A Few Winter Favourites

[John]

After getting clouded out earlier this evening, the clouds broke up and I now have quite extensive dark, clear patches of sky to enjoy.

I have the ED120 refractor out and I'm just enjoying the simple pleasures of the highlights of Orion, Gemini, Taurus, Monoceros and Ursa Major.

Most of my observing has been with the 17mm ES 92 degree monster eyepiece and the 8mm Ethos.

My tour stops have included:

- Galaxies M81 and M82 in Ursa Major plus the large planetary nebula M97, The Owl Nebula. I added the Astronomik UHC filter to pick the ghostly "football" of M97 up.

- M1, the famous Crab Nebula in Taurus. Again the UHC filter was helpful in teasing that one out from the starry backdrop.

- The large, sprawling open cluster M35 in Gemini looked wonderful with the much fainter and more distant (4x further away) cluster NGC 2158 close beside.

- The lovely triple star Beta Monoceros. Easily split at 112x with the 8mm Ethos.

- The quadruple star Sigma Orionis with it's faintest component the 9th magnitude "C" showing well. 

- Tour highlight Messier 42 which looked absolutely stunning in the huge field of the 17mm 92 degree eyepiece. Adding the UHC filter extended the breadth and reach of the nebulosity noticeably and the whole view, encompassing the "Sword" of Orion with the Great Nebula sprawling in it's centre, was magnificent 

Examining the Trapezium stars with the 8mm Ethos eyepiece revealed the much dimmer E and F stars for the first time this winter season.

Lovely to see these Winter showcases again and to be reminded of just why they are so popular. Great to find that the 17mm 92 degree eyepiece works so well with this scope and that the Astronomik UHC filter has such a positive impact.

Just good to be out observing again in fact !

And it's still dark and clear out there .........

 

 

[Kimboman]

Hi John It was good to see the winter favourites again

[Paul M]

While out spotting Geminids between the clouds last night I noticed that the Plough is now coming back round the clock face and that M's 81 & 82 are now viable again. 

Soon be galaxy season!  

[Davey-T]

Not as lucky as you John, just had about 30 minutes of clear sky and it was really nice and transparent, spent the time browsing round the usual suspects with  Opticron 11x70 bin's on tripod and keeping an eye out for the stray Geminid .

Dave

[John]

I had completely forgotten about the Geminid's

I'll have to pop out again and see if I can see any.

I did get the Eskimo Nebula in Gemini before packing the scope up. Nice view with the central star gleaming away

 

[Davey-T]

14 minutes ago, John said:

I had completely forgotten about the Geminid's

Saw a couple of bright slow moving ones both heading towards Ursa Major .

Dave

[wookie1965]

Just been out between clouds with binoculars Orion nebula looked great wish I could of got the scope out but I was dodging clouds never seen any meteors. 

[Davey-T]

Been hanging around hoping for another  clear patch but giving up and turning in  now.

Dave