Observation Report 9/10 February 2008

[ngcles]

Hi All,

First destination for the evening was an open cluster/nebula complex in Vela that was mentioned as a target on the Ice in Space Forum by Andrew James. Andrew thought it surprising that this OC/nebula/multiple star didn’t make it into Hartung’s AOST. This is what he wrote in that thread:

“Les I also like this object in the same area as the Pencil;

Cr 197 (08 44.7m -41 deg 17') and Gum 15 / RCW 32 (08h 44.6m -41 deg 17') is an open cluster containing the small bright nebula known as Gum 15 which surrounds the multiple star of I 815. Surprisingly missed in AOST2, it can be found some 2.2 degrees North of the wide pair of 4th magnitude d Velorum / HJ 4133 (08 44.4m -42 deg 39') and 0.8 degrees N of NGC 2671 - our Pencil - which is an open cluster..
This open cluster covers about 17 arc min of sky whose nine stars, whose brightest four stars make up the multiple 1815. At 6.7 total magnitude, its singular blue star, followed by the remaining yellow stars, are classed as “3 3 m n” - the “n” being the bright nebula Gum 15.
South African visual observer Auke Slotegraaf claims to seen the clusters' shape as triangular in 11×80 binoculars, but comments it was "... Not an easy object." I looked for this in 7×50 binoculars and did not really see much. Auke also observed the cluster in his 25cm (10") f/5 Newtonian at 30x.. Describing it as a "typical Collinder cluster", he describes its shape as;

"... reasonably large and the brighter members seem to lie in an uneven, curving V-shape grouping of l l stars, 5 of which are pretty bright. The 'V' points north to a very unequal double star, [I 815]…"

I 815 (08 44.7m -41 deg 17') is the multiple star whose four components are listed as AB (7.3v and 11.5v, 4.4 arcsec 2 deg), AC (7.2v and 13.3v, 8.3 arcsec 130 deg) and AD (7.2v / 11.0v 35 arcsec 225 deg). I 815 appears on Map 397 in Uranometria 2000.0 drawn with the "box" of nebulosity of superimposed Gum 15. The AB and AD pair was first discovered by Innes in 1911, and AD is the widest an most easiest to see. The AB system can be seen with 10.5cm with care and is easier in 20cm - the problem being the magnitude difference. AC is slightly more difficult, and should be visible in 20cm under good seeing and moderately high magnification. Again, the five-odd magnitude difference made it hard combined with the faint 13.3 magnitude. I glimpsed I 815 C once in 30cm in moderately good seeing and made a rough sketch. This later star was discovered by Innes in 1933.
All stars in this system are bluish-white, likely matching the spectral class of B3/5 II of the primary. Little has changed in the positions since discovery, and it is uncertain if these stars are dynamically behaving like multiples or as open clusters, but they certainly must be associated. 1 815 certainly adds to the Cr 197's appearance.

As for Gum 15...

"Gum 15 (08h 44.7m -41 deg 17') is the faint emission nebulosity centred on the primary 7.3 magnitude star of the double I 815, of which, can be imaged some 10 arcmin around it. Telescopically in the 30cm it appears as a faint haze about 1 arcmin across, which is significantly enhanced with averted vision. The proximity of the component stars make it a bit of a challenge to see.
It is possible that 25cm, or even 20cm, might be able to see this nebula, but larger apertures may see a little more nebulosity. Either way, to see Gum 15 you will need dark and fairly transparent skies."


After seeing it for myself, I find myself in respectful disagreement:


RCW 32 Gum 15 Bright Nebula
RA: 08h 44m 36.0s Dec: -41° 17' 00"
Mag: --- Size: 20.0' Class: E Source: Sky Cat

Cr 197 Open Cluster
RA: 08h 44m 40.0s Dec: -41° 16' 36"
Mag: 6.7 Size: 17.0' Class: III 3 m n
# of Stars: 40 Source: Lynga *

I 815
RA: 08h 44m 40.3s Dec: -41° 16' 38"
Components: Mags: 7.2 / 11.0
Spect: # Obs: ---
Obs Dates: --- / --- Sep: 35.0 / --- p.a.: 225 / ---

Well, this was at the top of my list last night after this discussion and I can't find myself in agreement AJ about it being overlooked for AOST. Sorry!

