ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waxing Crescent 18.8%
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20-04-2010, 12:57 PM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 4,991
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Did I see Bok Globuals in Eta Carina?
Hi all,
Had to check up something through IIS on something I saw in Eta Carina through my 17.5" dob the other night.
In the brightest part of the nebula, there is the dark streak that makes the stark contrast to the bright wedge shape. Through the scope I saw three, maybe four protruberences snaking their way into the birght wedge. I'm I right in assuming these are four long bok globuals?
This link shows the four protruberences I saw, the frame is very much the same FOV as in my 15mm EP at 133X: From the dark dust lane running from the lower-middle of the pic up to the top-left corner, the four protruberences reach out into the brighter part of the nebula.
http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/images/d2/02174.jpg
They really stood out with a nebula filter. Quite remarkable and unexpected. I'll look to make a sketch soon, hopefully.
Mental.
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20-04-2010, 02:08 PM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 4,991
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Facinating!
Thanks very much for the links, Rob. Dark Pillars and Bok Globuals are related I see. Well, pretty much the same thing, only the tethering trail of the Pillars distinguishes them as such. Awesome sight though!
I'll be fishing out the 6mm and fresh new eyes in the next few days.
See if I can spy any of the actual Bok's, bright pillars the Homunculus Nebula, now I know where to look for it. I thought I saw and 'enlarged' Eta Carina, but I'll have another squiz at this star too.
Might try out the 8" f/4 on it too.
Thanks again.
Mental.
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20-04-2010, 11:17 PM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 4,991
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The Homunculus Nebula IS visible!
Hi all,
I had another look at Eta Carina Nebula, this time armed with the info in the Eta Carina Tour in the link supplied by Rob.
Wow! What a difference a little more educated eye can see. I was finally able to identify the star Eta Carina, and there it was- the Homunculus Nebula! In my first post below I mentioned noticing an elongation to a star that I now know to be Eta Carina. Revisiting it, at 133X the hour-glass shape was unmistakeable. And it is orange in colour like in the Hubble photographs.
In my 17.5", at 133X, it shows a mottled, fiberous texture. Its outer boarder is the brightest, outlined by its bright orange colour. The giant star Eta Carina doesn't totally overwhelm the visibility of the tiny nebula. It does, however, wash out the central pinch of the 'hour-glass' shape.
A nebula filter cuts out the spectrum of the Homunculus. It must be glowing in a spectural range not typical of nebulae. I found it best viewed neat through the eyepiece.
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22-04-2010, 04:36 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Jose, CA, USA
Posts: 146
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Missed the Bok Globules
I had meant to look for some in Eta Car nebula and that was one thing I forgot. Really kool that you saw those little dark guys.
You guys are really lucky down there with all those goodies down south. I won't get another chance for a long time I suspect. 
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22-04-2010, 07:51 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 793
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Congratulations on the Bok globules Alexander.
I've just been reading about them in 'The Observers Guide to Stellar Evolution', by Mike Inglis.
How exciting to actually see them! 
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22-04-2010, 08:05 PM
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Duncan
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Weipa FNQld
Posts: 1,091
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Must have been exciting viewing for you Alexander. Sounds like a nice scope to at 17.5".Can't beat aperture sometimes,LOL. Congratulations.
Cheers,
Duncan
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22-04-2010, 08:49 PM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 4,991
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Ta for the comments!
To let you know, a good mate, Hickny, also had a go at Eta Carina with his 13.1" Odyssey AND saw them too, and without a nebula filter at that from his home in the inner west of Sydney!
I'll be having another crack at her again with the 8" f/4 scope we share, and my 10" f/5, when the moon is more favourable again. Nebula filters are really in a league of their own!
Scorpio is coming good for this season's winter viewing. The Lagoon and Trifids nebulae are gunning for a perv.
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22-04-2010, 09:42 PM
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Duncan
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Weipa FNQld
Posts: 1,091
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Hmmmmm! Might have to drag out the 12" when i get home and have a go! If i ever get a clear night with good seeing up here i'll have a look with the refractor under high power.
Cheers,
Duncan 
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01-06-2010, 02:59 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Beautiful SE Tassie
Posts: 4,734
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robh
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That is a supherb site Rob!! Great info on Eta Carinae. I am going to tackle it, properly, over the next 2 weeks, at some dark sky sites with our club!! i usually have a quick look, and go wow over the nebula, then move on. 
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01-06-2010, 03:15 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Beautiful SE Tassie
Posts: 4,734
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mental4astro
Hi all,
I had another look at Eta Carina Nebula, this time armed with the info in the Eta Carina Tour in the link supplied by Rob.
Wow! What a difference a little more educated eye can see. I was finally able to identify the star Eta Carina, and there it was- the Homunculus Nebula! In my first post below I mentioned noticing an elongation to a star that I now know to be Eta Carina. Revisiting it, at 133X the hour-glass shape was unmistakeable. And it is orange in colour like in the Hubble photographs.
In my 17.5", at 133X, it shows a mottled, fiberous texture. Its outer boarder is the brightest, outlined by its bright orange colour. The giant star Eta Carina doesn't totally overwhelm the visibility of the tiny nebula. It does, however, wash out the central pinch of the 'hour-glass' shape.
A nebula filter cuts out the spectrum of the Homunculus. It must be glowing in a spectural range not typical of nebulae. I found it best viewed neat through the eyepiece.
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Well done Alex!! As you said, a little bit of knowledge to help in knowing what you are looking at.  Cant wait.
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01-06-2010, 10:36 AM
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Searching for Travolta...
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
Posts: 3,700
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The Eta Carina nebula is my favourite and my most watched object in the sky. The star is slowly and steadily getting brighter. In 2007 it was 5.7 mag, then in 2008 it gradually brightened to 4 mag. As of a month ago, it had brightened from 4.65 to 4.55. Through my 6" dob. with a 10mm ep (120x mag) I can clearly make out the elongated shape of this star.
Alexander, I will be interested in your follow up with looking through the 8", regarding details and also the nebula filter. I have just purchased a UHC filter and not been able to use it due to bad weather (I hope it will work on this neb).
You are very fortunate to have such a large aperture to truly appreciate the beauty of this nebula.
I am trying to find a book at the moment that will explain all these details I need to be looking for within objects (observational astronomy). Something that will challenge my viewing. If anyone has got any recommendations, would you kindly please drop a line into my current thread in "Astronomy Books & Media".
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