Ring Nebula Problems

[G-James]

Before Christmas, I attempted to see the ring Nebula, in Lyra, before it went and disappeared below some trees.

However when I looked around where it is supposed to be, I couldn't see it. I looked all over the place at low power but I still couldn't see it. I was using my 4.5 inch Skywatcher, is this to small?

[Mutley]

It can be tricky - especially at this time of year when it is so low. I saw it last summer from a dark site in Cornwall with my 4" refractor (much higher in the sky then). How are you locating it? I find with faint objects that sweeping around is not usually very successful. Much better to KNOW you are looking in the right place ( from the surrounding starfield), then use averted vision to locate your target.

[Guest]

absolutely not. It is visible in 5cm. However it will be realtively small so you may have to bump up the power and if you are observing from a light polluted environment and it was low then that could be an issue. If you have a UHC filter try that or using a higher power.

[Beyond_Vision]

You can use the brightest triangle of stars in Lyra (which includes Vega) as a pointer to the approximate area nearby. It's located in a thin triangle of stars about a third of the way along one side. You should be able to see it relatively easily as it is quite bright but small. It will look like a bloated star at low magification and like a smoke ring at higher mag.

Regards

Kevin

[G-James]

what magnification do I need to see it clearly. Unfortunately, I am limited to 100x with the eyepieces I have.

[Demonperformer]

Saw it for the first time recently [using the GOTO]

75x mag

Clear as day with my LPR filter, but could only just make it out without one because I knew where it was as I had just been looking at it. If I had gone straight to it without the filter I know I would not have recognised i for what it is.

[Talitha]

A lot of aperture isn't necessary to see M57, . But you'll need to kick up the power to see structure.

[Astro_Baby]

Fabulous sketches as ever there Talitha - great stuff.

[Talitha]

Thanks Mel.. sure beats watching tv at night.

[fmeireso]

Before Christmas, I attempted to see the ring Nebula, in Lyra, before it went and disappeared below some trees.

However when I looked around where it is supposed to be, I couldn't see it. I looked all over the place at low power but I still couldn't see it. I was using my 4.5 inch Skywatcher, is this to small?

May be you saw it but identified it as a star. You need some power to see the ring. I think youre power was too low.

Also this time of year is not favourable for that particular object

[Spaced Cadet]

May be you saw it but identified it as a star. You need some power to see the ring. I think youre power was too low.

Also this time of year is not favourable for that particular object

I have observed the nebula clearly visible as a small ring in my Tal 100RS with only a 25mm Plossl (x40). However, now it is too low down, I doubt I would currently observe it as such.

[pvaz]

I can detect it at 37x, but 75x to 120x give the better views as it's hard to see it as a ring at low power.

I find the moonlight and low altitude make it a challenge sometimes so that may be the problem.

Talitha, your sketches are superb once again!

[Talitha]

Thank you, Paulo!