I observed it with the 18" with the 16mm T2 at x139 35' TF, 20mm T2 at x111 with 44' TF and 26mm T5 x85 58' TF, with and without UHC, OIII and H-Beta filters and the best view was with the 20mm T2 unfiltered.

The cluster is a poor and scattered one with no central condensation apparent and is completely resolved. There are slightly more stars N of the central star than south of it. It is dominated nr centre by the multiple star Innes 815. All three of the faint companions in Innes 815 are easily seen at x111. The cluster contains 20-odd stars scattered over about 15 arc-mins diameter and is not detached from its surrounding fields -- the borders of the cluster are not defined at all and the field seems equally rich as the cluster. Large variation in brightness between members between mag 7 to 13.

The visible portions of Gum 15 is considerably less than the DSS shows and are pretty faint. I thought the best view was without the filter. The nebula is classified as "E" but it does not seem to have much/any emission component as to me it seemed dimmed to the UHC and completely disappeared with the O III and H-Beta. Only a maybe 2-3 arc-min diameter very LSB haze surrounding but mainly to the N of Innes 816 with no defined border.

I also took another look at the (nearby) OC NGC 2671 at x138 and in the 18" it is a nice object. Seems about 7 arc-mins in diameter as a well detached splash of 3 dozen-odd faint stars mainly in the 13th to 14th mag range pretty homogenous in brightness. Within the cluster a large triangular-shaped group on the N side stands out with points of that triangle at centre, PA 30 and PA 330, about 3-4 arc-mins a side. Quite nice. Seems completely resolved and no residual haziness is evident. The NGC indicates a diameter of 4 arc-mins -- I think this is a bit of an under-estimate -- more like 7 arc-mins and the magnitude should be more like about 9 rather than 11.6v.

So, with that out of the way it was high time for some galaxies in Hydra, but after only 20mins observing it was clear that it was going to be a very, very dewy night. Not only dewy, but also cool if not tending cold – 11 deg C (at 10pm and dropping further later) might be okay in winter, but February? Dew became a real problem a few rimes – I can’t remember a more damp night for years and at lest three times, I had to pause and “cuddle” the secondary mirror cell to drive off the mist of condensation forming and keeping the eyepieces free from condensation was equally challenging. But the rewards were great — for Bargo it was terrific!

During the course of the next few hours of course I looked at things other than tiny faint galaxies. Most of the highlights of the late summer sky were looked at, and Saturn was really beautiful after 12mn when it was near culmination. But here are the Hydra observations.


x 185 x27' TF

IC 2327 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 21m 28.1s Dec: +03° 10' 10"
Mag: 14.2 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.3'x0.4' Class: Sa? P.A.: 168
Inclination: 6 R.V.: +2463 Source: RC3 *

IC 503 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 22m 10.9s Dec: +03° 16' 08"
Mag: 13.9 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.1'x0.9' Class: SBa P.A.: 65
Inclination: 1 R.V.: +4131 Source: RC3 *

These two are both very small and faint eg that are almost identical except in PA. Both seem to be about 30 x 10" elong oval with 2327 being in PA 0 and -503 in PA 90. Both rise weakly in brightness to the centre without apparent core. They are about 10' apart. -2327 makes an eq Tri about 11' a side with two mag 9 *s -- to the N and NW. The NW star has a mag 11 companion.



x 185 x27' TF

IC 504 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 22m 41.2s Dec: +04° 15' 46"
Mag: 14.0 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.2'x0.8' Class: S0 P.A.: 140
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

IC 505 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 23m 21.7s Dec: +04° 22' 21"
Mag: 14.7 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.1'x0.5' Class: S P.A.: 143
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *


IC 506 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 23m 30.7s Dec: +04° 17' 58"
Mag: 14.7 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 0.6'x0.6' Class: E/S0 P.A.: ---
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC*

These three galaxies are found in the same quite starry field (for Hydra) and all are small and faint or worse. The brightest is 504 which is found at the end of a short curved string of 5 mags 11-12 *s that is roughly E-W. Small, maybe 30" diameter, faint with LBS rising slightly and broadly to centre without core or nucleus. 505 is 10' NE.

