[MarkC]

Over the past few years I have been trying to view the edge on galaxy NGC891. I have used various scopes 5" and 6" SCTs plus my 4" refractor but have never seen it. Last night was very clear in Hereford so I decided to use the 10" Flextube that I bought in June. Started with Almach and placed this star and 60 Andromeda at the top of my 9x50 correct image finder. In the bottom left corner there a line of 4 stars the far left star being HIP11185. I knew from StarryNight Pro 5 that this star would be in the same FOV as NGC891 in my 13mm Ethos. There is was a faint, slender streak of light.

With this success I decided to find Stephan's Quintet especially after recent comments by Doc. Started with Matar and in the finder viewed 38 Pegasi. I first located NGC7331 which showed a bright condensed core.Again I knew from StarryNight Pro 5 that Stephan's Quintet was in the same FOV in my 13mm Ethos. I located the 2 10th mag stars just above the group and carefully checked for the galaxies. Well I saw a smudge but no clear outline - was it S.Q ? Yes I think so.

I viewed many other objects last night M51, NGC7789, M72, M73, Saturn Neb, Blue Snowball but seeing Caldwell 23 (NGC891) for the first time was the highlight.

Certainly the Skywatcher 10" Flextube is a good scope which is helped by a RDF and a quality 9x50 correct image finder.


Mark

[ashenlight]

Great work Mark Your results really do show that aperture is king for those beautiful but really faint fuzzies. I would love to see NGC891, it's one of the prettiest galaxies I can think of

Well done, great report and sounds like a fantastic night

[AndyBooth]

Mark, I also have never seen NGC891, after trying many times.
I haven't had a chance yet this season to try it,
but based on your success, I am going to try on the very next possible opportunity. great instuctions on the star hopping.
What field of view was the Ethos giving in your Flexi?
Could you see the dark lane?




Andy

[MarkC]

Andy

My Flextube with my 13mm Ethos gives me 92X and a FOV of 1 degree and 5' so it covers the line of stars from HIP11090 to HIP11185 very nicely. In the Ethos NGC891 was 22' due south last night from HIP11185. I could not see the dark lane but now I have seen it I will study the galaxy in more detail. Best of luck with finding it but with your 12" Dob you should have no problem.

mark

[mdstuart]

Mark

I also have not see 891 despite many efforts. I will now try again...

It was good to meet you at the star party.

Mark

[Doc]

Well done Mark in finding those two objects.

Both of these I haven't seen yet. Well I tried to find Stephans Quintet as Salisbury and located a few out of focus looking stars, but reading what Carol said I think I was in the wrong place.

Anyway will try again.

Once again well done.

[MarkC]

Well I must admit I decided to have a go at Stephan's Quintet after chatting with Mark (mdstuart) whilst we wandered around the Salisbury starcamp site and then reading Mick's (Doc) viewing report. Great meeting you both. Last night was really clear and my rear garden is quite dark looking from east to west. I left the Dob close to the house last night and I should have moved to the end of the garden where it is darker.

So I will have another go at S.Q. now I know where it is and the distribution of nearby stars.

Mark

[Talitha]

Well done Mark, the 10" sounds like the way to go.

[Talyn]

Originally Posted by ashenlight

Great work Mark Your results really do show that aperture is king for those beautiful but really faint fuzzies.

Aperture is definitely king for faint 'fuzzies' but so are transparent dark skies. I'm hoping for a clear night tonight so I can have a bash at SQ with my 12 inch. It's looking good for clear skies (well, at the moment anyway) but the wind is currently gusting at 30 mph so that's not so good, unless I can find a sheltered spot in the garden which has a uncluttered view of the relevant part of the sky...

[albedo0.39]

I'm also looking forward to the SQ as like Doc at Salisbury, was hunting around the area and think I got them but was a little unsure. Got some faint fuzzies but needed someone who knows them to say "aha.. yes you have them" or something like that. I even had Owen B's Ethos at the time so wonder how I missed them ?

Puzzling..perhaps too much wine ?

[Talyn]

Originally Posted by albedo0.39

Puzzling..perhaps too much wine ?

That's not as outlandish as some might think. Alcohol (and smoking) do temporarily adversely affect visual acuity (smoking by reducing the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream), so no drinking or smoking before, or during, a serious observing session.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by Talyn

That's not as outlandish as some might think. Alcohol (and smoking) do temporarily adversely affect visual acuity (smoking by reducing the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream), so no drinking or smoking before, or during, a serious observing session.

No wonder I couldn't find anything

[Talitha]

Originally Posted by Doc

No wonder I couldn't find anything

Well Mick, it was a star party, after all.


Faith, did you get the 12" fixed? IIRC you'd been having some problems with it for a while. Hope you nabbed SQ.
Btw, a friend of mine over at CN hooked me up with a friend of his who lives about 15 miles from me. Turns out she's got a 20" Obsession and has been looking for an observing partner for a number of years.
Woohoo, i feel like i just won the lottery!!!

We'll be getting together for lunch soon, and will plan an observing night as soon as Luna steps aside. I'll definitely promise her i won't drool on the equipment. Didn't you use a 20" (Alvin's?) at the TSP a few years ago?

[mike.brightmore]

NGC 891 is faint. This is what it looked like with a 30 second stacked AVI.

[ashenlight]

Originally Posted by Talitha

Btw, a friend of mine over at CN hooked me up with a friend of his who lives about 15 miles from me. Turns out she's got a 20" Obsession and has been looking for an observing partner for a number of years.
Woohoo, i feel like i just won the lottery!!!

We'll be getting together for lunch soon, and will plan an observing night as soon as Luna steps aside. I'll definitely promise her i won't drool on the equipment.

Christmas, birthday and lottery win all in one, Carol Hoping for clear skies for you... I bet the views through a 20" will be truly awesome.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by Talitha

Well Mick, it was a star party, after all.


Faith, did you get the 12" fixed? IIRC you'd been having some problems with it for a while. Hope you nabbed SQ.
Btw, a friend of mine over at CN hooked me up with a friend of his who lives about 15 miles from me. Turns out she's got a 20" Obsession and has been looking for an observing partner for a number of years.
Woohoo, i feel like i just won the lottery!!!

We'll be getting together for lunch soon, and will plan an observing night as soon as Luna steps aside. I'll definitely promise her i won't drool on the equipment. Didn't you use a 20" (Alvin's?) at the TSP a few years ago?

Better get used to a step ladder Carol

[Talitha]

If the view's addicting enough, i'd better get used to being in debt.
Like Will Smith said in Independence Day: "I've GOT to get me one of these!"