SwiMatt Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 After few sessions of searching, tonight I finally got for the first time a splendid view of Bode's galaxy and the Cigar galaxy! To commemorate the event, I sketched it in pastels. To make this sketch even more special, while I could barely see what I was doing in the dark (I definitely trusted the process), when I saw it in the light I didn't feel it needed any touch up: the sketch was very close to what I saw in the eyepiece. I wanna thank all the people who encouraged me in the past few days in my search for these two galaxies, sharing tips and inspiration. You know who you are 😁 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 Great sketch and report !!! M81 and 82 were the first galaxies I ever saw with a scope, even before I found M31. That was a long, long time ago but I still get a thrill to see them again now 🙂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwiMatt Posted December 5, 2023 Author Share Posted December 5, 2023 2 minutes ago, John said: Great sketch and report !!! M81 and 82 were the first galaxies I ever saw with a scope, even before I found M31. That was a long, long time ago but I still get a thrill to see them again now 🙂 Thanks! Such a beautiful view for first galaxies For me, even in these amazing skies, I find M31 more impressive in the binoculars than I do in my Mak. M81 and M82 however are spectacular in the eyepiece - a target that I will visit again and again, no doubt! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zermelo Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 You will never tire of the view of those two, together in the same field. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosun21 Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 1 hour ago, SwiMatt said: After few sessions of searching, tonight I finally got for the first time a splendid view of Bode's galaxy and the Cigar galaxy! To commemorate the event, I sketched it in pastels. To make this sketch even more special, while I could barely see what I was doing in the dark (I definitely trusted the process), when I saw it in the light I didn't feel it needed any touch up: the sketch was very close to what I saw in the eyepiece. I wanna thank all the people who encouraged me in the past few days in my search for these two galaxies, sharing tips and inspiration. You know who you are 😁 They say that the first time is the best but I still get a thrill observing these many years later. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertI Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Superb, well done! 👍 M82 can reveal some mottling on good nights so another reason to check up on them regularly. 🙂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Give M82 the centre stage and a bit more magnification and some interesting knots and rifts start to appear on a dark night 🙂 Sketch by Jeremy Perez: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunator Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Very good sketch 😀. You were right to trust the process. They are a lovely pair of galaxies to observe. Cheers Ian 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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