505 is smaller and slightly fainter than 504, 20" diameter if that, round and has a slight central brightening.

506 is to the S of -505 by 6 and is almost *ar, very small < 15" diameter tiny scrap of mist that wouldn't be visible, hardly to be seen except that it can be found by reference to the others from the DSS.

x185 27’ TF

IC 513 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 33m 05.2s Dec: -12° 21' 17"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.0'x0.6' Class: SB(rs)0^? P.A.: 40
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This is a very small and pretty faint eg in a field with quite a few faint stars. Two mag 11 *s point directly at it from the NE a couple of ac-mins away and to the NW a couple of arc mins are 4 faint stars. Tiny 30" dia halo, round or possibly slightly elong in PA 30 (in the direction of the two mag 11 *s) with a weak central brightening and no apparent core/nucleus.



x185 27' TF

NGC 2617 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 35m 38.8s Dec: -04° 05' 16"
Mag: 14.1 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.1'x0.8' Class: S0/a pec: P.A.: 92
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

MCG -1-22-26 PGC 24141 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 35m 48.4s Dec: -04° 05' 33"
Mag: 14.1 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.9'x0.7'
Class: S0 P.A.: 38
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

Through the ep this is a small round eg which isn't too hard to see but pretty faint growing weakly to centre it is only 30" diameter. There are two faint *s superimposed -- just N and just S on the edges of the halo at mag 14. PGC 24141 is E by only 2'.

MCG -1-22-25 is a fraction smaller than the NGC eg and somewhat fainter, a 20-0" dia patch of gossamer with no central brightening that is only convincingly visible with the 9mm.



x185 27' TF

NGC 2615 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 34m 33.5s Dec: -02° 32' 49"
Mag: 13.3 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.9'x1.0' Class: SB(rs)b
P.A.: 40 Inclination: 3 R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This is a pretty easy to see eg found to the N of a couple of mag 7 stars by 12'. It appears slightly elong in about PA 30 as an oval shaped maybe 1.25' x 1' lowish SB hazy spot growing broadly and mod azonally to the centre where there is a very faint spot. Revise : there may be a pretty large, weakly brighter and weakly defined core zone that is about 30" diameter within the halo containing the faint spot at centre.


Pt 2 to follow ...

[ngcles]

Pt 2 ...

x185 27' TF

NGC 2616 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 35m 34.1s Dec: -01° 50' 56"
Mag: 13.5 (B) S.B.: --- B-V: +0.99
Size: 1.5'x1.2' Class: SAB(rs)0^? P.A.: 145
Inclination: --- R.V.: +9000 Source: RC3 *

This is again a pretty easy to see but small eg probably only 40" diameter and round, typical looking tiny elliptical type eg. There are a couple of faint mag 11 * pointing at it from the NE. 40" diameter, reasonable SB grows broadly and mod to centre with a very small slightly brighter spot nr centre. Not too hard to see.



x185 27' TF

NGC 2665 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 46m 01.0s Dec: -19° 18' 08"
Mag: 12.9 (B) S.B.: 12.6 B-V: +0.67
Size: 2.0'x1.4' Class: (R)SB(rs)a P.A.: 144
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3

This eg does not appear nearly as bright in the flesh as it does in the DSS. In the DSS it seems a fairly bright compact eg but through the ep it seems mod faint in PA 20, appears in a lengthened trapezium of mag 10 & 11 *s which is about 7' x 4'. Seems elong, 1.25' x 40" in PA 45, brightening mod to the axis and there is a small spot or *ar nucleus and a faint superimposed mag 14 * just at the NE end of the halo.



