Night of the Teapot

[AndyWB]

So last night I decided to take a road trip to somewhere dark, and that I could see lower in the south, so that I might see Sagittarius. I don't think I'll see much of it from my flat in Reading.

I drove to Walbury hill near Newbury, and got there around twilight to see Venus quite high in the sky. Unfortunately, I was so busy trying to find where to set up that I didn't get the scope out, missing Venus next to the Beehive. Oh well, check the calendar in future.

I started out looking at Saturn (nice) then split some doubles in Scorpius. While I waited for Sagittarius to rise I had a look at M4, which I've seen before from in town. It was visible as a large, faint patch - frankly, my view from Reading had been better. I think this was because of a low haze near the horizon, and light pollution from Andover. I tried not to get too discouraged, or too alarmed by the noise of what sounded like an artillery barrage - but turned out to be two different firework displays (on the 6th of July?! Weird!)

By now it had really gotten dark - and wow! I haven't seen so many stars for a long time. The Milky Way was obvious across the sky. Indeed, some of the constellations were a little confusing - there were too many stars!

Next I took a look at M5, which was a little tricky to find, but obvious when I did, and after that faff it was time to look at the Teapot. It wasn't entirely visible, but I pointed the scope and was promptly looking at M22. Large, and impressively bright, given how low it was. Tracked around to M28 - smaller, and less impressive - and then tracked around the handle of the Teapot to M54. This was just barely visible in the murk in averted vision. To be honest, not very exciting except for the thought that it is part of SagDEG.

Tried for M70 and M69, but couldn't see them at all.

Wandered on up past NGC6520, and more of less stumbled onto M8 and NGC6530. I didn't really know what to expect - but the cluster and glow of the nebula was obvious. I had to stop and have a good look. I carried on up to M20-21, which again had the glow of the nebula, and an obvious open cluster - and again, I had to have a good look. With both these the nebulae were obvious, but I couldn't really see a shape to them, exactly. I think more aperture might be necessary, or possibly filters, though that might take something away; I liked that they were set against open clusters.

Eventually I wandered further north - and into M24, the Sagittarius Star Cloud! Wow! So many stars, with NGC6603 in it, and M18 nearby. I've never seen anything like it - how come people don't make a big fuss over this 'object'?

M18 was a little further north - just looked like a little open cluster, to be honest - and then up to M17 - the Omega nebula. This was the brightest of the nebulae I'd seen, and showed a nice 'tick' of light. Fantastic. It was really quite bright!

Further north again is M16, an open cluster and nebula. To be honest, the nebula did seem hard to see - there was a hint of brightness, but nothing like the others.

Now I went back to M24, then off to the sides to see M23 and M25 - both open clusters were pretty visible, M23 dimmer but with more stars.

I then tried south for M7 and M6, but couldn't see much down in the murk.

Struck by how good the skies were, I then decided to have look at M57, and while I was there it'd have been rude to miss M56 and Albireo. But then I really was going to pack up - except I could see Delpinus and Equuleus (a first for me!) so it'd be a shame to not have a look at M15 - which is another nice globular. And if I'm looking at Pegasus, it'd be a shame to not have a quick gander at Andromeda - and so I saw M31,32 and 110. That is some spectacular view. Andromeda looked huge - the glow of it crossed my 30mm eyepiece - and both M32 and M110 were bright and obvious.

But no, now I was really going home, and I arrived just as the sky was starting to lighten. Not a bad night really!

Lessons learnt?

a) Hayfever at night is still annoying.

Some kind of nebula filter might be a worthwhile investment, even in my wee scope.

c) Taking a snack might be an idea.

d) I continue to be impressed with what I can see in a 5" scope.

[andrew63]

An enjoyable read, thanks. A good idea to get out for a better horizen. I'm the same, this area around the teapot is often in a haze /glow pollution area - the objects just vanish against a palish background. The M8 - M20 area is up enough to begin to glimpse the gems around though. Must be glorious from the southern hemisphere.

andrew

[AlexB67]

Nice report

I've been tempted to look at some filters too, Alan at skies unlimited sells a few that cut not too much light that are suitable for smaller scopes such as you and I have. That said I've been hesitant to invest them this soon, Perhaps I'll consider buying one more eyepiece, and after that all the money will go into the kitty saving for a bigger light bucket, then, when you have more aperture getting a filter for the bigger scope where cutting out some of that light will be less critical, after all, they cost quite a bit.

