Stardaze

1 hour ago, westmarch said:

There are some nights when it all just comes together.  Local dark sky site, moonless night, excellent seeing and transparency, dry with a low dew point, Virgo and Coma high in the sky and enough night hours to leisurely scan their galaxy clusters.  The kit all worked, I hadn’t left the illuminated reticle or the red spot finder on last time out, so the batteries were good.  The equatorial platform performed flawlessly, meaning that by the time you consulted Sky Safari, the star hopping point you were at had not moved out of the field of view.  

Four hours spent teasing detail out of Virgo galaxies I had missed in the past and the Coma Berenices galaxies.  Main EPs were Explore Scientific 68o 20, 15 and 12mm.

M61  Identified as a faint round fuzzy. No real detail visible but bright core on direct vision.

M49  Mistook this for a star but fuzzy edges gave it away. Accessory star visible adjacent to it.

NGC 4526   Identified as a faint oval fuzzy, a short star hop from M49.

NGC 4762  Faint but clear vertical needle shaped fuzzy with a bright core, in direct vision

NGC 5248  Tried but could not find this one.

M91  Faint circular shaped fuzzy with brighter core on averted vision.

M99 Struggled to find this.  Fainter than expected with brighter core in averted vision.

M85 Faint oval smudge. No detail seen.

M64 Black Eye Galaxy  Bright oval fuzzy with some core detail visible in averted vision. 

NGC 4494  Found while star hopping. Faint smudge with brighter core in averted vision.

NGC 4565 Needle Galaxy  Spectacular edge on galaxy - one of the highlights of the evening. Distinct bright central bulge with possible detail of dust lane and well defined, extended arms.

NGC 4631 Whale Galaxy  Difficulty star hopping to this one, probably because it was so high in the sky.  Elongated but asymmetrical fuzzy.  Benefits from time taken to tease out detail. 

NGC 5005 Getting cold by this point.  Struggled with directing the dob but finally found it. Faint elliptical smudge in averted vision with brighter core. Could not identify company  NCG 5003.

That last one was almost vertically overhead, so the movement of the dob wasn’t intuitive and it seemed to have a mind of its own. Consequently I whacked my eye against the eyepiece and this morning have a bruise coming up.  Poetic really, the Black Eye Galaxy session leaves a reminder all of its own! 🧐

Very enjoyable session. Sky Safari comes into its own as a planning tool, a log of the session and when shifting between finder star hopping and upside down, back to front, EP star hopping.  

Thanks once again for motivating me.

John

Superb John 😀

I might add to my Virgo list using some of those. ClearOutside has changed again here; 2 days ago, tonight looked to be as good as it gets, but now very patchy. Thursday may be my best opportunity to take the dob for a drive. We’re having a family day out today and I might take the scenic drive back to recce the spot I have been thinking of. 

How dark is your spot? I’m in a bortle 5 here but 20 mins drive south gets me into a 4.

Plenty there John and you’ve given me a tip there with M82, I hadn’t considered such high power. Tried M51 at 157x Sunday night, but it didn’t add anything on that evening. I must try that more!

1 hour ago, Pixies said:

I'm going to have another shot tonight. Just a quickie, though, as I'm knackered now.

That's 5 clear nights out of 7 up here! And it even looks like we might have 2 more to come.

Clouded over again just now, forcing me in. Had an enjoyable hour with the binos.

1 minute ago, westmarch said:

You've inspired me to get the dob out tonight and head to my local dark sky spot.  Time for some galaxy hunting around Coma Berenices.  It looks like a cold but clear night in Yorkshire.

Many thanks.

 

John

Super John, glad to have inspired someone to make the most of it. I’m feeling a bit too tired tonight, have my new binos at the ready instead. Hoping tomorrow is still on, though forecast has degraded a little since yesterday. Be sure to let us know how you get on!

4 minutes ago, IB20 said:

I couldn’t resist after seeing other members receive their copies!

Ah ha, you didn’t dither like I did... there were 2 copies left until this morning. Enjoy!

Delivery number 2...

Been on order for 4 weeks so glad to take delivery of a pair of Helios 15x70’s with a bino bandit and Porro mounting bracket. Just need Hermes to get their act together and deliver the joystick head. 
 

Buckled earlier too at a copy of Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas as someone highlighted the current low price. Typically, I’ve stuttered and it’s on back order. Did the same with these binoculars 😂

1 minute ago, Pixies said:

Ah - that sort of "off from work". I assume it's emulsion, not a landscape?

Definitely emulsion. Hall/Stairs/Landing, lovely job..not. A week off full of ‘jobs’ 😂

Parcel number one today.. a couple of dew bands, as finder got wet last week and nearly spoilt my evenings viewing pleasure. Spare one and for EP.