x185 27' TF

NGC 2718 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 58m 50.4s Dec: +06° 17' 35"
Mag: 12.7 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 2.1' Class: (R')SAB(s)ab P.A.: ---
Inclination: 1 R.V.: +3785 Source: RC3 *

This is a mod bright, pretty small and elong eg probably in about PA 135, with no stars immediately associated it has quite LSB. Probably 1.5' x 1', oval with a very LSB outer halo with a small oval 15" diam slightly brighter core and a very faint *ar nucleus. There are a couple of faint mag 14 *s to the N and E a couple of arc-mins away.



x185 27' TF

NGC 2765 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 07m 36.7s Dec: +03° 23' 33"
Mag: 13.1 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 2.1'x1.1' Class: S0 P.A.: 111
Inclination: 6 R.V.: +3827 Source: RC3 *

This is a pretty small, lens-shaped eg that is easy to see, maybe 1.5' x 20" in about PA 120. Pretty reasonable SB, quite elong inclined lenticular eg, of generally consistent SB, possibly weakly brighter at centre. And there is a very small weakly brighter elong core in the centre but no real nucleus.



x185 27' TF

NGC 2817 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 17m 10.6s Dec: -04° 45' 12"
Mag: 13.4 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.9'x1.6' Class: SAB(rs)c P.A.: 4
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This is a small fairly diffuse and LSB eg pointed at by a string by a mag 11 and a couple of mag 12 * that are away to its SW. Maybe nearly 1.5' diameter, quite LSB with diffuse edges to the halo, rising broadly and weakly to the centre. There may be a large slightly brighter core zone that is just detectable within the halo but no nucleus.



x185 27' TF

IC 2471 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 25m 12.0s Dec: -06° 49' 48"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.0'x0.5' Class: S0^ pec: P.A.: 129
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

NGC 2876 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 25m 13.9s Dec: -06° 43' 02"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.7'x1.1' Class: (R')S0^ pec? P.A.: 66
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

The IC object is a small eg of reasonable SB. It is pointed at by a couple of stars mag 8 & 10 to the SW about 7' away. Very small and elong in PA 135 with a small lens shaped halo 30" x 10" with a small faint * ar nucleus. Due N is NGC 2676 by 10' which is overall brighter but slightly lower overall SB. Seems slightly elong in PA 90, a little larger, 40" diameter, mod LSB but not hard to see with a small 10" slightly brighter core and no apparent nucleus.

x185 27' TF

IC 537 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 25m 22.6s Dec: -12° 23' 33"
Mag: 13.7 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.1'x1.0' Class: (R)S0/a? P.A.: 175
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *.

A really tiny eg that is quite faint and took some time to pick up with no real stars of note near it. There is a 13th mag * 1' away directly S but it is really tiny, perhaps only 15" diameter of consistent low SB spot with no brightening to centre or zones. No nucleus.


IC 2481 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 27m 28.6s Dec: +03° 55' 48"
Mag: 14.5 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 0.9'x0.5' Class: S? P.A.: 160
Inclination: --- R.V.: +5329 Source: RC3 *

Like the last object, this is an exceptionally tiny and faint eg that makes a tiny tri with a couple of mag 14 *s to the N and NE about 1' away. Very, very small maybe only 15" diameter, very faint -- a spot of gossamer with no real central brightening, zones or other structure.



x185 27' TF

NGC 2924 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 35m 11.0s Dec: -16° 23' 54"
Mag: 13.0 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.3'x1.1' Class: E+: P.A.: 150
Inclination: --- R.V.: +4585 Source: RC3 *

IC 546 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 34m 50.3s Dec: -16° 23' 04"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.0'x0.6' Class: SB(rs)0+ P.A.: 100
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

The NGC eg is much the brighter and larger and is found 10' E of a of an 8th mag * that has a small faint companion. Small and round, just over 1' diameter with a faint star on the W edge and another just outside the halo in the SE whcih is somewhat brighter. 1.5' diameter with good SB rising broadly and slightly to centre where there is a small mod brighter core.

