Abell-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://cs.astronomy.com/blogs/astronomy/Sketches/Schwaar-Abell-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Abell 2 PK 122-4.1 = PN G122.1-04.9 00 45 36 57 57. 33"x29" 14.5 Cas<br />
12MM NPB - Easy location and easy to see. This small round glow is 7
arc minutes south of mag 8.3 SAO21680. With 7mm and NPB, it appears at
times annular and elongated slightly NE/SW. This is a farily obvious
Abell planetary.<br /><br />
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Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-10953111105673281962012-08-19T14:48:00.002-07:002012-08-19T14:51:43.604-07:00A Grand View of the Ancients<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'd been talking about a trip like this for maybe a dozen years. Always put off by the distance. Then a group of friends, led by Steve Gottlieb and Paul Alsing, decided to do it. Paul has been numerous times, Steve, not since the 90's. The destination, Grandview Campground at 8600 feet on the western flank of White Mountain. Driving time estimated at 8 hours, but with stops and Yosemite traffic, closer to 9,<br />
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The weather forecasts were not very promising, and I was very reluctant. But I had convinced my buddy Richard Navarrete that this was the best opportunity I could think of, to do it, and even with my thinking of backing out, he was in. How could I not go?<br />
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So, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday August 15th, I found myself on the road, 18" scope, observing and camping gear, all packed into a little Honda Fit. The drive was long, up till I got into the eastern reaches of Yosemite, heading for Tioga Pass. Then the drive became pleasurable - with unmatched scenery - all the way to the campsite on White Mountain.<br />
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White Mountain is a great place to observe. The fact that it had been a finalist for locating the Keck Telescope, and you know there is dark, and steady seeing. And in addition, there lived up top, the oldest living things in North America - the Bristlecone Pine. I had always wanted to see them.<br />
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So, soon I was unpacked, and camp set up.<br />
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At the end of this narrative, I'll list a few of the targets I observed through the telescope. Ancient light. But the weather indeed turned out to be pretty poor for observing, so that time was limited. But, the trip was great anyway - the views of the ancients in the Patriarch Grove, and the scenery at 11,000 feet on the dirt road leading to it, was easily worth the 18 hours driving over three days and two sleepless nights.<br />
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Here are a few photos...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavlyciHHCKWyERbx8ETcglRE4a-3OBdxqCXPhFY0GINV6u8qUYKdvgYd2GVJMldsRmrES8hkJotvUFK3puaXQNv7BgPWWJjTMvamcN9_VlP1jRt0SDiPu9gXriJt7FQtWzs_zOJno6eI/s1600/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavlyciHHCKWyERbx8ETcglRE4a-3OBdxqCXPhFY0GINV6u8qUYKdvgYd2GVJMldsRmrES8hkJotvUFK3puaXQNv7BgPWWJjTMvamcN9_VlP1jRt0SDiPu9gXriJt7FQtWzs_zOJno6eI/s320/017.jpg" width="239" /> </a></div>
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Upon arrival, I found this was indeed a very astronomy friendly campground!</div>
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There was no problem with room for our campsites or astronomy gear.</div>
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We certainly had some memorable views. heading up to the Bristlecones</div>
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This view is east into the Great Basin </div>
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This view is west, toward the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada </div>
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It is a moonscape at 11,000 feet. </div>
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But the trees, anywhere from 15 to 45 feet tall, and incredibly beautiful.... </div>
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Made every minute of the drive...</div>
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...worthwhile. Never have I seen anything like it!</div>
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Even the drive back home, along highway 395, was spectacular!</div>
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But we came for astronomy. Here, to augment the views of the ancient trees, are reports of some ancient light I took in as well... all observations (raw notes) are using an 18" f/4.5 Dobsonian, all eyepieces are Naglers. I had a great time, as limited as it was for observing.</div>
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<a href="http://www.stathis-firstlight.de/deepsky/bilder/abell_68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.stathis-firstlight.de/deepsky/bilder/abell_68.jpg" /></a></div>
Abell 68 Vul PN 40"x37" 15.2 20 00 10 +21 42 58 PK 60-4.1 = PN G060.0-04.3 <br />
7mm uhc-very slight glow, maybe only one edge away from dim chain of 4 stars, toward brighter one. Very faint and intermittent. With NPB, shows better and closer to brighter star, possibly annular with brighter edge toward bright star.<br />
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<a href="http://webzoom.freewebs.com/ebenson/Astrophotos/NGC6852-00XL-crp-lr-kft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://webzoom.freewebs.com/ebenson/Astrophotos/NGC6852-00XL-crp-lr-kft.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
N 6852 Aql Paul's Picks 28.0" 12.8P 20 00 39 +01 43 41 <br />
Easy to locate, visible as hazy small smudge in 20mm. 7mm no filter reveals dim but certain disk, with hints of annularity. With NBP filter annularity is striking. Nebula is nearly round and situated between two very closeby stars. Dimmer of two stars mauy be involved in very dim elongated extension of nebula.<br />
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Sh 2-099 Cyg BN 5 3 20 00 50 +33 29 34 Problem locating on Megastar, shows Sh2-81. Check it out!<br />
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<a href="http://es.astronomike.net/386904-2472.jpg%3f20120608" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://es.astronomike.net/386904-2472.jpg%3f20120608" width="320" /></a></div>
N 6857 Cyg EN 1.0x1.0 20 01 47 +33 31 38 With NPB and 7mm, planetary is very bright and obvious..Sh2-100 shows nicely without a filter and at lower power (20mm and 12mm).<br />
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<a href="http://www.univie.ac.at/webda/photos/ngc6866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.univie.ac.at/webda/photos/ngc6866.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
NGC 6866 Cyg OC 6 9 20 03 54 +44 00 00 20mm - scattered, broken cluster of several dozen stars, seemingly stretched in an elongated shape, but with a condensation in the middle. Many nearly the same magnitude. Takes up about 23 arc minutes by 5.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pieroventuriastropics.com/images/NGC-6882-26102009-LRGB_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.pieroventuriastropics.com/images/NGC-6882-26102009-LRGB_small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
NGC 6882 Vul OC 5.5 20 11 54 +26 33 00 20mm - combination of two clusters, 6822 and 6885. Very large rich groups, with great magnitude reanges, and strewn over large area. Overflows 20 Nagler field.<br />
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NGC 6885 Vul OC 20 9.1 20 11 54 +26 29 00 20mm - combination of two clusters, 6822 and 6885. Very large rich groups, with great magnitude ranges, and strewn over large area. Overflows 20 Nagler field.<br />
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<a href="http://www.kopernik.org/images/archive/n6894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.kopernik.org/images/archive/n6894.jpg" /></a></div>
N 6894 Cyg PN 44" 12.5 20 16 23 +30 33 55 7mm and NPB, bright, ragged appearance, mostly round, brighter along inner edge of ring, and in two opposite sides.<br />
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<a href="http://atalaia.org/paulobarros/Imagens/nebulosas/Sh2-104%2042x1200s-H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://atalaia.org/paulobarros/Imagens/nebulosas/Sh2-104%2042x1200s-H.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sh 2-104 BN 7 2 20 17 44 +36 44 40 20mm and NPB shows nice tight group of stars in Dolidze 5 along with lots of nebulosity surrounding the group, and spread throughout the area around brighter stars. Worth a visit! IC4996?</div>
Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-77657403157724293612012-04-22T16:27:00.001-07:002012-04-22T16:58:41.575-07:00The Whirlpool's Coils<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">A short report from DARC Observatory last night. DARC is a private property, southeast of the </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIB4uUAyKaB75UegnCju_ZXgm4nPndxQZmTnyLFdIZZWYWJF7w6_N3gh37eq7OQpPvAn5wCx0_otWtvRNPCH1fpBBso7jgjqxfwUR3t0FLYs5_Quqf_4p01x_9ESHeE7kEmekBlM9KDo/s1600/014.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIB4uUAyKaB75UegnCju_ZXgm4nPndxQZmTnyLFdIZZWYWJF7w6_N3gh37eq7OQpPvAn5wCx0_otWtvRNPCH1fpBBso7jgjqxfwUR3t0FLYs5_Quqf_4p01x_9ESHeE7kEmekBlM9KDo/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">San Francisco bay area, located near Mercy Hot Springs in Little Panoche Valley. It is dark, remote and desolate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpma3n1ekklKa24IHEU-JYH9eje0ylVy4RXI__FW4GvFKIh0uFgE2kX9En0SfU8sgXWZDUq6IYKrYloQTcudRM-OUB1Gzvr5pd71-H54wfwYGhtxoVhLKE9qPhmEBQCffc4AvXSCZVQQ/s1600/030.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Below are
objects I observed (and tried to observe) with my 18" f/4.5 Dobsonian.
All eyepieces are type II Naglers. Conditions at DARC could not have
been better. Temperatures must have been in the high 80's at 7pm when I
arrived. During the night, there was no more than the slightest breeze -
enough to just help cool us down, as we could have been in t-shirts all
night long.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> I began by observing NGC 2903, and Ariana Bernal Adreo came over asking to see something in my telescope. She suggested Venus, but being the
Klieg Light that it is, I suggested something less jarring. So, we went
on a little tour. I began with Saturn, which was nice, but a bit
soft. Then I progressed out to M3, explaining to Ariana that it was
still part of our galaxy. She liked the globular. Wondering what to
show her next, I asked my observing buddy </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCq3P3trxzE2WP7W9gBNrFJUmToC8R5_N8kjCZHXjpfecyWOsK6SZF5XLuvimKVvhvlGeU-LN_WcgktsuC43AvWElza-CJzGMOODz4joAAz4dbjKfh8ihRy7BKiRcX-OcB_nVsFd60Uc/s1600/whirlpool.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCq3P3trxzE2WP7W9gBNrFJUmToC8R5_N8kjCZHXjpfecyWOsK6SZF5XLuvimKVvhvlGeU-LN_WcgktsuC43AvWElza-CJzGMOODz4joAAz4dbjKfh8ihRy7BKiRcX-OcB_nVsFd60Uc/s200/whirlpool.gif" width="199" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Richard Navarrete for
suggestions. The Whirlpool! Well placed, it showed great detail.
Ariana easily understood that she was seeing spiral arms. I suppose
some knowledge has rubbed off from her dad. So, after two galaxies,
what else? Richard? Ah - the Leo Triplet! In my 20 Nagler, they sat
around the edge of the field. But Ariana was able to pick them out.
Three galaxies are certainly better than two! Ten years old, and
observing through a big scope - this sounds so familiar to me! From
there, I moved to M84 and M86, the heart of the Virgo Cluster - and
asked Ariana to count the galaxies in view - well - four. Four galaxies
in a single view! Astronishing! So, I told Ariana about Markarian's
Chain, and suggested she tell her dad what she'd seen. Later, Rogelio
came by, and told me these were the first objects his daughter has seen
in telescope, that are outside our galaxy.<br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpma3n1ekklKa24IHEU-JYH9eje0ylVy4RXI__FW4GvFKIh0uFgE2kX9En0SfU8sgXWZDUq6IYKrYloQTcudRM-OUB1Gzvr5pd71-H54wfwYGhtxoVhLKE9qPhmEBQCffc4AvXSCZVQQ/s1600/030.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> I was soon back on my program. In order to just take it easy, I had
copied the Spring Favorites from the Adventures In Deep Space web-page:
<a href="http://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/spring.htm">http://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/spring.htm</a><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I took my time, relaxed, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I think the
most interesting "find" for me was the Eight Burst Nebula - it is so far
south, I knew none of the star patterns, and there was </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpma3n1ekklKa24IHEU-JYH9eje0ylVy4RXI__FW4GvFKIh0uFgE2kX9En0SfU8sgXWZDUq6IYKrYloQTcudRM-OUB1Gzvr5pd71-H54wfwYGhtxoVhLKE9qPhmEBQCffc4AvXSCZVQQ/s1600/030.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">enough
extinction down low that I found myself guessing at where it might be.
After a lot of looking, and scratching my head, I pointed the scope at
the horizon, and .... surprise!.... there it </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">was. I had to hold the
front of the scope down in order to see it. Also very rewarding were
the two galaxy clusters, NGC 3158 and 3166. I hit my mag limit for the
night on MCG+7-21-7, which was at the extreme limit of visibility.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpma3n1ekklKa24IHEU-JYH9eje0ylVy4RXI__FW4GvFKIh0uFgE2kX9En0SfU8sgXWZDUq6IYKrYloQTcudRM-OUB1Gzvr5pd71-H54wfwYGhtxoVhLKE9qPhmEBQCffc4AvXSCZVQQ/s1600/030.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpma3n1ekklKa24IHEU-JYH9eje0ylVy4RXI__FW4GvFKIh0uFgE2kX9En0SfU8sgXWZDUq6IYKrYloQTcudRM-OUB1Gzvr5pd71-H54wfwYGhtxoVhLKE9qPhmEBQCffc4AvXSCZVQQ/s400/030.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">In the morning, I woke, and while packing up, lifted my equatorial
platform, and found, nicely coiled like The Whirlpool Galaxy, a baby
rattlesnake - who was sleeping in the shade of my gear, on this already
hot April morning. I didn't need a cup of coffee, after that....<br />
<br />Thanks to Rogelio Bernal Andreo and Lee Hoglan for hosting our group. It was an excellent outing, start to finish - a wonderful two hour drive from the Santa Cruz area, out of the domain of man, and I was seeing things, in the dark, through a telescope (made of glass and wood) - half a billion light years away, What perspective.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">NGC NAME TYPE CON RA DEC VMAG URA2 </span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKb6Y7vmE0FseCvj6_fHLcgCtv1VRC2qjKy2qzO3OamlT9DxrbcuvFQLEq0xDDJ2zk3ptUdvJlPWzJA6IA-I_PDWbBXYsCv5YBMsz5f3YGp03NcVXx227pfMFQA2bWeOkytervdpEXiI/s1600/n2093.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKb6Y7vmE0FseCvj6_fHLcgCtv1VRC2qjKy2qzO3OamlT9DxrbcuvFQLEq0xDDJ2zk3ptUdvJlPWzJA6IA-I_PDWbBXYsCv5YBMsz5f3YGp03NcVXx227pfMFQA2bWeOkytervdpEXiI/s320/n2093.gif" width="319" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">NGC 2903 na G LEO 932 2130 8.9 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">12mm - bright and elongated 3x2 with strong central condensation across
most of the major axis. Very strong small elongated core that appears
round with ansae. Condensation in arms shows well (NGC 2905). </span><br />
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<a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=09+38+54.52&d=-04+51+07.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=09+38+54.52&d=-04+51+07.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=09+38+54.52&d=-04+51+07.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" width="319" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hickson 40 GAL GR HYA 939 -451 12.8 <br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">7mm - 4 members are obvious, 5th does not show up. Three brightest all
have pinpoint bright stellar nuclei, dimmest member does not. All
members are elongated and at divergent angles to each other. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Double Quasar QSO UMA 1001 5541 16.5 <br />
Negative observation.</span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENgbGRlXHSWfZMjPn1nIkRGiWj625-k1WWpgWSejs5xFxDkYUELqdKjHKyK7gz8q-EbF-bWuJiwdXkYa0sLjee32ieScnILYJ1se6g_EyRQ5cww_XRyg_dlzwWK7OC28C01yQvlk3T4Q/s1600/NGC3115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="http://blackholes.stardate.org/images/ngc3115_mosaic_JHK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blackholes.stardate.org/images/ngc3115_mosaic_JHK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">NGC 3115 Spindle G SEX 1005 -743 8.9 </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">12mm - very bright extremely compact core. Arms are very thin and very
long. Stellar nucleus is noticeable inside small but elongated core.
Arms ratio fo at least 10x1, and bright. Highlight object. <br />
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<a href="http://www.astrosurf.com/antilhue/NGC3132-LsyntRGBcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://www.astrosurf.com/antilhue/NGC3132-LsyntRGBcrop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">NGC 3132 8-Burst PN VEL 1007 -4026 9.2 </span><br />
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7mm - large and bright nebula with bright cental star. Slightly elongated, with a large number of "stars embedded. <br />
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<a href="http://www.utahskies.org/image_library/deepsky/ngc/ngc3158.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.utahskies.org/image_library/deepsky/ngc/ngc3158.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">NGC 3158 GAL GR LMI 013 3846 11.8</span><br />
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7mm - 11 galaxies in close proximity in view - most challenging
MCG+7-21-25 and MCG +7-21-27 both on edge of perception. NGC 3163,
3161, 3159 form a nice compact chain with MCG+7-21-19 at the W end. Off
further west were NGCs 3151 and 3150. N was NGC 3158 - the most
obvious and largest in the group, with NGCs 3160 and 3152 to its north.
Very nice compact group of galaxies. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsH4vNcls5mw3rUvpq6W4i-tTf5KdQfalfvlvPErZ3ncDgVknPTdL9I3yJTYEhd98QKt0G6MuFdfeiDMYESO9JJuc_j0ZMExSAh4111Lfwsn9D-kvoOCmKia424WZkSKJp2YQ04UH3dxM/s1600/n3166.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsH4vNcls5mw3rUvpq6W4i-tTf5KdQfalfvlvPErZ3ncDgVknPTdL9I3yJTYEhd98QKt0G6MuFdfeiDMYESO9JJuc_j0ZMExSAh4111Lfwsn9D-kvoOCmKia424WZkSKJp2YQ04UH3dxM/s320/n3166.gif" width="319" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">NGC 3166 G SEX 1014 326 10.4 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">7mm - NGC 3169 appears disrupted with a bright core that is elongated
mostly e/w, and a quickly and randomly diffusing halo. NGC 3166 lies
15' to its w and has a compact non-stellar core elongated slightly e/w,
with a diffuse halo slightly elongated in the same direction. 8' to the
west of 3166 and past two dim stars is a non-descript faint glow barely
visible, without distinct elongation or direction. Continuing
approximately 30' SW is NGC 3156, a moderately bright galaxy with
indistinct shape, a brighter compact large core and a feeling of a
disrupted portion extending south.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYfrj3lxw4TnLdkvgp4M3BFkqPq5Mr8bpBAS-sLJ_4L8FdvAL9vGxSC7zc1Mf5rFWw706pV8e8RDDLZBg5GS0h9XvQHVqKqmukqi3p42diji0cLlQWso8In25Sam65Oy3q-jHXywt4ZQ/s1600/n3190.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYfrj3lxw4TnLdkvgp4M3BFkqPq5Mr8bpBAS-sLJ_4L8FdvAL9vGxSC7zc1Mf5rFWw706pV8e8RDDLZBg5GS0h9XvQHVqKqmukqi3p42diji0cLlQWso8In25Sam65Oy3q-jHXywt4ZQ/s320/n3190.gif" width="319" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hickson 44 GAL GR LEO 1018 2150 11</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">20mm - beautiful grouping of four obvious galaxies - three in a line,
forth close by to the nw of the middle member of the linear group. </span></div>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-68543584890193271332011-08-28T17:20:00.000-07:002011-08-28T17:23:43.915-07:00Pole DancersNow that I have your attention....
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.bodytalkllc.com/images/pole_sil.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 336px; height: 292px;" src="http://www.bodytalkllc.com/images/pole_sil.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>A few days ago, I mentioned on a public observing forum that I was wondering what to observe next. My observing partner, Steve Gottlieb, immediately chirped "how about 25 galaxies within 10 degrees of Polaris". I remembered him mentioning such a project a month back, and learned that in fact he had observed this list very recently at Sierra Buttes, at 7200 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada. So, I took up the challenge, and last night at Willow Springs I attempted the list. While Willow is only 2200 feet elevation, lacking the transparency benefits the Buttes has, it is a still a very good "local" sight, a mere 2 hours from my home in the south San Francisco bay area.
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<br />A few words about the vagaries of this particular weekend - several of us were going to head to a friend's property near Yosemite to observe. The morning we were to leave, the weather forecast showed poor condition - potential thunderstorms, bad seeing and transparency.... we were unsure... weather reports are not always reliable. Then, as I was packing, I got a text message asking what I knew about the fire near Yosemite. Turned out, our destination was under evacuation warning, and choking in smoke. The ONLY fire in the entire state of California! Change of plans. We headed to Willow. Arriving there, the sky was filled with....
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<br />smoke.
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<br />From a new nearby fire!
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<br />Well, it was put out, and the sky cleared nicely. We enjoyed a fine evening observing, but it just goes to show, sometimes you just dodge a bullet ... and get lucky.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihupRw-tVAbGRqJMaSFWHKeY0U2msCEEdgbCS7-uz-LtWb34thWHWF4FqNX92xdidf1Aj5oJBfe7fQ2DtgTtb-csLFjtIXf0M1PjxrvjkL6g81_lMiSUfMxwEvLVmHOInMbp5gLj8Y8Sk/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihupRw-tVAbGRqJMaSFWHKeY0U2msCEEdgbCS7-uz-LtWb34thWHWF4FqNX92xdidf1Aj5oJBfe7fQ2DtgTtb-csLFjtIXf0M1PjxrvjkL6g81_lMiSUfMxwEvLVmHOInMbp5gLj8Y8Sk/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646065289674464402" border="0" /></a>So, the Pole Dancers. 21 galaxies Steve sent me in list form. Actually, in an article, but I'll leave the specifics of that to him to discuss. The galaxies were all within 5 degrees of Polaris, and varied from dancers you couldn't take your eyes off of, to those you barely knew were there, or cared. Of the 21, I had 19 confirmed, the remaining two were "suspected" at best - UGC 3661 and CGCG 363-039.
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<br />I have to also note, I observe with an 18" f/4.5 Obsession, made in 1994. The mirror has its original coatings, and the only thing I've added is an Equatorial Platform, made by the master, Tom Osypowski. I love tracking, it makes the experience much more relaxed, and I feel I see much more not having to constantly worry about moving the scope at high power (note some of the eyepieces I use in this report). But, observing these targets, so close to the pole, I was able to turn off the drive, and just let the happy circumstance of being very close to the pole do the job of keeping my targets in the field of view. And.... I also never used my ladder, or moved my obseving chair. I could get used to watching pole dancing! ;-)
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<br />Finally, another great parts of a trip like this - with experienced and accomplished observers (included Mark Johnston and Richard Navarrete) - - - is sharing views. I've listed a few here in my report.
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<br />Thanks to Kevin Ritschel for hosting us at his property, great to see him again.... and thanks to Steve, for the project!
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<br />Here are my notes on the 21 Pole Dancers.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+14+17.44&d=%2B84+22+56.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+14+17.44&d=%2B84+22+56.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>NGC 2268" 07 14 17.6 84 22 57 V = 11.5; Size 3.2'x2.0'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 63d
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<br />18" 7mm Obvious large elongated core in a slightly elongated e/w disk. Pinpoint nucleus comes can be held.. About 2'x1', fairly even gradual dimming from core to edges.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+02+27.28&d=%2B86+34+46.6&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+02+27.28&d=%2B86+34+46.6&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>UGC 3528A = Arp 96 07 02 27.4 86 34 46 Size 0.8'x0.6'; PA = 63d
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<br />18" 7mm very dime pair with not much detail. Very close together, both have clear pinpoint nuclei, one closer to bright star has brighter obvious stellar nucleus. Both have indistinct hazy roundish disks. With 2x Barlow and 7mm, further out galaxy disk is bigger, brighter, and elongated N/S. Other galaxy disk is smaller, dimmer, and roundish.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+03+22.00&d=%2B86+33+28.4&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+03+22.00&d=%2B86+33+28.4&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>UGC 3536A = Arp 96 07 03 22.0 86 33 28 V = 13.6; Size 0.7'x.0.6'; Surf Br = 12.7
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<br />18" 7mm very dime pair with not much detail. Very close together, both have clear pinpoint nuclei, one closer to bright star has brighter obvious stellar nucleus. Both have indistinct hazy roundish disks. With 2x Barlow and 7mm, further out galaxy disk is bigger, brighter, and elongated N/S. Other galaxy disk is smaller, dimmer, and roundish.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+08+15.10&d=%2B86+39+28.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+08+15.10&d=%2B86+39+28.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>CGCG 362-033 = PGC 20191 07 08 15.1 86 39 29 Size 0.8'x0.3'; PA = 109d
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<br />18" 7mm w/2x Barlow - elongated SE/NW and 3x1 ratio. Inner 1x1 section is fairly even brightness, then falls off at extensions.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+17+46.80&d=%2B85+42+47.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+17+46.80&d=%2B85+42+47.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>UGC 3654 = PGC 20601 07 17 47.1 85 42 48 V = 14.3; Size 0.4'x0.3'; Surf Br = 11.8; PA = 17d
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<br />18" 7mm w/2x Barlow - very small and nearly round, but slightly elongated. Dim stellar nucleus, elongation is N/S.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+19+45.15&d=%2B85+46+00.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+19+45.15&d=%2B85+46+00.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>UGC 3661 = PGC 20655 07 19 45.0 85 46 01 Size 1.1'x0.25'; PA = 12d
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<br />18" 7mm w/2x Barlow - very fleeting view of just a small section of this thin galaxy.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+20+04.42&d=%2B85+35+13.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+20+04.42&d=%2B85+35+13.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>UGC 3670 = PGC 20677 07 20 04.7 85 35 14 Size 1.0'x0.5'; PA = 40d
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<br />18" 4mm - very dim, elongated, even brightness, E/W elongation of about 3x1.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+27+17.50&d=%2B85+45+14.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+27+17.50&d=%2B85+45+14.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>NGC 2276 = Arp 25 07 27 14.4 85 45 16 V = 11.4; Size 2.8'x2.7'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 20d
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<br />18" 7mm - fairly bright and obvious, compared to others this session. Round, fairly even brightness, mostly featureless except for small slightly brighter round core and dimmest of averted vision pinpoint nucleus.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+32+20.49&d=%2B85+42+31.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+32+20.49&d=%2B85+42+31.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>NGC 2300 = Arp 114 07 32 20.0 85 42 32 V = 11.0; Size 2.8'x2.0'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 80d
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<br />18" 4mm - very bright very tight inner core with no discernible nucleus, and chaotic appearance. Quickly gives way to significantly dimmer outer core that extends at least three diameters of the inner core in diameter. Outer core extends over 1/2 way to brightest close star to the W. Possible HII to the SW. More possible HII toward pair of stars pointing away to the NNE.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+01+59.30&d=%2B02+09+18.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+01+59.30&d=%2B02+09+18.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>sh2-71 nice detail! Viewed this in Steve Gottlieb's 18" Dob. With an OIII filter, much of the detail shown in this image was visible. The central star was very evident. Without the filter, the object took on a distinctly circular shape, was much less obvious - looked like an Abell Planetary, with an obvious central star. A very interesting object!
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+32+25.97&d=%2B86+40+00.5&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+32+25.97&d=%2B86+40+00.5&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>MCG 04-029 = PGC 21210 07 32 25.9 86 40 00 V = 14.3; Size 1.2'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 45d
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<br />18" picked up with 12mm, off the end of a chain of four brighter stars framed at the target end by three collinear dimmer stars. Easy fin. Galaxy is small and elongated. The fact that the two collinear chains point into the field, make this a visually pleasing view with the galaxy as a highlight. Chains of stars are E/W, galaxy is mostly N/S, and seems to have brighter central section, and a bright knot to the S. Elongation is N/S.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+34+57.61&d=%2B85+32+13.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+34+57.61&d=%2B85+32+13.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>IC 455 07 34 57.7 85 32 14 V = 13.3; Size 1.1'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 82d
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<br />18" 7mm - picked up easily in 20mm, galaxy has a bright core and inner disk with apparent spiral arms extending
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+48+00.98&d=%2B85+33+06.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+48+00.98&d=%2B85+33+06.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>CGCG 362-045 = PGC 21817 07 48 01.0 85 33 07 Size 0.8'x0.6'; PA = 64d
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<br />18" 4mm - nice tight small core that appear chaotic. Occasionally a tiny bright pinpoint stellar nucleus appears. From core two close arms appear to extend only slightly, then a a larger disk that shows easily only on the side to S.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+55+43.99&d=%2B84+55+35.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+55+43.99&d=%2B84+55+35.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>UGC 3993 = PGC 22202 07 55 44.0 84 55 35 V = 12.8; Size 1.6'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 35d
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<br />18" 7mm- showed up at that magnification close to a tight uneven double star. Appears chaotic in its bright core..Entire core area is larger than first appeared, and even more disrupted - a dark intrusion? Surrounding is a large dim disk, more noticeable on the double star side.
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<br /><a href="http://astrosurf.com/jordigallego/album/Files_dark_sky_SBIG/Veil_Nebula_Complex.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 394px; height: 257px;" src="http://astrosurf.com/jordigallego/album/Files_dark_sky_SBIG/Veil_Nebula_Complex.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Binoculars with UHC and NPB on Veil, North American and Crescent. 15x50 stabilizers. The Veil looked very much like this photo in the binos - what a great view!
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<br /><a href="http://www.astroimage.info/images/deepsky/nebula/images/NorthAmerican600secX17Halp2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.astroimage.info/images/deepsky/nebula/images/NorthAmerican600secX17Halp2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The North American stole the show in binoculars though, displaying its entire form, along with the Pelican Nebula, hands down the best view of this area I've ever seen. I swept over to the Crescent, which gave a nice view, but not comparable to that seen in a big Dob with a filter - and the entire Gamma Cygni area was filled with large clumps of glowing nebulae. Spectacular views in binoculars.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+55+59.11&d=%2B85+09+32.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=07+55+59.11&d=%2B85+09+32.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>IC 469 07 55 59.1 85 09 32 V = 12.6; Size 2.2'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 90d
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<br />18" 7mm- gives the impression of classic spiral galaxy tilted toward us, with mottled core area and possible sweeping arm in front, and large extended arms.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+04+24.81&d=%2B84+38+29.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+04+24.81&d=%2B84+38+29.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>UGC 4078 = PGC 22640 08 04 24.7 84 38 29 V = 14.3; Size 2.1'x0.3'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 82d
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<br />18" 7mm - faint glow without central brightening. Three stars define the field, in a chain, bight and two dimmer, galaxy is off the side of center dimmer star. Galaxy seems to have hard edge or maybe dark lane on the side of the three stars. Very impressive maybe 6x1 ratio, and framed nicely in the center of three bright stars - bisecting them at a long angle.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+26+26.30&d=%2B84+56+21.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+26+26.30&d=%2B84+56+21.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>CGCG 363-039 = PGC 23621 08 26 26.3 84 56 21 Size 1.0'x0.2'; PA = 130d
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<br />18" 7mm - this galaxy and one other small edge on proved to be the most challenging so far of the night - with only occasional "suspected" seeing a bit of it - a brightening between the two stars that flank it, and closer to the dimmer of the two.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+28+28.89&d=%2B85+36+28.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+28+28.89&d=%2B85+36+28.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>UGC 4297 = PGC 23770 08 28 29.3 85 36 29 V = 13.6; Size 1.6'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 83d
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<br />18" 7mm - bright,small, compact core with fleeting pinpoint nucleus. Core is uneven. Overall appearance is dim, but seems to have good extension, as does a dimmer elongated core.
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<br /><a href="http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Comet-Garradd-Aug-1-PL-580x409.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Comet-Garradd-Aug-1-PL-580x409.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Comet in 6"refractor at low power- = bright comet, large even glow, core is tight with a very stellar nucleus.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+33+39.01&d=%2B85+58+57.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+33+39.01&d=%2B85+58+57.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>CGCG 363-041 = PGC 23961 08 33 39.0 85 58 57 V = 14.4; Size 0.7'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.9
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<br />18" 4mm - very dim but part of close pair. By comparison it is brighter and smaller with slightly oval shape pointing mostly away on its major axis form its partner.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+34+02.27&d=%2B85+56+44.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+34+02.27&d=%2B85+56+44.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>UGC 4348 = PGC 24001 08 34 01.9 85 56 44 V = 14.2; Size 1.5'x1.2'; Surf Br = 14.7; PA = 21d
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<br />18" 4mm - part of pair, but larger the its companion by comparison, dimmer, separated by a definite black void.
