Observation report with 12"

[barx1963]

Had my second really decent session with the new 12" Dob since I got it last night. Despite being very cold, about 1 deg by 9pm and wet (the hairdryer was being used a lot last night!), I managed to knock 7 Messier objects of my list.

M83 Big spiral near Corvus, really impressive in a bigger scope, despite it being low was still able to get some spiral structure. Bright compact, almost stellar core.
M68 Moderate sized Globn in Hydra not fair from M83
M72 This is a really faint small globular in Aquarius, very easy to miss.
M73 Even harder to see than M72 very small V shaped asterism in Aquarius. Total mag is 9.0, only really possible to see with averted vision even with the 12"
M71 Glob in Sagitta. Nice easy glob, fairly bright.
M27 Damn this is huge! The famous Dumbell Nebula. Bright large planetary. Took up nearly half the FOV in a 25mm EP. Glorious sight!
M57. The famous Ring Nebula. Quite small but clearly round. Easy to locate in southern part of Lyra. Will get more power on it when I get better seeing to try and detect the "hole" in the ring!

All around a great night with a bigger scope. Only have 19 more Messiers to document and I have the 100 that can be seen from Vic. And that includes some (M31, M42, M43, M33) that I have observed, just haven't written up in the log yet.:screwy:

[Lumen Miner]

Oh, I envy you!! Can't wait to get a better scope/start logging. I am still beginning but found my first random cluster, by just scanning tonight. Not sure yet what it was, but I have the surrounding brighter stars memorised...

It only appeared as a smudge of light in my meager 3 1/2 refractor.


Hope you get the hundred!!

[glenc]

Malcolm that was a interesting report. Just a comment on M73.
You said "M73 ... only really possible to see with averted vision even with the 12"."
There is no need for averted vision with a 12". It is a Y shape with 4 stars mag 10.4, 11.3, 11.9 and 11.7.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dunlop1826/Messier#5350990184288488290

[CoombellKid]

Pop over here and download TUBA (it's free) TOURING THE UNIVERSE
THROUGH BINOCULARS. I found this to be a great source of objects
when I first got my lil old 60mm telescope. It should give you heaps
to look at until you get a bigger scope. I still use it when I have my
binos out. Anyways check it out :thumbsup:

http://www.philharrington.net/tuba.htm

Cheers,CS

[barx1963]

Glen
I found M73 very hard to see well with direct vision, it was quite clear once I used averted vision. THat may have been conditions, it was very dewy and it was a struggle to keep the EPs clear (must get a dew heater system up and running soon!) and the fog was starting to develop. I think there was also some high misty cloud. In better conditions, hopefully I will be able to get a better observation.

Thanks for your comment, I will definately be revisiting M73 when I get a really nice clear night!

[pgc hunter]

G'day Malcolm, I agree with ya on M27, fantastic in the 12" particularly with a filter!

[barx1963]

That was my first encounter with M27, must try the filter next, it was so easy to find and big, I just didn't bother with the filter!