IC 546 is between the 8th mag * and the NGC eg, a little closer to the *. It is a very small eg which has a 14th or 5th mag *. Very small, 20-30" diameter brightening mod and evenly to centre azonally but has no apparent nucleus.



x185 27' TF

NGC 2947 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 36m 05.9s Dec: -12° 26' 11"
Mag: 13.2 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.4'x1.2' Class: SAB(r)bc P.A.: 25
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This is a lowish SB eg making a small flat tri with a couple of mag 11 * whcih are to the SE close-by. Round, possibly slightly elong in PA 0. Reasonable but certainly lowish SB grows from hazy and indistinct edges broadly and weakly to centre azonally without nucleus. Seems a bit over 1' diameter. Revise: Looks round



x185 27' TF

IC 550 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 40m 28.6s Dec: -06° 56' 45"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 0.8'x0.5' Class: L
P.A.: 36 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC

This eg appears about 8' to the SE of a 8th mag * which is a bit of a distraction. Very small, 20-30" diameter, round, small weak outer halo with a largish (10" dia) core of consistent moderate SB that is somewhat brighter than the halo but no further nuclear brightening. At first glance it looks stellar.

Pt 3 to follow ...

[ngcles]

Pt 3 ...

x185 27' TF

NGC 2960 Galaxy *
RA: 09h 40m 36.4s Dec: +03° 34' 37"
Mag: 13.3 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.7'x1.1' Class: Sa? P.A.: 40 Inclination: ---
R.V.: +4722 Source: RC3 *

This is a fairy faint eg that isn't too hard to see in a field with only a few faint stars. It is pretty much to the W by 4' from a mag 11 *, fairly low seemingly consistent SB with very diffuse edges, 50" to 1' diameter, round but contains at centre a very tiny, few arc-seconds faint stellaring/spot type core/nucleus that dominates the halo which has low consistent SB.



x185 27' TF

IC 2541 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 05m 47.9s Dec: -17° 26' 06"
Mag: 14.4 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.2'x0.5' Class: SB(r)bc? P.A.: 5
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This is a quite small fairly elong eg in PA 0, found to the S of and near a small zig-zag line of mag 13 & 14 *s . Appears as a small LSB lens-shaped object in PA 0 1' x 15" with an azonal slight brightening to the centre with no apparent core or nucleus. Not too hard to see. SB is lowish but reasonable.



x185 27' TF

NGC 3140 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 09m 27.9s Dec: -16° 37' 42"
Mag: 14.8 (B) S.B.: --- B-V: +0.81
Size: 1.4'x0.9' Class: Sc P.A.: 118
Inclination: --- R.V.: +8458 Source: RC3 *


NGC 3141 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 09m 19.7s Dec: -16° 39' 11"
Mag: 15.4 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 0.9'x0.5' Class: Sbc P.A.: 23
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

Of these two -40 is the dominant member but is still small and faint -- -41 is an extremely tiny eg that is also very faint. -40 is small and faint, round, about 40" diameter, quite to very LSB with no real discernible brightening -- certainly no zones or core/nucleus and no other structure visible. -41 is about 1 or 2' SW and is slightly fainter and even lower in SB, maybe 10" diameter and slightly elong in PA 0. Very, very low SB.



x185 27' TF

NGC 3145 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 10m 09.9s Dec: -12° 26' 03"
Mag: 12.5 (B) S.B.: 13.2 B-V: +0.80
Size: 3.0'x1.5' Class: SB(rs)bc P.A.: 20
Inclination: --- R.V.: +3656 Source: RC3 *

NGC 3143 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 10m 04.1s Dec: -12° 34' 50"
Mag: 14.9 (B) S.B.: --- B-V: +0.62
Size: 0.8'x0.5' Class: SB(s)b P.A.: 105
Inclination: --- R.V.: +3536 Source: RC3 *

-45 is the major of this pair and is a fairly bright eg found only 8' SW of a 4th mag * Lambda Hydri. that must be excluded from the field to be seen well. It is a bright eg elong in PA 0, 2.25' x 1' with a LSB outer halo with a small round 20" dia mod brighter core zone that also brightens slightly to centre. Easy to see, a pleasant object. -43 is 8' to the S.