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<br /><a href="http://www.astroimage.info/images/deepsky/nebula/images/CalifNEB-L%26HR30GB6A.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.astroimage.info/images/deepsky/nebula/images/CalifNEB-L%26HR30GB6A.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Thinking more about binocular views of the Veil and North American, I asked Steve about H-Beta filters. We came up with a pair, slapped them on, and easily found the California Nebula. The entire stretch of the object was visible, but of course it is quite tenuous, and while it did not have the "knock your eye out" impact of the others, there was no doubt we were seeing the entire target. Quite the sight.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+45+16.91&d=%2B85+44+23.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=08+45+16.91&d=%2B85+44+23.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>IC 499 08 45 16.9 85 44 24 V = 12.5; Size 2.1'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 80d
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<br />18" 4mm - very dim and ghostly, much like an unknown phosphorescent deep water creature who's insides show through a dim clear body. Not quite round, but not enough elongation to call it distinctly oval. Very dim star just to one side gives impression of almost an annular planetary nebula.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=09+03+49.70&d=%2B85+30+06.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=09+03+49.70&d=%2B85+30+06.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>IC 512 = UGC 4646 = PGC 25451 09 03 49.8 85 30 06 V = 12.2; Size 1.8'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 175d
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<br />18" 4mm - I've been galaxy hopping in this eyepiece, and the 7mm. This galaxy is quit4e dim., shape is indistinct. Sometimes it appears round with a sharp edge, other times it appears to extend in an amorphous shape. Amorphous extension turns out to be UGC 4612.Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-70688636105220845842011-08-21T16:15:00.000-07:002011-08-22T14:34:37.255-07:00A Tale Of Two Sites - Part 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4ICmH77eODZ4fXUsMxG2ifpBqNwH9XGKnSL2hsnX0ALSdOktXBgjD6cRrmv2DgM2HSCR04K-nBNsQm2kQlggqZIGrDhtCcbSpcZ5RQT0HJGzJGl1I-_wQfbsq58kUuYc5FZc9WzYJSY/s1600/5944476111_fa5419376b_b.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4ICmH77eODZ4fXUsMxG2ifpBqNwH9XGKnSL2hsnX0ALSdOktXBgjD6cRrmv2DgM2HSCR04K-nBNsQm2kQlggqZIGrDhtCcbSpcZ5RQT0HJGzJGl1I-_wQfbsq58kUuYc5FZc9WzYJSY/s320/5944476111_fa5419376b_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643481369301589826" border="0" /></a>2011 continues to be a sparse year for deep sky observing. As late as the end of June, conditions refused to improve - cold, cloudy, rainy, at least over new moon weekends, when most working folks can get out to dark sites and stay up all night. However, two occasions worked out. The first was the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.goldenstatestarparty.org/">Golden State Star Party</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> (GSSP)</span>, in far northeastern California, near the small towns of Adin, Bieber, Nubieber and Lookout. Thanks to <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgortatowsky/collections/72157612728091282/">Jeff Gortatowski</a> for the great photo at right - Sunset at GSSP, with Mount Shasta on the horizon. Beautiful place!
<br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">That location is in what locals refer to as the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bieber,+CA&hl=en&ll=41.14557,-120.986252&spn=0.343336,0.837021&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.957536,107.138672&vpsrc=6&z=11">Big Valley</a>. If you're old enough, you have visions of Barbara Stanwick and her crew. But this large <a href="http://assets.huluim.com/shows/key_art_the_big_valley.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 117px;" src="http://assets.huluim.com/shows/key_art_the_big_valley.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>open valley, 20 miles wide by 100 miles long, is a real place, with unreal skies. We are fortunate to be able to spend several nights there each year, enjoying country/small-town hospitality, with cultured and bright inhabitant. If it is possible, they outshine the stars in their night skies. If you haven't been to GSSP, look it up for next year.... it is so well organized, with so many conveniences, its<span style="font-weight: bold;"> like camping in your own backyard</span>, but with the best skies you can imagine.... and all your friends there too. Winner.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDkwG58TmSaZ-bGZMugGZ7ZVtrFNV9wvyD04jSLDINCpAWhw5JOx1T8-NmYlDRvq8nKAq42D4axPZN4-o-kwMqJabJ9iP8cx7kTECmYFDweLsvwXP2KIoYiGMu3jWuDnPnMWumZILSJI/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDkwG58TmSaZ-bGZMugGZ7ZVtrFNV9wvyD04jSLDINCpAWhw5JOx1T8-NmYlDRvq8nKAq42D4axPZN4-o-kwMqJabJ9iP8cx7kTECmYFDweLsvwXP2KIoYiGMu3jWuDnPnMWumZILSJI/s320/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643465345797980866" border="0" /></a>The other observing trip I've been lucky enough to go on was to the Yosemite area, a wonderful long term friend named <span style="font-weight: bold;">Michelle Stone, and her husband Paul Plett</span> - own property nearby. Several old time friends gathered for 2 to 3 nights, and had some amazing conditions under which to go deep observing. And, a day in Yosemite, relaxing up at Glacier Point, made the trip even more spectacular - the ultimate combination of Heaven and Earth (the best <span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>tenchinage</i>, for my Aikido friends!). These observations, raw notes, are combined from several nights over both trips.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>I hope to return to Michelle's for a few more nights over the upcoming new moon.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=11+17+06.12&d=%2B54+55+06.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=11+17+06.12&d=%2B54+55+06.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Before starting though, at GSSP I was set up near Dr. Alan Argawal, and Paul Alsing. Alan has a 24" f/3.3 Starstructure, and Paul a 25" f/5 Obsession. The idea was to set up close to some big guns - I observe with an 18" f/4.5 Obsession, and be able to "mooch" some views of challenge targets. Perhaps the most challenging target discussed by my regular observing crew, is Hickson 50. One evening, early on, when The Big Dipper was still in good position, several of us went to Alan and asked to star hop off of M97, to the nearby quarry of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hickson 50</span>. With high magnification (someone will need to remind me what we were using - maybe an 8mm Ethos), in Alan's scope, a faint haze was visible. Several of us confirmed it. Then over to Paul's 25", with the longer focal ratio, the field revealed not only the haze, but what I can describe as "sprites" - pinpoint of light that came and went, within the haze. Two of us felt there were four sprites.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">There were many great views at GSSP, but for me, Hickson 50 was the most impressive. Big scopes and dark skies. Works for me!</p><p class="MsoNormal">My raw notes:
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+26+23.54&d=%2B62+53+31.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+26+23.54&d=%2B62+53+31.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Abell 75 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cep</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">PN</span> 67"x47" 14.5 21 26 23 62 53 33 PK 101+8.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">NGC</span> 7076 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">PN</span> G101.8+08.7</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />Visible with 20mm no filter. 12mm with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">NPB</span> filter reveals annular disk about 2.7' and round.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+32+10.39&d=%2B55+52+42.4&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+32+10.39&d=%2B55+52+42.4&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Abell</span> 77 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Cep</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">PN</span> 67"x50" 14 21 32 10 55 52 43 PK 97+3.1 = Sh 2-128 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">PN</span> G097.5+03.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">LBN</span> 443
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Barely visible both with and without filter, both 20mm and 12mm. With <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">VHT</span> filter there appears to be two arcs near a small triangle to the W, one to the N and the brighter to the S.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+02+18.27&d=%2B36+41+37.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+02+18.27&d=%2B36+41+37.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">CRL</span> 2688 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Cyg</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">PPN</span> 24"x6" 21 02 18 36 42 00
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">3.5mm ultra wide Orion without filter reveals a bright embedded star to the N and dimmer star to S within a peanut shaped halo. Very obvious and bright. Stars are actually in bright knots, with dimmer halo surrounding entire N/S combination.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+35+29.38&d=%2B31+41+45.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+35+29.38&d=%2B31+41+45.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Abell</span> 78 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Cyg</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">PN</span> 113"x88" 13.4 21 35 29 31 41 45 PK 81-14.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">PN</span> G081.2-14.9</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />12mm w/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">ultrablock</span> - mostly round, dim, even brightness across disk.. Filter helps, almost not visible without.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+50+02.05&d=%2B13+33+29.6&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+50+02.05&d=%2B13+33+29.6&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Abell</span> 72 Del <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">PN</span> 134"x121" 12.7 20 50 02 13 33 28 PK 59-18.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">PN</span> G059.7-18.7</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />12mm w/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">ultrablock</span> - almost round but slight e/w elongation. Stars involved, bright one at w edge. Solid, even brightness across disk.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+20+10.81&d=-03+54+32.4&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+20+10.81&d=-03+54+32.4&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Hickson 89A <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Aqr</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">GX</span>4 0.9x0.6 14.4 21 20 01 -03 55 20 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">MCG</span> -01-54-012</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />7mm all three bright components viewed averted, B seemed easier than A. C would come in with a hint of D < 25% of time.
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+31+33.21&d=-07+05+17.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+31+33.21&d=-07+05+17.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Abell</span> 70 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Aql</span> 45"x40" 14.7 20 31 33.2 -07 05 17 PK 38-25.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">PN</span> G38.1-25.4</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />12mm 18" - entire disk shows without filter but NE section is clearly brighter. 7mm shows <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">annularity</span> and galaxy visible through NE edge of nebula.
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+45+14.40&d=-08+00+26.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+45+14.40&d=-08+00+26.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Palomar 11 10.0' 17.3 19 45 14 -08 00 26</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />12mm 18" - obvious granular appearance and bracketed by 2 concave chains of 4 = mag stars each running N/S with a bright star nearby to the N. Using an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">NPB</span> filter shows the entire NE triangular portion of the galaxy glowing in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">HII</span>.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+44+57.79&d=-14+48+11.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+44+57.79&d=-14+48+11.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">NGC</span> 6822 15.5'x13.5' 8.8 19 45 00 -14 48 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">NGC</span> 6822 19 45.0 -14 48 15.5x13.5 8.8 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Sgr</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />Barnard's Galaxy has a low, irregular surf <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">br</span>, ~14' in length. Use <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">OIII</span> filter to search for 2 small <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">HII</span> regions at N end. 12mm 18" - elongated NE/SW and embedded in stars, there is a dark rift or two that run along the major axis and several <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">HII</span> regions embedded, most noticeably the two at the NE end of the object.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNwcSxt3WynjC_0cBiKVM_IJV7nvh2PbeGXU8WhEm0_tSD2kOv54L4a5cplG8Ivxe_-tAWtdrAy7d05Ed-2ic0OHrudAOMOgj8CCgXusUvMjspFYfzfVqrwkSDINGY0jQIdKRltUn1u8/s1600/dss_search.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNwcSxt3WynjC_0cBiKVM_IJV7nvh2PbeGXU8WhEm0_tSD2kOv54L4a5cplG8Ivxe_-tAWtdrAy7d05Ed-2ic0OHrudAOMOgj8CCgXusUvMjspFYfzfVqrwkSDINGY0jQIdKRltUn1u8/s320/dss_search.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643796536825046738" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">SagDIG</span> 3.2'x1.5' 15.0 19 30 00 -17 41 00 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">SagDIG</span> 19 30.0 -17 41 3.2x1.5 15 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Sgr</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />The Sagittarius Dwarf Irregular is a difficult 3' roundish glow nestled in a rich Milky Way field. Very difficult to identify. 7mm 18" - oval glow between parallelogram of stars, elongated NW/SE and appearing almost annular - no doubt it is there.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">I've manipulated the contrast and brightness in this image, in order to try bringing out the object. Its a tough one!
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+57+31.53&d=-21+36+44.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+57+31.53&d=-21+36+44.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Abell</span> 66 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Sgr</span> 295"x241" 19 57 31.5 -21 36 46 PK 19-23.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">PN</span> G019.8-23.7
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">12mm 18" - Pair of stars equal mag nearby to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">NNE</span>. Planetary is large and perhaps elongated slightly N/S with slight <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">annularity</span>. Dim stars appear embedded in E edge - perhaps 2. Very faint, although occasionally the central area appears to brighten and negate annular feeling. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sh 2-052 2 2 19 47 46.3 -23 05 15 See next entry - how many types of catalogs is this in!
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+46+34.20&d=-23+08+12.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+46+34.20&d=-23+08+12.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">Abell</span> 65 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">Sgr</span> 134"x34" 13.8 19 46 33.8 -23 08 12 PK 17-21.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">UGCA</span> 415 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">MCG</span> -04-46-001 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">PN</span> G017.3-21.9 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">PGC</span> 63654</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />12mm 18" - visible without filter, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">UHC</span> helps. Round and mostly even brightness, but SW edge seems brighter than rest of disk. Chain of 4 dim stars cup N edge, and 3 dim stars extend W from S edge, with E star touching disk.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+52+08.77&d=-30+49+31.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+52+08.77&d=-30+49+31.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">ESO</span> 461-007 1.2'.7' 13.3 19 52 06 -30 49 00
<br />7mm 18" observed, aka <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">Hickson</span> 86A
<br />Hickson 86A 1.2x0.7 13.3 19 52 08.7 -30 49 30 63753
<br />Hickson 86B 0.5x0.4 13.8 19 51 59.0 -30 48 57 63748
<br />Hickson 86C 0.4x0.3 14.9 19 51 57.3 -30 51 23 63752
<br />7mm 18" observed.
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+41+44.41&d=-33+59+58.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+41+44.41&d=-33+59+58.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">Terzan</span> 8 3.5' 12.4 19 41 45 -34 00 01
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">12mm 18" - forms an almost equilateral triangle with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">GSC</span> 7434:401 and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">GSC</span> 7434:31, but feeling is I'm seeing the core as it is relatively small and not all that difficult.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+34+52.33&d=%2B60+09+13.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+34+52.33&d=%2B60+09+13.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">ARP</span> 29 11.6'x9.9' 8.8 20 34 52 60 09 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">NGC</span> 6946</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />Large core with two arms coming off to NE and swinging E. S of the 2 arms is fatter. Dimmer arm comes off S of core and swings tightly around to W. Large core has a gradually brighter center. Finally noticed another long arm, from WNW and winding around straight to NE.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+32+23.22&d=%2B47+20+50.4&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+32+23.22&d=%2B47+20+50.4&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">Abell</span> 71 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">Cyg</span> 165"x150" 14.5 20 32 23.2 47 21 04 PK 85+4.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">PN</span> G084.9+04.4 = Sh 2-116</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />7mm 18" - very dim glow, no definition at all, surrounding a mag 13.5 star with more "glow around a mag 12.5 star on the edge. Extremely difficult. Dim star actually appears involved in a haze.
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+35+01.92&d=%2B47+02+24.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+35+01.92&d=%2B47+02+24.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh 2-115 50 2 20 34 33.0 46 52 40</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />12mm <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">UHC</span> 18" - dim linear glow with some structure running E/W of two pair of stars to the S. Dimmer pair appears involved in nebulosity. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">OC</span> Berk 90 is obvious at E of the two pair of stars.
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+33+48.96&d=%2B45+37+58.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+33+48.96&d=%2B45+37+58.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh 2-112 15 2 20 33 50.2 45 39 35</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />12mm <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">UHC</span> 18" - easy to view this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">Sharpless</span> around <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">GSC</span>49801. Nebulosity forms an arc through the star, running mostly N/S and arcing to the E, forming a J with most but thinnest section to the N. Bottom of J is most pronounced.[
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=02+49+53.60&d=-01+00+13.1&e=J2000&h=30&w=30&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=02+49+53.60&d=-01+00+13.1&e=J2000&h=30&w=30&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">AGC</span> 2319 0.973 15.4 19 20.8 43 59</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />7mm 18"- <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">CGCGs</span> 230-9, 230-8, 230-7, 230-4
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+22+36.00&d=%2B40+15+00.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+22+36.00&d=%2B40+15+00.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh 2-108 180 3 20 22 34.8 40 15 15 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">IC</span> 1318</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />30mm 18" - nebulosity with dark <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">neb</span> veined throughout over large areas around Gamma <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">Cygni</span>, through into the North American Nebula. Outstanding views throughout the entire area.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+19+58.34&d=%2B38+24+02.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+19+58.34&d=%2B38+24+02.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">Abell</span> 69 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">Cyg</span> 25"x22" 20.2 20 19 58.3 38 24 02 PK 76+1.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">PN</span> G076.3+01.1</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />7mm 18" - perhaps at most the southern arc of this planetary, very elusive.
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+12+06.96&d=%2B38+21+18.0&e=J2000&h=30&w=30&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+12+06.96&d=%2B38+21+18.0&e=J2000&h=30&w=30&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh 2-105 18 3 20 12 02.4 38 20 59 N6888 = Crescent Nebula</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />12mm 18" <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">UHC</span> - spectacular view, wispy nebula with blue glow and blue stars. Internal knots inside western edge, northern and eastern edge very thick and distinct. Mottling throughout. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">Star</span> embedded in northeastern wisp is very reminiscent of Veil Nebula's Witches Broom.
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+27+27.10&d=%2B37+22+39.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+27+27.10&d=%2B37+22+39.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh 2-106 3 3 20 27 26.9 37 23 49</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />12mm 18' <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">UHC</span> - amorphous glow involved with dark veins interspersed in distinct star field just <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">NNW</span> of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">SAO</span> 70038. Subtle, but there.
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+17+46.61&d=%2B36+44+53.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+17+46.61&d=%2B36+44+53.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh 2-104 7 2 20 17 44.6 36 44 40</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />12mm 18" <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">UHC</span> - faint but distinct even nebulosity surrounding stars of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">Dolidze</span> 4, elongated E/W, with a notch taken out of the NW edge.
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<br /></p> Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-17505225421704664002011-08-21T15:29:00.000-07:002011-08-21T18:11:48.515-07:00A Tale Of Two Sites - Part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+59+54.96&d=%2B35+16+37.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+59+54.96&d=%2B35+16+37.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh 2-101 20 2 19 59 56.8 35 17 27
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<br />12mm 18" <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">NPB</span> - reminiscent of Crescent, but dimmer. Two bright stars embedded in W end of nebula. Brightest portion is to N and E of bright stars, Another bright section runs E of the S star of the pair. More nebulosity is to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">th</span> S and W of the pair of stars, but much more subtle. This is a very good target.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+01+47.75&d=%2B33+31+38.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=20+01+47.75&d=%2B33+31+38.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh 2-100 4 3 20 01 50.6 33 30 41 N6857
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<br />7mm 18"<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_92"> NPB</span> - planetary appears almost triangular, nearly as distinct without the filter. Elongated slightly NW/SE. But appears to have somewhat triangular shape, with a harder edge running N/S. Star embedded in nebula, but seems offset to the N, which may be an illusion due to a dim northern edge of the shell.
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<br /></span><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+16+52.27&d=%2B24+08+51.8&e=J2000&h=45&w=45&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+16+52.27&d=%2B24+08+51.8&e=J2000&h=45&w=45&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">Abell</span> 74 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">Vul</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">PN</span> 871"x791" 15.8 21 16 52 24 08 51 PK 72-17.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">PN</span> G072.7-17.1
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<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">Abell</span> 74 is interesting in that I found it by mistaking <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">CGCG</span> 471-2 for an edge of it, no filter with 20mm. 12mm w/ <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">UIHC</span> filter gave great gain in smoothness and feeling of an object dark but large, around two bright stars and off of them to the west southwest, while the galaxy was invisible to the northeast.The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">planetarty</span> is large and devoid of features, an almost uniform surface glowing as dimly as possible. Sometimes it appears as if there are the deepest knots in several places in the object.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=23+51+03.97&d=%2B20+09+01.5&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=23+51+03.97&d=%2B20+09+01.5&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>N7769/70/71 Peg <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">GX</span> 5.4 12.0:13.8:12.2 23 51 06 20 12 00
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<br />NGC</span> 7769 is bright and complex, having a stellar pinpoint bright core, inner and outer halo that appears a tilted spiral. It is an easy galaxy to see detail in. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">NGC</span> 7770 and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">NGC</span> 7771 are to its east southeast, both elongated in an east west direction with 7771 much twice the size of 7770 but equal with 7769. Views with 7mm. Excellent find from Miles Paul Atlas of Galaxy Trios. 7771 is long and thin with a bright inner region across much of its length, and a bright stellar nucleus - but the small galaxy appears <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">intrinsically</span> brighter. Estimate sizes at 3x2 for 7769, 4.5x1 for 7770 and 3x1 for the little one.
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<br /></span><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=22+35+57.51&d=%2B33+57+35.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=22+35+57.51&d=%2B33+57+35.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">HCG</span> 092A Peg <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">Hickson</span> 2.2x1.1 12.6 22 36 04 33 56 52 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">NGC</span> 7320 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">Arp</span> 319
<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">HCG</span> 092B Peg <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">Hickson</span> 1.9x1.2 13.1 22 35 58 33 57 58 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">NGC</span> 7318B <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">Arp</span> 319
<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">HCG</span> 092C Peg <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">Hickson</span> 1.7x1.3 13.1 22 36 03 33 58 34 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">NGC</span> 7319 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">Arp</span> 319
<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">HCG</span> 092D Peg <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">Hickson</span> 0.9x0.9 13.4 22 35 56 33 57 59 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">NGC</span> 7318 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">Arp</span> 319
<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">HCG</span> 092E Peg <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">Hickson</span> 1.1x1.1 13.6 22 35 52 33 56 42 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">NGC</span> 7317 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">Arp</span> 319
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<br />Stephans</span> Quintet - all members easily visible. Pair distinctly broken apart. - 7mm.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=22+23+47.51&d=%2B32+24+10.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=22+23+47.51&d=%2B32+24+10.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>N7270/71/75 Peg Trio 6.9 13.9:14.6:14.3 22 23 36 32 24 00
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<br />All three galaxies show well in 7mm. Nice alignment of a pair of bright stars pointing at group, with one member on one side of a long arc of stars, the other two galaxies on the other side, with one of those being the last to show up.
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<br /></span><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+35+29.38&d=%2B31+41+45.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=21+35+29.38&d=%2B31+41+45.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">Abell</span> 78 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">Cyg</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">PN</span> 113"x88" 13.4 21 35 29 31 41 45 PK 81-14.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">PN</span> G081.2-14.9
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<br />12mm - very large, very difficult, very dim and even.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=23+35+53.33&d=%2B30+28+06.4&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=23+35+53.33&d=%2B30+28+06.4&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Jones 1 Peg PK104-29.1 12.1 23 35 54 30 28 00
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<br />Large mostly circular shell, looks at first like a faint U with thick uprights. But dim, think of dark nebula, but kind of a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">backlit</span> glow. Northern edge seems brighter and thicker, especially toward the w.
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<br /></span><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+00+43.68&d=%2B28+23+20.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+00+43.68&d=%2B28+23+20.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">HCG</span> 099A <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">GX</span> 1.1x0.4 13.9 00 00 37 28 23 04 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">UGC</span> 12897
<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">HCG</span> 099B <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">GX</span> 1.0x0.9 13.7 00 00 46 28 24 07 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">UGC</span> 12899
<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">HCG</span> 099C <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">GX</span> 0.8x0.4 14.7 00 00 44 28 24 05 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">MCG</span> +05-01-021
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<br />All three visible with 7mm - however, the pair were difficult to see <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">individually</span>.
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<br /></span><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=23+15+24.24&d=%2B18+58+59.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=23+15+24.24&d=%2B18+58+59.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">HCG</span> 093D <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">GX</span> 0.7x0.6 14.7 23 15 33 19 02 51 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">NGC</span> 7553:
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=23+17+16.48&d=%2B18+43+10.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=23+17+16.48&d=%2B18+43+10.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">HCG</span> 094A <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">GX</span> 1.0x1.0 14 23 17 13 18 42 29 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">NGC</span> 7578B <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">Arp</span> 170
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+21+52.21&d=%2B64+21+54.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+21+52.21&d=%2B64+21+54.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>PK 94+27.1 K1-16 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">PLNNB</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">DRA</span> 1.9 m 14.2 99.9 18 21.9 +64 22
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<br />7mm barely visible partial disk with central star cent* variable <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">DS</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">Draconis</span>
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<br /></span><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+19+10.22&d=%2B46+14+52.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+19+10.22&d=%2B46+14+52.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">Abell</span> 61 PK 77+14.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">PN</span> G077.6+14.7 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">PLNNB</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">CYG</span> 201" 13.5 19 19 10.1 +46 14 36
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<br />12mm <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">OIII</span> barely visible, round, several dim stars embedded near the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">center</span>.
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<br /></span><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+40+22.10&d=%2B27+18+33.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+40+22.10&d=%2B27+18+33.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">NGC</span> 6813 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">SG</span> 3.148 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">BRTNB</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">VUL</span> 3 m 99.9 99.9 19 40.4 +27 18
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<br />Dim star in an oval glow. Responds well to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">NPB</span> filter..
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+49+07.70&d=%2B18+23+04.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+49+07.70&d=%2B18+23+04.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh 2-84 EN <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">SGR</span> 15x3 19 49.0 +18 23
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<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">NPB</span> filter 12mm faint glow between two bright stars. The "Little California Nebula" appears a faint, 4' shallow arc of nebulosity bracketed by two mag 8.5 stars. Located 25' ESE of mag 3.7 Delta <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">Sagittae</span>.
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<br /></span>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-9567111844740968062011-08-21T13:15:00.000-07:002011-08-21T22:00:05.519-07:00A Tale Of Two Sites - Part 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+29+00.7&d=%2B09+38+39&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+29+00.7&d=%2B09+38+39&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">PARSAMIAN</span> 21 REFNEB <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">AQL</span> 19 29.007 +09 38 39
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<br />Tiny cometary nebula visible <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">predominantly</span> on one side of a dim star.
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<br /></span><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+45+34.83&d=%2B05+33+51.5&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+45+34.83&d=%2B05+33+51.5&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">Abell</span> 64 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">PGC</span> 63630 = PK 44-9.1 = <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">CGCG</span> 397-005 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">PLNNB</span> AQL 40"x27" 19 45 34.8 +05 33 52
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<br />Dim with OIII, roundish, distinct size but not large, just west of a pair of dimmer equal magnitude stars.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+03+43.20&d=%2B02+18+00.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+03+43.20&d=%2B02+18+00.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh2- 72 BRTNB AQL 25 m 99.9 99.9 19 03.8 +02 19
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<br />12mm OIII, large, fills most of fov, centered and most condensed around star GSC 466:1790, seems somewhat square. Mostly just a slight change in contrast.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+18+24.94&d=-01+35+47.4&e=J2000&h=15&w=15&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+18+24.94&d=-01+35+47.4&e=J2000&h=15&w=15&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>NGC 6778 PK 34-6.1 PLNNB AQL 19 s 13.3 9.1 19 18.4 -01 36
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<br />7mm OIII, bipolar planetary, two bright knots very close together with black separation between. Dimmer roundish disk surrounds bright inner pair. Central star very dimly observable.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+31+29.04&d=-02+05+24.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+31+29.04&d=-02+05+24.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh2- 64 LBN 90 BRTNB SER 20 m 99.9 99.9 18 31.6 -02 05
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<br />20mm OIII - large very dim area of nebulosity surrounding three dim stars. Not much distinct.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+42+46.92&d=-03+13+17.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+42+46.92&d=-03+13+17.2&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Abell 48 PK 29+0.1 = PN G029.0+00.4 PLNNB AQL 43"x37" 17.2 18 42 46.9 -03 13 25
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<br />7mm OIII, very small and ill defined. At edge of vision, but high percentage of time "feel" there is a dim glow. Mostly round. Off two pairs of stars at right angles to each other.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+45+36.65&d=-06+18+40.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+45+36.65&d=-06+18+40.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>PK 26-1.1 K4- 5 PLNNB SCT 20 s 15.7 99.9 18 45.6 -06 19
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<br />12mm OIII, very unusual shape! Linear and brightest section extends e/w and appears to get thicker to the w. Under, or n of the linear section a round glow comes and goes, appearing to "hang" below the linear glow.is a "bubble" to the w of the center of the line. Bubble appears annular.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+36+42.29&d=-06+37+27.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+36+42.29&d=-06+37+27.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sh 2-060 BRTNB SCT 20 18 36 40.5 -06 42 04
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<br />12mm OIII, dim even glow surrounding a pair of mag 12.6 stars.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+04+49.74&d=-07+35+09.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+04+49.74&d=-07+35+09.1&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>NGC 6539 GCL 85 GLOCL SER 2.5 m 8.9 99.9 18 04.8 -07 35
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<br />12mm, large and dim, unresolved. In heavily obscured area.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+45+14.40&d=-08+00+26.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+45+14.40&d=-08+00+26.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Palomar 11 GLOCL AQL 8 9.8 19 45.2 -08 00
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<br />12mm, large in fov, coarse, resolved partially. This Palomar globular appears as a diffuse, irregular glow 4' SSE of a mag 9 star. Try to resolve at high power.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+19+17.82&d=-12+14+36.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+19+17.82&d=-12+14+36.8&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Abell 60 PK 25-11.1 = PN G025.0-11.6 PLNNB SGR 88"x77" 16.2 19 19 18.6 -12 14 54
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<br />Very dim oval haze with VHT filter and 12mm Nagler. Almost not detectable.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+50+22.33&d=%2B73+20+59.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=18+50+22.33&d=%2B73+20+59.7&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>HGC085 CGCG 341-010 HCG DRA 14.4 18 50 18.5 +73 21 05
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<br />7mm Hicksons 85A and 85B.
