MyCn 18 Bingo !!

[Tamtarn]

Last night although conditions weren't crash hot I thought it was time I took the Dob out as I hadn't used it for about two months.

One object that had eluded me for some time was the Planetary Nebula MyCn 18 in Musca. My problem was I didn't have a very good map. I used my Atlas of the stars this time and tried again and Bingo I found it :)

It's a fascinating object although it's very small. Using averted vision it's almost as though it's pulsating as it changes form the more you look at it.

I felt very satisfied and look forward to studying it again

25707

This image was taken by Hubble

Barb

[ballaratdragons]

Congrats Barb! Yep, it always feels good when you find something new. Well done on finding it :thumbsup:

I've never seen it :ashamed:

[Dennis]

Well done! You dobbers that push-to, use star charts and go star hopping, never cease to amaze me. I am in awe of your patience and ability to read star charts - alas, early in my astronomy journey, I succumbed to the dreaded GoTo!

Cheers

Dennis

[Rodstar]

What is the RA and Dec of this beauty? I tried to track it down at SPSP, but couldn't find it.

[Tamtarn]

Hi Rod

SkyMap Pro ......... RA 13h 40m 5s .......... DEC -67deg 25' 21"

It's called the Hourglass nebula

Hope this helps

[Rodstar]

Thanks Barb. I will try for it in the next few nights.

We couldn't find it in SkyAtlas 2000 or in 33South's software at SPSP. She's a little beauty in the Hubble shot. I'll let you know how it looks through 20".

[Tamtarn]

Love to hear how it looks through the 20" Rod.

Here's a map from SkyMap Pro 11

25739

[Rodstar]

Thanks Barb, that is a great help. I will report the results in the coming days!

[astroron]

It's in the Argo Navis data base.

[Rodstar]

Thanks Ron. Where did you find it in the Argo database? I tried to find it at SPSP under planetaries in a guided tour of Musca, and under "Hourglass nebula" in popular targets, but couldn't see it.

[astroron]

Rod it is in miscalanious planetarys under Mycn 18.
I never use the guided tours I just use the particular objects,and also popular deep sky. you can also go into the argo navis user group website and down load various files such as the leyburne list and other interesting things like planetaries. cheers Ron

[Rodstar]

Thanks Ron. I'll check my Argo tonight.

I use the tours function a lot, particularly for double stars in a particular constellation. It truly makes the task very simple indeed.

[astroron]

Rod I have had a couple of nights when I used the tour it is a good fun program.
Did you get a look at mycn18Y:astron:

[Rodstar]

Dear Ron (and Barb),

Yes, I did successfully locate MyCn18 on the Argo Navis in the Miscellaneous PN menu, but the night I tried to hunt it down the conditions were terrible, so I can't say I have had a good view of said object yet.

When my scope returns from SDM in a couple of weeks, I will have another go, and report the results.

[Tamtarn]

Thanks Rod .... Look forward to reading your report on how it looks through the 20" :thumbsup:

[Qakka]

G'day Barb,

Well done observing it visually, as I reckon it would have be pretty tough.
I also managed to find it the other night and took a GSTAR image of it.
http://www.hwy.com.au/~sjquirk/images/gstar/mycn18.html
I could easily see the 2 loops on the PC monitor and the LRGB image reveals the red colour nicely.
Cheers, Qakka

[iceman]

Excellent image Steve! What a great and interesting object.

[Tamtarn]

Just noticed your post Qakka.

Terrific images....You've brought out the colour nicely. Although very small you can definitely see the two loops .......... Well done :thumbsup:

Barb

[Qakka]

Thanks guys,

It will be interesting to hear what the bigger scope observers will get to see of this little fella!

Qakka

[jjjnettie]

My word it's tiny.
Well done Barb on tracking it down.
Definately on this months must find list.

[astroron]

I observed MYCN18 on Saturday night with my 40.64cm Dob and again tonight.
On Saturday night the seeing was not to good ,even so the PN was easely seen, I then got Steve (gargoyle) to have a look in his 30cm, it was not so noticable as in the 40cm but with using Steve's (Quakka) image posted on this forum the PN was confirmed.
Tonight I spent some considerable time observing this object and in moments of good seeing was able to see some extensions away from the bright nuculus, using a 5mm Celestron X-CEL eyepiece. (365xmag).
If the seeing was rearly good I reckon I could possibly make out the rings:eyepop:
Clouds came over so called it a night.
The nights are getting cooler at last, with the temp 7.5degs:)

[Tamtarn]

Thanks for the report Ron

It will be interesting to know if you can define the rings in the 18" in better conditions.

I couldn't quite make them out in the 12" maybe it's not possible. I think I can bump the power up a bit more. Maybe in better conditions next time I'll try the Pentax 10mm XW barlowed not sure if the 7mmXW barlowed would be too high powered to try but I'll give it a go :scared:

It's a very small but interesting object hard for me to find in the 12" using sky maps. I haven't had another chance to look at it again. Looks like the weather is improving now. But of course now I have the pesky moon to contend with :mad2:

Barb

[astroron]

Barb, I was looking at MYCN18 last night with the just befor first quarter Moon,it was quite plain, using a high mag eye piece helps to darken the sky, and you can still see lots of deep sky object with the moon up.
I did not think the O111 filter made much difference in seeing the loops.
I think that with great conditions I could see the loops but I would need a 7mm eye piece or better.
We still have lots of time to see this object at a reasonable time for the next couple of months:astron:
What F ratio is your 12"? my scope is a 16" F4.5:thumbsup:

[Tamtarn]

Yes Ron I'm looking forward to getting out again in good conditions. :astron:

Going on what you say, my best shot will be trying the Pentax XW 7mm.

I don't expect to see too much detail with the 12" but maybe with the right conditions and using the DGM NPB filter and studying it a while longer next time I may be able to get a little more detail.

Here's hoping :)

The 12" is f5 by the way

[Rodstar]

I have tried to make this object out on a few occasions since this thread began, but without much success. The conditions have not been very conducive, and I am without an OIII filter at the moment. I will keep trying, and let you know.....

[astroron]

:hi: Rod I think that you are seeing it but just like me not realising it, it just looks like a star but under high mag a little bit of shape becomes apparent.
I did not seem to get much benefit out of the O111 but maybe the larger aperture will make a difference:astron: Ron

[Rodstar]

Thanks for the encouragement Ron. I will keep looking!

[Tamtarn]

The night I found it Rod I used the 27mm Pano to locate it, I wasn't sure if I had it so put the Nagler T4 17mm which has a 82 degree FOV and fantastic contrast giving a very dark background. So it was visible but still very tiny. It just looks like a small smudge with no apparent colour.

I then observed it with the Pentax 10XW which once again has great contrast and with the DGM NPB filter I could see it well with averted vision although still small.

I'm sure if your on the right spot using a lower power EP to start with use averted vision until something comes into the FOV that's a bit like a tiny smudge like a faint fuzzy galaxy even. ;) Then bump the power up until it's more apparent.

I'm sure you'll get it eventually :thumbsup:

I still haven't had a chance to see it again yet. The weather here is pretty bad at the moment.

Hope I can locate it again myself :lol:

Barb