June Challenge Object - M8 (Lagoon)

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi all.

We'd love you to take part in the June Observing Challenge. Please post your observing reports and sketches for M8 in this thread. Discussions about the object can also be in this thread.

Please ensure scanned sketches obey the image posting guidelines when you attach them.

For deep-space images of the object, see the "Deep Space" astrophotography forum.

[dhumpie]

Need I say more about this magnificient naked eye object (even from my crappy mag 4.3 skies back in Malaysia). It is a glorious sight from mag 7++ skies, framed against the center of our galaxy. Best views of this object are with a nebular filter (UHC) although the views without it are just as good from a dark sky site and at low power. Its amazing how much "extended nebulosity" you can see using such a filter from dark skies. The lagoon bit is easily visible in small scopes and even binoculars! But on comparison with M42 and Eta Carina nebula, I rank this a distant third. I have an old sketch at:

http://www.geocities.com/dhumpie/dastro/m8.jpg

Here is a newer wide angle sketch of it and M20 (trifid).


Darren

nice sketch Darren, I want to start trying sketching myself and I like your style, draw in negative then scan and invert. Very nice

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Again from our darkish sky site.
Have to agree it is a distant 3rd as nebulas go.
A definate improvement with the UHC, more defined & better contrast.

[dhumpie]

Hey Rob,

Problem is that I sketch too lightly on white and when I scan I have trouble getting the stars to reproduce nicely. Might have to redo another "darker" sketch for scanning to get a more realistic image.

Darren

p/s: had a look at M8 and M20 on the weekend at low power with the UHC. Extended nebulosity was twisting itself everywhere around the cluster in M8.

[asimov (John)]

G'day.

I decided to try your technique of sketching in pencil on white then scanning & inverting Darren..works great! I took your advice, & sketched heavily, [rather than lightly] & re-dotted the stars several times. I just finished sketching the omega cetauri glob...A lot of work there! If you want RSI..try it!

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Nice work John

[asimov (John)]

Sorry. I should have added, that was the view several nights ago using a 6" refractor / 2" GSO 30mm EP

[atalas]

Yes John nice sketching of M8

Louie

[dhumpie]

Very nice John. Have not had time to work on my other sketches (as in reproducing them for scanning) as I was away in Adelaide for the long weekend. Hopefully will have time to get some done and scanned this weekend. And I do agree that sketching globs is a major headache I usually try to get the major stars down and then just fuzz the rest. Too much work there. Galaxies are much easier...

Darren