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<br /><a href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+44+48.15&d=%2B50+31+30.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=19+44+48.15&d=%2B50+31+30.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>NGC 6826 PK 83+12.1 PLNNB CYG 27 s 8.8 6.9 19 44.8 +50 32
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<br />7mm obvious central star, darkened torus with some bright spots, surrounded by a bright almost round ring. H IV 73;Blinking Planetary;PK83+12.1Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-2196791555672871892011-04-30T22:04:00.000-07:002011-05-03T12:33:45.894-07:00Heaven and Earth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqjSzZ_mvii9v2CEFhLMwTrOrRlYVQlAGJ-6oyKadlJNHNPa6aMbWfr7_rDIS7KHvqtxu7eRG8p7XNYYCsCIeite4H_qO8bngoEQxqNKDv27B4wo9Hmh0bjYsavMVoG5XI53bIKJJKjc/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqjSzZ_mvii9v2CEFhLMwTrOrRlYVQlAGJ-6oyKadlJNHNPa6aMbWfr7_rDIS7KHvqtxu7eRG8p7XNYYCsCIeite4H_qO8bngoEQxqNKDv27B4wo9Hmh0bjYsavMVoG5XI53bIKJJKjc/s320/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602509681906106434" border="0" /></a>It had been an awful winter for astronomy. This was the first night out for Mina and me this year. We arrived at Willow Springs at 3pm and met a local land owner who is selling parcels, and spent three hours looking at land. I'm told there are neighbors who grow organic food - vegetables and herbs, a local nudist, and a few parcels owned by Buddhists. Nudists, Foodists and Buddhists. Hmmm. Anyway, the area looked good, some great places out there, and who knows what might develop. The photo is a view of the peaks where the land is located, looking mostly northwest.<br /><br />Afterward we set up at <a href="http://samples.briskbuild.biz/deepskyranch/">Deep Sky Ranch</a>, and were soon joined by Marko Johnston, Richard Navarrete, and finally, Steve Gottlieb. The night turned out to be okay, but not great. I'll take it for a first night out. The sky seemed kind of bright, the SQM reading I overheard seemed to confirm it. Transparency came and went, as did the seeing. In the best moments it was great, in the worst, things I'd expect to be able to see were invisible. One thing I was curios about was Steve's experience observing with Barbarella, Jimi Lowery's 48" telescope near Fort Davis Texas... he promised to post an observing report, which I now see <a href="http://observers.org/tac.mailing.list/2011/May/0131.html">he did</a>.<br /><br />The night started out with Steve showing a recent supernova. It was very bright, looking much more like a field star than anything I'd take for a supernova. Nice find Steve. In the distance during the night, I could hear Marko taking notes on his recorder. Familiar. Next to me, Richard was observing Hicksons. I spent the night going over a grab-bag of objects, and trying to see the Hicksons in Richard's scope. Marko would join Richard and I picking out Hicksons. Some are quite easy, as the joke goes. Some are a bear. Maybe Richard will comment on them. Steve was busy as usual, observing challenging targets. I asked what was on his list, and he mentioned dwarf galaxies. It sounded so politically incorrect, I asked, and we determined that they should be reclassified as "size differenced" - but that giant galaxies would probably prefer to keep their size classification as is. So, don't call them dwarfs.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkooRoXFzX98I2q1mmNi3XXtP3o9r1henbxvt4zIlOuHFGB2kyvDvfllS7Kx-rIdJ9dhPLSACafZ8KS-mzn_S0-8U1EOMrhTaia3GZYKQV7_PGgCrNTW2oBf6y_TedfariutOpGF_SyrY/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkooRoXFzX98I2q1mmNi3XXtP3o9r1henbxvt4zIlOuHFGB2kyvDvfllS7Kx-rIdJ9dhPLSACafZ8KS-mzn_S0-8U1EOMrhTaia3GZYKQV7_PGgCrNTW2oBf6y_TedfariutOpGF_SyrY/s320/011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602510076780521634" border="0" /></a>Other notable occurrences during the night were various amorous livestock in the area, and temperatures that dropped to 32F leaving ice on car roofs. Next morning we drove out and headed east, instead of the usual way home. The drive back through the Panoche Valley on J1 was desolate beauty . We drove past Mercy Hot Springs, and DARC, which I hear is the new 2nd home of one of our <a href="http://blog.deepskycolors.com/">top local imagers</a>. This is a good area for astronomy as all there is there, is - heaven and earth (<span style="font-weight: normal"><i>tenchinage)</i></span> - I've fallen for it again, and, it was a good, again. A new observing season... just getting out under open dark skies, is good.<br /><br />Here are my notes. All descriptions are with 18" f/4.5 Obsession, and 7mm Nagler, unless otherwise noted. All images are click-able...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQfMgKuE2nyrAKZMyTi36WAjXac9Ag9d53LCElwiWjGVopQmWsVilKp22S-7rP1xUQUOhJz5XcDu3Wmkn-QxfkDpW4rnXYy_rqejZ_y-2lprXAj99iCuP_NKLs_hww6q6K2PlcPXz0TM/s1600/n5218.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQfMgKuE2nyrAKZMyTi36WAjXac9Ag9d53LCElwiWjGVopQmWsVilKp22S-7rP1xUQUOhJz5XcDu3Wmkn-QxfkDpW4rnXYy_rqejZ_y-2lprXAj99iCuP_NKLs_hww6q6K2PlcPXz0TM/s320/n5218.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602355725485422210" border="0" /></a>Arp 104 UMa GX 2.9'x1.6' 12.3 13 32 10 62 45 53<br />Arp 104 UMa GX 2.4'x1.8' 13.6P 13 32 07 62 42 01<br /><br />NGC 5218 is disrupted, and has swirling arms. Bright bar of a core. NGC 5216 is dimmer, smaller, rounder and has a very compact nearly stellar core.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRWU8dO2zVMfDiW2GwZPMO1VuQK4JRCmO2o7OERvqhyW_R5IBBbO8oN1dyXNMnpOI9p1fLz9J0g9vLDQb8gee0a9-2lK3JLQlv8iiv58aQgkHKWDUicE2y1_ahaHv_TWyBo8btBPu-Lc/s1600/arp238.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRWU8dO2zVMfDiW2GwZPMO1VuQK4JRCmO2o7OERvqhyW_R5IBBbO8oN1dyXNMnpOI9p1fLz9J0g9vLDQb8gee0a9-2lK3JLQlv8iiv58aQgkHKWDUicE2y1_ahaHv_TWyBo8btBPu-Lc/s320/arp238.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602357367870782386" border="0" /></a>Arp 238 UMa GX 0.9'x0.7' 14.4 13 15 29 62 07 27<br />Arp 238 UMa GX 1.0'x0.6' 15.3 13 15 35 62 07 27<br /><br />With concentration there are two dim galaxies oriented E/W, with brighter galaxy trailing, and has at times a small stellar nucleus. Other galaxy is round and smaller. The two galaxies can be mistaken for haze around stars, as there are a pair to their N with equal separation (and brightness) that are collinear with the galaxies.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MIYA7ooq9UesVGFfbiScy4psa6mMJv-wfAR0iGdLqoEZ0zlK176qZ-jZjQQuyS3_D0wkHe3wdDvLzx1b-aLmIaQ7ScPF819U-JJM5JdvWqM37JZAMXFvl8Ndvsg6v6Dauxn72gwiZuI/s1600/n5308.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MIYA7ooq9UesVGFfbiScy4psa6mMJv-wfAR0iGdLqoEZ0zlK176qZ-jZjQQuyS3_D0wkHe3wdDvLzx1b-aLmIaQ7ScPF819U-JJM5JdvWqM37JZAMXFvl8Ndvsg6v6Dauxn72gwiZuI/s320/n5308.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602500374910632706" border="0" /></a>N5308 Uma GX 3.7'x0.6' 12.3B 13 47 00 60 58 23<br /><br />Nice very elongated galaxy SSW/NNE. Somewhat of a bright small round core, with stellar pinpoint nucleus popping in. Disk gradually thins beyond the core, with possible dark lane. Striking galaxy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEpXtCz39WZ4GK9yhwwHudSUwg9rwoSXL6DmUvCCNfsMIJarxyCyQgjENx9QPpiAtoHRExJlzmsUKgVKAAdBreqWs2GH8HkDN0NbGnKha6jY6hhH9uD51FozGc9poPzw877EfreALBm0/s1600/n5322.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEpXtCz39WZ4GK9yhwwHudSUwg9rwoSXL6DmUvCCNfsMIJarxyCyQgjENx9QPpiAtoHRExJlzmsUKgVKAAdBreqWs2GH8HkDN0NbGnKha6jY6hhH9uD51FozGc9poPzw877EfreALBm0/s320/n5322.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602500868166396690" border="0" /></a>NGC 5322 Boo GX 5.9'x3.8' 11.1B 13 49 14 60 11 26<br /><br />Bright compact core is small and quickly transitions to a slightly dimmer disk, which then dims quickly into large fading oval. Fairly large galaxy is elongated but dominated by the bright core, which makes the rest of the object appear dimmer than it really is. Stars overlay the galaxy on the s and e sides. Nice view!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkdYgUbP0iX6jKc5jw6DxFlLuRX5gULQEKnL0va5p12QbYF8KdPg6tuKklYLMvm88DR2Wna5Ei1cnUCPq8swsgvzzeEDSdqLZRHXwnl7p7fiQzGTG7dTrdb-BtfdrQ5oPRv-NM0P-6hI/s1600/n5430.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkdYgUbP0iX6jKc5jw6DxFlLuRX5gULQEKnL0va5p12QbYF8KdPg6tuKklYLMvm88DR2Wna5Ei1cnUCPq8swsgvzzeEDSdqLZRHXwnl7p7fiQzGTG7dTrdb-BtfdrQ5oPRv-NM0P-6hI/s320/n5430.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602501919347800386" border="0" /></a>N5430 Uma GX 2.2'x1.1' 12.7P 14 00 45 59 19 43<br /><br />No find! Too bad :-(<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7E9X9gtOEldxTuwJKCrg3BPEtm_h766cwhu35uo_t9RbvzAme2dI930XUYcWMl6pgGdEShzvHdoJrSBn-lfWv7-I4p2Efjx4ZU9G3Hz4jRSn6eqfJOCLakAgHRAefMfTBPSPatBTnAsw/s1600/agc1767.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7E9X9gtOEldxTuwJKCrg3BPEtm_h766cwhu35uo_t9RbvzAme2dI930XUYcWMl6pgGdEShzvHdoJrSBn-lfWv7-I4p2Efjx4ZU9G3Hz4jRSn6eqfJOCLakAgHRAefMfTBPSPatBTnAsw/s320/agc1767.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602502441801054098" border="0" /></a>AGC 1767 UMa GXCL 20.7' 15.7 13 36.00 59 12 00<br /><br />Too dim for the night.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5k-cdmXn4BRUTdMo_s6v_F-iS-MC3HLOZnVFu2JijXlE5cSyPwG7bEjbAVblXUxt37KsUve34XpmkiZJY3Kq5DXIrfqeleA8P9KkkyANV3NqU2DqSyzlj-CtbWKPKbjAww4dA6Kixk2o/s1600/n5204.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5k-cdmXn4BRUTdMo_s6v_F-iS-MC3HLOZnVFu2JijXlE5cSyPwG7bEjbAVblXUxt37KsUve34XpmkiZJY3Kq5DXIrfqeleA8P9KkkyANV3NqU2DqSyzlj-CtbWKPKbjAww4dA6Kixk2o/s320/n5204.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602502879473103810" border="0" /></a>N5204 UMa GX 5.0'x3.0' 11.7B 13 29 36 58 25 09<br /><br />Large elongated moderately bright galaxy with large roundish core that is even, losing brightness at the edge of the core through the elongation. Possibly mottled.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXpcvJS1nBllzqYQy6tCwXBnCYrIlrC4ci2gRNKC7xKran1hUX0oSiZE1vKpKSTg_ElMnSB-7YzU9Oil0-6LozuPvf6QgeBOC7QETCmncF5ag_6s0pH9enrAZAK_sSsy2y1WHq_ZcpUM/s1600/hickson+66.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXpcvJS1nBllzqYQy6tCwXBnCYrIlrC4ci2gRNKC7xKran1hUX0oSiZE1vKpKSTg_ElMnSB-7YzU9Oil0-6LozuPvf6QgeBOC7QETCmncF5ag_6s0pH9enrAZAK_sSsy2y1WHq_ZcpUM/s320/hickson+66.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602503796654389906" border="0" /></a>HGC066A UMa GX5 0.5'x0.4' 15.8B 13 38 38 57 18 44<br /><br />One component just detectable, but barely. Sky is bright. No real detail, just a small oval dim glow.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQhEz5dNyXytVxUcjYnftv-DmBcQAiWj7Q4OobANF9tVAlFq3JFcXHG3odOloVZYYewvmNlK3uDTPB-eSZELwZas2uJ9H6WBV6zEixy-0qSTMeiCZUpPZEb1q-2mw_FrPLuQkd3OiYg0/s1600/n5585.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQhEz5dNyXytVxUcjYnftv-DmBcQAiWj7Q4OobANF9tVAlFq3JFcXHG3odOloVZYYewvmNlK3uDTPB-eSZELwZas2uJ9H6WBV6zEixy-0qSTMeiCZUpPZEb1q-2mw_FrPLuQkd3OiYg0/s320/n5585.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602504097405112914" border="0" /></a>N5585 Uma GX 6.1'x3.8' 11.2B 14 19 47 56 43 45<br /><br />Large and obvious in 12mm, galaxy has elongated large core that could almost be a bright bar. Dim area around core hints at several long spiral arms. Close inspection shows core to be set asymetrically, with most of the arm structure toward the brightest nearby star.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoKDlk9SmpewD_fG2KIcA_xK3YBZBvt9tQ4dEu60mCDhcVFXYo1Fd0IL9cW5XPaCOMMEbSmBLSyKTcBTbAmWQNgicV5iJjwwycKdG64E_IUUXQ5raoJvxua-h-tB0HTKDuCgRdc1Rzcs/s1600/NGC+5631.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoKDlk9SmpewD_fG2KIcA_xK3YBZBvt9tQ4dEu60mCDhcVFXYo1Fd0IL9cW5XPaCOMMEbSmBLSyKTcBTbAmWQNgicV5iJjwwycKdG64E_IUUXQ5raoJvxua-h-tB0HTKDuCgRdc1Rzcs/s320/NGC+5631.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602504463303075506" border="0" /></a>NGC 5631 Uma GX 1.7' 12.4B 14 26 33 56 35 01<br /><br />Small dim oval pointing away from nearby dim star. No detail.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />N54<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a4rdOK9oQX5gSaAkliMW5JyU4qzVwpxUr92xp2B-YHzRkPVA21SLi39SBQZYwpGzcL2gzXNrfN3prk-Yq_ibp5029p4rqeGzWB9zKhCC2lfnL-IMpTF0vX8qXyjuArNR3zQzJN16ihY/s1600/N5443.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a4rdOK9oQX5gSaAkliMW5JyU4qzVwpxUr92xp2B-YHzRkPVA21SLi39SBQZYwpGzcL2gzXNrfN3prk-Yq_ibp5029p4rqeGzWB9zKhCC2lfnL-IMpTF0vX8qXyjuArNR3zQzJN16ihY/s320/N5443.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602504733623770306" border="0" /></a>43 Uma GX 3.2'x1.2' 13.1P 14 02 11 55 48 56<br /><br />Dim lumpy bumpy elongated galaxy full of dark intrusions and disturbed appearance, Oriented E/W, there is a knot in the w side close to the core, compared to knot in E side, which is further from core. Dark intrusions both sides of core.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTaYDsWhnbtVjoQqJldoFtVBugMMSPdfYOo4hauTBT-QGIYNVCuZzVq1024CocPqKphKCkW5m1EKHEEk82IvlJZZBDSPP3xcVHcRKNbGZt6gypeeBfzshUysS5e265i1XwJO28I9O2ps/s1600/Arp+239.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTaYDsWhnbtVjoQqJldoFtVBugMMSPdfYOo4hauTBT-QGIYNVCuZzVq1024CocPqKphKCkW5m1EKHEEk82IvlJZZBDSPP3xcVHcRKNbGZt6gypeeBfzshUysS5e265i1XwJO28I9O2ps/s320/Arp+239.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602505007745442210" border="0" /></a>Arp 239 UMa GX 0.7'x0.4' 15.0 13 41 43 55 40 23<br /><br />Dim, two main galaxies NGC 5278 and 5279, just break apart with black space between.<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]-->Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-2711741701994109592010-10-10T12:51:00.000-07:002010-10-11T14:30:20.040-07:0010 10 10! A fine night at Willow Springs.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawxcjrUZjUFYQ1JIuOai2lUuX9Puj1gqWyihb0_vpR6imV4ZLSrk1ETXKgo35a-ILevmbDk0-5M-L1kLQ9H6vQU-RpX3n2IjPwujCCan5O3xf4oymioOXedrrnFcrM6qn_QFleJrbvGI/s1600/61821_10150278838955319_620905318_15100672_7076460_n.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawxcjrUZjUFYQ1JIuOai2lUuX9Puj1gqWyihb0_vpR6imV4ZLSrk1ETXKgo35a-ILevmbDk0-5M-L1kLQ9H6vQU-RpX3n2IjPwujCCan5O3xf4oymioOXedrrnFcrM6qn_QFleJrbvGI/s320/61821_10150278838955319_620905318_15100672_7076460_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526893837435493986" border="0" /></a><span>Sunday afternoon, Richard Navarrete, Marko Johnston, Mina Reyes and I all met at Willow </span><span>Springs for what would be an excellent night of observing. Between us, there were three 18" </span><span>Dobs, and a pair of 20x80 Celestron Giant Binoculars on a parallelogram mount. Conditions were </span><span>warm, requiring no more than a few light layers of clothing, and although the SQM readings were average for our location, they were better than conditions reported from </span><span>other sites the prior nights. To our west there was some brightening over the hills, in the direction of Hollister, but overhead, we were going deep, and enjoying hunting challenging targets in the early fall skies. To the north, Comet Hartley 2 was on the verge of naked eye visibility. Over the night, Mina was doing quick sketches of the comet's position every 45 minutes or so, and you could easy follow its rapid motion against the background stars.<br /><br />The night was very pleasant, with everyone sharing views, taking time to chat, joke, have a few drinks, and relax with each others company. The way it should be! Among the most interesting views were Abell 85 in Marko's scope, and several Hicksons in Richard's... of which I thought Hickson 16 was amazing, and could rival Hickson 68 for best in class!<br /><br /></span><a href="http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2001/12/image/b/format/large_web/results/50/layout/1*00/"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ijuf9VHGKwW8rQ5oZZEi3fwIfMG8z5YsLlQJsIIijxteMQbhIASqFnKlNiOmyCuztsBRfozrGqKrIl5uCcbGnXC1hDQeSXp4_F0jqjqAi61Doki-N-WVwJnKnQMpb4e6Dey8d0snJrk/s320/hs-2001-12-b-large_web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526899341251423810" border="0" /></a><span>I had created an Excel with about 100 targets to choose from, in a swath of sky a degree wide centered on RA 23:29. I began in the north, and as usual, never got much further south than zenith. Its just too much fun teasing out detail - in some cases, just teasing out anything at all!<br /><br /></span><span>I don't know what time we called it a night, but it must have been between 2:30 and 3:00 a.m. As I lay in my truck, in bed, door open to the south... I fell asleep watching Orion climbing high in the sky to the south. I don't think I'd been to Willow Springs since maybe June - this was a great return.<br /><br />Big thanks to Kevin Ritschel, whom I was very pleased to see again. A big red coming your way next time I visit.... thank you so much for the hospitality... your guests give you all 10's.<br /><br />Here are the targets I viewed, and brief notes:<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSmByTqjSejYVnRV2zAbT89HWccPo6x5wkNRjmI69WghyTrCD3JYbyJklH-hy1s_EKxLnEHc4g1gNDnw24fXHTpcvcLJ0KBDR_2X9By-6e9vKJh-rez_3kJw9F8V4HDcXs8NiMFrfKbQ/s1600/n7762.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSmByTqjSejYVnRV2zAbT89HWccPo6x5wkNRjmI69WghyTrCD3JYbyJklH-hy1s_EKxLnEHc4g1gNDnw24fXHTpcvcLJ0KBDR_2X9By-6e9vKJh-rez_3kJw9F8V4HDcXs8NiMFrfKbQ/s320/n7762.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526886600428158402" border="0" /></a><span>N 7762 Cep OC 11 23 50 01 +68 02 18<br /><br />18" 20mm - 25 stars of similar (tier 1) magnitude in three distinct chains, largest one running E/W for about 13', next largest running S of the E end of the long one for about 8' and the shortest one between the other two running NW/SE for only 2' and having only 4 stars. Rest of cluster is dim background comprising of a distinct haze.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINV21HjNM2M-XxfXHZK9jX3RjbNfE5tOU2huZKyMa7LtsxgapmWL7XVF9Uo8OqUZ7ouS0b9hd1EBOSgc9j4v82dqUdy3FM9wkf-QCAEwaPGDS1clu7vDRSkSRTVapwCSJ1dPthyphenhyphen0lTxE/s1600/s2-155.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINV21HjNM2M-XxfXHZK9jX3RjbNfE5tOU2huZKyMa7LtsxgapmWL7XVF9Uo8OqUZ7ouS0b9hd1EBOSgc9j4v82dqUdy3FM9wkf-QCAEwaPGDS1clu7vDRSkSRTVapwCSJ1dPthyphenhyphen0lTxE/s320/s2-155.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526886741005402898" border="0" /></a><span>Sh 2-155 BN 60 2 22 56 43 +62 37 04<br /><br />18" 20mm - three bright stars are embedded in nebulosity. SAO 20334, SAO 20335 and SAO 20332. Ultrablock helps show mottling throughout the area.. Nebulosity is most distinct on the W or "inside" of the curve of the three stars.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoIxveG6eSjq2O_wTVWITeOEmzWgP6s8Zm_FfrjzeDAX5nMwQNkdFMD20zN9TdTXnhaq3BZWYx4wuntkxzBTOPTZy2DEDGsaziGD6MSbi7PD4vHQDSgHGEBNg2_2vv5qPq5ipHTSrXKY/s1600/sh2-165.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoIxveG6eSjq2O_wTVWITeOEmzWgP6s8Zm_FfrjzeDAX5nMwQNkdFMD20zN9TdTXnhaq3BZWYx4wuntkxzBTOPTZy2DEDGsaziGD6MSbi7PD4vHQDSgHGEBNg2_2vv5qPq5ipHTSrXKY/s320/sh2-165.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526886887946544594" border="0" /></a><span>Sh 2-165 BN 10 2 23 39 48 +61 56 15<br /><br />18" 29mm - Ultrablock reveals a distinct small bright glow around GSC 4284:722 - along with dim nebulosity located tightly to the NW of the star, and extending more dimly away to the S and a bit to the SE.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdSLKEVYWp2CFYJc1dcBj985hZ6H9-bGTPxK8p4tHPpT58Fj_LlGp_bHkjYnJmcgtteJU-kRqkJ4eWYIGMUlswGDXvSWBZ-zCKXgeHpnjEh1lpjM_YI_uIJKKZ3z-cnilimjMIzsfTi0/s1600/sh2-161.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdSLKEVYWp2CFYJc1dcBj985hZ6H9-bGTPxK8p4tHPpT58Fj_LlGp_bHkjYnJmcgtteJU-kRqkJ4eWYIGMUlswGDXvSWBZ-zCKXgeHpnjEh1lpjM_YI_uIJKKZ3z-cnilimjMIzsfTi0/s320/sh2-161.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526887029487492226" border="0" /></a><span>Sh 2-161 BN 55 2 23 15 29 +61 51 43<br /><br />18" 20mm - Ultrablock shows very slight glow between SAO 19274, GSC 4252:370 and GSC 4248:909 with "brightest" area near GSC 4248:909.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcC2ctc0KNVpBzkZuMzzc24jHEf1juWlli9iJ32GvrEOJge0HE8Kk6ma7kfPX1y49Je9As-SGuCOrKq3IxlpZb4Nxm9utUGtoURLnc5PKEgkAHOmT6KwzSgdZFBWJrrq8USHaqwDbx1p8/s1600/m52.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcC2ctc0KNVpBzkZuMzzc24jHEf1juWlli9iJ32GvrEOJge0HE8Kk6ma7kfPX1y49Je9As-SGuCOrKq3IxlpZb4Nxm9utUGtoURLnc5PKEgkAHOmT6KwzSgdZFBWJrrq8USHaqwDbx1p8/s320/m52.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526887159909777506" border="0" /></a><span>M052 CAS OC 13 8 23 24 12 +61 35 00 NGC 7654<br /><br />18" 20mm - bright, distinct cluster about 20' diameter - 1 very bright star near edge of cluster, about 20 bright (tier 1) stars embedded in estimated 50 dimmer (tier 2) stars. Dim glow of many more stars is throughout cluster.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKPioyGTGITMdDUxQ4ns2l3nHgxlHYMl6IBz3ER-12YNNQcC-1ZnWD8VGB1XUqJjpqzrdMYHtn7mxKzwG8Xo0XlYSLjpCp360YMabhibWHSGf4xPXj2yyJN0tWxv82J4DOycd6yf0H0U/s1600/sh2-158.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKPioyGTGITMdDUxQ4ns2l3nHgxlHYMl6IBz3ER-12YNNQcC-1ZnWD8VGB1XUqJjpqzrdMYHtn7mxKzwG8Xo0XlYSLjpCp360YMabhibWHSGf4xPXj2yyJN0tWxv82J4DOycd6yf0H0U/s320/sh2-158.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526887305941711762" border="0" /></a><span>Sh 2-158 BN 10 3 23 13 39 +61 30 40 N7538<br /><br />18" 7mm - pair of "bright(er)" stars, (actually three), with dark lane to their W in an obvious glow surrounding the stars. Brightest section is S of the stars. Lower section (N of the stars) the glow is obviously mottled. Nice find!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqy4WKbnBIIC5ROoqtrmZpBu5NsJ4IlXoVyiE0hyphenhyphenGQMKGGHJn4a8W5_fvT8-GmiG7wkm5KEGJooL4Kmp8hQyuzF3YQHmzggfGjJlojEk9GQ2_j3tNVarBiBI9CAIhy1BDECoao7RxMss/s1600/sh2-162.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqy4WKbnBIIC5ROoqtrmZpBu5NsJ4IlXoVyiE0hyphenhyphenGQMKGGHJn4a8W5_fvT8-GmiG7wkm5KEGJooL4Kmp8hQyuzF3YQHmzggfGjJlojEk9GQ2_j3tNVarBiBI9CAIhy1BDECoao7RxMss/s320/sh2-162.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526887515393185442" border="0" /></a><span>Sh 2-162 BN 40 3 23 20 41 +61 11 52 N7635 = Bubble Nebula<br /><br />18" 7mm - surrounds mag 8.7 star SAO 20575 - is mottled extending W with an E/W split showing a dark lane. Brightest section of nebulosity SW of star, to NE is an arc with a hard edge.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qC6vvlPgKZvgj0M_g8LQTcM2-zYN2fbrW_osdLMBgNWowjko9CstPdwoXjhrWBVwHC_HhL9eU7IHNawhfP9-gbTR__2DsgqHOwFF7TSQ4dyY2LFDTLBttYQegefFqs_P3JbYiLRKz1g/s1600/n7419.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qC6vvlPgKZvgj0M_g8LQTcM2-zYN2fbrW_osdLMBgNWowjko9CstPdwoXjhrWBVwHC_HhL9eU7IHNawhfP9-gbTR__2DsgqHOwFF7TSQ4dyY2LFDTLBttYQegefFqs_P3JbYiLRKz1g/s320/n7419.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526887660148161794" border="0" /></a><span>N 7419 Cep OC 2 22 54 20 +60 48 55<br /><br />18" 12mm - nice compact cluster consisting of 1 very bright (tier 1) star, two dimmer (tier 2), and 19 dim ones, at the end of a nice chain of three stars in diminishing magnitude leading to the cluster. Very attractive at 193x.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkj0kWhIvhkX4IQhYCGLK1K7SfosSJMh4d3qFKzwiMcf42W0Y0kkhJxvavQGDeJ4OHKrDIAS783mg5_QFOE0wYrSi15xnM_Y96SedUQhXOESi6o0dsncgSsqZAFGhduWy9VqUOgPtKm8/s1600/n7510.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkj0kWhIvhkX4IQhYCGLK1K7SfosSJMh4d3qFKzwiMcf42W0Y0kkhJxvavQGDeJ4OHKrDIAS783mg5_QFOE0wYrSi15xnM_Y96SedUQhXOESi6o0dsncgSsqZAFGhduWy9VqUOgPtKm8/s320/n7510.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526887804786887426" border="0" /></a><span>NGC 7510 Cep OC 2 7.9 23 11 30 +60 34 00<br /><br />18" 20mm - nice spray of stars in three chains coming off a mag 9.6 star, and all extending W. Very compact and distinctive.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfCTy_rEJyqjHkqHNwWXkSv-R7_1nPxL-qXP6OO_ecQJXxpumtEINdVVNrWpmfpLz-0vtCTkecuMqQF5xM2J2xqWwbZDDfQGcA62VglM0krnZV6vBcbOOsMfk0Q_yOrsZoY3ht7WkKxY/s1600/sh2-157.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfCTy_rEJyqjHkqHNwWXkSv-R7_1nPxL-qXP6OO_ecQJXxpumtEINdVVNrWpmfpLz-0vtCTkecuMqQF5xM2J2xqWwbZDDfQGcA62VglM0krnZV6vBcbOOsMfk0Q_yOrsZoY3ht7WkKxY/s320/sh2-157.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526887963182018066" border="0" /></a><span>Sh 2-157 BN 90 3 23 16 03 +60 02 44 18"<br /><br />12mm - dim glow around GSC 4263:2102 and extending toward a distinct chain of stars to the east. Filters do not help. Distinct but very dim.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sSH_oCErf8RV3hyphenhyphenWtpGyJbmkygYAN58xYco2Bswpt3OLlESCrHOI-CmGgpMaSIM5YsAiuoPC5ZY4tqRrDvRZQjU5nwXAJsevXII30xw8UvWNUGNzqPm5BAYhRYdqfkTB7Nj1Ca_CE9o/s1600/abell82.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sSH_oCErf8RV3hyphenhyphenWtpGyJbmkygYAN58xYco2Bswpt3OLlESCrHOI-CmGgpMaSIM5YsAiuoPC5ZY4tqRrDvRZQjU5nwXAJsevXII30xw8UvWNUGNzqPm5BAYhRYdqfkTB7Nj1Ca_CE9o/s320/abell82.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526888101529852418" border="0" /></a><span>Abell 82 Cas PN 94" 12.7 23 45 47 +57 03 59 PK 114-4.1 = PN G114.0-04.6<br /><br />18" 12mm - OIII filter. Dim, round, possibly annular. At least two stars involved, one bright. Bright star is possible central star. Appears mottled.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc5mmrtwJmDafXQOb_wyfUkEemJw0hiEbL3Op8GpT4q5j_McYlpT14X8vHfbPXyLYt_LSJYlpp7D4djngIRsjdeHk0bxy-Qz5V0f9r_djdEnCX_nucrqvH2-fpFiv5Ux-r394Z4iOoOQ/s1600/abell83.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc5mmrtwJmDafXQOb_wyfUkEemJw0hiEbL3Op8GpT4q5j_McYlpT14X8vHfbPXyLYt_LSJYlpp7D4djngIRsjdeHk0bxy-Qz5V0f9r_djdEnCX_nucrqvH2-fpFiv5Ux-r394Z4iOoOQ/s320/abell83.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526888279735925202" border="0" /></a><span>Abell 83 Cas PN 42"x37" 15.5 23 46 46 +54 44 38 PK 113-6.1 = PN G113.6-06.9<br /><br />18" 12mm - OIII filter. Very dim, about 7'x3' E/W. Even brightness, possibly crescent and open to the north.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vanjcHsnZwOXI1D0CYY4xz4zA-Tz8Di3XLzfgE5sZkFvGFw4-QIhsoSffC9ynEQoILwSjIg2dZKhlwgteX052Fc9ab9UFC6CsfJXYbILvuZLA9yH1Vd2pEXpqPJLBImEBdnKCGSpjbc/s1600/abell84.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vanjcHsnZwOXI1D0CYY4xz4zA-Tz8Di3XLzfgE5sZkFvGFw4-QIhsoSffC9ynEQoILwSjIg2dZKhlwgteX052Fc9ab9UFC6CsfJXYbILvuZLA9yH1Vd2pEXpqPJLBImEBdnKCGSpjbc/s320/abell84.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526888449417436994" border="0" /></a><span>Abell 84 Cas PN 147"x114" 13 23 47 44 +51 23 56 PK 112-10.1 = PN G112.9-10.2<br /><br />18" 12mm - OIII filter. Obvious oval glow that includes a bright star. Star makes nebula appear uneven in brightness, may be an optical illusion, but very noticeable. Nebula may be 2x as large as it seems around star, extending away from the star as a large oval with uneven brightness.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8BefUlVVKo6nFARd_FSK1ff7k4kz9Qcd2QzrRTWwCUhTaDahD7G11iPg_Ab-MwMlKRx495hCp7x4Wl-LmeoCtlOkCmvC1sUijCq-IGnQYQtUqd72uda95i9my87CPmxq0ww-1hctZuA/s1600/n7686.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8BefUlVVKo6nFARd_FSK1ff7k4kz9Qcd2QzrRTWwCUhTaDahD7G11iPg_Ab-MwMlKRx495hCp7x4Wl-LmeoCtlOkCmvC1sUijCq-IGnQYQtUqd72uda95i9my87CPmxq0ww-1hctZuA/s320/n7686.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526888660795273698" border="0" /></a><span>NGC 7686 And OC 7.4 5.6 23 30 60 +49 08 00<br /><br />18" 20mm - large coarse cluster with wide range of star magnitudes. Dominated by brightest star in center of group. Wiggling the scope creates excellent "Mexican Jumping Star" effect. Perhaps 8'x10' in size.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n7662block.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHxkn4PQiLIcNOSpR5WsjO0kpJwn47XdgXt3cXFhfgTr4GsZuIdGBdB96jqCA9ecZ2WO8VAP0qOrxv89MQF-L6vo7OyB3INKqFxJlDtVDCPdrP0M71RFhrZA_xsnupL7Cw7U8kacMc6Y/s320/n7662.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526888948581746178" border="0" /></a><span>NGC 7662 And PN 32x23 9 23 25 54 +42 33 00<br /><br />18" 7mm - OIII filter. Distinct torus in center is dark. No central star. Torus surrounded by very bright glowing ring, which is immediately surrounded by a dimmer ring of equal thickness. This "inner" section is elongated generally E/W. Surrounding inner section is a large and dim "change in contrast" envelope extending in a mostly N/S elongation.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAooGBFT8rI7fKOAUKll8UlRZAESgPV3NT6wMC872yA2Hdcrd2p_AudHYJTVR_0XM7HyBoyENri6aO-ZGwQ13nP0ZAFCBV9WG8dawGlOCMIveN3fNLcr2sjO2TFIrsXMTuSbtg6tlGc_M/s1600/n7640.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAooGBFT8rI7fKOAUKll8UlRZAESgPV3NT6wMC872yA2Hdcrd2p_AudHYJTVR_0XM7HyBoyENri6aO-ZGwQ13nP0ZAFCBV9WG8dawGlOCMIveN3fNLcr2sjO2TFIrsXMTuSbtg6tlGc_M/s320/n7640.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526889219060491698" border="0" /></a><span>N 7640 And GX 10.5x2.0 11.3 23 22 06 +40 50 44<br /><br />18" 12mm - large elongated galaxy with slightly brighter core and mostly even surface brightness. Some variation seems to indicate slighter brightening on NE half. Star embedded just off S of the central region appears to bifurcate galaxy, but this is illusion.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-bvb55OLjRYli7qGcWQtY2WQYeFzVlIywwqHp4F_SiHTiFemePIZK_YCj89ETCtvlbIL1AzD-FQWTCg2Lowgneew4ZjeJDg3tEgUHGby__OdN3WQuNmKDREOy4hYxiPxkQpQYsn74iM/s1600/n7445.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-bvb55OLjRYli7qGcWQtY2WQYeFzVlIywwqHp4F_SiHTiFemePIZK_YCj89ETCtvlbIL1AzD-FQWTCg2Lowgneew4ZjeJDg3tEgUHGby__OdN3WQuNmKDREOy4hYxiPxkQpQYsn74iM/s320/n7445.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526889368585163842" border="0" /></a><span>N7445/46/49 And Trio 4 14.6:14.4:14.0 22 59 42 +39 06 00<br /><br />18" 7mm - trio shows readily at this magnification. NGC 7449 seems mostly round but perhaps a bit of elongation. NGC 7446 about equal in brightness and shape to 7449. NGC 7445 is noticeably dimmer, and shows elongation.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kjz7Z7g5_5KVLXSmI3QU67rgic0qhhdXV5T7M-You8crjRQoWxmHYh77rXOZGysE-RxlQlGSfEdEdKokehK7X51fxwTiJiaSrb8YUr8eVFqFLvtDpVSttJMgbXqbtJSyuKpcVpqGG60/s1600/arp86.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kjz7Z7g5_5KVLXSmI3QU67rgic0qhhdXV5T7M-You8crjRQoWxmHYh77rXOZGysE-RxlQlGSfEdEdKokehK7X51fxwTiJiaSrb8YUr8eVFqFLvtDpVSttJMgbXqbtJSyuKpcVpqGG60/s320/arp86.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526889537514204162" border="0" /></a><span>Arp 86 GX 3.3'x2.1' 12 23 47 04 +29 29 00 NGC 7753<br /><br />18" 7mm - this NGC is listed as nonexistent, but NGC 7549 found at location. First seen though were NGC 7550 to its S and NGC 7457 to NGC 7550's W. Finally, after seeing NGC 7549, CGCG 454-15 appeared.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All astrophotos from Digital Sky Survey except NGC 7662 credit Adam Block and Orion by Hubblesite. Mina Reyes photo by Guillermo Moran.<br /><br /><br /></span>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-52003955594058050142010-08-14T12:19:00.000-07:002010-08-19T12:12:04.910-07:00Friendly SkiesA group of six observers spent three nights at Mount Lassen this last new moon. We <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40545_1534735419417_1565764465_31306561_2645823_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs144.ash2/40545_1534735419417_1565764465_31306561_2645823_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>went during the week, with our last night August 12th, the peak night for the Perseid Meteor Shower. We stayed in a cabin, in Mineral, a few miles outside the park's southwest entrance.