Observing Session For 9/25/2006

[Ptarmigan]

I did some starwatching last night with the Starfinder 8 telescope. The sky was clear after a cool front came. The air was dry and seeing was good. Here's what I saw last night.

M17-Swan or Omega Nebula. Was visible despite the light pollution, but faint. This is the first time I have seen it in years. Still impressed by it.
M18-Star cluster in the Milky Way.
M27-Like an apple core.
M57-Never fails to impress me.
Uranus-Finally saw Uranus through my own telescope. A bluish-gray featureless object that shines steadily, like any planet. Uranus was visible through the viewfinder. Looked like a star that does not belong there, based on star charts. It was confirmed through by star charts. At high power (368x), Uranus was small.

Objects attempted to see
Saturn Nebula-I may have seen it unknowingly. I don't know. Planetary nebulas are usually small and faint.

Overall, a great night of observing. 8)

[Aslkahuna]

Actually, NGC7009 has a fairly high surface brightness for a Planetary and is an easy object for an 8 incher. NGC7293 ironically can be seen in binoculars but is difficult in a telescope because of low surface brightness and large size. I can usually see some of the nebulosity in M16-the Eagle Nebula with my 10 incher. While down in Sagittarius, after viewing M8 and M20, try sweeping the star clouds-you will pick up a lot of globulars and dark nebulae-though you should find a darker location for doing that.

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

Actually, NGC7009 has a fairly high surface brightness for a Planetary and is an easy object for an 8 incher. NGC7293 ironically can be seen in binoculars but is difficult in a telescope because of low surface brightness and large size. I can usually see some of the nebulosity in M16-the Eagle Nebula with my 10 incher. While down in Sagittarius, after viewing M8 and M20, try sweeping the star clouds-you will pick up a lot of globulars and dark nebulae-though you should find a darker location for doing that.

Steve

I have actually starwatched that area in a dark sky area. It blew me away. No words can describe this experience.

[Ptarmigan]

Actually, NGC7009 has a fairly high surface brightness for a Planetary and is an easy object for an 8 incher. NGC7293 ironically can be seen in binoculars but is difficult in a telescope because of low surface brightness and large size. I can usually see some of the nebulosity in M16-the Eagle Nebula with my 10 incher. While down in Sagittarius, after viewing M8 and M20, try sweeping the star clouds-you will pick up a lot of globulars and dark nebulae-though you should find a darker location for doing that.

Steve

Helix Nebula is large, the size of the Full Moon. It is listed as magnitude 6, but it has a low surface brightness. I like to see that object.

[Aslkahuna]

I've seen the Helix and also the Saturn. You might want to try M77 in Cetus which is the brightest Seyfert Galaxy. It's the wronf season but next Spring you might want to try 3C273 which is the brightest Quasar. When you look at it remember that you are seeing light that left the object some 3 Billion years ago.

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

I've seen the Helix and also the Saturn. You might want to try M77 in Cetus which is the brightest Seyfert Galaxy. It's the wronf season but next Spring you might want to try 3C273 which is the brightest Quasar. When you look at it remember that you are seeing light that left the object some 3 Billion years ago.

Steve

I tried looking for M77, but could never find it in a light polluted sky where the magnitude limit is 3 to 3.5. I sure like to see 3C-273. It has a magnitude of 12 to 13. I might be able to see it.

[Aslkahuna]

You will need a dark sky for 3C273. Also in Spring, try for Omega Centauri and NGC5128 if you can find a dark southern sky and live south of 38N.

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

You will need a dark sky for 3C273. Also in Spring, try for Omega Centauri and NGC5128 if you can find a dark southern sky and live south of 38N.

Steve

I read that M77 is visible in a light polluted sky. I don't believe so. I would like to see Omega Centauri and NGC 5128. They look really spectacular in photos. Omega Centauri is one of the brightest globulars besides 47 Tucanae (NGC 104) and M13. Have you seen them? Another object to check out is the Dumbbell Nebula. Also, check out Eskimo Nebula. They are visible in a light polluted sky. Dumbbell is large, while Eskimo is small.

[Aslkahuna]

Oh yes, I've seen Omega Centauri many times-used to be a back yard target in San Jose CA before the LP got too bad. Here's it's easy. M27 is a binocular object here. Never been far enough south to see 47 Tucanae though I've seen the Eta Carinae Nebula in the Philippines. M13 is a high overhead object here. The three globulars near Antares-M4, M80 and NGC 6144 are interesting.

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

Oh yes, I've seen Omega Centauri many times-used to be a back yard target in San Jose CA before the LP got too bad. Here's it's easy. M27 is a binocular object here. Never been far enough south to see 47 Tucanae though I've seen the Eta Carinae Nebula in the Philippines. M13 is a high overhead object here. The three globulars near Antares-M4, M80 and NGC 6144 are interesting.

Steve

Cool. Omega Centauri was once mistaken as a star. I believe it has a magnitude of 3 to 4. Eta Carinae Nebula would be cool to see. I want to see it before I die. Eta Carinae used to be the second brightest star after Sirius in the 19th century. I've seen M4, its near Antares and the glare gets in the way. Never seen M80 and NGC 6144, but I sure like to see it. I want to see the Magellenic Clouds. They are suppose to be visible in a light polluted location. Maffei I galaxy should be very bright, but the Milky Way dust cloud blocks the light. If it was not for that, it could be brighter than the Andromeda galaxy and even Magallenic Clouds.