10 inch observations (including Andromeda's Parachute and M31 globular clusters)

[davhei]

I was attending a star party the other day and in between socialising and checking out other people’s scopes (30 inch dob among them) I had a little list of challenging objects to attempt with my 10 inch dob in addition to observing the more classic objects.

First enjoyed views of a few southerly globulars, M10, M12, M30, NGC 6712 and open clusters such as the Wild Duck, M26 and M58. Also lingered a while on the Helix nebula, trying different filters for comparison. Observed a few galaxies such as NGC 891 and NGC 7814 the little sombrero.

NGC 891 is quite faint from my usual dark site at home but from here it was readily visible, although I couldn’t spot the prominent dust lane. A bit later that evening I went past the 30 inch dob when they were observing NGC 891 giving me a fantastic chance to compare views. Climbing the high ladder and peering through the eyepiece I was stunned to see the elongated shape and dust lane smacking me right in the face. No problem to see the dust lane with direct vision! Very cool.

First on the list of challenges were three extragalactic globulars in M31. Having observed G1 a few years back I had been wanting to give the next brighter ones, G076, G078 and G280 a go, all listed as being in the 14.2 magnitude range. I had actually tried to spot them a year or so ago but hadn’t done my preparations well enough and ended up struggling to find them. This time I made structured preparations with appropriate charts and picked them up one after another quite easily. Starlike with averted vision. As an interesting note it seems recent papers have G078 not as a globular cluster but as a stripped core of a galaxy disrupted by M31 and containing an intermediate mass black hole in its centre. Quite a rare object and well worth observing for that reason alone!

Elated by the extragalactic globulars I moved to the next object on my list, Andromeda’s Parachute. Even though dark adaption wasn’t the best, being at a star party you have to accept a certain amount of unexpected bright lights from cars coming and going and flashlights used to troubleshoot equipment, I still thought the conditions good enough to try for it. I heard someone measured SQM about 21.6 and the object was close to 70 degrees altitude.

Ever since I first read about the object it has fascinated me. Discovered quite recently, a quadruple gravitationally lensed quasar appearing as three images in a canopy shape and a dimmer fourth image some distance below the canopy. The lensing galaxy being in the middle but very dim. The redshift is high at z=2.4 which corresponds to a light travel time of 11 billion years. The brighter canopy components are stated in various sources as mag 15.6-15.7 with a combined magnitude of around 14.6. Observing reports have stated the canopy appearing about as bright as a 15.0 magnitude star. Spotting the brighter components visually should be difficult but doable with a 10 inch scope.

Starhop is quite easy from Gamma Andromedae and a nearby ”bright” 12th magnitude star is a good aid for navigation. With averted vision I could pick up a close 14.6 magnitude star that was visible intermittently but the quasar eluded me. Switched between x267 and x400 magnification and tried to put the object in the part of the FOV where I usually am able to spot faint stars. Suddenly I saw a starlike point flicker in the right position. I managed to repeat it a handful of times but I would say it was visible for less than 10% of the time. I asked a veteran deep sky observer to have a look to confirm. I knew he had observed the object with his 12 inch a while back and looking through my 10 inch he confirmed he saw it as well. That made me more confident I actually saw it and that it wasn’t just a trick of the mind. This was one of the most demanding observations I have made! Spent quite a long time concentrating with averted vision and had to rest for a while afterwards with a mug of tea. A fantastic feeling to spot something so elusive, I was buzzing for a long time afterwards.

Rounded off the evening with a bit of planetary, binoviewing Jupiter through a 20 inch dob. Quite a sight!

The night before had been so-so with haze and late cloud coming in, but this evening more than compensated for it. Lots of nice objects and an evening when starhopping and finding things just felt easy and natural.

Thanks for reading!

Edited August 31, 2022 by davhei

[josefk]

That's a fascinating set of observations and interesting objects to boot. This hobby sometimes presents things were 10% of the experience is at the eyepiece and 90% of the experience is in the "wonder" of that little thing seen at the eyepiece and the interest of planning beforehand to see it and the satisfaction after the fact of having seen it. 

[davhei]

2 hours ago, josefk said:

That's a fascinating set of observations and interesting objects to boot. This hobby sometimes presents things were 10% of the experience is at the eyepiece and 90% of the experience is in the "wonder" of that little thing seen at the eyepiece and the interest of planning beforehand to see it and the satisfaction after the fact of having seen it. 

Exactly!

I was thinking afterwards about what I enjoy about the experience. The view at the eyepiece can vary depending on the object. Some certainly impress more than others. But the wonder to see something incredible even if only a few photons, and getting rewarded after spending time and effort finding and meticulously observing an object is certainly a big part for me.

Realising this reminds me to keep using manual mounts and not fall for the sometimes tempting goto options. Were I to indulge every whim I’d have to sell my house and live under a bridge (with many scopes though!).

Edited August 31, 2022 by davhei

[Epick Crom]

I enjoyed reading your report, congratulations on picking out a very tough object, Andromeda's Parachute!

[wookie1965]

Wow way out of my viewing but fascinating reading thank you.