19 minutes ago, Pixies said:

Nice report. You seem to be getting your eye in now.

Up here, last night's transparency wasn't as good as the end of last week. The sky was jus a little brighter. I've been using M51 as a transparency check at the start of recent sessions and I couldn't see any 'join' last night.

There are so many Messier objects in and around Virgo, I've actually started knocking them off a list. Looks like a little Messier-bagging work to do this year. Hopefully we get lots of further clear nights.

I still need to get better organised, I like the idea of SkySafari logging reports. Busy painting today so I’ll have to download it later. 

There was a break in cloud just after dusk for a few hours and so I grabbed the opportunity until midnight, being off from work too this week. Meteoblue had the seeing down as poor and so I confirmed that whilst realigning my finder scope. I think it did improve a little throughout the session but it wasn't great. Thanks to @Pixiesfor the SkySafari star hopping tip, worked a treat at the eyepiece last night, I seemed to get my eye into the finder scope much better tonight.

Started working upwards from Vindmiatrix.

M60 - Nice a distinct.

M59 - Similar to M60, both stand out well as a good starting point.

M58 - Notably lower in brightness than M59, no detail.

Virgo A - Seemed brighter last week from memory?

Markarian's Chain - I sketched this out from memory when I got back in to compare as it's my first near full chain viewed (must download SkySafari Plus later as there's only 2 galaxies noted on the basic version). M84 and M86 were easy to find, like previously. NGC 4435 & NGC 4438 stood out together quite well and I found the bottom end after a minute or so (NGC 4473 & NGC 4477) but I really had to sit there for a few minutes to wean out NGC 4461, but no sign of a companion tonight.

M99 (Coma Pinwheel) - Certainly spread out without a bright core to it. 

M98 - Another one ticked off.

M100 - Wasn't a great view but I was most pleased with the hunt and my ability tonight to find these in succession.

M3 - Didn't resolve as well as last week, stars still lacking contrast even at x157.

Melotte 111 - Observed this in the bino's early evening. Looked pretty good in the 10x50's.

M51 - I was dying to drop in on my old favourite, now very close to zenith. I spent two stints searching hard for some structure, I could see the nebulosity around the core more clearly one side than the other but no separation. 

M101 - Location of the Pinwheel always seems simple up to the last couple of degrees, following the line from Mizar. It's the first time this year I have stopped by here. Because of how dim she appears tonight I over ran it to begin with, but once found, she was extremely dim. On paper, much brighter than M51 at mag 7.86 (brighter than most observed tonight) but assume the area must be less condensed and so there wasn't much to see and report.

M81 & M82 - First time here too this year for me. One of my 'go-to's' from last year and I'd remembered @Stuposting a simple location hop recently, which worked a treat. Both stood out well and I felt that transparency had improved a little, or maybe that I had relaxed off and had my eye slightly more adapted? 

Some cloud was starting to roll in from the West and with temperature now at -1C I decided to pack up and reflect on what I felt was a more organised evening. Tuesday looks the best of the forecasts this week so fingers crossed.

21 minutes ago, Pixies said:

Your eyes are sensitive to motion. So sometimes, when a faint object is just on the verge of visibility, shaking the scope very slightly, so that the view moves in the eyepiece, makes the faint object stand out more.

I found it very good for areas around the Virgo clusters, where you suspect there to be a few of the fainter galaxies in the view. Just slightly wobbling the scope makes them stand out.

It sounded self explanatory, I thought there could be something more to it. I’ll give it a go 😀

49 minutes ago, Whistlin Bob said:

Loving the references to dob wobbling. It's a very effective technique on galaxies, but also works really well on nebulae. I was able to pick out the tadpoles nebula the other night with it, and nearly the whole extent of the reflection area around the Pleiades.

You’ll have to enlighten me please all about dob wobbling 🙂

7 hours ago, Pixies said:

ANOTHER clear night, tonight, so tried to carry on where I left off. Also used an old T-shirt as an observing hood to try and help with the local lights.

M88 - Core bright, even in light pollution
M98 - Possibly. Very very faint. LP
M99 (Coma Pinwheel galaxy) - Barely visible averted vision. LP
M100 - core faint averted vision
NGC 4450 - Faint averted vision
NGC 4564 - Faint and small. Averted vision

M86 & M84 (Markarian's chain - 2 main ones) - clear
NGC 4438 & 4435 (Eyes galaxies) - Faint averted vision

M87 (Virgo A) - Clear direct
NGC 4486A - Very faint averted vision
NGC 4478 - ditto

M58 - Bright and small
M90 - Fairly bright but indistinct
M89 - Small and dense. Direct
M85 - Bright. Direct

Left it a bit late so the targets were well south and into a dome of light pollution from the local train yards. At times some high cloud didn't help, and at others it was very transparent.