<br /><br />I always marvel at the views of the park entering from the southwest. In past years, camping, the group would stay at Lost Creek Group Campground, or Summit Lake South. Both are great places from which to enjoy the park. We'd enter through the north, via the Manzanita Lake entrance. From there, you get to see some nice lakes, and views of the volcanic peak, however - the views entering the park from Mineral show the amazing display of the color and form that the geothermal and glacial activates have sculpted into the landscape. It is among my favorite drives in California. I also think it is no more driving time back from our observing site at Bumpass Hell Parking lot, to Mineral, than back to Lost Creek Campground, and only slightly longer than to Summit Lakes. The conveniences of having a cabin to relax/recover in during the day cannot be overstated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVWZiFP192_o01mM1u37WdFm1DokBapDpKfb1Nf2wYF-aVFFrrd06Oe6-1aqhNsLhEZOB029YL2yeivjeHa-0GNBmmcckfCxLvJVd7bSbsO2DyPFc_leBhTS0Eb6UaAAhQN4XbnLSNjg/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVWZiFP192_o01mM1u37WdFm1DokBapDpKfb1Nf2wYF-aVFFrrd06Oe6-1aqhNsLhEZOB029YL2yeivjeHa-0GNBmmcckfCxLvJVd7bSbsO2DyPFc_leBhTS0Eb6UaAAhQN4XbnLSNjg/s320/019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505383132685251602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5C2RCc8TbpulCM7oBHtmeJkS2nZblMJz8CcOq-t_fQqAYhy9z-IpRo8UprkH4W85Sqhk2VQ6KTEJsFW4bg1_iREiFpdIm7HIBpbiRIZ0NTl5g5KX-M_WrKzzowTNBsx4Zte1SebJ0wI/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5C2RCc8TbpulCM7oBHtmeJkS2nZblMJz8CcOq-t_fQqAYhy9z-IpRo8UprkH4W85Sqhk2VQ6KTEJsFW4bg1_iREiFpdIm7HIBpbiRIZ0NTl5g5KX-M_WrKzzowTNBsx4Zte1SebJ0wI/s320/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505389138345489666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our first night was a cloud-out. This was not a problem, as several of the attendees has just come from other outdoor activies, including backpacking at Yosemite and several nights teaching astronomy at a camp in the Sierra. Getting a good night's sleep on arrival, with the prospect of two clear nights following, was a welcome idea. The second day we all went on a hike, 3.6 miles round trip, to Bumpass Hell. There was still some snow on the trail in places, but the hike was easy and spectacular. Views of the peaks forming the ancient Mt. Brokeoff (Mt. Tehama) volcano, followed by the amazing geothermal pools, steam vents and mud pots, was great fun. Easy hike, and highly recommended. That night we drove out, at 7pm, to the parking lot at Bumpass Hell. The site is over 8200 feet elevation, and looks out over the jagged peaks of that formed Mt. Brokeoff. It is a magical place at sunset, when the deep blue sky glows neon against the jagged silhouettes of the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs146.ash2/40657_1534743299614_1565764465_31306581_3527337_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs146.ash2/40657_1534743299614_1565764465_31306581_3527337_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />surrounding peaks. In the east, the division between night and day (Belt of Venus) rose - a band of crimson between the blue of day and darkening gray-to-black of night. Some of us busied ourselves setting up gear, others sat quietly in chairs watching the show unfold. The second night, the night of the Perseids, was the best, as a one day old moon hung low over Mt. Brokeoff in the west, with bright Venus directly above it, Mars close to its east, and Saturn just a bit further to its west. Night was sweeping over us from the east.<br /><br />And then the stars came out.<br /><br />The stars at Lassen are incomparable. I didn't do a limiting magnitude count, but two occurrences testify to the darkness and transparency of the place. Looking down, we could not see our feet. Faces were featureless with only our heads and upper bodies visible against the ambient light. As telling was that charts Steve Gottlieb printed out for potential observing targets, were not deep enough. Mag 16 galaxies were not a challenge. Looking up, the dark lanes in and around the Milky Way beginning in Sagittarius, up through Aquila's "Off Ramp", bordering the star clouds of Cygnus and into the Northern Coal Sack, were black and detailed, with tendrils winding out and disappearing into the surrounding star fields. Since this was the peak of the Perseids, everyone took time to just look up, which provided ample time to marvel at the broad unaided views. This is truly a place where words are inadequate - by day and by night.<br /><br />As for the Perseids, they showed up, but it was not a big show. Of course I am jaded, having witnessed the Leonid Meteor Storm several years back, but even so, I'd estimate the maximum hourly count was about half this year of what one might wish for.<br /><br />We observed those two nights until I think close to 3 a.m. We all had special projects. I prepared by downloading (this sounds crazy, but look at the hobby we have!) close to 200 pdf files from Paul Alsing's web-space. Of those, I winnowed the list down to 38 targets, with Steve's help. The <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs300.snc4/41316_1498545058104_1068459344_1408504_3908937_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs300.snc4/41316_1498545058104_1068459344_1408504_3908937_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>last night, I narrowed it down to 13 remaining. Many were difficult and exotic objects, but the great skies allowed me to find and observe everything I looked for.<br /><br />A big thanks for those friend who attended, for making it such a nice. Richard Navarrete, who booked the cabin, Steve Gottlieb, Ray Cash, Ken Archuleta, and, her first time to Lassen - Mina Reyes.<br /><br />They were indeed, friendly skies.<br /><br /><br />Here are the objects I observed, and my notes, all with an 18" f/4.5 Dobsonian.<br /><br />Abell 55<br />12mm UHC - obvious although dim. Suspected annular with slight E/W elongation.<br /><br />Abell 62<br />12mm UHC - very dim, large, round, with dim central star. Many stars embedded around circumference, glowing. More pronounced glow along southwest edge. Estimate 5' diameter.<br /><br />Abell 64<br />7mm no filter - very dim, elongated E/W with possible curve outward to S. Even brightness across object.<br /><br />Abell 65<br />12mm - even round glow, no detail. Responds to filters but not a great difference.<br /><br />NGC 6751<br />7mm w/UHC - small, round, bright, mottled. With 4.8 Nagler object is transformed - concentric rings around a small torus, and dim central star.<br /><br />NGC 6772<br />4.8mm dim, round, even surface brightness across object, fairly sharply defined edges, possible very slight annularity.'<br /><br />NGC 6778<br />4.8mm - bright, squashed and rectangular appearance. Central star is just brighter than disk. Dark intrusion into disk gives sense of slight annularity. 1.8x1 ratio.<br /><br />NGC 6781<br />7mm - large, bright, round, soft edges, somewhat annular, direct vision easily, about 2' diameter. Filters do not help much.<br /><br />NGC 6804<br />4.8mm - large, faint, mottled, very dim central star, other stars seem embedded in shell, sharp edges.<br /><br />Parsamian 21<br />4.8mm - dim star on north end of slightly expanding fan of comet shape extending south, appears brighter on western edge. Filter did not help.<br /><br />Palomar 11<br />12mm - dim haze with several members resolved. Bright star close by to the north, dimmer but obvious pair equally close to the northeast. No problem seeing this target. 7mm - fairly even glow, round, several dim stars resolve especially near the southern edge.<br /><br />DWB 111 - Propeller<br />20mm H-Beta - v shape of stars with double at vertex. Propeller goes from top of V to top of V, most pronounced at the top of both chains in the V shape. Some nebula also shows dipping "down" toward V at the vertex.<br /><br />Gyulbudaghiam 98-171<br />7mm no filter. Appears to be a cometary reflection nebula extending ENE from a medium bright field star. Surrounds the star and spreads widely away from it. Dim star embedded in the end of the tail, possible knot about mid-point along the object's major axis.<br /><br />Sh2-106<br />12mm UHC - dim star with averted glow surrounding. Glow appears mottled, but has a tight round glow with the star offset slightly to the E, embedded in a larger oval halo extending W. Also in field is long streaky sections of nebulosity extending NW/SE and most pronounced involving stars to the SE, and to their north.<br /><br />Sh2-112<br />20mm UHC - dim star but brightest in field, embedded in dim but obvious glow extending in fan shape NE and S, with dark intrusions. Nebula has sharp edge along the NE section. Other areas of nebulosity are throughout the region, especially pronounced to the E over 40', dark lanes are clear. Very easy location close to Deneb.<br /><br />Sh2-91<br />20mm - OIII - nice supernova remnant strip, arcing SW/NE around a bright easy to locate star just off Alberio in Cygnus. Brightest section is due S of the star, strip is quite long, over 40'. Check to see if there is a second strip paralleling the one observed, as there are hints of it in the field.<br /><br />Sh2-101<br />20mm - OIII - very nice large swath of HII with bright stars embedded at opposite ends, including some doubles. Bright single star is at N end of object, two pronounced arcs of nebulosity extend south along the E and W edges, with a faintly nebulous center. This is an oval, with two pair of stars embedded in the S end, where nebulosity is its most obvious. The southern part is actually a large knot of nebulosity with the pairs of doubles clearly embedded. Shell is least obvious to the east, and also seems to have some nebulosity extending further SE from the S edge.<br /><br />Simeis 3-210<br />20mm - OIII - long strand of nebulosity that is probably an outlying section of the Veil Nebula. Confused at first with the 52 Cygni section of the Veil due to the embedded star in this target. Strand extends SE/NW and crosses entire length of 20 Nagler - 47'. View was dim, but direct vision.<br /><br />WR 134<br />20mm - OIII - very distinct Wolf Rayet nebula, with western section most pronounced, extended north and around to the east, with a cavity between, having a chain of four stars in the middle and showing some involved nebulosity. Like a very large Crescent Nebula, but sparse on the southeast section. Still, other dim nebulae are throughout the area on the SE side.<br /><br />Photos 1, 3, and 4 are by Richard NavarretePrana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-31510893105682831322010-03-20T08:45:00.000-07:002010-03-20T09:16:39.026-07:00Houge Park's Big Turnout<span style="font-family:Arial;">Local skies in San Jose were beautiful all day, and spring daytime temperatures made their first real appearance, so it was no surprise we had a big public turnout at the <a href="http://www.sjaa.net/">San Jose Astronomical Association</a>'s Houge Park in-town public star party last night. However, I had a lot of concern when packing to go, as the clear blue skies were washing due to a high thin opaque layers of clouds encroaching from the west.<br /><br />Someone counted eleven telescopes. There were a number of refractors, including a very nice 6" AP on a 900 mount, and at least three ten inch Dobs (including mine). The crowd began to show up just at dusk, and I really didn't have the opportunity to walk around and look at the other scopes. Early on, people were fascinated that they could see Venus and Mars. There was also a thin crescent moon. Venus was so low that the moon and Mars were the showpieces. Later though, Saturn would rise and take center stage.<br /><br />Aside from the local (solar-system) targets, I was showing people views of The Orion Nebula </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.footootjes.nl/Astrophotography_Planets_Stars/20090409_Saturn_DBK_RemoveColorCast_Sat30_hist.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 143px;" src="http://www.footootjes.nl/Astrophotography_Planets_Stars/20090409_Saturn_DBK_RemoveColorCast_Sat30_hist.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">(M42), the big open cluster M35 and NGC 2392 (aka The Eskimo Nebula) in Gemini. The high </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">clouds persisted, cutting down transparency, but there was still enough detail in all the objects to make it worthwhile. Saturn at times of steady seeing was spectacular - creamy golden with a slit of a gap in the nearly edge-on rings, and subtle banding on the disk of the planet. Mars was OK, but only occasionally gave up much detail - people just liked its color! There were some quite good views of it though through the 6" AP later in the evening.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.astrosurf.com/magnitude78/serge/images/M42_05.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 222px;" src="http://www.astrosurf.com/magnitude78/serge/images/M42_05.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Other than Saturn, the crowd pleaser in my scope was The Orion Nebula. People asked good questions about size and distance, I would answer about light years and what the term meant. Kevin Roberts, set up next to me, interjected with the most tangible comment about the distance, saying the light we're seeing left from the object around the time of the fall of the Roman Empire, before the Dark Ages - good answer! A boy asked how the nebula was formed, so I got to talk a bit about dust and gas in space, gravity, stellar winds and radiation, so aside from the nice visual of the (brighter portion of the ) nebula and Trapezium stars, there was some appreciation cognitively, for what was being viewed. I had added an Orion Ultrablock filter to show more of the nebula - of course it dimmed the stars, but it also led to discussions about passing only certain wavelengths of light. So, all these things led to interesting discussions, and a good size crowd around the scope.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlu3XT0u_yBvQRolR3k5W-CQ5YXYFvBzoHP55BYaXfPvEb7UvRMCBZytgI2Dqfug76HKU-0-LL36g7k_WFfUprk2bPQ9OKecSJLurMTjTB8VApQG-9sWDCaryHtyqVwpdIG1d-Kv_uSQM/s1600-h/scope.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlu3XT0u_yBvQRolR3k5W-CQ5YXYFvBzoHP55BYaXfPvEb7UvRMCBZytgI2Dqfug76HKU-0-LL36g7k_WFfUprk2bPQ9OKecSJLurMTjTB8VApQG-9sWDCaryHtyqVwpdIG1d-Kv_uSQM/s320/scope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450750111274105394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Overhead, there were long bands of thin clouds that would pass through. Some of them reminded me of the great aurora we saw from Houge Park several years ago. But there was still plenty of decent sky to enjoy. People seemed to like M35, as a contrast in object type to M42. The low power view at 57X allowed nice framing (my scope is a 10" f/5.7)... the stars were varied magnitudes in the cluster, and sharp pinpoints.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.koenvangorp.be/photos/2007_03_20-eskimo_1500.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.koenvangorp.be/photos/2007_03_20-eskimo_1500.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">I finished up showing the Eskimo Nebula at 163X. I added an NPB filter, which showed the greatly dimmed central star, round bright disk in which the star is embedded, and a dim outer ring around the disk. Some people saw the object, some saw detail, some could not figure out what I was looking at - it was the "challenge" object of the night!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The last thing I did was to try splitting Procyon, but could easily tell there was enough scintillation to make it impossible. By then it was 11 p.m. the temps had dropped to the point of feeling chilly, and the crowds had disappeared. I packed up while visiting with some old buddies, and new friends I had met during the evening. I got to use my 10" scope, which is a rarity these days, and we had finally had a good (well, reasonable) night at Hogue Park, the first in several months.<br /><br />A suggestion, if you're not looking at Saturn, you're missing out. It is spectacular right now with the rings at such a shallow angle. Get your gear out and check it out!</span>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-51390893856624587312010-03-14T13:32:00.001-07:002010-03-14T22:58:39.930-07:00The Big Freeze; A Cold Night In UMa<span style="font-family:Arial;">I'm home, and can finally feel all my toes... now to start peeling off the layers of cold weather clothes.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">As I stepped out of the garage yesterday, to pile gear in my truck, the north wind blew right through me. A cold shiver had me thinking twice about my decision to drive to Willow Springs. Night temps were forecast around freezing, and this wind... but blue skies won.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Soon I was greeting Richard Navarrete at the meet-up spot in Morgan Hill, where I filled my thermos </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevel3o7"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 160px;" src="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs429.snc3/24719_1379261647609_1413945363_31059032_4478358_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">with Ethyl, topped off the tank, and headed for the hills. The drive south was easy, quick, and </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">spectacular. The rolling hills were at peak green, wild mustard tall as corn painted the valley floor and spilled on up the sides of the nearby slopes, mixed with orange California Poppies. With podcasts as company, the empty two-lane quickly left the city behind, and led to adventures where the sky is literally the limit. Love the drive, love the place, love the sights, love where it all takes me.<br /><br />Antelope Valley Road leaves the winding J14 pavement and leads into Willow Springs and <a href="http://samples.briskbuild.biz/deepskyranch/">Deep Sky Ranch</a> over a one mile series of water-filled pot holes and ruts. I'm always gentle driving in, but enjoy making the morning ride out fun and exciting... Anyway... upon arriving at DSR, I found Steve Gottlieb at the gate and Peter Natscher pulled over to the side of the road. Soon Richard pulled up, to be joined shortly by Julien </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Lecomte and Rogelio Bernal Andreo. We noted the 42F degree temp, and while setting up chatted about our observing buddy Greg moving to Arizona, DSR regular Marko Johnston bailing on us for an observing trip down under, and the conveniences of DARC Observatory. Our host Kevin Ritschel arrived and the group was complete. Venus was low in the west, with Sirius, Procyon and Mars rising to zenith in a line from the south. Just as I was noticed it, Kevin pointed out the Zodiacal Light, amazingly bright and wide, tilted toward the south, up into Taurus through the Pleaides. There was no hint of dew, and the wind had disappeared. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">This held the promise of a great night... M42 showed tons of detail even in full twilight. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">I climbed into the truck to gear-up for the cold, and by the time I got out, the winter Milky Way and hundreds of stars were out...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Early soft seeing would steady up during the night. Peter's plan was to mostly study planetary </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">nebulae on the McNeil 450 list, with his 24" Starmaster. Julien worked on finishing the Herschel </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs198.snc3/20575_1326425315218_1068459344_966249_4882755_n.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 226px;" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs198.snc3/20575_1326425315218_1068459344_966249_4882755_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">400 with a 12" Meade LightBridge. Richard's 18" Obsession sat on an Osypowski Equatorial </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Platform, hunting Hicksons until late... Steve... well... he always has something unexpected, and last night his 18" Starmaster was showing Sharpless reflection nebulae, blasars, and other selected esoteric targets, such as the Integral Sign Galaxy. Kevin was testing GoTo on a 12" driven Dob... with gears that were reminiscent of the old Coffee Grinder LX-200's! Me... slumming a list of mixed targets in the chilly north, with my 18". Oh, almost forgot <a href="http://www.deepskycolors.com/">Rogelio... the lone imager</a>! I believe he was shooting the Seagull Nebula, but we'll have to wait and see... it strikes me as ironic, that I, a visual observer who uses little in the way of technology in the hobby, have to describe non-visually in writing what I see, yet Rogelio, who relies heavily on technology, presents us with no words, and instead, something that is entirely visual!<br /><br />So, during the night, we'd share views, take breaks, drink coffee (regular coffee) and talk... relaxed and friendly, a very good group. I especially enjoyed seeing Peter, who I've known for many years, but rarely get to observe with.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtT3JeZMvraGnYz6lFL1391TxWS6KsxmaaIkT0Gga3tLqJb4dyY0e4i2rp7W8-nPUTbfxPsOzEA1b60gMM1RyGBGxHWgOTeOHTWF4Xs8zed4YAgQgoQhbvirUaLqr9RCNhHX3qJR1n54/s1600-h/001.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtT3JeZMvraGnYz6lFL1391TxWS6KsxmaaIkT0Gga3tLqJb4dyY0e4i2rp7W8-nPUTbfxPsOzEA1b60gMM1RyGBGxHWgOTeOHTWF4Xs8zed4YAgQgoQhbvirUaLqr9RCNhHX3qJR1n54/s320/001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448591414435331234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">During the night, the temps dropped to 26F. I had all my layers on, chemical toe warmers in my Sorrels, fingerless gloves inside mittens with fold back fronts - in which I put toe warmers. By 1 a.m., the cold was enough. I couldn't feel my toes, the soles of my feet were icy, and I couldn't take notes. I closed shop, took off my boots and jacket, and crawled inside the truck, into my sleeping bag, thinking about frostbite, and about freezing...<br /><br />I woke groggy in the morning to a big freeze outside... a layer of ice covered the green hills and gear, a white world under perfect blue skies.<br /><br />Now that I'm home, and can finally feel all my toes... despite the temps, and the numbing, I have to say I had a great time. The coffee in my thermos is still hot as I write this.... maybe I just need more insulation.<br /><br /><br /><br />Here are the targets I observed, in star-hopping order, and some sketchy notes about them...<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrww3i3Xq8Sf0Izf7tbdC79mhk-O5KG5pvjJ35-YMVn0e_1cnMgyjeAvXvBbhRIMd5cAyIOpwAVYDJY3Eb5s7-uGvwcgp7vK1X9p_lQkYVB3nEXToQaRJ5PWKiimJ2N_waGgm8FQMuLyo/s1600-h/arp207.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrww3i3Xq8Sf0Izf7tbdC79mhk-O5KG5pvjJ35-YMVn0e_1cnMgyjeAvXvBbhRIMd5cAyIOpwAVYDJY3Eb5s7-uGvwcgp7vK1X9p_lQkYVB3nEXToQaRJ5PWKiimJ2N_waGgm8FQMuLyo/s200/arp207.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448615351877796658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Arp 207 Dra GX 1.2'x0.2' 15.4 09 31 06 +76 27 00 UGC 05050<br />18" 7mm bright pinpoint core, elongated NW/SE 3x2, about 1'x0.7'. Dim halo.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzX5MEFeP0JZkqGbL3T2HKJ4Hf_kmBjbo8rDy56Kx669oKMl_eoJcZrzry8NmW1p9erH-fzIMRD1wKAUo-Yp5TxVsdoAP_r7irK28arZh5kn6nFG16xJhJof6o5zUFjuKpLozmEw1GeI/s1600-h/n2985.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzX5MEFeP0JZkqGbL3T2HKJ4Hf_kmBjbo8rDy56Kx669oKMl_eoJcZrzry8NmW1p9erH-fzIMRD1wKAUo-Yp5TxVsdoAP_r7irK28arZh5kn6nFG16xJhJof6o5zUFjuKpLozmEw1GeI/s200/n2985.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448615567870000722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2985 UMa GX 5.5x5 10.6 09 50 24 +72 17 00<br />18" 7mm very bright core with a slightly brighter nucleus embedded. Brightness drops off rapidly to a large dim halo, elongated mostly N/S and about 3'x2'.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvH0a32q93DXaf6UyZQQRpLOHiPfF4yDAqhyIXKOWb7UYvT06sXPeIlb3dV241O-1FQGAnX34I5C5ehy6YUHVYYqLiY7RGrvkOtPGVp1OlOI_7QOCfJg216usEZ2KgcwUOe-x7hVc0-I/s1600-h/m82.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvH0a32q93DXaf6UyZQQRpLOHiPfF4yDAqhyIXKOWb7UYvT06sXPeIlb3dV241O-1FQGAnX34I5C5ehy6YUHVYYqLiY7RGrvkOtPGVp1OlOI_7QOCfJg216usEZ2KgcwUOe-x7hVc0-I/s200/m82.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448615790725950802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">M82 UMA GX 9.x4.0 9.5 09 55 54 +69 41 00 NGC 3034 Arp 337<br />18" 7mm very bright and mottled with dark intrusions near center of 8.5'x2.5' elongation, WSW/ENE. HII regions to E of center near crossing dark lane. With UHC, 3 obvious HII regions, two adjacent to dark intrusion, one to W and possibly one more at extreme W end.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJhKprk1kKP54Sybjcl9j2loj9TmpzLYFZGDusvmuZMRuJVLvRxRiCw_aTllzMo4lnH6TbeNf6AdMJ6hA6fo6k6RKJXC_BkyaLaTJS2FaFAkjXrdbWMdbx0eqJp4BcuaME94BzLqQaTs/s1600-h/n2787.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJhKprk1kKP54Sybjcl9j2loj9TmpzLYFZGDusvmuZMRuJVLvRxRiCw_aTllzMo4lnH6TbeNf6AdMJ6hA6fo6k6RKJXC_BkyaLaTJS2FaFAkjXrdbWMdbx0eqJp4BcuaME94BzLqQaTs/s200/n2787.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448615922861748786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2787 UMa GX 2x1.3 10.9 09 19 18 +69 12 00<br />18" 7mm large spiral NNW/ESE with large dim halo showing hints of spiral structure. Core is bright, small, and shows chaotic form, or perhaps very tightly wound spiral arms in the core. Approx 3'x2'.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhht-EKp5OgZhY3DsF6IuTQss8jFby8IGrTUZmFHQp9V8J-CVI8sWO_7NhCYThIVyWQglGGp2i4glVmXS4F-_b-ZbojEX4l4lwry6QrSjsB2Z5fkBzHpIKyYeOdU-UvxYkuosFqOcZlohA/s1600-h/m81.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhht-EKp5OgZhY3DsF6IuTQss8jFby8IGrTUZmFHQp9V8J-CVI8sWO_7NhCYThIVyWQglGGp2i4glVmXS4F-_b-ZbojEX4l4lwry6QrSjsB2Z5fkBzHpIKyYeOdU-UvxYkuosFqOcZlohA/s200/m81.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448616487674396354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">M81 UMA GX 21.0x10.0 8.5 09 55 36 +69 04 00 NGC 3031<br />18" 12mm beautiful tight bright small core gradually decreasing in brightness along a mostly NW/SE elongation of about 20', with 10' width. Tenuous spiral arms distinctly evident on the SE edge, leading around E to NE. Spectacular galaxy, much in the way 47 Tucanae is for globulars. Dim spiral arm is also visible extending from NW and around the W side, separated widely by large black dark lane.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyfVg1iQfT5NuglRFYTiuDIhkkWdyb2qroNupKZvzf5-AoohrtEfq2hevmBkmIX7_Uz-T1d4NCnBx7DOi1_1v1Mqaa8xue24ddBdm0ZuevZ8w-if3PMZWwKPR6pDYFEtJq7ZSme6Yhlo/s1600-h/n3077.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyfVg1iQfT5NuglRFYTiuDIhkkWdyb2qroNupKZvzf5-AoohrtEfq2hevmBkmIX7_Uz-T1d4NCnBx7DOi1_1v1Mqaa8xue24ddBdm0ZuevZ8w-if3PMZWwKPR6pDYFEtJq7ZSme6Yhlo/s200/n3077.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448617184902063026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 3077 UMa GX 2.3x1.9 10.9 10 03 18 +68 44 00<br />18" 7mm tiny dim pinpoint nucleus surrounded by a moderately bright 0.5' core that is mostly round but rather chaotic. Larger dim envelope seems to extend more to the E of the core, and about 2'x1.5' E/W<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY_eCHx0osfRPOCKm46Rq59a-u8oqbMOfdMCzadILA2o4a5XEjmFAmW7Ot3_o98qd44hRMSGxPZa6kVMtfcPzDuhquZiYag5L1H8TLzxBBkfhJqci9UFFpiB-k-pGl5rVQRcUNs-IB8M/s1600-h/arp300.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY_eCHx0osfRPOCKm46Rq59a-u8oqbMOfdMCzadILA2o4a5XEjmFAmW7Ot3_o98qd44hRMSGxPZa6kVMtfcPzDuhquZiYag5L1H8TLzxBBkfhJqci9UFFpiB-k-pGl5rVQRcUNs-IB8M/s200/arp300.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448617381701827010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Arp 300 Uma GX 1.6'x1.0' 13.4 09 28 02 +68 25 00 UGC 05029<br />18" 7mm pair of galaxies oriented mostly E/W and close together, W is brighter and smaller, elongated mostly N/S, E galaxy is larger, more diffuse and more NE/SW elongation.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Ssa0ESeyDbIgfZElkAJIyYU2PPdkua-dYJ_tLqQ5PZ3FqdObijPgsldcGbSAeXgesUJh2FxAke3kyj5UdNQkH8t9LeN3qQGEENQxOUR01rc4GvxboG0NXsl4ePThvdqiYezZV1EOGQc/s1600-h/n2976.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Ssa0ESeyDbIgfZElkAJIyYU2PPdkua-dYJ_tLqQ5PZ3FqdObijPgsldcGbSAeXgesUJh2FxAke3kyj5UdNQkH8t9LeN3qQGEENQxOUR01rc4GvxboG0NXsl4ePThvdqiYezZV1EOGQc/s200/n2976.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448617535734854002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2976 UMa OC 10 8.5 09 47 12 +67 55 00<br />18" 7mm elongated 6'x2' with even brightness across entire galaxy. Very slight hint of small brighter core, or possibly HII embedded. Mottled. Bright. Elongated N/S.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7omrdQytlZaYUX6Y0rMGY5cXDpuf6YvI-vJmUvj66KFx5iDZN5T6TdB3_gTPayZ9eGTXC2fnSSafZSfSOm7pELvRwL_Kn_TtcHSJcnSX_dru_Ui_mGlzXQ7Ni1kegj_sq3PG-ltf7IY/s1600-h/n2814.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7omrdQytlZaYUX6Y0rMGY5cXDpuf6YvI-vJmUvj66KFx5iDZN5T6TdB3_gTPayZ9eGTXC2fnSSafZSfSOm7pELvRwL_Kn_TtcHSJcnSX_dru_Ui_mGlzXQ7Ni1kegj_sq3PG-ltf7IY/s200/n2814.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448617840465444114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">N2814/20/I2458 UMa Trio 3.9 13.7:12.8:15.0 09 21 48 +64 18 00<br />18" 7mm - wonderful view of 3 edge on galaxies. Largest is E of the smaller two, elongated 3'x0.2' NW/SE, other two are almost perpendicular to largest at N/S, at 0.5'x0.1'. Larger galaxy nearby clearly visible. NGCs 2820, 2814 and IC 2458. NGC 2805 very nearby.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1l9ffs6PYACCqEa9shGtJNGPGALd0qJvwgw30_j-Weu9XHGIGQCCF9y4sziP2jcAQZfm9ezfl9amopTDeHrj8P2Xg3nWdNxQcoJ-40FXT3Xvh4BGegBKzkk8vU234HSOggDOYxKPNGM/s1600-h/n2805.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1l9ffs6PYACCqEa9shGtJNGPGALd0qJvwgw30_j-Weu9XHGIGQCCF9y4sziP2jcAQZfm9ezfl9amopTDeHrj8P2Xg3nWdNxQcoJ-40FXT3Xvh4BGegBKzkk8vU234HSOggDOYxKPNGM/s200/n2805.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448617958448546770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">N 2805 UMa GX 6.3x4.8 11 09 20 20 +64 06 10<br />18" 7mm - large and clumpy. Dim, core shows best. At first appears core only, but soon lumps appear out away from core…. Arms? HII regions?'<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0LIIHazOePgxsOPoBrqq12xiMopGJ_gXP4T-gp-Ka4BodpM0UH-nhTskCcsjRcb6mNe2v3p_Pnr00TvzbTMq_5HOCbNRpR-p9hyphenhyphenoeqUzfQWtBYssQf9cKbZJOD0PGM6ck9suVOmUGSM/s1600-h/n2880.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0LIIHazOePgxsOPoBrqq12xiMopGJ_gXP4T-gp-Ka4BodpM0UH-nhTskCcsjRcb6mNe2v3p_Pnr00TvzbTMq_5HOCbNRpR-p9hyphenhyphenoeqUzfQWtBYssQf9cKbZJOD0PGM6ck9suVOmUGSM/s200/n2880.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448618145355146850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">N 2880 UMa GX 2.0x1.2 11.5 09 29 34 +62 29 27<br />18" 7mm small bright core with stellar nuclei, dim large extended disk mostly N/S at 2'x1'. Active galaxy?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUPKjAK3JNzekangMtw21FaOZfqrEbZWklmm_1Q-_ICB0FaYUs_Xq9rlhgj23JE-qnJGzf14g0NpqzVsFO_ewA5nbDPx7oD6kJlw6_IN-HMwkhyphenhyphenR-fxWojgi6R17zsOpfNumJiFpk7Ls/s1600-h/n2742.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUPKjAK3JNzekangMtw21FaOZfqrEbZWklmm_1Q-_ICB0FaYUs_Xq9rlhgj23JE-qnJGzf14g0NpqzVsFO_ewA5nbDPx7oD6kJlw6_IN-HMwkhyphenhyphenR-fxWojgi6R17zsOpfNumJiFpk7Ls/s200/n2742.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448618284637084898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2742 UMa GX 2.5x1 11.2 09 07 36 +60 29 00<br />18" 7mm elongated 4'x2.5', even brightness, mottled, E/W, perhaps a very faint stellar nucleus.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY2Yv42i4zf0o_4e880dDFfc8B7X0YRgbVfYH3yv_m0uCg_gA8N8zVAzuFH3TQT19SAceIox9gMafcZij981Gk5PmHOWhyphenhyphenVjbsNDGHs9zrTJrLKlOHlVIwkehwSqZa9YafMO2lhf63q0/s1600-h/n2768.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY2Yv42i4zf0o_4e880dDFfc8B7X0YRgbVfYH3yv_m0uCg_gA8N8zVAzuFH3TQT19SAceIox9gMafcZij981Gk5PmHOWhyphenhyphenVjbsNDGHs9zrTJrLKlOHlVIwkehwSqZa9YafMO2lhf63q0/s200/n2768.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448618430557708450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2768 UMa GX 2x1 10.5 09 11 36 +60 02 00<br />18" 12mm - stellar nucleus surrounded by a small bright elongated core. Elongated disk runs WNW/ESE about 3'x1.8' NW/SE.. Beautiful galaxy!