-43 is a very small LSB consistent SB spot of gossamer about 30" diameter, round and has no structure. Pretty faint.



x185 27' TF

NGC 3146 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 11m 09.8s Dec: -20° 52' 13"
Mag: 13.9 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.0'x0.8' Class: SB(r)b? P.A.: 90
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This is a pretty easy to see eg which is due S of a mag 10 * by about 5'. Presents as a small round splodge, 40-50" diameter with a somsistent SB halo whcih is ill defined at the edge and a very small somewhat brighter core/nucleus that is overall pretty easy to see.



x185 27' TF

NGC 3178 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 16m 09.0s Dec: -15° 47' 28"
Mag: 14.7 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 1.3'x0.8' Class: SA(rs)cd pec: P.A.: 70
Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

his eg is in a field which is reasonably well populated with stars considering it is a fair distance from the galactic equator. 8 * br than mag 11 with 1 9th. Small round eg just under 1' diameter with good SB -- pretty easily picked up and brightens without zones mod and slightly to centre without apparent core or nucleus. No *s immediately associated.



x185 27' TF

NGC 3290 Arp 53 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 35m 17.4s Dec: -17° 16' 34"
Mag: 15.2 S.B.: --- B-V: ---
Size: 0.9'x0.4' Class: SAB(rs)bc: pec P.A.: 60
Inclination: --- R.V.: +10616 Source: RC3 *

Note the R.V ! This eg is found due S of a mag 7 * by about 5' and is of fairly LSB but only mod faint. Small, just under 1' diameter, mod faint, mod LSB but seems to be evenly illuminated with a consistent SB across its face. No discernible core or nucleus.

By now it was nearly 2am and we decided to start packing at 2.30am and time for the final few favourites. We took a (another) look at Saturn, M83, Cen A*, Omega Centauri and a couple of others. At 2.15am, the secondary was dewing again and would have taken 10 mins to warm up, so I gave in and packed. Gary followed suit 10mins later and we drove off with Scorpius climbing and the winter sky well on the way.

When we got the Mobil I discovered that all my hard work in cleaning the car earlier in the day was wasted. My feet were caked with orange muddy sand. The driver’s compartment was the same and the Pajero was 10 times dirtier than it had been before I washed it, from 1 trip up and one trip down the old air-strip. Yes it was that wet!

After a quick de-brief at the Mobil I got home at 4.30am. Very tired, very contented after a totally unexpected evening of excellent observing.

The sky, as we all know can be a cruel mistress, but from time to time she can surprise you as it did last Saturday night.

Best,

Les D
Contributing Editor
AS&T

[Rob_K]

Excellent work again Les! Quite a bit to get through but it was well worth the read, especially as I didn't get a good observing session in during this nm cycle. Great descriptions, and I always analyse them for anything that might be a possibility for me. Not much there at my aperture I'm afraid, but I did add a couple of possibles to my lists. Thanks again!

Cheers -

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by ngcles

The sky, as we all know can be a cruel mistress, but from time to time she can surprise you as it did last Saturday night.

Best,

Les D
Contributing Editor
AS&T

And therefore we keep coming back for more, to relish the rare gems when they come along!! Many thanks Les, if I can get up to doing 10% of what you are doing visually, I'll be pretty happy. Need more time, experience and patience! Working on it, thanks to encouragement from reports such as this. Eric

[goober (Doug)]

Astonishing, both in quantity and quality or reporting. I'll read this closer on the train tonight.

[§AB]

excellent stuff! Very well written and good source of new targets to check out. As for the weather, dont worry it's just as cold here. I was out on the same night and the dew was just phenomenal. The water was dripping off my scope. Infact, my pergola roof was so satched, the water hitting the ground as it rolled of the roof was audible.