SwampStar Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 As soon as it became clear that the clouds weren't about tonight, I headed outside for only the third time with my SkyWatcher. Started with the moon through a 25mm and then a 10mm. The sliver of light at the bottom gave stunning definition of the craters. I then moved on to Venus, and eventually Jupiter. Both were bright and crystal clear. Moons again clearly visible. I'd given myself a challenge, though and that was to spot my first Messier object. I put my 25mm wide back in and lined up with the cluster below his belt. I had it almost bang in the middle of the view...and it was absolutely stunning! Even with the thousands of other stars cramming the eyepiece, the wispy white shading of the nebula was jumping out. Once seen...never forgotten. I even went back out again later to see if it was still there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Kick Drum Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Congratulations on bagging your first Messier - M42. M45, the Pleiades is another good one to start with. Both of these are visually stunning and always worth going back to from time to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monki Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 It's brilliant ain't it I saw my best view of it a couple of days ago, even with my 60mm refracter i've seen the brightest part of the nubula near the trapezium, but with how clear it was on thursday i got to see more then i've ever seen before.Try ngc 884/869 double cluster in Perseus. I got to see this for the first time on thursday too. I did rough alignment with an 18mm as usual then told it to goto the double cluster. I do vauge alignments so i still have to do some work finding it myself hehe. Anyway.... when i finally found it i actually swore out loud...It was amazing.Also, as mentioned above, the Pleiades is a great single cluster to view. It was my first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cotterless45 Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Plenty more good things to see, my first Messiers were M36,37 and 38 in Auriga. These open clusters are near to each other and all different in view. For a treat try M13 in Hercules, now early morning, the very best globular cluster, nice, clear skies, Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampStar Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share Posted February 26, 2012 Thanks for those.I didn't see myself turning into some sort of train-spotter type but I suppose lists are there for a reason, and I can't wait to tick off some more!Also been looking at the Caldwell list...So should I do the Messiers, the Caldwells or both???I think I know what I'll end up doing already... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Nick Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I've been trying to spot the Andromeda galaxy without much luck. I think it's a bit too close to the orange glow that is Bristol's light pollution at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monki Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Hehe, funny you should say that. I decided to try andromeda seeing as it was so clear the other night, unfortunately it's right above a streetlight. I managed to see a very faint grey blob which i can only guess was the centre.... It amused me slightly heh.. but i was happy enough i'd found it.I guess i need to go back to the moors again to see that one Sent from a Galaxy S 2 far away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bish Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 M42 is a bit like the Moon for me.I don't often point my scope at it, but am always amazed at the sight of it when I do - even under my awful light polluted sky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieG Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 I am looking forward to my view of M42 or indeed any other Messier object. My 200P with HEQ5 comes today (I am frantically looking out of the windows for FedEX because my doorbell doesn't work). Good luck with all your other viewsI've been trying to spot the Andromeda galaxy without much luck. I think it's a bit too close to the orange glow that is Bristol's light pollution at the moment. I'm going to have that problem too Pappy although my back garden in Kingswood faces away from the City. Except I do have an annoying streetlight that shines into the garden! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Kick Drum Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Also been looking at the Caldwell list...So should I do the Messiers, the Caldwells or both???I think I know what I'll end up doing already...Nothing wrong with starting on both. Generally the Caldwells are not quite as easy as the Messiers but that's not to say that they are particularly difficult (the Hyades is one of the Caldwells).Happy hunting! (whatever you choose) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattler Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Nice one. M45 was my first Messier object followed by M51 last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
localdealer Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Just seen M42 the other day, also my first Messier object and was amazed. Set my goal was to find M31 tonight and after a half hour finally did. only a gray oval tho, but still, it was a great challenge and another off the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinyian Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 My first Messier object was M45 and I would certainly recommend taking a look - seriously impressive. Then tonight I got a look at the double cluster in Perseus and lost track of time gazing at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barlivia Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 M42 is a fantastic object to look at. One of the first I looked at was M45 aswell but I def couldnt recommend M3 and M36 and M37 in auriga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2012 Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 As soon as it became clear that the clouds weren't about tonight, I headed outside for only the third time with my SkyWatcher. Started with the moon through a 25mm and then a 10mm. The sliver of light at the bottom gave stunning definition of the craters. I then moved on to Venus, and eventually Jupiter. Both were bright and crystal clear. Moons again clearly visible. I'd given myself a challenge, though and that was to spot my first Messier object. I put my 25mm wide back in and lined up with the cluster below his belt. I had it almost bang in the middle of the view...and it was absolutely stunning! Even with the thousands of other stars cramming the eyepiece, the wispy white shading of the nebula was jumping out. Once seen...never forgotten. I even went back out again later to see if it was still there...You're exactly right. Had a quick look earlier on through some SkyMaster 15x70's and even through them it's amazing!"Once seen...never forgotten." Never a truer word said!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R1gel Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Well done Swampstar first of many I hope.My first ever views of M42 and Pleiades were through 15x70 Binoculars. Maybe it was the fact that it was my first sight of them but for me that view remains the most vivid and I still thrills me even now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimStan Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 AFA which is best to start with, you cannot beat the "M" list. But why limit yourself to one particular list. The Caldwell list contains many of the Messier objects, and several that Messier missed! ( The "double cluster" is NOT an "M" object, for instance ! ) If you want a further challenge, there is always the "Hershel 400" which at least one member of our club is working toward ! Then there is the IC and NGC catalogs - - - but that is getting a bit silly, I realize. The point is, there is a lot more up there to see than you will ever manage in your lifetime. But it sure is fun to pursue the search ! Jim S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 It's certainly true that once seen never forgotten for M42. I first saw it through a little 50mm refractor, I found it by accident and wondered what on earth it was - it w only later that I realised it was M42. Well done on seeing your first Messier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.