California Neb NGC 1499

[jetstream]

A transparent sky zone went through about 8pm and it didn't disappoint. SQM showed 21.3 mag . Targeting  NGC 1499, starting from Menkib and using my 25mm TV plossl and Astronomik Hb the nebula edge was easy to pick up and follow. I am surprised at its size, I never realized it is about a deg wide by 3 deg long. My evening prize.

The North American neb was bright this evening ,and using the 30mmES/Lumicon OIII the sky gave up an extended patch, off the gulf and  easily seen and for the first time there was faint nebulosity underlying the NA neb, making it look much bigger than ever before (to me). The whole thing looked as if it had an extra layer around most of it. The Pelican was bright and stood out just like ..... a Pelican!

Over to Sh2-157 again, this time I got both claws, one easy to see and the other extremely faint. I also confirmed LBN 544 using 2 nice sets of 3 stars slightly curved like an open  "c"-they bracket the nebula. The interior of the claw was also observed as a few faint patches.

NGC 891 revealed itself tonight, what a nice streak of a galaxy! even a hint of a dust "line" through it!

Excellent evening I must say. As a check of the sky for neb hunting I use the Crecent neb which seems fussy about trans. Tonight it showed light fine filaments across its boundary.....and then I knew the views would be fantastic!

[cotterless45]

Lovely report. NGC 891 is a favourite. Last time that I saw it from a dark site the imposed foreground stars were over it and the long dust lane very clear in the view.

The NA is going to have to wait ! For dark

Clear skies,

Nick.

[scarp15]

Another good report Gerry with some clear results. During a session a few nights back, I was interested to locate NGC 891 but was frustrated by sporadic cloud cover and wind. I had at least during clear spells begun to use my SQM, best light reading taken from the site I was using on this occasion was 20.8 mag. Will be useful to compare with locations that will be darker due to being further and more northerly from the City.  Interesting to learn that you are having success with the 25mm plossl, H-beta filter combination. Has wet my appetite for having a go for the California Neb.

[jetstream]

The 25mm TV plossl is working well and is useful for dissecting the nebs, but for the very big ones a wider FOV would be nice-still wish I had a 2" Hb... I saw and followed the "thin thread" all the way to the end of the broom (ngc 6960) with the 25mm plossl/OIII. It also showed ngc 6974,6979, and "E","F" and "C" sections.

Congrats Iain for finding some dark skies with the SQM, 20.8 is getting dark and the California neb should show from it I think. I have a much harder time with the Cocoon for some reason, not sure why. Good luck for the hunt Iain.

http://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/Dissecting%20the%20Veil%20Nebula.html

[Special K]

Nice report, Jetstream, and sounds like you've got a very favorable location to view from.  California Nebula is low surface brightness and I've gotta get away from these lights to see something like that!  I bet it seemed huge!

[PeterW]

It and the North America are a good sky transparency for me. IC5068 and the pelican are also good. Have you looked around gamma cygni as there is a lot of nebulous its around there too? If they are easy then it's worth continuing, otherwise stick with globs and stars.

Cheers

Peter

[jetstream]

It and the North America are a good sky transparency for me. IC5068 and the pelican are also good. Have you looked around gamma cygni as there is a lot of nebulous its around there too? If they are easy then it's worth continuing, otherwise stick with globs and stars.

Cheers

Peter

Hi Peter, yes I have seen parts of IC 1318 which are distinguished by the dark dust lanes in them. My FOV is much too small with my 1.25" Hb though, these big nebs need lots of FOV.However some parts of the big nebs are better in a smaller true field...That whole Sadr nebula area is so big its incredible but it is all very faint though, actually underwhelming so far.

I will look for IC 5068, thanks for pointing the object out. The NA/Pelican neb in the 30ES/Lumicon OIII is bright here under reasonable (zenith) skies using a largish 6.25mm exit pupil, I'm surprised at how well opening it up works for some objects and with what filter.

Good luck with your pursuits!