Dave scutt

To night was the night for Fuzzy Hunting, the sky was clear their was no wind a bit cold at -1.

Started with M31 still low in the sky in the N/W, found it just over the tree line couldn't find M110 and M32 this time , didn't look for M33 as for the trees in that direction. 

Not a good start 1 out of 4.

Moved on to Ursa Major,  found Alkaid and a short hop to the left and there was M101, back to Alkaid followed the few stars and M51 looked as nice as it did the other night the spiral arms where clearly visible and seeing them joining together. 

On to M108 thanks for @Kon for naming this for me doesn't name it on my stellarium, found the Owl Nebula M97 and there in the same FOV was M108.

Onwards and upwards to M81 and M82 another two brilliant fuzzy to look at. 

Now towards some fuzzy I've never seen before,  looking at Phecda through the finder moved to the right and found M106 straight away and then back down to M63 maybe my luck was turning for the good.

I know M3 and M53 aren't fuzzys but had to have a look as never seen these before always nice too see new Globular Clusters.

Next on the list M64 found 35A 4.7 mag star Close to M53, and there it was M64 another one ticked off the list.

Staying in that area are more fuzzy I've never seen before M58,M60, M84, M86, M87,M89, M90 and probably lots more. Found Vindemiatrix tried to star hop but was just getting lost,  so moving the dob around slowly managed to see 4more fuzzys but not sure which one's I had seen.

And then cut short freezing fog had arrived couldn't see 2 metres in front of me ,it was -3 and my fingers where cold handerling the solid tube all night.

Time to pack up and be continued........

Dave

1 hour ago, Captain Scarlet said:

Ironically length for length the carbon tube is heavier than the alu one: it’s lined with 6mm of hardfoam on the inside to make it extremely stiff. Not such a long drive for you to come and see it in person?

M

Thanks for the offer If I'm ever down that way I'll let you know or you can always pop up my way to the dark site 

The carbon tube looks so nice can't wait to see pictures of it finished 

Great report. 

M51 was my favourite the other night It was the first time seeing the arms/swirl they had so much detail, looking forward for next clear night. 

Dave

23 minutes ago, Ags said:

I will give the towel trick a try. I tried keeping my eyes shut, but that dimmed the stars too much 😀

Hi Ags are you using any filters I find the UHC one works well

I've been trying to find the HH and the flame Nebula in Bortle 2-3 with a 12"skywatcher and UHC and 0III filters but cannot see anything even with averted vision 

3 clear nights from my garden bortle 2-3,  12"skywatcher  ES 82 , 14mm ,11mm ,8.8mm,6.7 and 2x barlow.

I could see so much with the naked eye could make out Andromeda M31,Persei open cluster,  beehive cluster,  and coma star cluster. 

Started off trying to see the pup though I could see it and then would disappear around 1 -2 o clock,  moved on to M51 whirlpool galaxy could actually see the spiral arms for the first time, stayed there mesmerised for a long time, moved up to M97 Owl Nebula could see it with no filter but the UHC filter made it stand out better, found a faint galaxy close to M97 doesn't mention it in my books or on stellarium🤔. Lots more open clusters, next time I'm going on a fuzzy hunt.

Dave

Been doing this hobby for 8 months now slowly building up my collection, 1 case full of ES 82 1.25" the next case is for ES 82 2" only 3 more to collect 

It's been a long time but out at last and time to try out my new telrad 

Nice postman brought me this ES82 11mm .

Thanks to jimtheslim

Postman brought me a telrad with many thanks to Saganite.

Now have to decide what  scope to put it on

Looking for something to go on the other side now

14 minutes ago, callisto said:

Looks familiar Dave 😁

Thanks mark.

Very happy with it, I bet you don't miss it with all the other ones you have

Really do need to get a grab and go,this is my smallest at the moment 

Two clear nights in a row😱.

Sun going down a few stars already coming out, last night was the dob tonight its the achro 

Not quite night time but it needs time to cool down.

26 minutes ago, Alan White said:

Give it time, It will gain traction 🤣

Storm Dunlop arrived here

Hi all.

I know you've had lots of clear nights recently in the UK but tonight will be my first clear night (at a decent time not 4 in the morning) with no moon visible for nearly a month. 

I would like to try and find and look at something different. 

I will start off with m42 and the trapezium,  one of my favourite things to look at is m13 and trying to see the Mercedes sign but I think that will be up in early morning. 

Is there any clusters, nebula or galaxies any one could recommend and point me in the right direction to find them .

Thanks dave 

Not the postman Mrs S just brought me some socks🤣

Only have the one diagonal, and very happy with it 

Thanks for the reply, I do live close to an airport but I didn't see any lights flashing or here it as it passes me when I took it.

Dave 

Up at 4.30 because I couldn't sleep not feeling to good to get the scope out, it was very clear no wind ,would have been an excellent time for viewing,

So I got my phone out and started taking some pictures, in this photo i took could this be a satellite .

Dave 

10 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

A golden oldie just arrived 

First look and I thought it was an old bottle of aftershave 🤣

Another day,  Another delivery. 

Instead of clouds I got snow and a telrad 4" riser speedy delivery,  came before the telrad 

Members here on SGL are so generous. 

Received a free filter with thanks to Franklin