Starfleet Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I’m thinking if the white dwarf in the middle of the Ring Nebula could be seen with a 10 inch dobsonian? I can spot the nebula easily through a six inch, but I haven’t managed to lug my 10 inch out yet. Then there is also the Crab nebula pulsar that is suppose to flash at visual wavelengths. Ha ha ha seeing that really would be an ambition!Anyone here seen either? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobH Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I've seen the WD in the ring neb from a very dark site, with totally dark adapted vision, through my old 10 inch LX200.CheersRob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narrowbandpaul Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 the crab pulsar flashes every 1/33 of a second. The reaction time for a human is around 0.1 seconds, so the flash shouldnt be observable, sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfleet Posted November 18, 2008 Author Share Posted November 18, 2008 Rob, thats really encourageing. I would need to find a dark site but that wont be easy in the UK. Phtographing the WD should be easier so I'll see if i can do it next summer.The secondary of Sirius B is another WD; probably just as harder to see with a 10 inch dob. The crab pulsar, well I wouldn't expect to see it blink, i was just hoping to see it full stop. It would be an ambition still Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narrowbandpaul Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 hmmm... you might see it...prob need large aperture high mag and good seeing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonhawk Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 the crab pulsar flashes every 1/33 of a second. The reaction time for a human is around 0.1 seconds, so the flash shouldnt be observable, sorryIs this a function of dark vision - because the flicker of a TV running at 50hz is noticeable to the extent that it can be uncomfortable for some people to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narrowbandpaul Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 well if 50hz is detectable then the crab might be too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunator Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Rob, thats really encourageing. I would need to find a dark site but that wont be easy in the UK. Phtographing the WD should be easier so I'll see if i can do it next summer.The secondary of Sirius B is another WD; probably just as harder to see with a 10 inch dob. The crab pulsar, well I wouldn't expect to see it blink, i was just hoping to see it full stop. It would be an ambition still The Pup should be visible this year from the UK. It will require moderate magnification but very stable seeing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin66 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 My mate Dennis took some wonderfull images of the pup ( Sirius earlier this month.http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=37689&page=2He used a Mewlon 180, x4 Powermate and a DMK31; exposures from 1/5 to 1/15sec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunator Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Very nice pics. The issue for most of us is that the lack of height of Sirius acheives from the UK.CheersIan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Isabella Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Just a suggestion regarding the Crab nebula, not really sure how well it will work, but forty years ago Joe Wampler at Lick observatory used a rotating shutter just in front of the focal plane of the telescope to capture the pulse of the star. The frequency of the rotating shutter was slightly different from that of the Pulsar, the result was to slow down the frequency of the pulsation, enabling it to be captured by a television camera. Amateurs now have some superb imaging kit at their disposal, and I wonder if an amateur with a large scope could use the same technique to capture the on-off blink of the pulsar? Might make a nice project for an Astro club or an individual with the right kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunator Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I was reading through my copy of Ian Ridpath's observing book 'Collins guise to Stars & Planets' and it does say in there that the pulsar has been seen to flash visually but it does not say what scope was used etc. CheersIan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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