What really surprised me was how visible the 2 fainters galaxies around Virgo-A (M87) were (NGC 4486A and 4478). They are mag 11.3 and 12.1 but I could see them quite easily. I assume it's because they are small and dense and so their surface brightness is quite good. 

I had my best view yet of Markarian's chain, too. As well as the above, I could see lots of tiny faint fuzzy patches scattered around the views. 

 

I really fancy trying to get to a dark site next new moon, once the Scottish stay-local rules are relaxed, and attempting these targets again. I reckon that would be the last chance before astronomical darkness ends here for the summer.

You did really well either way, it was thick over, here. 

You prompted a look at when darkness ends which is middle of next month so I'll have to make an effort too. Got plagued with dew on the finder scope last time out so ordered a band for that and have got a 12v battery rigged up to get mobile. There's some clearer nights forecast next week with a new moon and I'm off all week, sounds too good to be true!

1 hour ago, Nik271 said:

Great list of targets! The led lights can be a mixed blessing. We have them here but I found they can be just as bright. Perhaps the worst aspect of them is that they emit light in a very broad spectrum so the light pollution filters don't work so well. 

Note to self: invest in a narrowband filter. It will be nice to spot the Veil from home...

Definitely need an OIII for the veil 

3 hours ago, Pixies said:

It was suggested not to bother requesting a shield before now, as the lamps are scheduled to be replaced. However, I have heard (anecdotally) that if you complain immediately after the new lamps are installed, the lighting team will be available in the area to fix any issues and install shields immediately.

Edinburgh's street lights started being upgraded several years ago and they are slowly working their way around the city. Of course, my neighborhood is literally the last to be done! It was supposed to have been done by now, but it was delayed by Covid. The occasional times I have driven through upgraded areas in the dark, I have noticed a real difference and it does appear much darker. People are complaining about the new lights being too dim! 🙄 The council are saying that once the upgrade is complete, they will be able to control the timing and brightness of the streetlights remotely. Hopefully that doesn't mean they turn them up! I'm hoping they start turning them off late at night.

I do see that my westerly view towards the city centre now has white light pollution instead of yellow!

Some Councils are investing into smart lighting that can be remotely controlled with curfew times, but there's a balance to be found between saving themselves some money versus general safety. Our local Council are replacing on a reactive basis, and so we have probably half replaced now, but they have over-lit in places for certain. 

You will only receive any consideration soon after a new install for certain so definitely best to wait. 

51 minutes ago, Pixies said:

Some new targets for me tonight, plus some old faves, in Coma Berenices and Canes Venatici. The sky promised to be very transparent, although some clouds came through later to spoil the party. Temperature was just below freezing, and the wind chill made it feel like -5 deg C.

Started out with the M52 open cluster and the Nova.
Cold and breezy. Local light pollution

M51 (Whirlpool) - Hints of structure with averted vision.
M101 - Very faint, needed averted vision and some dob-wobbling to find it.
NGC 4490 (Cocoon galaxy) - Clear and shape obvious but smaller companion not visible
NGC 4449 - Some structure observable with averted vision
NGC 5005 - Clear with direct vision. Much brighter than neighbour:
NGC 5033 - Faint, observed with averted vision
M63 (Sunflower) - Clear with direct vision. Hints of outer shape with averted vision
M94 - Very bright, star-like core
M106 - core visible directly. Averted vision reveals its shape
NGC 4244 (Silver Needle Galaxy) - Very faint. Just visible with averted vision and wobbling.
NGC 4214 - Very faint. Just visible with averted vision and wobbling.
NGC 4631 (Whale Galaxy) - Some haze / high cloud building. Very faint. Just visible with averted vision and wobbling. Neighbour NGC 4646 not found
M53. Faint and oval-shaped globular, no resolution of stars. NGC 5053 neighbour not found

Paused to let clouds pass and to warm up

M64 (Black Eye Galaxy) - Bright core directly visible. 
NGC 4725 - some very faint structure visible with averted vision
NGC 4546 (Needle Galaxy) - Core bright but averted vision need to see hints of the long fine shape.
NGC 4559 - Very faint. Just visible with averted vision and wobbling.

Paused to let clouds pass
 

Melotte 111 - observed in the finder. 
NGC 4494 - Small and compact with averted vision.

Now very cold and more clouds appearing, so called it a night after a quick visit to M13

I'm fed up with the street light in the lane at the end of the garden. Once the trees are in leaf, it'll be hidden to a certain extent. But the real pain is the way it illuminates the rear of all the houses in our street. It makes it impossible to get dark adaption. I'll need to investigate a hood/cover of some kind. Luckily, the local street lights are being replaced with LEDs in the Autumn.  I'll take that opportunity to make sure a decent shield is installed.