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuM2G2AUD95jOxRpeqymtVL7E98Eny910q_ShDOrKqx2OSIisZRKjG8aUybToH4uCoaL0HfBh1HPuJ0vfiqDyTe9BRAde24GJvWUwQmS_OeiHgIL2T3AohU8zAZ2ZwpQM4Ua8Qz9ii0o/s1600-h/n2950.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuM2G2AUD95jOxRpeqymtVL7E98Eny910q_ShDOrKqx2OSIisZRKjG8aUybToH4uCoaL0HfBh1HPuJ0vfiqDyTe9BRAde24GJvWUwQmS_OeiHgIL2T3AohU8zAZ2ZwpQM4Ua8Qz9ii0o/s200/n2950.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448618566264845826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2950 UMa GX 1.3x.9 10.9 09 40 36 +58 51 00<br />18" 7mm - elongated galaxy WNW/ESE 2'x1'. Bright pinpoint nucleus in a small bright core that ends abruptly.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzkblMQVdyXjlxOuvBy3iKzv2UCja5JDLvOcrq5F2zR_TZeQ-Xg0IuYJ34HfJrHUcUyakf838jkmPBkGUIPjsWPO8Ie5kDsBQCcmrE6e7sirA52otf_EjJHjv_5lLD6RYTwbG1WJNRLo/s1600-h/n3079.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzkblMQVdyXjlxOuvBy3iKzv2UCja5JDLvOcrq5F2zR_TZeQ-Xg0IuYJ34HfJrHUcUyakf838jkmPBkGUIPjsWPO8Ie5kDsBQCcmrE6e7sirA52otf_EjJHjv_5lLD6RYTwbG1WJNRLo/s200/n3079.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448618700359935666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 3079 UMa GX 8x1 11.2 10 02 00 +55 41 00<br />18" 7mm elongated N/S 7'x1', S 3' is brighter and mottled, and warped to W. Nice!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3pNBZ7pjI6qu4QqmCYmLMVljNDZEqqADBZF4HDor45buO0rbqBvOwemhzBDGR3dhYKQL_Spiswns18dMV-hPfZ9RiWHu7JKitVivP47SxkCf1RlskVO7jxbrQIZR7Yml5Ue3SFMwc-E/s1600-h/n2841.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3pNBZ7pjI6qu4QqmCYmLMVljNDZEqqADBZF4HDor45buO0rbqBvOwemhzBDGR3dhYKQL_Spiswns18dMV-hPfZ9RiWHu7JKitVivP47SxkCf1RlskVO7jxbrQIZR7Yml5Ue3SFMwc-E/s200/n2841.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448618837060135826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2841 UMa GX 6.4x2.4 9.3 09 22 00 +50 58 00<br />18" 7mm elongated 4'x2; mostly N/S with small bright core and dim stellar nucleus, dusty mottled appearance.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-hL9_q33H7SUQFKkcFSTsjNYkH8cZnzU8dW5b2etOVJDZxCUlo5eZ6TceqBT3lEF_x0PWHzKrAMoMfvZXxHGel1fYAsAk8WHYqKoK37ycpSaDvbQjvoT5h3a1Mbf4govlxwGA1vFXR0/s1600-h/n2854.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-hL9_q33H7SUQFKkcFSTsjNYkH8cZnzU8dW5b2etOVJDZxCUlo5eZ6TceqBT3lEF_x0PWHzKrAMoMfvZXxHGel1fYAsAk8WHYqKoK37ycpSaDvbQjvoT5h3a1Mbf4govlxwGA1vFXR0/s200/n2854.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448618996182874354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">N2854/56/57 UMa Trio 10.6 13.0:13.1:12.3 09 24 30 +49 18 00 NGC 2857 = Arp 1 NGC 2854 = Arp 285<br />18" 7mm 2854 and 2856 are very similar small bright elongated galaxies, perpendicular to each other. 2857 is large, dim and diffuse.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88XRU3EKtFpcXLvMlwTaTMQ6oshha8GfygxNCOoOHh3KSugTAoJ0hTzjc7mn-TRloyLx5fKlL8FmP5q5vpP-rxhAeKvVa2tFyXQosoHmZIoJshYDj_O55smGk7xjLScQZ9tMyo0B2LuU/s1600-h/hiskson41.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88XRU3EKtFpcXLvMlwTaTMQ6oshha8GfygxNCOoOHh3KSugTAoJ0hTzjc7mn-TRloyLx5fKlL8FmP5q5vpP-rxhAeKvVa2tFyXQosoHmZIoJshYDj_O55smGk7xjLScQZ9tMyo0B2LuU/s200/hiskson41.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448619144068894722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">HCG 041 UMA Hickson 1.5x0.3 13.6 09 57 35 +45 13 48 UGC 05345<br />18" 7mm 2 bright ones show. End of notes. Freezing. No toes, no fingers. Bed time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br />California Poppy image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevel3o7">Steve Loos</a>...</span><br /></span>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-34181987102462963672010-02-17T13:07:00.000-08:002010-02-17T15:13:45.210-08:00A Good Night For Winter<span style="font-family:Arial;">Getting out twice in a week, observing, is a rarity. Having had modest success at Dinosaur Point on Saturday night, when the weather forecast showed a good opportunity on Tuesday, four<a href="http://observers.org"> TAC</a>os jumped on it and met at Willow Springs. The rationale was simple. One, it could rain for the next two months. Two, the satellite imagery was favorable, even though skies at 3:30 p.m. were mucky and </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">not encouraging. I had a running conversation with Richard Navarrete during the afternoon, and it </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">came down to this simple statement: "I'd hate to go and get skunked, but I'd hate worse not going and hearing it was a good night".<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGV8n_Pfi2EUBS2ecZguYmSExJEejywqKq7xEW1z4c81x4YZMx_Mff6bajPKYn1wTc5KQKa5EGFrDK7k5IBNbzHm5hovPY7pIPpqaJwZghL0s59WR6OAy-8Ox9CsGvX9UEF54WDOQYpOU/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGV8n_Pfi2EUBS2ecZguYmSExJEejywqKq7xEW1z4c81x4YZMx_Mff6bajPKYn1wTc5KQKa5EGFrDK7k5IBNbzHm5hovPY7pIPpqaJwZghL0s59WR6OAy-8Ox9CsGvX9UEF54WDOQYpOU/s320/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439323635584611458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br />Our arrival was after dark, but within 45 minutes, including some equipment repair (Richard's </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">equatorial platform battery was dead), we were underway.<br /><br />I have to say, the drive to Willow in the dark is a different animal than I'm accustomed to dealing with. Driving south through Gilroy, then Hollister, is typical night "city" driving. But once I passed through the hamlet of Tres Pinos, it felt like I was on a road to nowhere. Twists, turns, occasional oncoming headlights... it was as if the road was a ribbon of safety and nothing else existed. I listened to an astronomy podcast about advanced civilizations, and learned about theorized Dyson Spheres, as I arrived.<br /><br /><br /><br />Things worked out quite well. There was dewing, but it was minimal. The sky cleared, I was hearing SQM reading in the mid 21's. Decent transparency... not the best, but workable. I think the highlights of the night were seeing Greg LaFlamme again, before his departure to Arizona, enjoying some of Marko Johnston's humor, watching our host Kevin Ritschel buzz around toying with a 12" Synta driven Dob, and looking at views of some tough Hickson Clusters of Galaxies with Richard. Greg had one of the bet views of The Ghost Of Jupiter in his scope I've ever seen. I need more power! Also, and this is always one of the most mesmerizing things to look at when you get a great view, M51 was stunning. A view like that is what makes people look in wonder, realizing what they are seeing is real, and mindlessly far away, even though it is a "close" object. Mind numbing, mind expanding...<br /><br />I suppose we were at it until about 2 a.m., when I laid down in my sleeping bag, and watched as, </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">"overhead, without any fuss, the stars were going out."<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">In the morning, there were signs of dew</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">...</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Fp2GNn1d6oEqchtopnFoJ_x7QKuV1obReiLOpyJpWPxvj3z7-Gl8Pc8cxiBYWb1Y8OuoJM-9ePf3v8ZnvXCe92c9k-1IwpXU1evXFnINJ2zpvPSz8vcuohVodhct5uK9wrNjcwq70QU/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Fp2GNn1d6oEqchtopnFoJ_x7QKuV1obReiLOpyJpWPxvj3z7-Gl8Pc8cxiBYWb1Y8OuoJM-9ePf3v8ZnvXCe92c9k-1IwpXU1evXFnINJ2zpvPSz8vcuohVodhct5uK9wrNjcwq70QU/s200/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439336406656621858" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and sights of transition between winter and spring...</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFtir2L9vRHUlfQ-UoogXMaD2hnryo1HMzbUIScVQNtqfTK0EZd9pFleVCp4XnxFZjRavpGD4aeSfy2yOLAT072OLD8uxzmM7cWXjG8JL_u6GuHCcx06ioJslZsK5VxEu7YNGu_g97Zs/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFtir2L9vRHUlfQ-UoogXMaD2hnryo1HMzbUIScVQNtqfTK0EZd9pFleVCp4XnxFZjRavpGD4aeSfy2yOLAT072OLD8uxzmM7cWXjG8JL_u6GuHCcx06ioJslZsK5VxEu7YNGu_g97Zs/s200/018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439336885578851458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">We were all glad to have had the opportunity to observe, and enjoy each others comradarie and company.<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">A quick packing job and we were on our way... </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">back to the daily routine, and life on planet earth.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws8EuPXFO3qVvpmFYfgtfT58iYsXwCXr9O41ftBrcfXtqLCPfao2xTL6sOrIr0koCkkHBmNBTnFaoZ5RWcY52mtsZZtRIJC8Bgg_afDyPSMD57Ck2Nyn82Wmq950DOxIJB15gCRDKwoA/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws8EuPXFO3qVvpmFYfgtfT58iYsXwCXr9O41ftBrcfXtqLCPfao2xTL6sOrIr0koCkkHBmNBTnFaoZ5RWcY52mtsZZtRIJC8Bgg_afDyPSMD57Ck2Nyn82Wmq950DOxIJB15gCRDKwoA/s200/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439337946818744258" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br />All above shots are done via iPhone. Wish I could say the same for those below!<br /><br />Here are my observing notes...<br /><br />Equipment was an 18" f/4.5 undriven Dobsonian, and three Nagler eyepieces, 20mm, 12mm and 7mm, Rigel Quickfinder, and The Sky planetarium software (as a chart). The only filter I used was an NPB.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD2aOAImEW4XMn3R2Z6zroUkXlKWpq1jQM_qS4O6S8ub-yyd0d4Jt1vpJvjjHhCFOkZtKgP_odziDsPlAZfQj5dDphDyiVnYbDApPqWX0vVtqiVil1hgYBlNucMSLUx2u9jJTY9_NMto/s1600-h/n2541.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD2aOAImEW4XMn3R2Z6zroUkXlKWpq1jQM_qS4O6S8ub-yyd0d4Jt1vpJvjjHhCFOkZtKgP_odziDsPlAZfQj5dDphDyiVnYbDApPqWX0vVtqiVil1hgYBlNucMSLUx2u9jJTY9_NMto/s200/n2541.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439330750136053010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">N 2541 Lyn GX 6.3x3.2 11.8 08 14 40 +49 03 43<br />20mm 18" - large, elongated 4x2 NW/SE, no core, gradually brightening to the center.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4O20LooGsiYNVWpmBLf4lgEYHGv_8ziRbZMA-n6iWZjxVnBFQcnvyDhmHq5CNOSUvWTu3RxfILLOGAKJ2fv-MZXVSWd_9IvFqBLF2phsY0ZG-oyedT3HXy1OWNgZiJrqG12mRMGweUQ/s1600-h/n2537.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4O20LooGsiYNVWpmBLf4lgEYHGv_8ziRbZMA-n6iWZjxVnBFQcnvyDhmHq5CNOSUvWTu3RxfILLOGAKJ2fv-MZXVSWd_9IvFqBLF2phsY0ZG-oyedT3HXy1OWNgZiJrqG12mRMGweUQ/s200/n2537.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439331007882846882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Arp 6 GX 1.7'x1.5' 12.3 08 13 14 +45 59 00 NGC 2537<br />12mm 18" - small, mostly round with slight elongation NW/SE, bright, no discernible core, bright throughout. IC2233 in same field, with 7mm long dim slash 6x1 N/S with star embedded in N end.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE736I6meTBtaRJ6CSKg1M2lq7Bvhas6tx_Dbve0UYLcYvyxF9WNTTzQuHDBclKL-e5ZZXxhIjMYaoF00OJJrwA9CmG6pUuO38Te6xoZejtzdfUTCHAaOzs2tYC1krNqID46d22M23Juk/s1600-h/n2493.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE736I6meTBtaRJ6CSKg1M2lq7Bvhas6tx_Dbve0UYLcYvyxF9WNTTzQuHDBclKL-e5ZZXxhIjMYaoF00OJJrwA9CmG6pUuO38Te6xoZejtzdfUTCHAaOzs2tYC1krNqID46d22M23Juk/s200/n2493.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439331217175591266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">N 2493 Lyn GX 1.9x1.9 12 08 00 23 +39 49 49<br />7mm - 18" - small, very bright core with stellar nucleus, dimmer outer halo extended 3x2 SW/NE. N2495 and CGCG 207-17 both visible to NE.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPfjwG7AklNEb75zn_HG9cIb_dP3OUacieK-FbiaEvByTM4KuHDLNKqjygqeRLnXmfQzQuc7X8hrUyT6aQQH3h5IV21zWlubQmchsyWI87WmRN6t3VELsoakPqG-7oCmlg16fTAJkbKE/s1600-h/n2444.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPfjwG7AklNEb75zn_HG9cIb_dP3OUacieK-FbiaEvByTM4KuHDLNKqjygqeRLnXmfQzQuc7X8hrUyT6aQQH3h5IV21zWlubQmchsyWI87WmRN6t3VELsoakPqG-7oCmlg16fTAJkbKE/s200/n2444.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439331434996216226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Arp 143 GX 1.2'x0.8' 13.2 07 46 53 +39 01 00 NGC 2444 and NGC 2445<br />7mm - 18" - almost identical galaxies, N/S, dim halos each with bright stellar cores. Galaxy to N is a bit brighter. Both small in angular size.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE-wSe_pMGYVckw4PkgpgndT_NF8tziC-gl6dKOJaBMLON6e8AMzs_dZw49Lm5RwO2V3Mu3ST2Y2XFJRBaM1xT6_nbrftoVDlPbQqZp75mcmthdFdlbf3r4idlAkkgPGO85eWKzDh6yo/s1600-h/n2419.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE-wSe_pMGYVckw4PkgpgndT_NF8tziC-gl6dKOJaBMLON6e8AMzs_dZw49Lm5RwO2V3Mu3ST2Y2XFJRBaM1xT6_nbrftoVDlPbQqZp75mcmthdFdlbf3r4idlAkkgPGO85eWKzDh6yo/s200/n2419.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439331846429139778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2419 Lyx GC 1.7 11.5 07 38 60 +38 53 00<br />7mm - 18" - mottled but bright globular, averted gives hints of resolution. This object is the farthest globular cluster from us, in our own galaxy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r8-Pb6i1dWhISpT5NUN-BUAGNjXOaqoSycCnWP2Qb-DiZi04hFYB9qcl4Izj4oTF1c3-OTa-y1AgVK3yKb0762lbDPfGAQxGelYT8kd1_K36uU1bzIvGjEYlLbR75tUmvqMqm4j7Tks/s1600-h/n2415.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r8-Pb6i1dWhISpT5NUN-BUAGNjXOaqoSycCnWP2Qb-DiZi04hFYB9qcl4Izj4oTF1c3-OTa-y1AgVK3yKb0762lbDPfGAQxGelYT8kd1_K36uU1bzIvGjEYlLbR75tUmvqMqm4j7Tks/s200/n2415.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439332178531816178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">N 2415 Lyn GX 0.9x0.9 12.4 07 36 56 +35 14 32<br />7mm 18" - small round galaxy with moderately bright core, no nucleus, dim halo.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8QKJhSZymf5LYqYv6a4PghZJzpCvf4xtJQPnVufZFcyITShCygpfGZi70A4OwOeGjdPpCNmuzAUGglPKC0kaq1fi6inIyY3X6YL3y3SCcp0unNQTxhtmAwAMuKggFC7NHHbB9l1SJ24/s1600-h/n2373.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8QKJhSZymf5LYqYv6a4PghZJzpCvf4xtJQPnVufZFcyITShCygpfGZi70A4OwOeGjdPpCNmuzAUGglPKC0kaq1fi6inIyY3X6YL3y3SCcp0unNQTxhtmAwAMuKggFC7NHHbB9l1SJ24/s200/n2373.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439332461429910178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">N2373/75/79 Gem Trio 10.1 13.7:13.6:13.5 07 27 24 +33 48 00<br />7mm 18" - all three show with averted vision. Pair are mostly N/S, took work before they started to show.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWc8WGxseQCbr1Zx3eQ1ElBtC-4E6LDytaDKAJmWq2_f6dX2NW00uLFQfzJI9nzsc96minqTYW64DJJNW93DxcJ4RVBgVDy1qCxW60LHmEGHoODiaLarqBpGo9bu6KPaWcMelHFU2JOJs/s1600-h/n2385.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWc8WGxseQCbr1Zx3eQ1ElBtC-4E6LDytaDKAJmWq2_f6dX2NW00uLFQfzJI9nzsc96minqTYW64DJJNW93DxcJ4RVBgVDy1qCxW60LHmEGHoODiaLarqBpGo9bu6KPaWcMelHFU2JOJs/s200/n2385.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439332666444541170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">N2385/88/89 Gem Trio 7.7 14.2:13.7:12.9 07 29 06 +33 48 00<br />20mm 18" - all three show up easily. 7mm shows all three have stellar nuclei, and appear elongated N/S.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NLXZV7q6berLdy0bDs51VGZRoHmviU_2ygG0nd3H6i3KPg6EScu5P_g7cQMZju2UUD2mF1AQ3-BgP0R_f_bsnqF334-bvnnPPcM_bGZW4uCN88-hv5nU_0Lb_negbnTkYVNDHEBLaEA/s1600-h/n2372.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NLXZV7q6berLdy0bDs51VGZRoHmviU_2ygG0nd3H6i3KPg6EScu5P_g7cQMZju2UUD2mF1AQ3-BgP0R_f_bsnqF334-bvnnPPcM_bGZW4uCN88-hv5nU_0Lb_negbnTkYVNDHEBLaEA/s200/n2372.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439332845285515906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2372 NGC 2371 Gem PN 47x43 9.5 07 25 36 +29 30 00<br />7mm 18" - nice bi-lobed proto-planetary with pinpoint progenitor star obvious. Both lobes bright, W lobe is brighter and more condensed, E lobe appears larger but dimmer. E lobe aslo has bright condensed center. Appears there is a larger dim oval envelope surrounding entire object. W lobe has a blue-green tint, without filters.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA6x2BtcWeIJgrNVjEVx3pHgT3_wfRNFmmM9zoeQcNv_yXJ1yGoh-rreL113vsFnsH2Mc7bp2kdPnfGk5DUvoqUHlF8I52zmgy0jOJfDIBV9crJm7owtCPVMC3HCLbypI2bH3xPYDDgw/s1600-h/n2535.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA6x2BtcWeIJgrNVjEVx3pHgT3_wfRNFmmM9zoeQcNv_yXJ1yGoh-rreL113vsFnsH2Mc7bp2kdPnfGk5DUvoqUHlF8I52zmgy0jOJfDIBV9crJm7owtCPVMC3HCLbypI2bH3xPYDDgw/s200/n2535.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439333063783446450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Arp 82 GX 2.5'x1.2' 12.8 08 11 13 +25 12 00 NGC 2535 NGC 2536<br />12mm 18" - dimmer member of pair is SE of larger and brighter one. Larger member appears elongated N/S, dimmer has tiny stellar core and is perhaps linear inside envelope.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYyfzQQU0N25346Pt0ni_t7PIb8M0y72tGp2J5n1zkMQhfN77THCU9ArU7RlNWFe54b-4LOpftnaPTAwyjbMFc2notJFehdRttXpL1J2USxUFdNkExjyqXxlPQtzDFiwbmoUWK5ngSQU/s1600-h/n2420.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYyfzQQU0N25346Pt0ni_t7PIb8M0y72tGp2J5n1zkMQhfN77THCU9ArU7RlNWFe54b-4LOpftnaPTAwyjbMFc2notJFehdRttXpL1J2USxUFdNkExjyqXxlPQtzDFiwbmoUWK5ngSQU/s200/n2420.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439333244183808626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2420 Gem OC 7 10.2 07 38 24 +21 34 00<br />12mm 18" - horseshoe of bright stars opening to W, with a tail of stars off the SE end of the closed part of the horseshoe. About 8 stars in the horseshoe, with 4 in the arced tail, opening to the W. Many dim stars fill in and through the brighter components. Very obvious cluster, elongated E/W. CGCG 1117-59 and 60 show up barely as dim elongated smudges with 7mm.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUCJlpSlJ-Mxt7OlLKwiRiSi6yllDwm3pcOpqIO1NKszH-L9v2OBk-mRmIs3TlKfSXkLthHlqiUfwAyp2HNn_ltIYwn4rrvX3MolPFzXWD9TMCdxG4kACsWBnUOqiiuEXbQcQXe3AfbE/s1600-h/n2392.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUCJlpSlJ-Mxt7OlLKwiRiSi6yllDwm3pcOpqIO1NKszH-L9v2OBk-mRmIs3TlKfSXkLthHlqiUfwAyp2HNn_ltIYwn4rrvX3MolPFzXWD9TMCdxG4kACsWBnUOqiiuEXbQcQXe3AfbE/s200/n2392.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439333387100000258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 2392 Gem PN 47x43 9.35 07 29 12 +20 55 00<br />7mm 18" - bright pinpoint central star is surrounded by a very tight black ring, with a brightish second ring that is mottled and elongated slightly N/S. Outside is a large dimmer ring that is uneven in brightness, perhaps just some mottling. Good view. No color. Photo credit <a href="http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n1535.html%29">NASA</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97-AdOqAjDq3gKUfjqQTupGyXXJ0feR_WEiTFrI8adsRPYd4GYooDxrRdEEsFzAQv9I4AIyvaqZe8DBQSpEtY9MlgoiHDhvasvXg_LKcNSvg-66RujRgyljV0zC135DkXeAb0qvrgh8I/s1600-h/n2418.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97-AdOqAjDq3gKUfjqQTupGyXXJ0feR_WEiTFrI8adsRPYd4GYooDxrRdEEsFzAQv9I4AIyvaqZe8DBQSpEtY9MlgoiHDhvasvXg_LKcNSvg-66RujRgyljV0zC135DkXeAb0qvrgh8I/s200/n2418.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439333552113219938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Arp 165 GX 1.8' 12.2 07 36 37 +17 53 00 NGC 2418<br />7mm 18'" - very small with a condensed core, stellar nucleus, elongation seems to vary with averted vision, NW/SE, but changes, so may be disrupted.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswhsmUtRB6F9ZjpmC0yB2ZX7hrNj2NMs0bL3ouat3z8NY4bvlSe6WLVeg2Nu_RDAUXRt6FsXgC6C8qXmB0BPOwPmk6RvlgwgaYGTyMbvYGGI6g9gkKTTFsBOeIgyar7tuxyOKc2S70Pk/s1600-h/medusa.nebula.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswhsmUtRB6F9ZjpmC0yB2ZX7hrNj2NMs0bL3ouat3z8NY4bvlSe6WLVeg2Nu_RDAUXRt6FsXgC6C8qXmB0BPOwPmk6RvlgwgaYGTyMbvYGGI6g9gkKTTFsBOeIgyar7tuxyOKc2S70Pk/s200/medusa.nebula.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439333727558109474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Abell 21 Gem PN 744"x509" 10.2 07 29 02 +13 15 13 PK 205+14.1 = PN G205.1+14.2 = YM 29 = Sh 2-274 = Medusa Nebula<br />20mm 18" - large, dim, using NPB filter. 12mm - elongated NNW/SSE and mottled, almost a dark ring inside the border, with an uneven edge to the entire outer area. Easy target. Photo credit <a href="http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im1054.html">NASA</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDzfE-p4gKjhreLccg9MeqMm2CtJPkxP1kSqWA7BhXqWGTvL_nWrKimNG55zP992TdoxRf-89HAUT5rYnbe6CgxHt70lC-0EHMr7Yl4IEL7fLn0jiMTLpudCpR2DcuJlBXQOF2hSGsOY/s1600-h/n2510.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDzfE-p4gKjhreLccg9MeqMm2CtJPkxP1kSqWA7BhXqWGTvL_nWrKimNG55zP992TdoxRf-89HAUT5rYnbe6CgxHt70lC-0EHMr7Yl4IEL7fLn0jiMTLpudCpR2DcuJlBXQOF2hSGsOY/s200/n2510.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439333919691570274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">N2510/11/13 CMi Trio 5.6 13.4:14.1:11.6 08 02 30 +09 24 00<br />7mm 18" - NGCs all show, although sky is not good in this direction. 2513 is faint but obvious, other pair are very faint indistinct small smudges.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All four of the next targets are unconfirmed, although the first is pretty assured. I include them only as impressions, what I felt I was catching glimpses of. The mind is a funny thing when looking for threshold targets.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxgrSQNsBv7vCn5XuLHP1V0p7xPYr1SXnjAC477M4NXcLWmUQTqSpoxOy-unX1rEik4cPoOJ5NgRGc4SPROS60jHiwGtMmuWgkATqWTJQLD0agiuMsKlZOHywoiSJvU5FFd8N0jb8Py4/s1600-h/abell+24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxgrSQNsBv7vCn5XuLHP1V0p7xPYr1SXnjAC477M4NXcLWmUQTqSpoxOy-unX1rEik4cPoOJ5NgRGc4SPROS60jHiwGtMmuWgkATqWTJQLD0agiuMsKlZOHywoiSJvU5FFd8N0jb8Py4/s200/abell+24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439334058162453058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Abell 24 CMi PN 265"x180" 13.9 07 51 37 +03 00 21 PK 217+14.1 = PN G217.1+14.7<br />12mm 18" - large, no filter, elongated N/S, central star dim but obvious, stars embedded throughout, but bright ones on S edge. Mottled, brighter eastern edge. Photo credit <a href="http://martingermano.com/Film/Images/PK217+14.1sgbnr.jpg">Martin Germano</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF2M7cECrT1aAK6hWMWzHpu6FTFWP0SZM-VNmm1hxjjMP2ue65hMo-bkbrpYOPcFIKbs-RgXFoDMjIVtydkpGB1RihFG4d-LNR9XCmVbrX3Ic_ETuVfUjLV7FP3TlBt72pipV2efTixU/s1600-h/abell+22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF2M7cECrT1aAK6hWMWzHpu6FTFWP0SZM-VNmm1hxjjMP2ue65hMo-bkbrpYOPcFIKbs-RgXFoDMjIVtydkpGB1RihFG4d-LNR9XCmVbrX3Ic_ETuVfUjLV7FP3TlBt72pipV2efTixU/s200/abell+22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439334222597949122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Abell 22 CMi PN 105"x68" 07 36 07 +02 42 28 PK 215+11.1 = K 1-11 = PN G215.6+11.1<br />12mm 18" - NPB, large oval elongated NNE/SSW, very indistinct, perhaps a bit of brightening on NE and E edge. Hint of annularity. Photo credit <a href="http://www.stathis-firstlight.de/deepsky/bilder/abell_22.jpg">Stathis Kafalis</a></span><a href="http://www.stathis-firstlight.de/deepsky/bilder/abell_22.jpg"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cEC7rGwnJStZjRZ6rlSBw13T7Fkbl1f6CVYwvDITFCy_G1iibsNL4PSF7um3cq68q7oQHNt5kh-TRYqAnOlXgLzKdiljpKsSgqSS9sw_kYTYCHh6c9EC3EKHqys3VCUpFICOTZukvlg/s1600-h/abell+20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cEC7rGwnJStZjRZ6rlSBw13T7Fkbl1f6CVYwvDITFCy_G1iibsNL4PSF7um3cq68q7oQHNt5kh-TRYqAnOlXgLzKdiljpKsSgqSS9sw_kYTYCHh6c9EC3EKHqys3VCUpFICOTZukvlg/s200/abell+20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439334704207996578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Abell 20 CMi PN 65" 14.7 07 22 57 +01 45 37 PK 214+7.1 = PN G214.9+07.8<br />12mm 18" - NPB, medium sized and very dim, round with possible N/S slight elongation, even brightness across object, maybe central star with other stars involved on N and S edges - inside edges. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Photo credit <a href="http://www.stathis-firstlight.de/deepsky/abell_winter.htm#Anchor--Abe-30192">Stathis Kafalis</a></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuvkzCuc3x5qhzzitG1DkZfUFn-PviSczqQtzVLc1fJpMA6CyeV-mEdeAFx0WHrXmCrZehOOiT0JIK9t9rd08OusA4xP1_xvszYpw0xz9PYLi7cek6B4nZ_jpIbyJTyRCfkEpsm2nh0A/s1600-h/abell+25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuvkzCuc3x5qhzzitG1DkZfUFn-PviSczqQtzVLc1fJpMA6CyeV-mEdeAFx0WHrXmCrZehOOiT0JIK9t9rd08OusA4xP1_xvszYpw0xz9PYLi7cek6B4nZ_jpIbyJTyRCfkEpsm2nh0A/s200/abell+25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439334860404784466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Abell 25 Mon PN 150"x145" 08 06 46 -02 52 35 PK 224+15.1 = K 1-13 = PN G224.3+15.3<br />12mm 18" - NPB, elongated a bit N/S, even brightness across, central star, sharp edge especially along NE edge or along entire E side. Star is either central,or on N edge, hard to tell. Photo credit <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.stathis-firstlight.de/deepsky/bilder/abell_22.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.stathis-firstlight.de/deepsky/abell_winter.htm&usg=__FMSwTjBwKgsCaQQ40wpC6EXcKRk=&h=595&w=594&sz=83&hl=en&start=4&sig2=c8WExW_wcZhmX0foOCTbnQ&itbs=1&tbnid=tBuhsrD6WWj9OM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dabell%2B22%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG&ei=MWB8S6SeL5zosAP5-vWQCQ">Stathis Kafalis</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5Iup6m3PYc8x26-EkQ2TsP95HurTvqX1A30ZXL0-xg9vjZC1MRIk90JHvFzCiBU2VcVNHzJisPFDZJMf7nKvGpo-itEbpRdoEg5zloGSzNDXh5LafwITIiT9lEw-2xussj2zXYtTufM/s1600-h/m48.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5Iup6m3PYc8x26-EkQ2TsP95HurTvqX1A30ZXL0-xg9vjZC1MRIk90JHvFzCiBU2VcVNHzJisPFDZJMf7nKvGpo-itEbpRdoEg5zloGSzNDXh5LafwITIiT9lEw-2xussj2zXYtTufM/s200/m48.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439335157719144674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">M048 HYD OC 54 5.5 08 13 48 -05 48 00 NGC 2548<br />20mm 18" - large, bright, coarse, dispersed. Lots of chains.<br /></span>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-19320232998289643392010-02-14T08:26:00.000-08:002010-02-14T10:50:40.636-08:00Starlight's ReturnIt has been a long winter, waiting for observing opportunities. I hear the word El Nino kicked around by locals, and for those of us who spend time hunting out ancient star light, that name is synonymous with "frustration". My last legitimate time out observing away from the limited magnitudes of city skies was November, but for other friends, September or longer. So, even though El Nino gave us what otherwise would have been "stay home" skies, the prospect of any sky at all resulted in a big turnout<br /><br />The observing site was Dinosaur Point parking lot, a large paved parking lot used by boaters at <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/m/mauidave/370.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/m/mauidave/370.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>the San Luis Reservoir along Highway 152, between Hollister and Los Banos. Special permission has been obtained by members of The Astronomy Connection (<a href="http://observers.org">TAC</a>) to use the site for astronomical observing, but requires advance notice, and no overnight camping. Of the closer sites to the San Francisco south bay, it is the darkest, but subject to wind and fog at times, due to the local geography. When its good, it is justifiably the best choice. And it is the easiest drive. The drive this time of year features green hills and fields full of brilliant wild mustard plants in vibrant yellow bloom. Worth the trip just for the drive, to break the cabin fever.<br /><br />The night turned out to be short, and about an even mix of observing and socializing. I observed a handful of deep sky objects. There were a few remarkable views through other telescopes <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kyleedwards1.webs.com/photos/Mars-2009---2010-Oppo/Mars%2001-06-2010%200114%20AM%20447fr%20Meade%20Barlow%20Meade%20Extender%20%283%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 225px;" src="http://kyleedwards1.webs.com/photos/Mars-2009---2010-Oppo/Mars%2001-06-2010%200114%20AM%20447fr%20Meade%20Barlow%20Meade%20Extender%20%283%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>worth mentioning. The Orion Nebula in Greg LaFlamme's 22" Dob had subtle red and blue/green hues. Reds in the arms, and back around M43, the cooler tones in and around the Trapezium. Mars in Julien Lecomte's 12.5" Meade Lightbridge showed a brilliant sharp edged white polar cap, ruddy ochre tone with lots of dark markings mostly in the hemisphere opposite the white cap. Great view. Saturn in David Cooper's 6" AP refractor was stunning in its crisp detail, in spite of heavy dewing (later during the evening) creating a bright glow around the target. Those three views alone, along with seeing so many people out enjoying them self, were enough to make it a worthwhile evening. But I did some observing too (although not a lot). <a href="http://www.bautforum.com/astrophotography/99062-mars-january-6th.html">Photo credit</a><br /><br />Here are my observing notes - short, as I was dodging clouds and fighting dew for most of the night. You can't always get what you want... but it was the first time out for 2010, so no complaints. I was back home by 12:30 a.m.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJOxHmBPy6g8b0IT0sYKi-VvVvDhCd8gcuU_LsRlGM8VFc2sciioOcZPOFG9kCA9aVeAC9SEJjc4kETkh4CSfA214TmWaX981pzfHbYkpSzO8mAk11Wu6_n-GcB8Wa1zNsPxzhs14UUU/s1600-h/2276.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJOxHmBPy6g8b0IT0sYKi-VvVvDhCd8gcuU_LsRlGM8VFc2sciioOcZPOFG9kCA9aVeAC9SEJjc4kETkh4CSfA214TmWaX981pzfHbYkpSzO8mAk11Wu6_n-GcB8Wa1zNsPxzhs14UUU/s200/2276.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438159661202176242" border="0" /></a>Arp 25 Cep<br />GX 2.8'x2.7' 11.4 07 27 13 +85 45 00 NGC 2276<br />12mm 18" - large and diffuse, almost lost in glow of bright star close by to west, but enough separation. No distinct detail, no nucleus, round.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlBbeakI9mWGIiLAEhkrGTDiTTRKke9ZTLqnfscBpt_sPVcinj15hlLPxpU9hoanymcDxEtFIGWhmIOjzmKh6lfd4v7lm2mtycCT7mjzn9Owku2wZ2J-PDN-pjB3TysOdvYmLJpvWI-U/s1600-h/2300.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlBbeakI9mWGIiLAEhkrGTDiTTRKke9ZTLqnfscBpt_sPVcinj15hlLPxpU9hoanymcDxEtFIGWhmIOjzmKh6lfd4v7lm2mtycCT7mjzn9Owku2wZ2J-PDN-pjB3TysOdvYmLJpvWI-U/s200/2300.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438159900714996514" border="0" /></a>Arp 114 Cep<br />GX 2.8'x2.0' 12.1 07 32 20 +85 42 00 NGC 2300<br />12mm 18" - shares field with N2300 much brighter and approximately 20' east. Bright core with pinpoint dim nucleus occupying most of the visual extent, with a dim thin halo surrounding the core. 7mm seems to extend outer halo giving appearance of extended face on spiral galaxy. Excellent deep field area for another night!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGtXorkruAdBj9VLlOPcaqmp_FPw7Rdh12DlpRnnXCWGGKhbz_JBoTJR4qHs_Q9G6M4Z6c_1gvg3l9C_toLZc6rXK3L41TmNSIccFtaRvEvL9ixSmJm8rNKOhpeRFhv_wKisAnrMIvHM/s1600-h/2523.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGtXorkruAdBj9VLlOPcaqmp_FPw7Rdh12DlpRnnXCWGGKhbz_JBoTJR4qHs_Q9G6M4Z6c_1gvg3l9C_toLZc6rXK3L41TmNSIccFtaRvEvL9ixSmJm8rNKOhpeRFhv_wKisAnrMIvHM/s200/2523.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438160076730920930" border="0" /></a>Arp 9 Cam<br />GX 3.0'x1.8' 11.9 08 14 59 +73 34 00 NGC 2523<br />7mm 18" - small core brighter than outer disc, hints at face on spiral. Occasional glimpses of pinpoint nucleus embedded. Outer halo dimmer than core, but distinct. Can hold with direct vision. Galaxy just kept asking for more power!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYntsEQ5HfjPjSTJ3p-Q51Vc7LLm-feE4Jpc7RnuuAA_pQkCrGFfAsbMp-cBJPXbqKt-owHkh6xHJkaEk6dfvih2oNUnPnoMvRNbhf08nELehkuXBaLeiKnLJkRloIFlHNOBZkGnbI9I/s1600-h/dss_search.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYntsEQ5HfjPjSTJ3p-Q51Vc7LLm-feE4Jpc7RnuuAA_pQkCrGFfAsbMp-cBJPXbqKt-owHkh6xHJkaEk6dfvih2oNUnPnoMvRNbhf08nELehkuXBaLeiKnLJkRloIFlHNOBZkGnbI9I/s200/dss_search.