August Challenge Object - M17

[iceman]

Hi all.

We'd love you to take part in the August Observing and Imaging Challenge (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=69,224,0,0,1,0). Please post your reports, sketches and deep-space images of M17 in this thread. Discussions about the images can also be in this thread.

Please ensure the images obey the posting guidelines when you attach them.

While it would be nice if the report, sketch or image were taken in the month of August, it's not essential so feel free to post older reports and images if you're unable to take some new ones.

We look forward to seeing your contributions!

[dhumpie]

This is also one of my faves as it shows abundant detail in my smallish scopes. Dubbed the swan nebula and also the omega nebula it sure does look like its name sake. I have even heard someone call it the NIKE checkmark :) And it sure does look like a checkmark in my 10x50's. This one benefits greatly from the use of a nebular filter (like my Lumicon UHC) but looks pretty even without the filter. With the nebular filter in place the swan takes on a feathery look with nebulosity "billowing" from the swans back. Also the region seperating the neck from the back and also the front of the swan's neck and head look very dark and more pronounced with the UHC in. I can also detect extended nebulosity around the swan with the UHC (first noticed this in David westsky's 10" and later looked out for it in my 6"). I have a more recent updated sketch that I will upload later. For now see:

http://www.geocities.com/dhumpie/dastro/m17.jpg

Darren

[atalas]

Another nice sketch Darren and report on this object ,one of the ones with a big Wow factor from a dark site.

Louie :thumbsup:

[dhumpie]

Yup totally agree! I have a better sketch that I will try to upload soon. The sketch on my web page was done when I first started to "resketch" (my mum threw away my log book from my teens with sketches done with my Celestron Cometron 40 :) objects after getting back into the hobby with a 76mm f/9 newtonian in 2001.

Darren

[cahullian]

nice one Darren I have to get me off to the news agent and grab some black paper. : )

[ving]

tha swan turns into the ugly duckling...

date: 3.8.05
time: bout 10om
EP: 15mm GSO SV
seeing: 3/10 (crappy)

I have viewed this object from both a dark site (linden) and my own backyard before, each time showing a wealth of detail... tonoight however the swans neck all but disapeared! viewed thru last nights hazy suckerhole the nebula became patchy and almost unrecognisable. while the body of the said swan remained intact the neck was but a patchy whisp and the head a unrecognisable blob. I have used this exact same EP to show great detail with and without a filter... shame really cause its normally spectacular.
Any how this was my 3rd challenge object for the night. I spent another 15-20 mins cruising around above the crux looking for 6189 (without a chart) and not finding anything, but i expected that and looking for the helix... which also was not found. I put it all down to exceptionally bad seeing.

oh well, next time. :)

[dhumpie]

Try when the seeing is better. The helix is a very iffy objects and needs the best of conditions. Anyway great report!

Darren

[ving]

yeah i've seen the helix from linden but never from my backyard. itsmy "arch nemesis" as it were :)
:poke:

[dhumpie]

Hi David,

I have seen the helix from my mag 5.4-5.6 (depends) with the UHC filter in both my scopes (look like an oversized ring nebula abeit fainter). It sure does look a lot better in the Orion 80ST than in the C6 at low power. Go figure :)

Darren

[asimov]

Here's my effort.

As seen through the refractor this morning (7th aug) Naturally not on this image scale ;) Too hard to do at the EP, so had to look, memorise, run inside sketch a bit, run back out look.....You get the idea. :doh: :rofl:The diffraction spikes on the stars are for all the reflector freaks out there! :D :thumbsup:

[asimov]

:thumbsup: Nice reporting Ving & Darren..

[dhumpie]

Very nice sketch John. I see you are starting to get artistic with the spikes :) Here my sketch. I will have to work on getting it more on paper so the scans reproduce better.

Darren

[ving]

nice sketch darren :thumbsup:

[dhumpie]

Thanks Ving. Did not reporduce too well when I did the negative flip. I will have to draw bolder on paper the next time.....

Darren

[atalas]

This is good sketching work guys keep It up !

Louie :thumbsup:

[seeker372011]

the sketches you guys produce are awesome.
Do you have any lunar sketches to post ? I particularly like these, I think they can be very dramatic

[dhumpie]

Have not actually done any lunar sketches. That might be something I could start on as a suburban project. Good idea.....

Darren

[Striker]

phew....got in with 1 day to spare....I was getting worried with the weather pattern lately.

[atalas]

One day to spare Tony ? good now get back to work ! :lol:
Nice shot dude !

Louie :D

[dhumpie]

Wow nice color Tony :)

Darren