[Varangian (John)]

Originally Posted by jenchris

I'm niot sure, but I know even my long exposures were very faint and I had to add them in DSS before I got a good look at it.
This was about 3 mins I think on ISO800

Yes I think it is fainter than I thought and will present more of a challenge than originally anticipated.

Originally Posted by astro744

Do you have a good star chart? If so star hop with your low power eyepiece until you get to the area where it should be. Work in triangles starting with the brighter stars and look for star patterns on the map and then see if you can spot the same patterns in the eyepiece at low power.

If you are using a Newtonian then the view in the eyepiece will match the star chart (rotate as needed). There is no reversal of the image.

Centaurus A looks like a hamburger from side on and is not too difficult but maybe fainter than you are expecting. Once you see it you'll wonder how you missed it.

Note your field of view with your 30mm/68deg eyepiece is approx 1.3 degrees in your 12"/1500mm 'scope.

Thanks for that. I've got Wil Tirion's star charts laminated as individual A3 sheets - may have to get them out.

Originally Posted by mental4astro

Following on from astro744: Centaurus A is a big DSO. The curse it has is the 7mag quoted is its integrated magnitude. Being so big, it ultimately has a low surface brightness. Trying to spot Cent. A from light polluted areas can be one of the most frustrating exercises there is, no matter the aperture! For me, it was easy to spot it with an 8" scope 20 years ago from inner Sydney. Today I'm lucky to spot it with my 17.5".

Funny thing though, you mentioned dark skies. I've seen Cent A from a dark site through just a 6X30 finder!

Here in lies the biggest tip I can give you - drop your magnification, and DON'T look directly for it if you are in the big smoke. You need to slowly pan the field and rely upon your peripheral vision to pick up the faint extended glow initially. As soon as you look for it directly you won't see it. Once you've caught a glimpse of something suspicious picked up out of the corner of your eye, you've got it. Change to a medium power eyepiece and start a slow pan again for it. The two lobes of Cent A will be a faint glow. This galaxy can be one of the most frustrating objects to spot from the city. Out in the sticks, no problem.

Be patient. Centaurus A is a real challenge from the big smoke now. M33 is pretty much impossible, even though it is as bright, it is larger, and its surface brightness is abysmal as a comparison. But from a dark sky, and with perfect conditions, I've also seen M33 naked eye! Two real brain teasers.

Mental.

Thanks Alex, that sure has put things in perspective. I as always appreciate your logic and approach on this. I need to take a deep breath.

Originally Posted by Allan_L

I can spot it in my 9x50 finder scope from my light polluted Wyong backyard.
BUT only when the moon is not around.

It is an easy star hop exercise.

From Beta Centaurus (Hadar, pointer closer to Crux),
move towards Omega Centauri.
Halfway there is another bright star (epsilon centauri).
Then the distance from that to Omega Centauri, move that again in same line,
and there it is - in the finder scope - Centaurus A

(Possibly easier to spot in the finder than the eyepiece)

Perhaps a better approach. I am very familiar with this part of the sky and especially with Omega Centauri so may have more luck this way than relying on the push to.

Thanks to others for their comment(s)