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438160272959548258" border="0" /></a>N 2366 Cam<br />GX+KNT 8.1x3.3 11.1 07 28 55 +69 12 57<br />12mm 18" - dim galaxy elongated mostly N/S, with N end very dim and bright knot tow S end. N end is diffuse and chaotic. Galaxy appears broken (void) between N and S ends. Bright knot is small and has a pinpoint nucleus. A dimmer knot is close by the N knot, to its SSW.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.deepsky-drawings.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ngc2403tohpsvieillard200902.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 166px;" src="http://www.deepsky-drawings.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ngc2403tohpsvieillard200902.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>NGC 2403 Cam<br />GX 16.8x10 8.9 07 36 48 +65 36 00<br />7mm 18" - large and diffuse galaxy, chaotic. Distinct core seems featureless, but large, has star at SW edge. Arms seem to be knots, broken off from core, most distinct one is to the NE. Another knot to S with star embedded, another to N of core and closer. Dim diffuse arm seems to extend around and beyond N knot. Another dim knot seems to be to the N off of three stars extended W of galactic core. Nice galaxy! Drawing is from <a href="http://www.deepsky-drawings.com/">http://www.deepsky-drawings.com/<br /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4ir1ScP2K6Gs7NrZOE9GQJQOj2db95HEQBndomiLyvqNBlODjx64NLQJSvLDsfAsXSCcgZ0jwS0Ihmb8n3wQN0eBl7hdOsgfN_LKOsX3PXACd8RFx9iE_Ypx4cfhbmsHgm9xNPXbykU/s1600-h/2500.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4ir1ScP2K6Gs7NrZOE9GQJQOj2db95HEQBndomiLyvqNBlODjx64NLQJSvLDsfAsXSCcgZ0jwS0Ihmb8n3wQN0eBl7hdOsgfN_LKOsX3PXACd8RFx9iE_Ypx4cfhbmsHgm9xNPXbykU/s200/2500.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438161297260853522" border="0" /></a>N 2500 Lyn<br />GX 2.9x2.6 11.6 08 01 53 +50 44 15<br />12mm 18" - large, mostly round, slight N/S elongation. Featureless, but slight brightening toward center. Fairly low surface brightness.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYBM-av6IeOKj_U_W2RzToEMmNg3Ts9V2U0D9s2jyIa-6m2iksuosy2G5Kvq2n8In_o-fkMZ9PSi2iG8tO3X0mDorhnuEw7viRXG_PQP3C5Es8sjjCae8sS9gXv5OfSiFkT3ZrXg-Ewk/s1600-h/2418.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYBM-av6IeOKj_U_W2RzToEMmNg3Ts9V2U0D9s2jyIa-6m2iksuosy2G5Kvq2n8In_o-fkMZ9PSi2iG8tO3X0mDorhnuEw7viRXG_PQP3C5Es8sjjCae8sS9gXv5OfSiFkT3ZrXg-Ewk/s200/2418.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438161486475896290" border="0" /></a>Arp 165 Gem<br />GX 1.8' 12.2 07 36 37 +17 53 00 NGC 2418<br />7mm 18'" - very small with a condensed core, stellar nucleus, elongation seems to vary with averted vision, NW/SE but changes, so maybe disrupted.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO95UrR-YmuZDu2Arc1WzB4eZDstK884Sz8lV2VynvyY3zqO4B4ku-Pso31_B8HWfVMgpJKJ98cHtdOowhI2Hz6FjxN7SPqytGPe6t7OXr-q6iG-dJKBNfm096sYN23b9RNProIfGdno/s1600-h/2395.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO95UrR-YmuZDu2Arc1WzB4eZDstK884Sz8lV2VynvyY3zqO4B4ku-Pso31_B8HWfVMgpJKJ98cHtdOowhI2Hz6FjxN7SPqytGPe6t7OXr-q6iG-dJKBNfm096sYN23b9RNProIfGdno/s200/2395.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438161656211014978" border="0" /></a>NGC 2395 Gem<br />OC 12 9.4 07 27 12 +13 35 00<br />20mm 18" - large, scattered, 16 brighter members over many dim ones, elongated E/W and thicker in middle, forming almost a parallelogram..Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-57169642731518544792009-11-24T22:52:00.002-08:002009-11-26T08:56:44.953-08:00Wet Behind The Ears - Dewy night at Willow SpringsA small group of observers took the opportunity to go to Willow Springs last Saturday night, There had been plenty of indecision leading, as a large bank of clouds lay to the west, on the heels of the rain we had Friday. The jet stream forecast pointed the problem to the southeast <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Moon_and_red_blue_haze.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Moon_and_red_blue_haze.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>directly at Willow, but the visual and IR weather loops an east-west trajectory with the southern edge skirting the south bay. I met Olga at the usual Morgan Hill Chevron rendezvous and caravaned south. The sun had already set and twilight silhouetted the black hills to the west against florescent golds, oranges and a deepening electric blue. The <a href="http://www.weatherscapes.com/album.php?cat=optics&subcat=venus_belt">Belt of Venus</a> was already well up in the east. An hour later we arrived Willow, followed closely by Greg and Marko. The air was a chilled 38 degrees, sunset a dying ember. The only light was from the stars, Jupiter and crescent moon.<br /><br />Soon our host Kevin emerged, dragging out Dobzilla, his 33" Dob. I had my 18" f/4.5 Obsession, Greg a 22" f/3.6 and Marko an 18" f/3.7 . I shared my telescope with Olga, who has proven to be a good observer and very proficient star-hopper, in spite of still being wet behind the ears. Even well before the moon set there were some great views. Greg showed The Veil in the 22, and we had fun poking around with his 77mm binoculars, looking at wide field targets.<br /><br />After dark Kevin shared a mind boggling view of the Dumbbell Nebula in the 33".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0103/dumbbell_noao_big.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 408px; height: 408px;" src="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0103/dumbbell_noao_big.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>At low power and with a filter, its distinct apple-core shape was very apparent, containing what appeared to be strings of filamentary material. The outer edges were clearly defined, in a large oval, but with extra "puffs" of ejecta outward of the main shell, at right angles to the major axis of the apple-core. Easily one of the best views I've had of the target. We'd run back and forth, scope to scope, grabbing views, but most of the night was spent in pursuit of dry optics. The only master of the seas that night was Marko, who's dew setup kept him out of the drink. We talked about dew prevention a bit, and I related that I've only been really dewed out a handful of times in all the years I've been going out. But this high on the the "bad" scale of those nights. All night long, the views would bloat, then fade to empty fields. My secondary and eyepieces were hit bad. The combination of dew and masacara are a deadly combination.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.royrogers.com/store/media/red_river_valley_cd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 251px;" src="http://www.royrogers.com/store/media/red_river_valley_cd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>But the night was still a lot of fun. In the background, there was plenty of chatter, and Kevin's selection of music, eclectic, ranging from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ9PRzIyzFA">beautiful flamenco guitar</a> to lullabies in foreign languages, to old cowboy tunes from the American West. I think my favorites were <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L14UKBjC5Is">The Streets of Laredo</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezJkRDQmL2Y">Red River Valley</a>, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcYsO890YJY&feature=fvst">Happy Trails</a>, which I would have loved hearing as the last song of the night. It occurred to me how ingrained in me those songs of the old west were - back to my earliest childhood memories. But to my observing partner they were as foreign and new as most of the objects we were observing. I enjoyed the old songs, and new songs, along with the old views, and new views.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPduxLUsFQN8v__9MCOAAJu_kLzP-uLm2yms7RKOPAxCepdzbbyPfVjWQeOzUpW4NY4f1TMC8J7SaUQReksN7KhrfwKdqK33yaboz1g3Pl0TmWo7iB_0LpAAeomPyYY99eqFyk9T6FF4/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPduxLUsFQN8v__9MCOAAJu_kLzP-uLm2yms7RKOPAxCepdzbbyPfVjWQeOzUpW4NY4f1TMC8J7SaUQReksN7KhrfwKdqK33yaboz1g3Pl0TmWo7iB_0LpAAeomPyYY99eqFyk9T6FF4/s320/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407931157889934594" border="0" /></a><br />By the end of the night, we were picking out bright targets just for fun. M42, M37, M38, M36, M35, M46/47, The Eskimo (bloated and dulled by dew), a teasing taste of Thor's Helmet, then off to the Mexican Jumping Star in NGC 2362. The star would not jump much though... I think the telescope was frozen. W pointed low toward Canis Major, it just kept dropping down... unbalanced from the weight of the frozen ice sheet of dew on the shroud.<br /><br />In the morning, I looked over at Marko's scope, and chuckled at the ring of obliterated footprints surrounding it, too many to count, marking his mostly circular travels during the night. A small distance walked, but such a great distance traveled.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHOBxHWTkW3HtGm6FkpgwD_wJ_GLM6DOODvvE1XKfa6JMBhqiHZIEwEEmNfdPbo22NBIXS3Q65IWK5bfgvO4grpIHNQ5T1S4_tbGfJP3rPciGgsiY2B0a-ZZNi7Yldk_0psXLVsZXw2o/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHOBxHWTkW3HtGm6FkpgwD_wJ_GLM6DOODvvE1XKfa6JMBhqiHZIEwEEmNfdPbo22NBIXS3Q65IWK5bfgvO4grpIHNQ5T1S4_tbGfJP3rPciGgsiY2B0a-ZZNi7Yldk_0psXLVsZXw2o/s320/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407931623578895986" border="0" /></a>Packing up my gear, I lazily daydreamed of a bigger scope, wondering just what I could might see. Its a fun dream. I dream it a lot.<br /><br />It had been a very wet night. Yet even with the cold and dew, it was a fun. It was good to be out again, with friends, under the dark sky. Thanks Kevin, for the hospitality.<br /><br />Here are our other observations from the night. Happy trails...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+24+04.01&d=%2B12+55+01.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 223px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+24+04.01&d=%2B12+55+01.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>NGC514 Psc GX 4.2'x2.7' 12.2B 01 24 03 +12 55 03<br />12mm - amorphous, some central condensation, no detail. Large, dim.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+24+47.72&d=%2B09+32+19.8&e=J2000&h=48.0&w=48.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 223px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+24+47.72&d=%2B09+32+19.8&e=J2000&h=48.0&w=48.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>N524 Psc GX 2.7' 11.3B 01 24 48 +09 32 00<br />Viewed NGC 524, along with NGC 518, NGC 516, NGC 509, NGC 532 and NGC 525 all in the same field. Most had to be teased out, due to conditions.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+38+54.76&d=%2B07+03+45.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 224px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+38+54.76&d=%2B07+03+45.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>HCG5 Psc Hickson 0.9'x0.7' 14.9B 00 38 54 +07 03 46 NGC 190<br />Observed A, B and C components. Very surprising, conditions are apparently varying.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+39+26.27&d=%2B06+44+03.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 223px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+39+26.27&d=%2B06+44+03.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>AGC 0076 Psc GX 28.0' 15.0 00 39 48 +06 46 00 IC 1565<br />Located very close to Hickson 5. Only picked up IC 1565 and IC 1566.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+22+10.60&d=%2B05+24+40.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 223px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+22+10.60&d=%2B05+24+40.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>N486/90/92 Psc GX Trio 0.4' 15.5 01 22 06 +05 24 00<br />This trio was a very dim smudgy grouping that would not break into individual galaxies.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+14+02.26&d=%2B48+14+04.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 223px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+14+02.26&d=%2B48+14+04.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>N48 Psc GX 1.4'x0.9' 14.4P 01 21 48 +05 15 00<br />Fighting very dewy conditions, picked up round glows of NGC 49, NGC 51, NGC 48 and IC 1534.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+24+34.80&d=%2B03+47+29.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 223px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+24+34.80&d=%2B03+47+29.9&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Arp157 Psc GX 4.5'x1.8' 12.2B 01 24 35 +03 47 00 NGC 0520<br />OK view. With 7mm a bright knot on the NNW end, with a spread appearance, almost fan-like, at the SSE end. Long and thin.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+20+06.78&d=%2B03+24+55.6&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 223px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+20+06.78&d=%2B03+24+55.6&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>Arp227 Psc GX 7.0'x6.2' 12.4B 01 20 06 +03 25 00 NGC 0474<br />3 nice galaxies in a group. NGC 470 and NGC 474 very close together, with 470 appearing noticeably fainter. NGC 467 is the smallest of the three and about 10' E of 470.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+12+55.78&d=%2B00+58+51.6&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 223px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=01+12+55.78&d=%2B00+58+51.6&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>NGC428 Cet GX 4.1'x3.1' 11.9B 01 12 55 +00 58 54<br />Entire galaxy appears chaotic. Large, with a N/S oval shape and fairly even brightness across surface.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+39+13.47&d=%2B00+51+49.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 223px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+39+13.47&d=%2B00+51+49.3&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>HGC7 Cet GX 2.2'x0.8' 13.4B 00 39 13 +00 51 49 NGC 0192<br />Perhaps the most pleasing view of the night was teasing out this wonderful foursome of galaxies. This is a bright Hickson. NGC 201 is the largest of the group and stands alone, with the other three smaller galaxies grouped into a small tight arc.Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-79899947951490560132009-11-15T13:56:00.000-08:002009-11-15T16:26:26.390-08:00Winter's Return to Willow SpringsSaturday conditions were not very promising, early in the day. Dark bottomed clouds filled the sky, with only occasional patches of blue showing through, and a chill was in the air. The forecast was for clear skies in the evening, and indeed, shortly after arriving at Willow Springs, blue sky began spreading and the clouds were dissipating as they moved southward.<br /><br />The group this trip comprised of Steve Gottlieb, Greg LaFlamme, both whom preceded me in arriving, followed by Tony Hurtado, Richard Navarrete and Mark Johnston. Along with my 18" f/4.5 Dob, the others, in order were, 18", 22", 18", 18" and 18". Our host, Kevin Reitschel, hauled out Dobzilla, his 33.4" titan. As we all worked on collimating our scopes, the sun was setting through cloud banks in the west, spraying the sky with orange and gold rays. By the time it was dark, we had an almost entirely clear sky, and would enjoy a fine night of deep sky observing under almost ideal conditions, save for some diminished transparency, and temps that dropped into the mid 20's. We were all prepared for cold, and my fingertips were the only part of me to feel winter's return to Willow Springs.<br /><br />I observed from about 6:30 p.m. until after 1 a.m., and woke in the morning to fresh crisp air, and sounds of horses in the field and birds warming themselves in the branches of nearby trees. The hillsides were were tinged red with thin cover... and I packed to leave, enjoying the stillness, sights and sounds, as the others awoke.<br /><br />Soon, I was on my way, leaving Willow Springs to follow the winding two-lane J1, back toward a very different world.<br /><br />This month I changed what is included in <a href="http://www.resource-intl.com/Observing.Lists/Deep.Sky.Nov.09.html">my observing list </a> to add some interest for an observing friend - limiting it to 60 targets, varying from "eye candy" to my usual more challenging ones.<br /><br />Here are the objects I observed from that list, with my unedited notes:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N559 Cas OC 4.4' 9.5 01 29 30 +63 18 00</span><br />20mm - rich but many dim stars. Brighter pair in cluster close together E/W with a nice dim chain arcing to the north. Pretty. Actually fairly large. Arc of stars trail off E end of cluster, which has a few dozen brighter stars overlaying numerous dim hazy stars.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N381 Cas OC 6.0' 9.3 01 08 18 +61 35 00</span><br />20mm - poor large cluster near two bright stars, brightest star is appox 18' E of cluster. Approximately 20 brighter stars overlaying many dimmer haze stars. Coarse.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N129 Cas OC 21' 6.5 00 29 54 +60 14 00</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pages.cthome.net/astroleo/n0129.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://pages.cthome.net/astroleo/n0129.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>20mm - beautiful field - brightest star to S and pretty colored arc of stars to E leading to outlying bright star. Cluster comprised of about half dozen brighter stars overlying a V shaped wedge of dimmer stars opening from the south and expanding to the N. Entire cluster appears to have haze involved, which may be nebulosity.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N436 Cas OC 5.0' 8.8 01 15 30 +58 49 00</span><br />20mm - pretty and condensed. Brightest members form chains to W and N from center. Dimmer members of cluster extend widely N and S. Nice arced chain of stars 23' W.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N457 Cas OC 13.0' 6.4 01 19 06 +58 20 00</span><br />20mm - large rich cluster with 2 bright stars dominating SE edge. Chain of stars crosses cluster from SE to NW. Custer appears coarse initially, but is rich in dim stars. Extends 10' SE/NW and 24' SW/NE.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abell 2 Cas PN 33"x29" 14.5 00 45 36 +57 57 24 PK 122-4.1 = PN G122.1-04.9</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blackskies.org/images/pnbst/pnbst4/Abell2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.blackskies.org/images/pnbst/pnbst4/Abell2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>12mm NPB filter - small but obvious, nearly direct vision. Slightly elongated NE/SW, possible slightly annularity. 5mm hints at annularity, and stars embedded in N, W and S edges.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sh 2-184 Cas BN 28.0'x21.0' 00 52 50 +56 36 37 N0281</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ricksastro.com/DSOs/11_16_02_ngc281.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 352px; height: 371px;" src="http://www.ricksastro.com/DSOs/11_16_02_ngc281.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>20mm - no filter, nebula is visible easily, extending E and W of an easy double star… more obvious to the E and SE. Very large area of nebulosity. With Ulutrablock, nebulosity is very distinct and wide, extending most noticeably SE/NW, with extension also S to W along the southern edge. Other dim nebulosity throughout the region. Very rich nebula.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N185 Cas GX 11.9'x10.1' 10.1B 00 39 00 +48 20 00</span><br />12mm - large mostly elliptical, slight extension mostly E/W (slightly SW), dim extensions and gradually brightening, evenly, to a fairly bright non-stellar core. Approximately 11'x3.4'<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N278 Cas GX 2.2'x2.2' 11.5B 00 52 06 +47 33 00</span><br />7mm - small and bright. Very bright small core with a dim stellar center. Possible arms curled tightly around core form a dimmer halo.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">M32 And GX 8.8'x6.5' 9.0B 00 42 41 +41 51 00</span><br />7mm - large and bright, slightly extended E/W with a stellar core and tight torus also elongated E/W around the nucleus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://thebigfoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/messier-110.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 425px; height: 500px;" src="http://thebigfoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/messier-110.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />M110 And GX 21.9'x10.9' 8.9B 00 40 24 +41 41 00</span><br />12mm - spectacular, elongated NNW/SSE, lens shaped core mostly N/S, Fill half field or about 14'. Very underrated.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NGC206 And C+N 4.2x1.5 00 40 31 +40 44 22</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://users.skynet.be/bho/images/NGC206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 443px; height: 384px;" src="http://users.skynet.be/bho/images/NGC206.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>12mm - could easily be mistaken for a dim galaxy overlaying the edge of M31. Elongated WSW/ENE and separated from M31 by a dark lane to the S. Very nice target.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N404 And GX 3.4'x3.4' 11.2B 01 09 24 +35 43 00</span><br />7mm - use high power get orange/gold Beta Andromodae out of field. Small tight core with dim stellar nucleus. Core diminishes rapidly in brightness to an even brightness out to edge. May have tight spirals.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HGC10 And Hickson 3.6'x1.3' 12.3V 01 26 21 +34 42 14 NGC 0536</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n536white.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n536white.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>7mm - all 4 visible. Three are easily there - NGC 536, NGC 529 and NGC 531. Eventually NGC 542 comes in and can be held. All appear elongated.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />N407/10/14 Psc GX Trio 2.3'x0.6' 14.3P 01 11 00 +33 12 00</span><br />12mm - NCG 407 - small slash elongated N/S, NGC 410 - elliptical elongated SW/NE with bright core and even brightness in halo., largest and brightest of trio. Stellar core. NGC 414 - small round and very little halo around a stellar nucleus.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N392/94/97 Psc GX Trio 1.2'x1.0' 13.7B 01 08 24 +33 06 00</span><br />7mm - NGC 394 slight elongate mostly N/S with stellar core, NGC 392 - brightest of trio mostly round with tight core and bright stellar nucleus, NGC 397 - small and slightly elongated N/S with even brightness and no nucleus - dimmest of the trio.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N447/49/51 Psc GX Trio 2.8'x2.1' 14.0V 01 16 12 +33 06 00</span><br />7mm - NGC 447, NGC 449, NGC 451 - all three small, no detail, and dim. NGC 449 and NGC 451 are a challenge due to proximity of bright star nearby. NGC 447 is marked in error in The Sky (planetarium software) as having a very bright star nearby.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arp331 Psc GX 1.4'x0.9' 12.8V 01 07 24 +32 24 00 NGC 0383</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.rokeby.ie/observatory/Sketches/Arp331.2008.11.27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 345px;" src="http://www.rokeby.ie/observatory/Sketches/Arp331.2008.11.27.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>12mm - NGC 383 anchors a beautiful long string of 9 NGC galaxies in a chain. Arp 331 included (NGC 379).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">M33 Tri GX 65.6'x38.0' 6.3B 01 33 54 +30 39 00</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/0/n0598.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 353px; height: 353px;" src="http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/0/n0598.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>20mm - huge and bright, showing lots of detail. Bright core with a dim fuzzy nucleus, star overlaying core - core elongated mostly WSW/ENE. Core shows sweep of arms starting - nice! 2 giant arms sweep S and W, N and E. Large HII to the NE glaring. 2 other HII to the w of the core, another to the SW.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NGC315 Psc GX 3.2'x2.2' 12.2B 00 57 48 +30 21 09</span><br />12mm - 315 is very bright, elongated WSW/ESE with an elongated elliptical core and stellar nucleus, with dim extensions. NGC 311 is somewhat ESE/WNW, small and no definition. NGC 318 is dim, small, off star to its NW, Very small, nearly stellar, tiny dim stellar nucleus.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N311/15/18 Psc GX Trio 1.8'x0.8' 14.0B 00 57 48 +30 18 00</span><br />See above.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">N252/58/60 And GX Trio 1.5'x1.0' 13.4P 00 48 00 +27 36 00</span><br />12mm - NGC 252 is pretty round with a dim stellar nucleus in a small round core surrounded by a dim halo. Brightest in group of 3. NGC 260 is quite dim, an indistinct haze slightly elongated N/S and about same size as NGC 252. NGC 258 required 7mm to confirm no find. Just beyond limit for night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arp282 And GX 2.6'x0.8' 13.2 00 36 52 +23 59 00 NGC 0169</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCc7AjwsfsusIy_bxX9hPQ4WBuILBZNxjDlQQpg5RVq0cR1igydgqTVZ96pHjgBCpbRZC8i2tqODSY3UG3TXxkOpp-stVutP9nULnJxuFKkq7L3AlTAXbXLcy6JLP8qhRmndhv_5vmCw/s1600-h/Untitled-1+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCc7AjwsfsusIy_bxX9hPQ4WBuILBZNxjDlQQpg5RVq0cR1igydgqTVZ96pHjgBCpbRZC8i2tqODSY3UG3TXxkOpp-stVutP9nULnJxuFKkq7L3AlTAXbXLcy6JLP8qhRmndhv_5vmCw/s320/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404469057410489906" border="0" /></a>7mm - interesting field due to two bright stars each with a pair of bright and dim galaxies off them. NGC 169 is obvious as a slash e/w with a tiny puff of IC1559 off its S edge. NGC 160 is larger, fatter, dimmer and SW/NE, with very occasional hint of UGC 354 to it NW. Fun field due to symmetry.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HCG8 And Hickson 0.5'x0.3' 15.2B 00 49 34 +23 34 42 MCG +04-03-008</span><br />7mm - amazingly, all 4 components came in! Several of us observed this group in our own telescopes.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NGC514 Psc GX 4.2'x2.7' 12.2B 01 24 03 +12 55 03</span><br />12mm - amorphous, some central condensation, no detail. Large, dim.Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-86417185683397300352009-10-17T11:44:00.000-07:002009-10-20T09:02:07.546-07:00Late Season Highlights from Willow SpringsI originally planned a leisurely Saturday afternoon, driving to Willow Springs, about an hour forty minutes from where I live south of San Francisco. But when the forecast changed and showed good for Friday, and deteriorating skies for Saturday, the decision was made. Traffic commute was an issue, but with the longer nights, it really didn't matter if arrival was after dark, so on toward sunset I met Richard Navarrete at the rendezvous in Morgan Hill, and waited for another observer, Olga Stackovsky, to arrive. She had not been to this remote observing site before, and would follow us. Just as she arrived, another familiar face appeared... <a href="http://www.deepskycolors.com/">Rogelio Bernal Andreo</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/CA25_SanBenito.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/CA25_SanBenito.JPG/800px-CA25_SanBenito.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>The group drove south an hour, weaving trough traffic on 101, then onto 25, and eventually the J1 where civilization ends and the sky begins. I'd only been on the J1 once at night, driving home after a fog-out, but this night time trip in had an entirely different feel. As the road twisted and turned in my headlights, there was nothing to see in the dark other than a ribbon of blacktop and dark shapes off the sides... the drive actually became, to me, a bit manic. The last section, at Willow Springs, is washboarded dirt, rutted with pock-marks full of water from the week's rains. Behind me, only three sets of headlights in a dust cloud, looking like a night shot of the Dakar rally outside Ouarzazate.<br /><br />As we pulled in to Deep Sky Ranch, our host Kevin Ritschel greeted us, opening the gate. Steve Gottlieb and Julien Lecomte were already there and set up. Minutes behind our group was Mark (Polo) Johnston... and upon his arrival about 20 minutes of musical chairs, car-style, ensued, until everyone was settled in. During the night it became confusing which Mark was being spoken to, so Johnston volunteered he's been called "Polo" before. I referred to him as Pollo, which unleashed Mark's surprisingly thorough understanding of Spanish colloquialisms and likely expletives... we were off to a fun night!<br /><br />Overhead, the sky was clear and dark, the Milky Way bright. The air was electric. Scopes set up... eyes adapted... and... off we went, everyone into their own adventure.<br /><br />Olga, Richard and I pretty much observed as a group. Richard and I both were using 18" Obsessions, his was on an Equatorial Platform. Nearby, Kevin had 33" Dobzilla set up.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cartabianca.com/astro/images/ngc_6992.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 337px;" src="http://www.cartabianca.com/astro/images/ngc_6992.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Probably the most aesthetically dazzling view of the night was early on, in his 33, of the Veil Nebula high overhead. With an 82 degree AFOV eyepiece, the Waterfall side - NGC 6992, was a spectacular glowing lacework ribbon of intertwined knots and "silk" threads. This was in incredible detail - twists bunched into sheer fabric, other sections pulled apart to where you could see the finest of strands. Those who saw it I'm sure would agree, this is not "gushing" over the view, it is an accurate yet insufficient description.<br /><br />I observed some Abell planetaries and Hickson Clusters of Galaxies. Several of the Hicksons <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.astrophotogallery.org/data/500/medium/NGC_7769-70-71---C14---L90_-R30_-G30_-B30_---11-09-2007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="http://www.astrophotogallery.org/data/500/medium/NGC_7769-70-71---C14---L90_-R30_-G30_-B30_---11-09-2007.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>were also cataloged as Arps. Many were challenging. Olga was helping me star hop and identify the correct fields. I found myself wondering how much better her vision might be then mine, and made the mistake of asking a woman her age. Advice - don't do it! The only answer I got was a terse "younger than you" (which was not help). Olga was hopping between Richard's scope, enjoying some of the Hicksons he was observing, mine, and the 33". She helped me locate and observe looked Hicksons 93 and 94, seeing components A-E in 93, and A-D in 94. We also had fun breaking up the galaxy trio of NGC 7769/70/71 at high power.<br /><br />Later in the evening (most of us observed from around 8:30 pm to 4:00 am), we used Richard's scope to track some planetary nebulae. First was the Eskimo, NGC 2392. With a 3mm Radian <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.caelumobservatory.com/obs/n1535blocks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 253px;" src="http://www.caelumobservatory.com/obs/n1535blocks.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>putting the view at 686x, the view showed a pinpoint central star, a tight black ring circling the star, electric neon torus outside the inner black ring, and a large extended nearly circular dimmer grey envelope with obvious mottling. This was an outstanding view - very easy to just sit and stare at it. I moved my scope over to the Blue Snowball - NGC 7662, and while it was bright, I was disappointed that it gave up little if any detail (there is none). I suggested NGC 1535 in Eridanus, and it turned out to be even more stunning than the Eskimo, which was a surprise since it is not nearly as well known. This planetary had all the attributes of the Eskimo, but its outer shell was elongated and more subtle... another great view at high magnification.