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Old 12-04-2012, 02:21 AM
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skysurfer
Dark sky rules !

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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: 52N 6E (EU)
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From which aperture colors in nebulas ?

Many observers say that from 40cm aperture, colors are visible in (bright) emission nebulas like M42 or NGC 3372.
But some claim a 20cm shows colors in the Orion nebula. I see no more than pale bluish with my 25cm Dob.
I see the Carina Nebula with a 10cm just monochrome as the aperture is too small I think.

Planetaries are a different story, I can see a clear blue color in the Cat Eye nebula NGC6543 with a 10cm but it looks more like a blue star more blue than an O or B star. In a 25cm Dob I see a small bluish ball. This one has a high surface density.

What are your experiences ?
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