Seeing the garden I have and storage, lugging out a 10 inch 10 to 20 meters would be no hassle for me, and still something that can be put in our car on holiday as well, though it may have to be a flextube in my case, given the small ford KA and when it gets stuffed full of other gear

Perhaps I am already one of the getting obsessed with aperture type , but given my interest in DSOs I do feel investing in the bigger bucket will be worth it, sooner than later, instead of spending on specialised accessories now and delaying the bigger light bucket.

I should add however, I too am amazed how much I have seen, and how much detail our modest buckets provide, next month I should know what it can really do under dark skies when I go on hols, hopefully, if the weather agrees

[cotterless45]

Yep M24 and the star field is a stunner, think for many folk it's low down and you need a good horizon. Lovely report ,keep going !

You'll have your socks blown off with larger aperture, just get a bigger car for transport !

Nick.

[AndyWB]

I've been tempted to look at some filters too, Alan at skies unlimited sells a few that cut not too much light that are suitable for smaller scopes such as you and I have. ... after that all the money will go into the kitty saving for a bigger light bucket, then, when you have more aperture getting a filter for the bigger scope where cutting out some of that light will be less critical, after all, they cost quite a bit.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind more aperture, and transport isn't an issue - but storage might be. I'm thinking 10" scope, but I need to a) measure one up in the flesh, and figure out where the heck I could store it in my flat (whatever happens it'd be a squeeze). Until I've done that, I might have to stick with the small scope. So, accessories, perhaps!

With regard to filter, I've been wondering about the Baader UHC-S. I gather it's designed for 'smaller' scopes.

[swamp thing]

M24 is indeed often overlooked by many in favour of other open clusters......why? Is a good question. It's one of the finest sights in the sky IMO.

Its also an object that seems to keep giving. Most clusters run out of members to show you as you use a larger scope. The clusters simply spread out in larger scopes. Showing mostly space with fewer bright stars scattered about. M24 just gets richer, and richer the bigger the scope. As the stars spread out, more seem to pop into view. It's just an awesome sight.

[AlexB67]

M24 is indeed often overlooked by many in favour of other open clusters......why? Is a good question. It's one of the finest sights in the sky IMO.

Its also an object that seems to keep giving. Most clusters run out of members to show you as you use a larger scope. The clusters simply spread out in larger scopes. Showing mostly space with fewer bright stars scattered about. M24 just gets richer, and richer the bigger the scope. As the stars spread out, more seem to pop into view. It's just an awesome sight.

If there was ever a post trying to get newer users like me believe in aperture fever, this would be it. Not that I think I'd need to be encouraged on that topic anyway. I've already convinced myself what is on the next to buy list for next year Still I'd like to live through one winter with existing aperture at least, because the best time of the year and darker sites are yet to be seen.

[kirkster501]

Great report! Gave me hope since I struggle to see this object. Maybe I just need better seeing. I'm a degree and a half or so further North than you though but that should not make that much difference.

[Dunkster]

Nice report, Andy thanks for sharing, good to see all that can be had with a 130

You guys need to get yourselves down to Olly's place in France or down here to the Southern Hemisphere... the extra altitude makes them much easier and clearer to see, and darkness helps a lot, so another month or so should push most of southern England into darkness.

[faulksy]

sounds like your having a great time down under dunkster, hope to join you

[majapala]

Nice report. I had a late one here too. The detail in the milky way was eye-popping and made for a pleasant evening, once the midges went to bed!

[AndyWB]

Nice report. I had a late one here too. The detail in the milky way was eye-popping and made for a pleasant evening, once the midges went to bed!

Actually, that's another point I learnt - insect repellent might be surprisingly useful for astronomy...

Dunkster, yes, I'd been thinking similar. Frustratingly, I lived in New Zealand for a year, but my interest in astronomy was rather more casual then. Still, it was amusing to watch Orion zoom past on his head.

[Optical Dob]

Nice report Andy, you certainly get the most out of that little scope. The 10 inch solid tubes are not to bad size wise it's the bases that they come with that makes storage a little more tricky.

[bish]

Most of those are too low from my garden. I could see more from my old flat on a hill and did have a good look around scorpius and Sagittarius on holiday in Egypt, but only with my bins. I would love to get my scope on that part of the sky from a good site.

[Dunkster]

Dunkster, yes, I'd been thinking similar. Frustratingly, I lived in New Zealand for a year, but my interest in astronomy was rather more casual then. Still, it was amusing to watch Orion zoom past on his head.

Gutted! Yeah it's a bit weird with our favourite constellations going past upside down but I'm sure it's something to get used to

[Astralstroll]

I definitely need a night out to a dark site with a low horizon. The remaining Messiers on my list are all low down. Time to decamp methinks.