<br /><br />I asked Richard to see the Peanut, NGC 2371/2372, in Gemini. This proto-planetary showed two distinct lobes with glaringly different brightnesses, at 686x. The progenitor star sat alone, and obvious, between the two puffs of star-stuff.<br /><br />After that, I was off on a brief highlight tour myself. M35 and NGC 2158, M81/82, M33 - which provided one of the best views I've had in years, M31 and its satellites, M78. I borrowed an H-Beta filter and at 100x had an excellent view of the Horsehead Nebula - very distinctly black against the glow of IC 434. Richard called it the best view he's had, and Olga, with sharp eyes but no prior experience, found it easily as well.<br /><br />Although I had looked at it earlier in the evening while lower in the east, I returned to M42 as a treat at the end of the night.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://deepskycolors.com/pics/astro/2007/12/12-03-2007_Orion_Nebula.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 488px; height: 325px;" src="http://deepskycolors.com/pics/astro/2007/12/12-03-2007_Orion_Nebula.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>At 194x, all six stars in the Trapezium were easy, sharp points. Thinking about it today, I didn't even bother with a filter on this target - it was so rich in detail and contrast. It is, to me, the premier view in the sky. I almost have to put the Veil up there with it, but the Orion Nebula exceeds it in dynamic range, and equals the Veil in its sheer aesthetic beauty. The black nebula behind the tight group of bright stars.... the sculpted arcs of dust, looking like molded clay, the knots in the bright turbulence around the Trap. It is impossible to tire of this view... slide a bit to the north, behind M42, and M43, and subtle sheets of nebulosity surround the bright stars in NGC 1977 - The Running Man...<br /><br />Only fatigue and knowing the sun would come up too early caused me to stop there...<br /><br />Before I knew it, there was a tap-tap-tap on the truck window, and it was time to pack and head out. The drive out through the back roads was a relaxed treat. The fun time I had with friends is something I look forward to again, next time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://samples.briskbuild.biz/deepskyranch/gethere./files/page2_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 448px; height: 336px;" src="http://samples.briskbuild.biz/deepskyranch/gethere./files/page2_1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Thank you to Kevin and Phetsy, and Deep Sky Ranch<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span>Image</span> <span>credits</span>:</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Veil Nebula: <a href="http://www.cartabianca.com/astro/st10.html">Diego Meozzi</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">NGC7769/70/71: <a href="http://www.zhn-observatory.com/index.htm">Dimitrios Kolovos</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">NGC 1535: <a href="http://www.caelumobservatory.com/index.html">Adam Block</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">M42 Region: <a href="http://www.deepskycolors.com/">Rogelio </a></span><a href="http://www.deepskycolors.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.deepskycolors.com/">Bernal </a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.deepskycolors.com/">Andreo<br /></a></span></li></ol></div>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-87505746485016543772009-09-22T15:11:00.000-07:002009-09-25T07:50:58.638-07:00Spoiling An "A" StudentSeptember new moon this year saw amateur astronomers from all over California converging on Lake San Antonio, for the annual CalStar observing event. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.observers.org/CalStar"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 188px;" src="http://www.observers.org/CalStar/Images/CalStar09.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It was in many respects typical of prior years... hot weather with temps around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, clear night skies, some newcomers, and familiar faces returning for the sheer enjoyment of seeing each other again. This year's event was lightly advertised, more word of mouth like the original events had been a decade ago, and in fact it had the casual feel of the old early get-togethers - the only rules were no white lights, and that any other rule making was simply an exercise in rule-mockery. And guess how it turned out? Even when the event encountered a little "bump in the road" (a car's alarm system flashed lights for some time), it was handled without incident, complaint, or really even any notice. All the astro-animals were a peaceable kingdom! How nice to see such a pleasant event...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYf01mF_UPY7UYKc9d3qdxdh8lgvIqPEqv6SGm-f2l70BfN1wP8hoPnViivPglxTAE5VKxT-jlEWy3pYvagrMLGsHaj1qufDw5s4H7VWzIZOYe79EwxaD61xKvQCrK-Zc1KftBZ01TjQI/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYf01mF_UPY7UYKc9d3qdxdh8lgvIqPEqv6SGm-f2l70BfN1wP8hoPnViivPglxTAE5VKxT-jlEWy3pYvagrMLGsHaj1qufDw5s4H7VWzIZOYe79EwxaD61xKvQCrK-Zc1KftBZ01TjQI/s320/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384462982526292050" border="0" /></a>I arrived the first official day, Thursday, in the mid-afternoon. A good number of attendees were already on site.... and I picked out a space along the western edge of the field. Up went my two canopies, I made my bed in the back of the truck, and kicked back to have a few cold beers, snacks, and catch up with friends at the Wicks' under their canopies and aluminet. Bantering went on until around sunset at which time I moved to my scope and began observing targets on the very lengthy list I'd put together - virtually all challenge objects for this trip. I went on until around 3 a.m., in temps that required no more than a light sweater.<br /><br />The next day, more friends arrived. Paul Sterngold set up next to me, so I had an old buddy close by - it really is great to see friends who are usually hundreds of miles away. As we prepared to start our night's activities, a woman I'd met at Houge Park, and had told about CalStar, appeared. It was Olga S., whom I assured, if she came to CalStar, she would be able to observe through my scope, or pretty much any one on the field, stressing what a friendly group it was. Her 11 year old son Kirrill was along too, an active and bright boy who was clearly enjoying being outdoors - and away from home. I had known Olga only a short time, but knew she was quite bright - and in fact is a research scientist at a prestigious bay area school. She had never, to my knowledge, been to a real dark sky event before, and this would be her introduction to deep sky observing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ursa.fi/yhd/komeetta/kuvat/ngc7538_28x240s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 254px;" src="http://www.ursa.fi/yhd/komeetta/kuvat/ngc7538_28x240s.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I'd had a good night on Thursday, logging some Abell Planetaries and various Sharpless nebulae, the most interesting being Sh2-158, also known as NGC 7538. I could see in my 18" Dob it was an unusual object, looking at times like a planetary nebula, other times like a face on spiral galaxy. I went over to Paul Alsing and a group of us observed it in his 25" scope, where it appeared even more like a big spiral at first, then a planetary with a huge extended envelope. It is an emission nebula, but unusual enough in appearance to warrant a visit if you're in the area.<br /><br />Friday night I decided that with Olga, I'd coach her as long as she was interested. I would ask her at times if she liked what she was doing, as I soon had her hunting mostly targets off my list. It was a good arrangement, I'd coach, and watch, and ask if she was doing ok. She'd reply that if she got bored, she'd wander off.<br /><br />It was not easy for her at first. Getting the hang of using a unit-finder, in this case a Rigel Quickfinder, proved challenging, but only briefly. She was a very quick learner. Her first target was the easy to find M31 and its satellites M32 and M110. She easily described the dust lanes without any prodding. Next, a bit more challenge, to M15, and the star hop off Enif from the crook in the neck of Pegasus. Pretty good. Then I suggested we get into some of the challenge objects.<br /><br />The first was the Miles Paul galaxy trio UGC 12064 A, B and C. With a lot of effort, we picked up all three down to mag 15.5. Honestly, I was astonished to have a rank newbie see these targets, but I had also been coaching her about averted vision and relaxing while observing. I moved <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sbig.com/award/Hallas/NGC7331.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 403px; height: 298px;" src="http://www.sbig.com/award/Hallas/NGC7331.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>over to NGC 7331, to show an example of a large spiral galaxy with detail, after the dim trio.<br /><br />The big galaxy was looking very good - a broad spread, and three companions clearly visible to its east. Olga was able to describe 7331, but at first did not notice the dimmer ones nearby. I showed her the computer screen, and back to the eyepiece where she easily picked out the other members. I asked if she was enjoying this and she said yes, let's keep going.<br /><br />I asked what she wanted to see, and she replied some interacting galaxies. Well, Stephan's Quintet was a few eyepiece fields away.<br /><br />At low power we picked out four galaxies. With the 7mm and 294X, all five were easily visible. It was a very good view.<br /><br />We finished Friday night observing a number of other dim Abell Planetaries, until Olga turned in. I continued for a while, observing, and visiting friends.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlfaFM2tcA5G2yJS5_IryjgvbFhXZHHlAfQd2aMEzJW0QzrWKHByexu9HxjYk8WqJ9E7BS-pRbT0cXe4OygG9hqUaT_yoWX-tOYIbbsVHYLTkLEEbp0PCYytwPwHgJ2sP8yeFZS-COP8/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlfaFM2tcA5G2yJS5_IryjgvbFhXZHHlAfQd2aMEzJW0QzrWKHByexu9HxjYk8WqJ9E7BS-pRbT0cXe4OygG9hqUaT_yoWX-tOYIbbsVHYLTkLEEbp0PCYytwPwHgJ2sP8yeFZS-COP8/s320/023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384451678925480562" border="0" /></a>During the day on Saturday, Paul and I decided to beat the heat, jumped in his car and headed to the coast, to the quaint artist community of Cambria, near Hearst Castle. Neither of us had ever been there, and thought it a great place for a weekend getaway with wife or girlfriend. The town is fun and interesting, and Moonstone Beach was a very pleasant place to walk and play in the cool coastal fog. Chasing Sterngold down the beach, whipping at him with a long "kelp rope" was just so much fun!<br /><br />That night I decided to let Olga have the reigns of the scope again, and pointed it at some eye candy. The Veil Nebula at 212X with an OIII filter, in a dark sky, is spectacular. First part she found was Pickering's Wisp. Soon she had navigated the Witch's Broom and the Waterfall. Other excellent views that and the next were the Crescent Nebula, NGC 253, NGC 246 (which had outstanding brightness and detail - right after a very dim Abell Planetary - what a contrast!), B86 and M33.<br /><br />But those objects were thrown in only to add some fun and eye appeal to what was an otherwise very daunting list of targets that she was, pretty much apprenticing, helping hunt down. I think the singular most challenging target we looked at was Abell 1, observed by Richard Ozer and me, with Olga and Paul Sterngold doubting our claims. Another difficult one was Abell 85, a supernova remnant in Cassiopeia, which was marginal at best.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+14+02.26&d=%2B48+14+04.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 228px;" src="http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_red&r=00+14+02.26&d=%2B48+14+04.0&e=J2000&h=15.0&w=15.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=" alt="" border="0" /></a>We shot over to another galaxy trio, NGC 48, 49 and 51, ranging from mag 14.1 to 14.5, all in an E/W chain. Just south of those, in the same high power eyepiece field was another trio, IC 534, 535 and 536, from the high 14's to about mag 15. While the NGCs were challenging, they were obviously there. We needed to refer to the computer for the position of the dimmer trio, but we both were able to confirm each of the components. I find this pair of trio chains so close together, very enjoyable to observe.<br /><br />Other outstanding targets, without naming everything we looked at, were NGC 7635 (The Bubble Nebula) IC 5146 (The Cocoon Nebula), and NGC 6543 (The Cats Eye). I found the Bubble, Olga found the Cocoon. The bubble was just full of rich detail, especially around the embedded stars. There was an obvious arc toward the north. Wonderful view. The Cocoon was, well, a major surprise. With the 20mm Nagler at 103X, it stood out as a grey mottled circular area without any filters - like I said, a major surprise, I've had some good views in the past, but never like this, unfiltered. The Cats Eye was simply amazing, at around 600X, in a 20" driven Dob. The mottling in the ring outside the bright neon green torus was way more detailed than anything I'd ever seen....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.astrophoto.com/M33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 285px;" src="http://www.astrophoto.com/M33.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We finished up with two very different targets. I had been swinging the scope around at anything bright I could think of, when I noticed M42 was up high enough for a peek. The contrast between dark and bright nebulae in this object is always spectacular. I showed M33 again, pointing out NGC 604, commenting that it was a similar object to M42 in the external galaxy. We were both wearing down, so I decided to head to the Pegasus 1 Cluster, where we tracked down nine galaxies in a single field, without really pushing it.<br /><br />Olga said good night, and headed to her tent, where her son was sleeping. I thought for a bit how much fun it had been to have such a good student. Amazing she did so well on such difficult targets!<br /><br />Looking around, I noted a definite sign that the star party was at full tilt. The smell of burning popcorn and laughter were coming from the direction of Chez Dan's. I headed over to find a crew of partiers with a table covered with ripped-open Jiffy-Pops, and various libations. I sat down and began partaking in the revelry, with a few shots of good scotch, and popcorn covered in Tabasco Sauce.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The last thing I remember...<br /><br />before heading off to sleep was...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPXUM11fY5H05pw51fOtw4PG6UB7ZTl2-BwPRjonGWoj-Esx4m28ILI8cg-P0WhKhtxvFPMzxNEjNah-ivuCyORLSnOJ9wNyyDpBEvkjafHT2VDcBBQRBHJ4gPJd5VPQDOw97cYYLq9s/s1600-h/044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPXUM11fY5H05pw51fOtw4PG6UB7ZTl2-BwPRjonGWoj-Esx4m28ILI8cg-P0WhKhtxvFPMzxNEjNah-ivuCyORLSnOJ9wNyyDpBEvkjafHT2VDcBBQRBHJ4gPJd5VPQDOw97cYYLq9s/s320/044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384458264377133762" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Dionysus, in red light...<br /><br />while I sat with friends...<br /><br />with the skies of ancient Greece whirling overhead....<br /><br /><br /><object height="337" width="600"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6707064&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6707064&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" align="center" height="337" width="600"></embed></object><br /></div><br />A few days later, I received an e-mail from Olga, thanking me for the time at the telescope, and saying she's afraid she might be spoiled, by starting out on an 18"... but what the hell. It reminded me that those were my exact thoughts, sitting there that last night with my buddies, the scotch, popcorn, and sky.... and spoiling an A student.... what the hell.<br /><br />Can't wait until next year...Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-21495871537067886372009-08-28T12:31:00.000-07:002009-09-04T11:18:44.934-07:00Date Night at Houge ParkFriday August 28<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> was an public star party night for the <a href="http://www.sjaa.net/">San Jose Astronomical Association</a>. I had arrived late, after dark, having run from an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Aikido</span> training in order to support the event. As I was setting up my telescope, people were coming by asking to look through it, asking questions about it, and generally being inquisitive. I hurriedly finished the set up and began showing views of the moon and Jupiter...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://juno.wisc.edu/Images/using/Home/News_Jupiter/Jupiter-with-moons_PSP_002162_9030_RED.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 100px;" src="http://juno.wisc.edu/Images/using/Home/News_Jupiter/Jupiter-with-moons_PSP_002162_9030_RED.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Both targets were nice, lots of detail, steady enough seeing to allow decent higher power magnification. It is always fun seeing children, sometimes not even tall enough to see into the eyepiece (I bring a ladder for the shortest attendees) get their first real views of a world beyond the earth. The moon is especially good for them, as craters, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">rilles</span>, mare, and mountains are very easy to see in great detail. Even Jupiter provided detail the youngest could discern... cloud bands and moons... It is a great experience for them, for me, and their parents.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvDJ4acbmSXXHg3wXDOs9RVDNpNgrqjQ0eRR7nQ2XOpDPiOmLlZFGtX5zfV2gY4LVkcTeuIcs2wC4oWPC0d8FMqtk9R_iJ3YV0mqZKaGmvFfdrSuuICqafJFcqmO0XcFiue3HGwAFBPs/s1600-h/catherine.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvDJ4acbmSXXHg3wXDOs9RVDNpNgrqjQ0eRR7nQ2XOpDPiOmLlZFGtX5zfV2gY4LVkcTeuIcs2wC4oWPC0d8FMqtk9R_iJ3YV0mqZKaGmvFfdrSuuICqafJFcqmO0XcFiue3HGwAFBPs/s400/catherine.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376979957625752594" border="0" /></a>I had been expecting a guest, a woman I had a few e-mail contacts with on Match.com. She seemed quite nice by e-mail and had expressed interest in the sky, so I invited her to come out. I thought it a decent relaxed place in a public setting for a first meeting. So there I was, showing whatever to whoever, and I see appearing out of the dark, a face I'd seen before. It was Cat (Catherine), from Match. It was only then, that the realization hit me, I was on a "date" (sort of) at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Houge</span> Park, with a bunch of my friends around. In my comfort zone, but not feeling all that comfortable!<br /><br />Cat turned out to be great... fun, intelligent, inquisitive, playful, and was certainly getting plenty of attention from the nearly exclusive male make-up of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">SJAA</span>. If women want to meet science guys, with something of a nerdy cant (in some cases, major), I realized this is the place!<br /><br />So, I found myself relaxing into the experience, and began to show Cat a few things. She wanted to learn some constellations and see a nebula, but this was not the night for dim extended objects - the next <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Houge</span> Park event on a 3rd quarter moon would be much better for that.<br /><br />I began by showing (after the moon and Jupiter - the dogs and ponies of the night), I put the scope (10" Dob) on Alberio. This is where I soon learned that my "date" was quite bright. I asked about the color of the stars, and what they meant in terms of their longevity. This gal nailed it. Really, a first. I was astonished (been doing this for about 15 years). I smiled. She wanted to know where the star was, so I borrowed a green laser pointer and outlined Cygnus, and the location of the pretty double.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrz-tCUeFQVyykDpm66RYEiVlgG_xb2OyZlvYmb4wzxThRAt2PwcW-usYXHqY2PoDhS1SiPBeUncGPo7ITwIbVRG-MQOJCU9G2R10krKBScPKrNykgETxdcVsdqTNnPrGYGW_fHVHK_E/s1600-h/m15-lrgb6%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrz-tCUeFQVyykDpm66RYEiVlgG_xb2OyZlvYmb4wzxThRAt2PwcW-usYXHqY2PoDhS1SiPBeUncGPo7ITwIbVRG-MQOJCU9G2R10krKBScPKrNykgETxdcVsdqTNnPrGYGW_fHVHK_E/s320/m15-lrgb6%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376980800001624562" border="0" /></a>I showed a few more constellations - Pegasus, Lyra, Corona <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Borealis</span>, the Teapot in Sagittarius. I thought maybe we had a new observer, as her vision was quite good. So, I turned back to the scope and hit M15. The view was very good, considering the ambient light pollution and first quarter moon was still up. I showed it to a young couple who had joined us....<br /><br />If fact, and undoubtedly due to Cat's presence, a number of amateur astronomers had gathered around... The couple looked at M15, and then Cat did. I talked about how ancient the stars in it are, how they are first generation stars comprised essentially of only hydrogen, their age, about stellar evolution...<br /><br />It led to others joining in, a PhD physicist who teaches locally going into details about supernovae, and where new elements are created, and eventually about our "real" connection to the stars.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://spacsun.rice.edu/%7Ehas/images/BN_EtaCass_s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 221px;" src="http://spacsun.rice.edu/%7Ehas/images/BN_EtaCass_s.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>While the talking was going on, I would move the scope to new targets. Eta Cassiopeia, the pretty yellow and copper double star, M31, which despite the moonlight was showing its core along with its satellite galaxy M32.<br /><br />During all this, Cat was sitting on the tailgate of my truck, clearly enjoying herself around the other attendees... and participating in the discussions.<br /><br />As things wound down, she said it was time to call it a night. For me too. She took off, I packed up and I left as well. I thought about what a fun time I'd had. Date night at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Houge</span> turned out very well...<a name="archive">.</a>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-33993051351456556092009-08-23T16:27:00.001-07:002009-08-26T09:29:13.104-07:00No Need For SpeedF<span style="font-family:Arial;">riday night at <a href="http://www.plettstone.com/">Plettstone</a> was a great get together of friends that rarely get the chance to spend time with each other. I had not seen Michelle Stone in a year. Hard to believe. I think the same goes for Rashad Al-Mansour. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeZr21V7fu5QS6MiqXjZ5eZ1VK85JqvCzhcInXb5mNn-pFrrRttrr9FYk71PLq9kTHpcPdnNBsUZLq7zTFJNbGuSDuylrgZz_l8MJEq5TV5CWHW_z2zlRuLT7N4xkdMCe64tTIwhchyg/s1600-h/2838009448_9ec887a01e_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeZr21V7fu5QS6MiqXjZ5eZ1VK85JqvCzhcInXb5mNn-pFrrRttrr9FYk71PLq9kTHpcPdnNBsUZLq7zTFJNbGuSDuylrgZz_l8MJEq5TV5CWHW_z2zlRuLT7N4xkdMCe64tTIwhchyg/s400/2838009448_9ec887a01e_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373603768495750402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Albert Highe reminded me that we'd seen each other at <a href="http://www.observers.org/CalStar">CalStar</a> and Dinosaur Point, and I thanked him for correctly pointing out the deficiencies in my memory! I probably had not seen Carter Scholz in that long, and know I'd only met Dan Foy a handful of times previously, at most. It was a great group. Fortunately for us, the skies help up all night, and I think we all got in our fill 'o photons. I spent quite a bit of time just visiting, so my observing "count" was well down, but a big count is no longer part of my observing routine, if it happens it happens, but odds are I'm going to be taking my time now, teasing out any detail I can in some of the deeper stuff out there, and sharing views with my friends. It is very relaxing, and fun. Below, I am posting my unchecked raw observing notes. I have no idea of how accurate they are in terms of what to have expected. I am just posting my impressions.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Saturday morning I woke early, and saw scattered clouds increasing from the south. By the time Richard, Rashad and I took off together for Glacier Point</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span>in Yosemite, the sky was gone. Where the temps<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnFeojlmt5A-Qj-87pLVYTA6MQOgzCgBjjqnONM57LzW3PKGLTPEtBXcthqlCVu4-j8FbgBQGLmnY9Htgxw5K6DLe_6nHgwWEanmCGoeDlNqQZBv9WU0UzxYr4ioBuviMg9BO-YuhKu8/s1600-h/Yosemite+Valley+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnFeojlmt5A-Qj-87pLVYTA6MQOgzCgBjjqnONM57LzW3PKGLTPEtBXcthqlCVu4-j8FbgBQGLmnY9Htgxw5K6DLe_6nHgwWEanmCGoeDlNqQZBv9WU0UzxYr4ioBuviMg9BO-YuhKu8/s400/Yosemite+Valley+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373624587046884258" border="0" /></a>in and around Mariposa had been in the high 90's the day before, temps were as low as the mid-60's up high in Yosemite. The views were gorgeous. It is as magical an experience to be there as it is to look at the wonders through an eyepiece. Upon returning, we found some of the gang gone, along with the sky. Richard Ozer had shown up, surprisingly. We had a nice pot luck BBQ with Michelle and Paul. After dinner I packed up the truck, only to find the last of the observing crew pulling up the driveway.... first timer Olga S. We took her in, introduced her to Michelle, and hit the road for home. I hear Olga was heading to Yosemite too, so I'm sure she was in for a grand treat, in addition to meeting Michelle.<br /></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYIVPnrkhhLdbeT0tLh0-qy7aV_bHz1Yj2A8UG7smBUHYKuAdbFTkH2s3bH8tHd9BrAJmx3IJqs-c2OcU5uY9qfz4W6dIji6qTkjLB854oahML-wkl4f04I3czl_V8o-0ZJDHuEhx_hA/s1600-h/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYIVPnrkhhLdbeT0tLh0-qy7aV_bHz1Yj2A8UG7smBUHYKuAdbFTkH2s3bH8tHd9BrAJmx3IJqs-c2OcU5uY9qfz4W6dIji6qTkjLB854oahML-wkl4f04I3czl_V8o-0ZJDHuEhx_hA/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373607502131316914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">The drive home was uneventful. On the other hand, the trip to Plettstone found me getting pulled over by the CHP on highway 156 just west of Casa de Fruita (before the 152 junction)... doing 69 in a 55. Amazingly, I talked my way out of the speeding ticket. It is even more amazing, since I didn't have proof of insurance (which is what he ended up writing the "fix it" ticket for - no fine if I fix it). I thanked the officer, and asked him to adjust my side-view mirror before I pulled out. He did, and wished me well. What a pleasant fellow!<br /><br />Yes, it was a really good weekend....<br /><br />For some fun, have a look at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/mrrichardsvideos#play/all/uploads-all/0/HI3N7ZWdL0c">Richard Navarrete's video observing report</a> from the trip. Its very well done!<br /><br />Here are the targets I went after, and the raw notes...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sh 2-113 </span>Cyg BN 15 21 20 48 38 05 29<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://galaxymap.org/images/21544.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="http://galaxymap.org/images/21544.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br />18" 20mm - small almost triangular area of nebulosity involving approximately 6 dim stars, points are W, NE and SE.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abell 78</span> Cyg PN 113"x88" 13.4 21 35 29 31 41 45 PK 81-14.1 = PN G081.2-14.9<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ursa.fi/ds/Abell78.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="http://www.ursa.fi/ds/Abell78.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">12mm NPB, very dim, mostly round, stars embedded, possibly annular, small with central star?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abell 74</span> Vul PN 871"x791" 15.8 21 16 52 24 08 51 PK 72-17.1 = PN G072.7-17.1<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blackskies.org/images/non_ngc_pn/Add2003/Oct2003/abell74.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="http://www.blackskies.org/images/non_ngc_pn/Add2003/Oct2003/abell74.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">12mm UHC very dim , galaxy MCG 4-50-4 misplotted in The Sky, should be closer to flat triangle of stars. Galaxy with 7mm, Planetary w/35 Panoptic responds differently to OIII and UHC. Star in middle with UHC is bright, dims out almost totally with OIII compared to other stars in field. UHC shows dim arc with dark lane, with OIII just a large mottled area.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abell 72</span> Del PN 134"x121" 12.7 20 50 02 13 33 28 PK 59-18.1 = PN G059.7-18.7<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/images/abell72.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 167px;" src="http://astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/images/abell72.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">7mm OIII does not respond with UHC. Large, dim rounds, western edge shows best, possible brighter spots in W and S.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abell 76</span> Aqr PN 0.4x0.2 21 30 03 -02 48 32 PK 5-036.1 = PGC 85185<br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">No image available: </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">7mm OIII round, even brightness across the disk, central star. Dim.<br />*Note, this is listed as a ring galaxy, which I learned after returning from the trip.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hickson 89</span> Aqr GX4 </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">0.9'x0.6' 14.4 21 20 01 -03 55 20 MCG -01-54-012 66570 </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/us/bta/hick89.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 176px;" src="http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/us/bta/hick89.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">5mm Navarrete scope on platform. 89D occasional split off C, others not that difficult.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hickson 78</span> Dra GX4 1.4'x0.6' 14.9 15 47 16 68 13 14 UGC 10057<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.uriland.it/astronomia/articles/hickson/NGC1199.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="http://www.uriland.it/astronomia/articles/hickson/NGC1199.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">7mm - definite sighting 2 galaxies dim but certain direct vision, preceding is NW/SE elongation with a tiny stellar nucleus and is smaller than the trailing galaxy, which is larger, almost even in surface brightness, E/W, averted gives very occasional glimpse of stellar nucleus.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br />Photos and drawings are culled from sources publicly available on the Internet - usually linked to the original. Star party photo </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright (C) 2008 by Randy Muller</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >.</span>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-4058558078351598842009-08-16T13:14:00.000-07:002009-08-25T14:45:01.006-07:00Observing Distant Fires (Holy Smokes!)