SwampStar Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Just spent a VERY pleasant half hour with our good friend Andromeda. After struggling for months to catch a galaxy...any galaxy...I've finally seen one. I was just getting the dog in at about 1am and noticed it had suddenly gone very clear, so I nipped out with the bins. Had a quick scan at the stars then looked on a star app to see if anything was about - with all the cloudy nights recently, I'd lost track of the sky! Was quite surprised to see Andromeda was about in the east. Found it quite quickly with the bins...a bit like a smudgy thumbprint on the lens. Thought it might be worth dragging the scope out, and it was. Easy ish to find using the bins and the red dot. 25mm lens in a SW 130. Absolutely stunning...You all said I'd find one eventually, and you were right! Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pingster Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Congrats m31 was also my first galaxy and still my fave. In a dark site its so bright and so are the compaion galaxys. I have even been able to see the galaxy with 'smokey' dust lanes in wales mag 7skies. I cant wait to see it again later this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I managed a glimpse at Andromeda tonight through the bins as well. It's like seeing an old friend again . Also had a look at M13, the Lagoon Nebula and the double cluster in Perseus. Not a bad haul for mostly cloudy skies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamp thing Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Congratulations on your first of many Galaxies. I don't think anything we ever see in the night sky is as thought provoking as one of these incredible objects.Mindblowing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cantab Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Well found. I got it in the 15x70s. With the Moon, the twilight, and eff all dark adaptation I only saw the very core - but the night was made when a pair of satellites made a formation flyby either side of the galaxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampStar Posted July 12, 2012 Author Share Posted July 12, 2012 Thanks...yes, it was quite LP'd but once it was in the eyepiece it was unmistakable! If that's what it's like on a mid-summer night, I can't wait for a winter's dark night! And I know what I'm looking for now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.h.f.wilkinson Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Congrats on getting your first galaxy. The view will get much better in autumn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umadog Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaveSoarer Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 It is a wonderful object to view and it will only improve as the sky gets darker and it gets higher above the horizon. You can actually see it with the naked eye on a good dark evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Imp Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 Well done, it really is special when you first find something you have been searching for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sologuitarist61 Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 It is always nice when you grabv your first image like that isn't it - well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olander08 Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 I'm a bit jealous. Due to the skies not being particularly dark in the summer time, I've yet to see my first hint of nebulosity or a galaxy.Fortunately, it's just about dark enough to see M31, but the weather hasn't allowed any views yet. Maybe in an hour! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampStar Posted July 14, 2012 Author Share Posted July 14, 2012 Was around 1.30am when I saw it. I was desperate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tingting44 Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 grats mate !!!! i bet you were well chuffed!!! im on the hunt for my 1st messier as soon as the clouds go away just got the book turn left at orion also i will soon be buying a light pollution filter and my 1st eye piece (not sure what tho ) so no excuses for me to spot my 1st messier i will be hunting for M13 as i got the perfect view to vega and arctucus from my garden view http://www.themcdonalds.net/richard/index.php?title=Finding_M13great work mate, as soon as i find my first one ill post up a stacked picture of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icrusoe Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Good job! I was really excited when I found Andromeda for the first time too. Probably at 30 degrees above horizon, so not ideal at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul schofield Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Congratulations on your first galaxy. M31 was my first too, what a buzz it is to find especially in binoculars when you consider the distance of the thing. I found after finding my first galaxy then lots more follow suit, like buses wait forever for one then 3 come along at the same time. Just wait til you look at Virgo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Kick Drum Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Well done!M31 was also my first.My next suggestion is to go back to M31 and see if you can also spot M32 in the same field of view. Although smaller, it has quite a high surface brightness so should be possible.That'll make two.Happy hunting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nytecam Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Congrats on M31 - sky clear under late twilight right now so may give M31 a go later via 10x25 binos - saw M13 last night via same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampStar Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 Had another hour out last night from about 11pm. Andromeda an absolute doddle to find now...even in my cheapo 10x50 bins! Didn't get the 'scope out but had a blast just scanning the sky. Might also have caught a glimpse of the Hercules cluster and a LOT of interesting stuff around Cassiopeia.Got some time off after this week, so let's hope the clear skies hold for a while...I spy an all-nighter coming on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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