josefk

Now you make me feel really bad for rushing 😉 . I’m using “push to” so I take no credit for finding it. I will definitely come back to this a few times to see if I can see any kind of structure/features and on another night will come to this earlier in a session when not so tired. I’m thinking about a big exit pupil EP focal length for filters on this kind of object too but will learn to walk before I run as were. Probably the opposite direction of travel than taking a 66mm scope to very dark skies like La Palma! cheers

Thanks @OK Apricot and @Starwatcher2001 I think with the phone screen thing what I hadn’t appreciated was that I should keep adjusting the brightness down as the night goes on till it is very dull indeed. I’m also going to try the “pirate patch” trick recommended on here as I always use the same eye at the EP. Maybe cloud free tonight as well to practise at least the first one. cheers Joe

With a few days off work this week I was relieved and excited that "clear outside" predicted a nice clear window last night in South Lincolnshire/NE Northamptonshire and the prediction was accurate. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands to view a few more Messiers (mostly). The observation site is Fineshade Woods (Northampton) supposedly Bortle4 and 21.04. I haven't practised NELM estimations yet so the prediction for sky quality will have to do. Observations in order: Regulus (Alpha Leonis). Really just waiting for my kit to cool down and having a look for Leo I. I didn't find it. M3 (Globular Cluster). Sky not yet fully dark (22:10) but still moderately resolved with direct vision. Resolved better with averted vision. Framed beautifully at 140x/30' M5 (Globular Cluster). Not as large or as well resolved as M3. Even gradient of brightening from edge to core. M13 (Hercules Cluster). Just stunning. Lovely at 80x/60' and even better at 140x/30'. Came back to this for a long look at the end of the session. M40 (Optical Double star). Uninspiring. M44 (Beehive Cluster). Fabulous. I can't fit this in my main scope (63' max TFOV) but its lovely nonetheless. Also observed through tripod mounted 15x/270' TFOV binoculars and the view was by far superior at this scale. M49 (Elliptical Galaxy). Looked like a fish shaped comet at the EP. observed at 80x/60' and 140x/30' and better at the higher magnification. M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy). Crudely sketched as a leaning "snowman" before looking it up so seen correctly with NGC 5195. I came back here at the end of the night when it was higher but still didn't see any real structure. Obvious bright cores and obvious nebulosity but no more. M53 (Globular Cluster). Revisited after first light here a few weeks ago. Much better resolved on this viewing. "unpacked" with averted vision but then i could see it resolved even with direct vision. M56 (Globular Cluster). Compact and quite dim. No bright core. M60 (Elliptical Galaxy). Observed and checked (and double checked) for correct ID in adjacency to M58 and M59 by stepping across all three galaxies in turn east and west and west and east. NGC 4647 seen with M60 as extended nebulosity of it and basically "attached" to it. M58 (Spiral Galaxy). With M60 above. No question it was there but a very faint small wisp at 140x/30'. M59 (Elliptical Galaxy). With M58 and M60 above. Very faint. NGC 4636 (Elliptical Galaxy). Very faint. Identified as the "corner" DSO object in an "L" shaped arrangement of 4 stars. NGC 4638 (Galaxy). Very faint. NGC 4637 (Spiral Galaxy). Super super faint. In theory at the edge of possibility for my scope at Magnitude 14.89 but i'm sure of myself for seeing it. Definitely the smallest dimmest thing this evening. M108 (Spiral Galaxy). faint but shape and orientation correctly determined before recording it in sky safari (i.e before looking up what i should be able to see). M109 (Spiral Galaxy). Very faint, nearly imaginary lightening of the sky. Sat about 3' or 4' above two brighter stars themselves about 3' apart. M106 (Spiral Galaxy). Faint but with averted vision i could certainly "see" the core and maybe detect a hint of structure. M97 (Owl Nebula). Quite large (3'?) but quite dim "fingerprint". Quite tired by this point in the evening so guilty of not lingering and not taking time to fully appreciate this one. Reminded me a bit of when you get a drop of water on a binocular objective. THAT faint. M94 (Spiral Galaxy). Brighter than everything seen in the last hour (M108, M109, M106, & M97) with an obvious core but no structure. M92 (Globular Cluster). An absolute delight to come to a Globular Cluster after the faint fuzzies above. Beautifully resolved even with direct vision. I will come back to this earlier in another night an attempt a sketch. M63 (Sunflower Galaxy). observing notes: "smudge near two bright stars, no core no structure" M51. Return after being here earlier in the evening. Interesting because though the sky was darker i'm not sure i saw more. i wonder if tiredness cancelled the "in theory" better seeing conditions? M14. Completely unresolved Globular Cluster. Like the Owl Nebula bizarrely (?!?). M13. Finishing the night on a high. What a super thing to look at. With direct vision the brightness seams evenly "dense" across the cluster with perhaps a hint of nebulosity (blur) in the core. With averted vision just billions of resolved stars. Fantastic. View kept getting better and better with repeated drifts across the EP. Kit used: 8" GSO (StellaLyra) Classical Cassegrain. Nexus DSC. Sky Safari for note taking. Everything observed at 140x/30' with a few things either "found" or re-framed at 80x/60'. SLC 15x56 Binoculars used to stand back on the Beehive. Lessons learned: Take a flask. Attempt fewer objects. Wear warmer clothes :-). Work out how to take notes without damaging dark adaptation. Cheers all.

