Aled B

19 minutes ago, Mr niall said:

M51 is actually next to Alkaid in Ursa Major....

Honestly ignore the barlow for now.

do a quick google for a star chart - something like this:

https://freestarcharts.com/messier-51

Study the chart - have a look at where M51 is relative to the other stars in the big dipper - for example if you have a look at M51 it is quite easy to find as it forms a nice right angled triangle with Alkaid and Mizar. Make a note of the degrees of separation. M51 is about 4 degrees away (give or take). It would be handy at this point to remember that the lower power eyepiece you use, the wider the field of view your telescope will give you.

But... M51 is a notoriously difficult target. I live in bortle 4/5 skies and I have never seen it in anything less than a 12 inch scope - and even then it was very very faint. Some people will tell you it is incredibly easy, it really depends on local conditions.

At the moment - I would concentrate on maybe M44, or perhaps M3 - or M81 / M82. They are easier to find and quite bright.

to be honest i am quite lucky where im located. not much light pollution. this chart is perfect and just what i was looking. could you please expain the aparent mag to me?

11 minutes ago, Mr niall said:

M51 is actually next to Alkaid in Ursa Major....

Honestly ignore the barlow for now.

do a quick google for a star chart - something like this:

https://freestarcharts.com/messier-51

Study the chart - have a look at where M51 is relative to the other stars in the big dipper - for example if you have a look at M51 it is quite easy to find as it forms a nice right angled triangle with Alkaid and Mizar. Make a note of the degrees of separation. M51 is about 4 degrees away (give or take). It would be handy at this point to remember that the lower power eyepiece you use, the wider the field of view your telescope will give you.

But... M51 is a notoriously difficult target. I live in bortle 4/5 skies and I have never seen it in anything less than a 12 inch scope - and even then it was very very faint. Some people will tell you it is incredibly easy, it really depends on local conditions.

At the moment - I would concentrate on maybe M44, or perhaps M3 - or M81 / M82. They are easier to find and quite bright.

ideal thank you. i jst want to see one of them jst to get a feel of actually finding one. m44 it is

12 minutes ago, fifeskies said:

there are a lot of factors to consider and what works well one night may be hopeless another

start on low mag to find it and try higher mag until its getting less good , often x 100 is about the best you can hope for unless its a very good night.

this is why it helps to have a range of eyepieces covering different mag

 

and what works well for 1 object may not be as good for another

may i give and example the  m51 whirlpool galaxy is south of the vega star and i can see the two stars where it is located but not been able to see it. as i have a x62.5 as best without the barlow is it a case of skies not clear enough or being in patient or any other factors?

im really thankfull for all comments and learning all the time. as nerf_catching said maybe my thoughts were all wrong. 

if im honest i need to be more patient and enjoy the learning and understanding which if why forums like these are so helpful for novices like me self. 

is there a way of knowing what magnification you would require? e.g distance by magnification?

ahh ok .. ye so what would you say my limits in regards of objects i should be observing then? is there an app/book which will help me see how deep these galaxies are and what magnification would be necessery?? 

and im afraid of having same issues  can't say no to bargain.

15 minutes ago, miguel87 said:

No, not further into the sky. In fact, if you are viewing something really distant and faint I would stay under 100x magnification.

Magnification just tries to make the image bigger but dimmer.

So your barlow will make your image bigger but dimmer. You can only afford to go high mag on bright objects like the moon, planets etc.

I never use more than about 150x on deep sky. Whereas Jupiter might take 333x on a good night.

im still trying to get the calculation of mag strength in my system. so 1000x is the lense x focus? so 20mm x 4.9f in my instance?

great advice i appreciate all of this. with the barlow x3 lense if ive understood this will change the magnification by a 1/3 so with the 25mm it will act as a 8mm? this will help me to look further to the deep sky right?

thanks for commenting. bortle level 4 i also have here  scope is skywatcher 102R 4.9f 

.   i have standard 10mm and 25mm wide eye. recently purchased 7mm-21mm stop zoom and barlow x3 lense.

Hi. i have recently purchased my first scope and trying to understand location of stars and galaxies. if i were to look for e.g whirlpool galaxy. what magnification will i be requiring to be able to seek this?

Look forward to seeing your comments. Thanks

Hi Guys. i have just had my starquest 102R as a new toy. i was given a super 10mm long eye relief and a 25mm wide angle with scope. in regards of seeing planets, stars, asteroids what kind of eye pieces would you recommend? 

Thanks in advance

Aled