Andromeda from Hobart

[Tinderboxsky (Steve)]

I have had Andromeda on my target list for some time now. It has been a matter of patience, waiting for the right conditions to try for a visual observation of Andromeda from Hobart.
It is a challenge, being a little under 6 degrees altitude at culmination. Plus, given I am directly south of Hobart, it means viewing Andromeda through the Hobart light lume. On the plus side I have a good northern horizon with only the first 3 degrees of altitude lost to the very distant hills.
On Saturday night we had a rare night here - good seeing and transparency and importantly no clouds low on the northern horizon.

Success at last. An easy star hop led me to the right spot and after a few moments of patient viewing Andromeda popped into view. It showed as a faint, hazy, diffuse spot with some hint of central brightness. I could not see any structure and there was no evidence of M32 and M110.
I was viewing through a 103 mm refractor with best views at 32X. Contrast was extremely poor given the low altitude and the Hobart light lume.

Anyhow, another one bagged to top off a successful night. Just a shame good viewing nights have been so few and far between lately.

Cheers

Steve.

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Good stuff, Steve,

I too have only had one chance so far to see M31. I'm very much looking forward to more sightings of this spectacular DSO.

Mental.

[goober (Doug)]

Fabulous! I wouldn't have thought it possible from Hobart. I have seen it a couple of times from suburban Melbourne, at around 3am. Very low on the horizon, and faint through the light pollution. Must try again from a dark sky.

[acropolite (Phil)]

I've tried from Launceston but not succeeded, I might give it another go. it's worth making the trip north for Qld astrofest to see M31 in it's full glory.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

When I lived in Whangarei ( top of nth island NZ ) we could see M31 in october but only on good nights and for a short time .
But now I live in Darwin 12 degrees south its an easy target .
You should see it from Tassy given a clear northern horizon , Good luck .
Oh yea , its quite big and bright and once you have found her you will think . how did I miss that ? .
Brian.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

I tried a while ago from one of Aucklands little volcanoes but conditions were not optimal. If you can do it from Tassie I must be able to get it from NZ. Elevation is about 13* I think. Just got to find somewhere not looking through all the soup.
A clear night up on Mt Albert might do it except the gates get locked and I'd have to lug the scope and dob mount up the hill .... and back !!

(edit) 15* says Stellarium at about 2230. Wonder if the binos would pick it up ??

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

I think a nice pair of 70-100mm binos should do it . I would try the road to Kawakawa bay , it rises high enough and is east of Auks horrible glow .
Look forward to hear how you get on Brent . .
Brian.

[AstroJason (Jason)]

Thats great Steve! Especially from such a low latitude like Hobart! Proves you should alwas give what you might think impossible a try.

I too saw the Andromeda from Sydney on Sunday night. It was the first time I had ever seen it and I really couldn't believe what I was seeing was over 2 million light years away.

In my 10" dob from light polluted Newington I could make out an oval shape with a brighter core. Almost like an oval globular cluster, just without the glittery appearance of globulars.

[Tinderboxsky (Steve)]

Thanks for all the comments. Patience was the key as you need a cloud free corridoor over a very long distance given the very low viewing angle. Clouds over head are nor a problem. I had been on the lookout regularly for a suitable night for many months.
cheers
Steve

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Originally Posted by brian nordstrom

I think a nice pair of 70-100mm binos should do it . I would try the road to Kawakawa bay , it rises high enough and is east of Auks horrible glow .
Look forward to hear how you get on Brent . .
Brian.

I'll try west up into the Waitakeres where the TV transmitter tower is. Heck of a lot closer for me.
Just got to get rid of the clouds first !!

My Binos are only 12 x 50. I could take up both the 80mm f5 and the 10" Serrurier Newt on the DOB base. The beauty of having a station wagon.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

You better hurry Brent , M31 is dropping into the north east sludge as we type .
And Steve from Hobart you better get up high and look north east fast , as its getting lower every night ...
Mid October is the best time . .
Brian.

Originally Posted by ZeroID

I'll try west up into the Waitakeres where the TV transmitter tower is. Heck of a lot closer for me.
Just got to get rid of the clouds first !!

My Binos are only 12 x 50. I could take up both the 80mm f5 and the 10" Serrurier Newt on the DOB base. The beauty of having a station wagon.

[Tinderboxsky (Steve)]

Brian,
I have bagged my sighting from Hobart, which I am very happy with. Thats how the thread started.
steve

[omegacrux (David)]

I have seen it a couple of times
last night with the 6in acro and also in the past with 20x80 bino's
But I'm looking over Bass strait , no light pollution there
For me it was very faint and fuzzy had to look for a long time to make any detail
I was using a 2in 30mm ep so not much mag needed .

David

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Bet it looked good in the 6 inch David ? , 2 million light years , cool . I used to have one of these beauties , awsome deep sky scopes , I kinda miss it .
Brian.

[omegacrux (David)]

It was yours Brian
I got Regulus (Trevor) to purchase it on my behalf !
Ta mate

David

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Ha ha , small world , that scope has great optics , very sharp .
Brian.

Originally Posted by omegacrux

It was yours Brian
I got Regulus (Trevor) to purchase it on my behalf !
Ta mate

David

[Varangian (John)]

Likewise, I caught it from ASV's dark site 2 weeks back using a GSO 2" 30mm eyepiece. Large, bright ball with a warmer nucleus.

Originally Posted by omegacrux

I have seen it a couple of times
last night with the 6in acro and also in the past with 20x80 bino's
But I'm looking over Bass strait , no light pollution there
For me it was very faint and fuzzy had to look for a long time to make any detail
I was using a 2in 30mm ep so not much mag needed .

David

[Tinderboxsky (Steve)]

A clear night last night with no cloud on the northern horizon gave me my best chance so far this year to track down and catch a glimpse of Andromeda.
It was an easy find this year compared to earlier years. All I could see was a broad hazy patch with obvious brightening towards the centre. There was no sign of structure nor any evidence of m31 or m110.
I am not chasing Andromeda for the views, rather the challenge of being able to see it from Hobart. It is a matter of patience waiting for the right conditions given Andromeda is so low on the northern horizon. I live well south of Hobart so I have to look through the Hobart light pollution. On the plus side I have a virtually unrestricted northerly horizon down to about 2 degrees elevation with these low hills blocking the majority of the direct line of sight lights of Hobart.
Observation with 140mm refractor at 67X and 2.1mm exit pupil.

Cheers
Steve

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

Good catch Steve
I can see a faint haze visually with averted vision
really well in 10 x 50 bino's small bright central core with wisps of the elongated galaxy
& looks great in ED 80 with NVL 9mm no spiral arms though
M31 only climbs to 11 deg elevation from my site
Very dark sky helps

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Yes, well done indeed. I have yet to see it from here. Must make an effort if I can scrape some of these clouds to one side.