Hah. You've made my day! Obviously i didn't do my homework first :-). i'll have another go at the Double Double at that mag. I have the 8" GSO/StellaLyra Cassegrain and i'm loving it so far. Cheers

end of the night.heic

I knew the sky wouldn't be dark last night but i was keen to get out nevertheless. Fineshade woods (a forestry commission site in Northamptonshire) is a site about 10 or 15 minutes from my house so i thought i would give it a dry run. The moon was SO bright i still don't know if its a darkish site or not. Online checking suggests it should be Bortle 4. The pay & display machines seem to be left on all night so there is some ground level light pollution. I like it because you can observe from the side of the car and that suits me a lot. Being a bright moon in the S and SE i had the vague intention of viewing between NW and NE. A little cloud in the first few degrees above the horizon also pushed me up a bit. Success: M35, M36, M37, M38. These were all lovely even though the sky wasn't properly dark. M37 was especially nice. I will definitely pick these out again on a much darker night. 2nd success: M81 and M82. I actually looked at M81 a couple of weekends ago but after the fact had a nagging doubt wether i'd actually looked at M81 or M82. Last night i watched both for a while to be sure and took note of distinct E/W orientation (M82) versus a more diffuse and much less striking M81. No doubt about seeing them but not striking against the non dark sky and moonshine on the ground around me and scope parts in my peripheral vision. 3rd success: Looking at Vega, the Double Double and Zeta1 Lyrae in binoculars. What a lovely arrangement. Failures: Double star splitting. Couldn't split either of the Double Double, nor Vega, Sirius, Arcturus, or Capella. Not sure if it was a seeing, kit or skill issue. Maybe all three. Sirius i knew to be hard but expected one of the others at least. Cheers Joe BTW: Fineshade looks like a good option at least on the ground:

First light with this kit a couple of weekends ago - a dry run of sorts. Nearly an epic fail for not having read even the quick start guide on the Nexus. Did figure it out in the end and here i'm pointing at M53. Arcturus showing brightly on the left.

Thanks for this tip Ron - i'll definitely look it up.

Thanks everyone for the welcome. Hi Harry - my "dark sky" site is Burghley Park. Its not exactly dark but it's very close by and not soooo bad especially from the point of view of there being no nearby local light sources. Cheers

Hello all. I've been along time passive browser of these pages and always found it a great source of insight and food for thought. I'm saying hello now as PAS at Kettering recently set things in train such that i've bought back into the hobby after a period without kit and therefore a period of inactivity. i'm very much looking forward to (re)developing the interest and renewing time in the hobby clear nights willing! Cheers Joe