M81 and Surrounds

[StarSapling]

2/8/2016 - Oracle, Arizona - seeing fair - trans fair - obs. Good

120mm f5 refractor

Ursa Major:

M81 - Gal. - 120x - Large, bright, oval - long axis oriented roughly north/south - bright core with bright inner halo and dimmer outer halo - glimpses of dark structure within inner halo and encircling the core, most prominent along eastern side of core - two field stars involved with outer halo on southern side - field star just west of end of northern portion of outer halo - sensed/imagined clockwise spiral.

M82 - Gal. - In same field as M81 at 24x - 120x - Large, bright, spindle shaped - oriented roughly east/west - bright field star south of western end - conspicuous dark mottling throughout length giving galaxy a ragged appearance - brightest portion of galaxy appears to be about halfway between the center and the eastern end of the galaxy.

NGC3077 - Gal. - In same field with M81 and M82 at 24x - 120x - Dimmish, smallish, round or slightly oval - subtle core/halo structure - occasional hints of a near stellar nucleus or very faint field star near center of galaxy - bright field stars to the northwest and west - sensed some sort of possible structure in halo.

NGC2976 - Gal. - Just fits in same field with M81 and NGC3077 at 24x - 120x - Dim, smallish, oval - long axis oriented roughly north/south - no definite core/halo structure, but does brighten slightly towards center - faint field star west of center - sensed that galaxy was not a smooth oval, but may be slightly distorted.

[Size9Hex]

Really enjoyed reading that. Sounds a great session. You're recording things with 120mm aperture that are borderline to me with twice the aperture! I don't know whether that's experience or good skies, but regardless, it's great to read, and nice to compare. :-)

[YKSE]

Great write up, glad someone had a good time under sky

Paul,

Sky darkness is the key for faint galaxies, not apertures. I could only see 3077 and 2976 in averted vision in my backyard with 8". Acey's posts below explains the importance of dark sky very well

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/240725-what-is-a-dark-site/
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/259888-light-pollution-vs-surface-brightess-being-able-to-see-the-object/?do=findComment&comment=2844817

[jetstream]

Great report! I'm dreaming of more elevation all the time

[Size9Hex]

10 hours ago, YKSE said:

Great write up, glad someone had a good time under sky

Paul,

Sky darkness is the key for faint galaxies, not apertures. I could only see 3077 and 2976 in averted vision in my backyard with 8". Acey's posts below explains the importance of dark sky very well

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/240725-what-is-a-dark-site/
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/259888-light-pollution-vs-surface-brightess-being-able-to-see-the-object/?do=findComment&comment=2844817

Thanks! Very useful posts indeed. My own recent experience was my 2 inch binos in the countryside out-performing my 10 inch scope in the suburbs on M33. I was astonished! These posts give a great explanation!