<span style="font-family:Arial;">Richard Navarrete, Elisabeth Oppenheimer and I all met Saturday afternoon in Mogran Hill for a trip to Deep Sky Ranch at Willow Springs. Conditions were uncertain, as the Lockheed fire in Bonny Doon, up in the Santa Cruz Mountains was covering the south bay in a thick smoky haze.... In Morgan Hill, it smelled like BBQ. A quick trip to San Juan Bautista for dinner at Jardines, </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoF4W6w51IrqHhUJoznxhZXJs288hO3N-wTMTzaVsmevZaV8Hzu6haipmhuIMI2cWFZ3MyEd_S3WTJ3ZUJTUuP0yZomJq-Egl56licfWamUnYxddV0nDrTjRCGxZU9pT1jt4O1is3D688/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoF4W6w51IrqHhUJoznxhZXJs288hO3N-wTMTzaVsmevZaV8Hzu6haipmhuIMI2cWFZ3MyEd_S3WTJ3ZUJTUuP0yZomJq-Egl56licfWamUnYxddV0nDrTjRCGxZU9pT1jt4O1is3D688/s200/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370659095841180930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">then down through the wilds east of Paicines, and we were relaxing at the ranch, sipping cool beers in the shade... the only sounds around being the cats, a few horses, Magpies flying around, and Scrub Jays eating unripened fruit off the nearby trees. The hills were golden, and tinged with the yellow-green of tarweed. Temps were comfortable, a cool breeze blew through along with some relaxed, enjoyable conversation. Our hosts were away at an eclectic party in Santa Cruz, and returned after dark... what a treat to have such friends... my thanks to them for their hospitality and generosity. Thank you, Kevin.<br /><br /><br />We set up our telescopes at sunset... the sky showing some haze to our south and east... and a layer of orange/red glop in the west, all indicating that the smoke indeed would be a factor for us. Just how much depended on the whims of the winds...<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.observers.org/tac.photos/33inch.group.photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 227px;" src="http://www.observers.org/tac.photos/33inch.group.photo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">I think we got lucky. During the night we were observing targets to about mag 17.2 in the 18" telescopes. When our host arrived home, out came the monster, Dobzilla. I have no idea what limit it was hitting. I was busy working on targets I'd compiled for the evening, Richard was hunting Hickson Galaxy Clusters. Elisabeth, who brought a 4.25" Starblast spent much of the evening in initiation on the big Dob. I would chuckle at times, when Kevin's voice would warn from high up on the ladder, that it was just too dangerous to do. Kevin's twelve foot ladder is about two feet to short!<br /><br />Aside from the objects below, which were on my list, a few views are worth noting as they were simply spectacular...<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.astrophoto.com/M31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 243px;" src="http://www.astrophoto.com/M31.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">M31 in Richard's 18" with a 35 Panoptic showed extensions of its spiral</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> arms way out beyond what I consider even good views. Tenuous thin gauze, the sheerest of silk, fading out behind the foreground of stars, and into the background deep space beyond. The dark lanes were pronounced to the point of being black swaths with etched edges, sharp as you'd see in a master pen and ink rendition, or a woodcut. M110 and M32 were beacons.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />To finish off the night, as the earthshine side of the moon rose over the mountains to the east , I noticed Cetus was up high, and suggested the planetary NGC 246 for the big </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wwwusr2.obspm.fr/%7Ebiver/DEEPSKY/n246_260903_9x12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 266px;" src="http://wwwusr2.obspm.fr/%7Ebiver/DEEPSKY/n246_260903_9x12.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">scope. The first view was without a filter, and I do not know the magnification or eyepiece, but it nearly filled the field. It showed its gray form and embedded stars easily, and hinted at the amazing detail we'd soon view when a filter was added. With the filter, the structure in the shell was reminiscent of some fine views of the Crescent Nebula. Parts were thick and ropey, one end appeared to be "broken open" like a cracked egg. The view was mesmerizing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are my observations. Most of these were very difficult objects... the last one was quite special.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sh 2-136</span> Cep BN 5 21 16 29 68 15 12<br />18" 12mm NPB, distinct but dim triangular glow extending west from, and involving stars GSC 4461:645 and GSC 4461:1453.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abell 75</span> Cep PN 67"x47" 14.5 21 26 23 62 53 33 PK 101+8.1 = NGC 7076 = PN G101.8+08.7<br />18" 12mm easily picked up with NPB filter, 7mm shows slight elongation N/S with star embedded in slightly brighter E section. Planetary appears mottled or possibly slightly annular.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">vdB 142</span> Cep RN/DN 15 21 36 42 57 30 00 the "Elephant's Trunk"<br />18" 20mm - large elongated dark lane running WWSW/EENE, with glowing edge especially along the S edge along star forming region. UHC filter. Very near the nice triple and double stars Struve 2819 and 2813.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sh 2-131</span> Cep BN 170 21 39 00 57 29 10 IC 1396<br />18" 20mm - scan very large are full of nebulosity<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abell 73</span> Cep PN 80"x66" 17 20 56 27 57 26 03 PK 95+7.1 = PN G095.2+07.8<br />18" 12mm UHC- large, elongated slightly N/S, E and W edges show more than N/S, annular, only edges show. Very dim. Dim star inside E edge of shell, brighter star just outside E edge of shell.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abell 77</span> Cep PN 67"x50" 14 21 32 10 55 52 43 PK 97+3.1 = Sh 2-128 = PN G097.5+03.1 = LBN 443<br />18" 12mm UHC - smallish, elongated N/S slightly, can only hold parts of the object, seems brighter on N and S edges, perhaps mostly even brightness across disk.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sh 2-127</span> Cyg BN 2 21 28 41 54 37 14<br />18" 20mm - large area of dim nebulosity between and involved in stars extending mostly E/W, like a river, non-uniform, mottled with dark areas embedded. Subtle.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sh 2-120</span> Cyg BN 1 21 03 46 49 52 51<br />18" 12mm - obvious rectangular brightness with extensions off the corners. In area of rich nebulosity.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sh 2-121</span> Cyg BN 1 21 05 12 49 38 59<br />18" 12mm - very large region of faint nebulosity in rich Milky Way field - dark lanes running through. Sh2 must be a photographic object to separate it from other nebulosity. Very near prior target.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sh 2-123</span> Cyg BN 13 21 42 22 44 32 25<br />18" 20mm - large rectangle, almost square, of nebulosity in rich Milky Way, with many stars embedded - surrounded by dark lanes.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.spacetoday.org/images/DeepSpace/Nebulas/EggNebulaHubble.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 311px;" src="http://www.spacetoday.org/images/DeepSpace/Nebulas/EggNebulaHubble.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">CRL 2688</span> Cyg PPN 24"x6" 21 02 18 36 42 00<br />18" 7mm 2x Barlow - elongated N/S with a dark lane separating two nearly equal sized lobes. N lobe is significantly brighter, and shows at times a stellar point embedded. S lobe is nearly equal in size, but significantly dimmer. Entire object is surrounded by oblong faint shell. PK 80-6.1 - Northern lobe is elongated at 824x - more clearly than the S lobe.<br /></span>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-35917159098610145762009-08-01T00:27:00.000-07:002009-08-01T00:41:35.035-07:00Short But Good Night at Houge Park<span style="font-family:Arial;">I arrived at Houge Park in San Jose from Aikido, for the SJAA's in-town public star party as twilight </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">was setting in. I quickly collimated my 10" f/5.7 Dob, it was almost dead on and required almost no effort. How nice!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://zimmer.csufresno.edu/%7Efringwal/ToUcam-Moon-Alpine-Valley-2006-04-06-f63-130s-15of1594.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 160px;" src="http://zimmer.csufresno.edu/%7Efringwal/ToUcam-Moon-Alpine-Valley-2006-04-06-f63-130s-15of1594.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">The turnout was good, in terms of both telescopes and visitors. Of course, most scopes were aimed at the moon, which was getting larger by the minute, well past first quarter. I showed it briefly, noting a good view of the fully lit Alpine Valley, some great Mare ringed by sharp mountains, some nice large craters showing with ejecta rays, but soon decided to offer views of targets less obvious.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://home.online.no/%7Echhauger/bilder/stars/alberio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 90px;" src="http://home.online.no/%7Echhauger/bilder/stars/alberio.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">I began with Alberio. The colors were quite vivid tonight. I was showing it at 120x. I'd ask people the usual questions; what colors do you see, and which of the two stars should live (last) longer? Its always good for conversation, gets them thinking.... helps bring astronomy "to earth".<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Runway/8879/EpsilonLyra.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 160px;" src="http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Runway/8879/EpsilonLyra.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">I moved to Epsilon Lyrae, the Double Double. It was splitting at 120x, but people were having difficulty really seeing it cleanly. I went to the 7mm and, at 207x the views were excellent; the stars separated into four very clean points. Again, people were amazed. They'd look at the "pair" in my 9x60 finder, then again in the eyepiece. The seeing was fantastic.<br /><br /><br />A quick trip over to the Ring Nebula, which was fairly washed at 120x out in the bright moonlight, and I decided it was either a moon night, or one for good double stars.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.astroimages.org/ccd/m3rgb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 120px;" src="http://www.astroimages.org/ccd/m3rgb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">That said, my next target was M3, which I picked up in the finder next to a bright star. The view was actually quite good at 120x, even though it was nothing like the great view it can be, again due to the moonlight. But, it was obvious, and if you took a moment at the eyepiece, it was obvious that the "haze" was actually a great buzz of stars. Nice view. People "got it".<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.daviddarling.info/images/Izar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 113px;" src="http://www.daviddarling.info/images/Izar.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">After that, another nice double. I headed to Izar in Bootes. At 207x it was a nice split, with its obvious magnitude differences, and striking colors. I stayed there for a while, as people would look, move the scope, ask questions about how I made it, and how it worked.<br /><br /><br /><br />By 11 pm, the atmosphere had condensed, and clouds were quickly erasing the sky. It was getting chilly too... so time to pack up, head home, have a glass of wine and think about the next time out.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">All in all, it was a fun night, and a great start to a full weekend.<br /><br />Mark</span>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-57630482038106987232009-07-23T17:21:00.000-07:002009-07-23T19:25:29.511-07:00Two Nights With New Sights<span style="font-family:Arial;">Richard Navarrete and I observed Tuesday and Wednesday nights from Deep Sky Ranch, south of Hollister in San Benito County. Conditions both nights were excellent. Richard was using an equatorial platform he'd just purchased along with his 18" Obsession, I had my 18" Obsession undriven. I was impressed with the performance of the platform, and am convinced it allows a more relaxed observing session. I had great success both nights, logging many new targets that were both interesting and challenging. I did not do a star count or use an SQM, but both seeing and transparency were excellent. We observed until dawn the first night, and to about 2:30 the second night. My target list was compiled from objects between RA 19:40 and 20:39:59. First night I started in the north and worked south, next night from the south to the north. Aside from what I observed in my telescope, I spent a good amount of time looking at Hickson groups in Richard's scope - I believe we were seeing into the mid 17th magnitude. If I had to pick out a few objects I viewed and say they were highlights, they'd be the views of the Crescent Nebula, Sh2-101 and Sh2-100 which I refer to as a planetary, but it isn't. I also had the opportunity to use some new eyepieces with 82 degree fields, that performed very nicely.<br /><br />Here are the targets I viewed, and my observing notes:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jeandijon.com/ngc/ngc6946_22092008_42mn_t500_f3.65.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 100px;" src="http://www.jeandijon.com/ngc/ngc6946_22092008_42mn_t500_f3.65.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">ARP 29 11.6'x9.9' 8.8 20 34 52 60 09 NGC 6946<br /><br />Large core with two arms coming off to NE and swinging E. Southern of the 2 arms is fatter. Dimmer arm comes off S of core and swings tightly around to W. Large core has a gradually brighter center. Finally noticed another long arm, from WNW and winding around straight to NE.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/images/abell71.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 170px;" src="http://astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/images/abell71.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Abell 71 Cyg 165"x150" 14.5 20 32 23.2 47 21 04 PK 85+4.1 = PN G084.9+04.4 = Sh 2-116<br /><br />7mm 18" - very dim glow, no definition at all, surrounding a mag 13.5 star with more "glow" around a mag 12.5 star on the edge. Extremely difficult. Dim star actually appears involved in a haze.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2990378967_3dc68fe5b3.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 185px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2990378967_3dc68fe5b3.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sh 2-115 50 2 20 34 33.0 46 52 40<br /><br />12mm UHC 18" - dim linear glow with some structure running E/W of two pair of stars to the S. Dimmer pair appears involved in nebulosity. OC Berk 90 is obvious at E of the two pair of stars.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.narrowbandimaging.com/images/sh2_112_mk1sn2_f12_pl9k_baader_ha_10x20min_xga.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.narrowbandimaging.com/images/sh2_112_mk1sn2_f12_pl9k_baader_ha_10x20min_xga.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sh 2-112 15 2 20 33 50.2 45 39 35<br /><br />12mm UHC 18" - easy to view this Sharpless around GSC49801. Nebulosity forms an arc through the star, running mostly N/S and arcing to the E, forming a J with most but thinnest section to the N. Bottom of J is most pronounced.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.robertb.darkhorizons.org/ab2319i.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 102px;" src="http://www.robertb.darkhorizons.org/ab2319i.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">AGC 2319 0.973 15.4 19 20.8 43 59<br /><br />7mm 18"- Viewed CGCG230-9, CGCG230-8, CGCG230-7 and CGCG230-4<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LfrTZIQyMbQ/Sj18nfzsgVI/AAAAAAAAAVc/uzOjgUgK9Fg/s1600/LDN888-720m-small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 100px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LfrTZIQyMbQ/Sj18nfzsgVI/AAAAAAAAAVc/uzOjgUgK9Fg/s1600/LDN888-720m-small.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sh 2-108 180 3 20 22 34.8 40 15 15 IC 1318<br /><br />30mm 18" - nebulosity with dark veins throughout over large areas around Gamma Cygni, through into the North American Nebula. Outstanding views throughout the entire area. Truly great view of the North American, rivaled only by high elevation views at Mount Lassen.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.deepsky-drawings.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/abell10png1972142t635blpt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 351px;" src="http://www.deepsky-drawings.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/abell10png1972142t635blpt.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Abell 69 Cyg 25"x22" 20.2 20 19 58.3 38 24 02 PK 76+1.1 = PN G076.3+01.1<br /><br />7mm 18" - perhaps at most the southern arc of this planetary is visible, very elusive.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.oldstarlight.com/images/Image%20Gallery/NGC6888%20Crescent%20Nebula%209x1200%20Ha%20C.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 147px;" src="http://www.oldstarlight.com/images/Image%20Gallery/NGC6888%20Crescent%20Nebula%209x1200%20Ha%20C.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sh 2-105 18 3 20 12 02.4 38 20 59 N6888 = Crescent Nebula<br /><br />12mm 18" UHC - spectacular view, wispy nebula with blue glow and blue stars. Internal knots inside western edge, northern and eastern edge very thick and distinct. Mottling throughout. Star embedded in northeastern wisp is very reminiscent of Veil Nebula's Witches Broom.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.capella-observatory.com/images/DiffuseNebula/vdB133.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 91px;" src="http://www.capella-observatory.com/images/DiffuseNebula/vdB133.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sh 2-106 3 3 20 27 26.9 37 23 49<br /><br />12mm 18' UHC - amorphous glow involved with dark veins interspersed in distinct star field just NNW of SAO 70038. Subtle, but there.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.atalaia.org/paulobarros/Imagens/nebulosas/Sh2-104%2042x1200s-H.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 103px;" src="http://www.atalaia.org/paulobarros/Imagens/nebulosas/Sh2-104%2042x1200s-H.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sh 2-104 7 2 20 17 44.6 36 44 40<br /><br />12mm 18" UHC - faint but distinct even nebulosity surrounding stars of Dolidze 4, elongated E/W, with a "Pac-Man" type notch taken out of the NW edge.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://arnholm.org/astro/deepsky/sh2-101/sh2-101_20070904.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 104px;" src="http://arnholm.org/astro/deepsky/sh2-101/sh2-101_20070904.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sh 2-101 20 2 19 59 56.8 35 17 27<br /><br />12mm 18" NPB - reminiscent of Crescent, but dimmer. Two bright stars embedded in W end of nebula. Brightest portion is to N and E of bright stars, Another bright section runs E of the S star of the pair. More nebulosity is to th S and W of the pair of stars, but much more subtle. This is a very good target.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.astrode.de/ngc6857a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.astrode.de/ngc6857a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sh 2-100 4 3 20 01 50.6 33 30 41 N6857<br /><br />7mm 18" NPB - planetary appears almost triangular, nearly as distinct without the filter. Elongated slightly NW/SE. But appears to have somewhat triangular shape, with a harder edge running N/S. Star embedded in nebula, but seems offset to the N, which may be an illusion due to a dim northern edge of the shell.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sharplesscatalog.com/sharpless/sh2-77.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 135px;" src="http://www.sharplesscatalog.com/sharpless/sh2-77.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sh 2-77 8 1 19 48 16.6 01 08 52<br /><br />12mm 18" - very faint and tenuous nebulosity, very indistinct, around a few stars and perhaps between. Nothing certain.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/abell70durkin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 93px;" src="http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/abell70durkin.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Abell 70 Aql 45"x40" 14.7 20 31 33.2 -07 05 17 PK 38-25.1 = PN G38.1-25.4<br /><br />12mm 18" - entire disk shows without filter but NE section is clearly brighter. 7mm shows annularity and galaxy visible through NE edge of nebula.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://seds.org/%7Espider/Spider/MWGC/Pics/pal11mg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 217px;" src="http://seds.org/%7Espider/Spider/MWGC/Pics/pal11mg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Palomar 11 10.0' 17.3 19 45 14 -08 00 26<br /><br />12mm 18" - obvious granular appearance and bracketed by 2 concave chains of 4 = mag stars each running N/S with a bright star nearby to the N.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n6822garcia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 115px;" src="http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n6822garcia.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">NGC 6822 15.5'x13.5' 8.8 19 45 00 -14 48 NGC 6822 19 45.0 -14 48 15.5x13.5 8.8<br /><br />12mm 18" - elongated NE/SW and embedded in stars, there is a dark rift or two that run along the major axis and several HII regions embedded, most noticeably the two at the NE end of the object. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Using an NPB filter shows the entire NE portion of the galaxy as a triangle glowing in HII.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://seds.org/%7Espider/spider/lg/Pics/sagdigmg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 196px;" src="http://seds.org/%7Espider/spider/lg/Pics/sagdigmg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">SagDIG 3.2'x1.5' 15.0 19 30 00 -17 41 00 SagDIG 19 30.0 -17 41 3.2x1.5 15<br /><br />7mm 18" - oval glow between parallelogram of stars, elongated NW/SE and appearing almost annular - no doubt it is there.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.deepsky-visuell.de/Zeichnungen/Abell66i.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 175px;" src="http://www.deepsky-visuell.de/Zeichnungen/Abell66i.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Abell 66 Sgr 295"x241" 19 57 31.5 -21 36 46 PK 19-23.1 = PN G019.8-23.7<br /><br />12mm 18" - Pair of stars equal mag nearby to NNE. Planetary is large and perhaps elongated slightly N/S with slight annularity. Dim stars appear embedded in E edge - perhaps 2. Very faint, although occasionally the central area appears to brighten and negate annular feeling.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.raycash.us/deepsky/abell65.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 176px;" src="http://www.raycash.us/deepsky/abell65.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sh 2-052 2 2 19 47 46.3 -23 05 15<br />See next entry - how many types of catalogs is this in!<br /><br />Abell 65 Sgr 134"x34" 13.8 19 46 33.8 -23 08 12 PK 17-21.1 = UGCA 415 = MCG -04-46-001 = PN G017.3-21.9 = PGC 63654<br /><br />12mm 18" - visible without filter, but UHC helps. Round and mostly even brightness, but SW edge seems brighter than rest of disk. Chain of 4 dim stars cup N edge, and 3 dim stars extend W from S edge, with E star touching disk.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.deepsky-visuell.de/Zeichnungen/HCG86i.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 350px;" src="http://www.deepsky-visuell.de/Zeichnungen/HCG86i.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Hickson 086D 0.3x0.2 14.7 19 51 51.9 -30 48 30 63749<br />7mm 18" not observed, or if so a very tight split with Hickson 86B</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br />Hickson </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">086B 0.5x0.4 13.8 19 51 59.0 -30 48 57 63748<br />7mm 18" observed<br /><br />ESO 461-007 1.2'.7' 13.3 19 52 06 -30 49 00<br />7mm 18" observed, aka Hickson 86A<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Hickson </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">086A 1.2x0.7 13.3 19 52 08.7 -30 49 30 63753<br />7mm 18" observed.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Hickson </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">086C 0.4x0.3 14.9 19 51 57.3 -30 51 23 63752<br />7mm 18" observed.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://seds.org/%7Espider/Spider/MWGC/Dss/ter08d15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 265px;" src="http://seds.org/%7Espider/Spider/MWGC/Dss/ter08d15.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Terzan 8 3.5' 12.4 19 41 45 -34 00 01<br /><br />12mm 18" - forms an almost equilateral triangle with GSC 7434:401 and GSC 7434:31, but feeling is I'm seeing the core as it is relatively small and not all that difficult.<br /><br /></span>Prana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5641605014504444430.post-46714218933279841372009-05-25T11:25:00.000-07:002009-05-25T12:00:26.781-07:00A Memorable Weekend.Sunday night observing over a new moon is a rare treat for most amateur astronomers. This patriotic Memorial Day weekend I took the opportunity to do so over three nights in two dark sites at 5,000 feet elevation in northern California's Sierra Nevada, among friends, old and new.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdn-write.demandstudios.com/upload//6000/900/10/4/56914.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://cdn-write.demandstudios.com/upload//6000/900/10/4/56914.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>My last night was a return to Blue Canyon (BC), and would turn out to be the best of the three nights for conditions and achievement. So, this is For You (red, white and) Blue.<br /><br />Conditions on the drive up highway 80 from Auburn to BC looked highly suspect. Big white cumulus clouds boiled up over the mountains to the east, ahead and in the direction of my destination. The prior two nights, while providing good observing, were both impacted by clouds and humidity. By the time <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilqVCyLpmG1uaSEEmU55xb9Y8qFzpad3nkzfTjZZoLX7_JiZolAh93dNbmlGP3jJNW0grSzw_hQ38gSNskn8V7WG9jlmsL5pmsol2P3lFzU-tsLhOT_j6I-UyQ77sa3nQTbF52GhQHNU/s1600-h/4599_1145507390675_1017215577_430408_6826464_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilqVCyLpmG1uaSEEmU55xb9Y8qFzpad3nkzfTjZZoLX7_JiZolAh93dNbmlGP3jJNW0grSzw_hQ38gSNskn8V7WG9jlmsL5pmsol2P3lFzU-tsLhOT_j6I-UyQ77sa3nQTbF52GhQHNU/s200/4599_1145507390675_1017215577_430408_6826464_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339837210651430754" border="0" /></a>Marsha Robinson, Bill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Porte</span> and I were set up, next to Terry and Gary (new acquaintances), dew was evident on the seats of our observing chairs (always the first indicators). However, as darkness rose, the clouds fell... and by the time twilight ended we had a clear sky, and improving conditions.<br /><br />I again concentrated on the remaining targets of my Herschel 2500 observing project. I began with 69 left, and knocked out another 29. The remainders are mostly in parts of the sky unavailable this time of year, so I'll have to return to this later, when the winter sky begins to rise again in the early morning hours.<br /><br />I logged some highlight views last night. My sparse notes (still on search-and-destroy observing mode) listed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">NGC</span> 5490 as being in a great field, in which my target was "5490c" - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">IC</span> 982. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/NGC_5679_Arp_274HST.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 129px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/NGC_5679_Arp_274HST.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I also had fun splitting apart <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">NGC</span> 5679c from its two brighter and overlapping galaxies. I found a number of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">misidentifications</span> in The Sky (Software Bisque's planetarium program) - such as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">NGC</span> 5098 being twice mislabeled - in fact that target is not displayed in the program, and two MAC catalog galaxies are each labeled as with its designation. Weird. Again, I was all over the sky in declination, from targets near Polaris to those at -31 in Hydra where I was on my knees to peek though the eyepiece.<br /><br />Late in the night, Bill asked me what I was going to do once I was done with the Herschel 2500, and I joking replied "find a new hobby". Reality is, there are endless numbers of ways to alter the recipe, and I don't think I'll ever tire of mixing the ingredients.<br /><br />I think it was close to 3 a.m. when we pulled out, leaving Bill to close the gate behind us. A half hour later back in Auburn, I headed to my room and was quickly asleep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.goldenstatestarparty.org/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 132px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBrbFPMTcfc/SObugej7JwI/AAAAAAAAAYk/KPs6-EqrJ-s/S750/GSSP_Banner_2009_WebSized.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Thanks to all my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">TAC</span>-SAC friends for making this such a memorable Memorial Day weekend. Marsha, Bill, Randy, Alvin, Gary, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Shneor</span>, and new friends Gary and Terry, see you at next month at the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Golden State Star Party</span>, or back at BC...<br /><br />Below are the targets logged last night... I have 40 left to complete the list, 8 of which I can get next month if I'm diligent.<br /><br />Mark<br /><br />NGC 4993<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">NGC</span> 5093<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">NGC</span> 5361<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">NGC</span> 5303b<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">NGC</span> 5403<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">NGC</span> 5403<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">NGC</span> 5305<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">NGC</span> 5265<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">NGC</span> 4774<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">NGC</span> 5401<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">NGC</span> 4711<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">NGC</span> 5199<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">NGC</span> 5228<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">NGC</span> 5223<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">NGC</span> 5233<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">NGC</span> 4737<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">NGC</span> 5096<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">NGC</span> 5157<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">NGC</span> 5025<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">NGC</span> 5074<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">NGC</span> 5187<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">NGC</span> 5592<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">NGC</span> 5328<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">NGC</span> 5694<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">NGC</span> 5490c<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">NGC</span> 5679c<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">NGC</span> 5718<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">NGC</span> 5618<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">NGC</span> 5866bPrana Ylemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17566197190819603136noreply@blogger.com0