observing report: 13th Oct.

[asimov]

G'day.

With all this mars madness going on I haven't actually looked thru the eyepiece the last two times I've had a scope out! Too busy trying to get decent photo's :doh:

So last night after taking about 7 vids of mars (which turned out terrible due to bad seeing) I decided to have a gander visually at a few objects.

Looked at M42 first with my newly aquired 35mm ultima & the 12.5" newt. Simply stunning views. Screwed on the UHC-S filter & again stunning views, a lot more of the nebula was visible & I had to pan around to see it all. I then decided to try something 'different' & get right in there amongst the trapezium with a mag of 640X :D (5mm barlowed) The image held up well at this mag!! The trap was spread out nicely, taking up the whole FOV. Just outside the usual 6 stars of the trap are 2 fainter ones, just visible for me at this mag.

Next object was the crab nebula. As usual, just a blob really...although I reckon I wasn't far off from actually seeing some detail! ;) Tried an assortment of mags. Best view coming from the 20mm TV plossl.

Did the usual scanning around with low mag.

Looked for the horse-head.....no luck.

At about 4.30 I decided on a mars visual. Earlier in the evening the seeing was 4/10 but by now it was 8/10 with mars too low in the nth-west to do another imaging run :scared2:

Tried all sorts of things to get a better view on mars. Best views was using: 3 holed aperture mask with one hole closed/5mm EP giving 318X with the contrast booster on. I can tell you, I saw detail just like in Mikes or rumples or videoguys or birds pictures!! :scared: My next imaging run of mars will be using this idea & see what comes of it! :D

[atalas]

Nice report John , boy 640 X ! you must have a great mirror there mate . Never seen eight stars in the trap before , that would be a real buzz ! but there is no way my C11 would do that :( still I'm going to try for that eight no harm in that .


Louie :thumbsup:

[asimov]

Hi louie.

I'm not sure if the 2 I saw are part of the trap officially? Both were just outside. I'll try & sketch what I saw & post it perhaps.

[atalas]

We'll have to look that one up John they might be ,been many years since I done any study mate :ashamed:


Louie :thumbsup:

[davidpretorius]

top report mate, i am still at 4 stars in the trap

[asimov]

Study????........Never heard of the term!:D I'm with you on that one.

Starkler posted a sketch awhile back giving the positions of these 2 other stars. In one of my threads here somewhere!......Take yonks to find it no doubt :doh:

Bump the mag up Davo. Wots your highest power EP??

[asimov]

Hmmm, according to the map I just found, the 2 stars outside the trap are not part of it. the 2 I saw were out further..Just a bit further out than HH.

[Starkler]

Yep stars A-F should be visible in the 8 incher when seeing is average or better.
The others take some serious aperture to see.

[atalas]

Hey john at what mag are those fainter ones in that sketch ? they look like they would be bellow 12th mag .

Louie

[atalas]

Hi Geoff, I have seen E and F on good nights with a 4" Tak refractor and a bit easier in a 5" Tak newt , I could see E on most nights in the 4" . Just one of those things you do every time Orion is around I guess.
I will definitely try for these others in my C11 next Kulnura meet,a dark sky should help.

Cheers


Louie

[asimov]

From memory, You need some serious aperture like a 16" plus to see those 2 Louie....mag 14 is that right Geoff?

[asimov]

My mistake......their both about 16 mag louie.

[davidpretorius]

6mm = 208 x

toucam slightly more say 5mm = 250.

[asimov]

At 208X you should easily see six. I see six at 106X. Then again I've got an extra 2.5" of aperture, but I wouldn't think that would make much difference?

I must note all this! What mag. I can see 6 stars in the trap using a 6" refractor & for the newt etc etc!

[asimov]

The more I think about it, the more I can't remember where these 2 stars are in relation to the trap! :doh: I guess I'll just have to look at them again one night & this time sketch or photograph what I see! :whistle:

It could have been these 2 in the pic.....