Not a bad haul at all. Still sounded like you fared better than here as I couldn't see any real structure in M51.

Although LED lanterns control light spill better in general, I do find the indirect glare still much harsher if a lantern is in your peripheral vision (tend to be bluer in colour temp so adds to the perception). I have one either side of my garden but the one can cause issues if I don't hide it behind the oak tree on the roadside, I feel your pain. Do you mean that you'll have the Council install a shield? 

Had another 2 hours just before retreating having lost the feeling in my fingers (minus 2 just now)

Spent most of my time around Leo, M65/M66 to begin. Transparency looked reasonable but not excellent. Found the Leo Triplets relatively easily too and so observed them for a good while. M96 seemed to really stand out against it's closest neighbour as well.

I fancied having a go for Markarians Chain, so using the finder armed with SkySafari I found M60 & M59 quickly. From there there seemed to be a bigger expanse of nothing until I came across M87. I completely over shot the spot next but landed on the M99 (Coma Pinwheel) so not a bad bonus galaxy, though seemingly very dim to my eye. When I finally did drop back to find the two prominent galaxies in the chain it confirmed that I had found them the previous evening. It certainly is a fitting name but I wasn't over-awed for some unknown reason. 

I decided to drop onto M51 just to see how she looked tonight which left me wondering whether last night probably was the better evening . Nevermind, Arcturus had risen nicely between the houses and so I thought a globular would be a nice end to the evening so I paid M3 a call. I swapped the 13mm for the 8mm to help add some contrast and fill more of the eyepiece, the 8E really did make her shine through. 

A nice enjoyable session with a hard frost really starting to form as I packed the gear away, the week ahead doesn't look promising at all for another go.

Still, an hour in great conditions is far better than several in poor conditions 😁 Nice combo there, fancy something like that at some point myself.

23 minutes ago, Steve Clay said:

I have a manfroto 222 trigger grip that I'm selling. £35 including postage.

Steve

Super Steve, send me the details

and I’ll have it.

On 28/03/2021 at 16:12, Paz said:

I use Baader optical fluid but when it comes to cloths I use special wipes that I use once each and throw away.

Are these like a thin paper? Could do with some single use wipes of some sort. I seem to be cleaning my binoculars far too often at the moment.

1 minute ago, Gfamily said:

I bought one (or at least I pointed our daughter at one to buy) as a birthday present for MrsG to use with her binoculars last year. Second hand on Ebay

I was surprised that it only went for about £20 (incl Postage), as I had expected it to go for a lot more. They don't come up often, but they don't seem to go for silly prices. 

Manfrotto version of this Calumet one/ 

The one earlier went for £39 plus £5 postage. Outbid by £1 of course 😂 I'd prefer the Manfrotto but beggars can't be too choosy it seems. 

It seems that slowly these are being replaced with different versions. I missed out earlier on a Manfrotto on Ebay but can't seem to find the cheaper versions available now in the UK. Has anyone bought something similar recently? 

There is a tripod and head on Amazon as a package, but I don't need the tri pod. 

7 minutes ago, faulksy said:

hi stardaze, its a 12 volt alarm battery of amazon and a controller for the dew heater

Thanks. I'll have to work out how to rig that up as I have the controller and can get a battery, it's the cabling I'm not sure of. And a charger. 

Superb, I bet everything you mention looked about as good as it gets.

What little battery pack have you rigged up on the Bresser? Same scope as I have, but do need a little battery pack for when I take mine away from the back garden. 

21 minutes ago, John said:

Last night I had a few goals in mind in Leo. Having had a few sessions in that part of the sky recently I know where the main hunting grounds are so I don't need charts for those. The rest I sort of decide as I go along. I'm not really into major planning for sessions but like to have a couple of ideas and then "hang" the session around those.

For the new finds I use a combination of Stellarium running on a laptop and the Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas. Last night a number of targets were a bit beyond what the Pocket Sky Atlas covers so I found Stellarium very useful, particularly the ability to flip the view and zoom in to simulate the eyepiece view.

I'm lucky that my observing "pad" is just a couple of paces from the dining room where the laptop is and my eyepieces and a warm drink. I don't need to keep a load of stuff out with the scope. I can isolate the dining room from the rest of the house so keep that as a dark room.

 

 

I remember you hunting around Leo last year so knew you must be very familiar with her jewels. I had a look on Stellarium earlier and some of those are very faint, 13 mag and below. Tonight looks to be excellent too at the moment and so I think I'll be inspired and set mine out to concentrate on Leo. The beauty of Leo is that they mostly seem concentrated in certain spots and it's easier to be on the area and at least spend time trying to get your eye in without that nagging feeling of being uncertain of the exact spot. I found Virgo's galaxies difficult because of the lack of features around them. Thanks for the info John.