kerrylewis Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Spent about an hour last night trying to see one of my missing Messiers. It may not have been the best night for faint fuzzies but I could not see anything that resembled a galaxy in the area where M74 should be.Any tips?Kerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamp thing Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Aah! the phantom. M74 is a toughie Kerry it's surface brightness is the second lowest of all the Messiers. This is one tough object.No chance with the moon any where near full buddy. Think M101 toughness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerrylewis Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Thanks Steve I've read that it's difficult. The moon had not risen when I was trying - and I have seen 101. So I'll keep trying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike73 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 I remember you were saying a while ago that this was your nemesis Kerry.This is my sketch and notes about it from 2012.http://darkskysketches.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/m74.htmlOnly thing I can suggest is if you are sure you are in the right area but still can't find it with your lowest power EP then increase the mag to mid power, you may have a smaller TFoV but your reducing the exit pupil as well which may help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerrylewis Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Nice sketch Mike - at least I know what I should be seeing! I note that you were using a 12" but my experience with other faint DSOs is that I can see them with the c9.25 even if detail is lacking. I expect that I might just see the core.Not sure about tonight. It's clear at the moment but mist and fog forecast all night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew63 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 I'd say it's simply down to conditions. Although clear last night the sky for me was in know way transparent - seeing is everything with these objects. I saw it last year in my 4" so you certainly have more than enough fire power ! Good luck for next time.andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark at Beaufort Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Kerry - when I view M74 its usually using my 80mm finderscope to get the right position and then switch to the 10" Dob with my 21mm and 13mm Ethos to study the galaxy. I always start with Eta Pisces in the finder and look for stars 103 and 105. I draw a line between 105 and Eta and place the illuminated cross hairs in the middle of the two and marginally down. I then switch to the 21mm Ethos.Yes it is faint and my rear garden is reasonable dark with no LP on the East to West horizon.Good luck with your search its a great feelings to see all the Messier objects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NGC 1502 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Hi Kerry. Yes indeed, M74 is one of the harder Messier objects. Tried loads of times from home with my 10" without success.Finally bagged it with a 6" from the Peak District when on holiday in Sept 2012.It's an easy star hop just over 1 deg east of Eta Aries, but a good sky is needed.Regards, Ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanjgreen Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 M74 was pretty easy last night. Probably the best view I have had in the C11. I could see it in the eyepiece clearly over several magnifications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerrylewis Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 Got it at last! Tried in the SCT earlier in the week but no go so trundled out the Dob last night hoping it would deliver - and it did! Just a small grey patch but a glorious sight to me as my 99th Messier. I was really chuffed but had to suppress a 2am whoop! Onwards to the century....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark at Beaufort Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Kerry its pleasing when you final see these faint DSOs. I imagine your final Messiers are going to be the low Dec ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerrylewis Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 Yes Mark - they are all low ones now. What's more they are all in the south which is the not the best direction for me from my garden, especially for the Dob - but we live in hope. M75 tonight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark at Beaufort Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Kerry hope you got M75 last night. I was able to view both M55 and M75 in my 80mm f5 Achro frac last night using a 15mm Skywatcher plossl. I was pleased to get M55 being so low and it proves you don't need large scopes just a dark clear horizon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerrylewis Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 Yes I did Mark. Even saw it with my binoculars - so that's the 100 up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel-K Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 ive got M74 from my old house in a 8" scope. must have had a very good night if its that hard to see. the 14" will pick it up easy though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astralstroll Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Finally managed to get M74 on Friday night down on Exmoor with the big scope. It's taken a while. Now for those irksome Messiers in Sagittarius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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