observations in Vela 6/3/11

[Paddy]

Enjoyed some clear skies on Sunday night and played around some objects in Vela. Here are my notes.

2240

Seeing good 2/5
Transparency good 6/7

NGC 3201 GC in Vela Class 10
Dia 20’ mag 6.9 10h 17.6m –46 25

175X A large and interesting GC with very poor central concentration and many resolvable stars to the edge of what looks like about a 9’ halo. The stars produce many interesting lines and shapes. There is a mottling of disc stars around the GC, but the contrast is still quite good.

NGC 2910 OC in Vela Trumpler type III 3m
Dia 6’ mag 7.2 9h 30.5m –52 55

175X A broad 6’ horseshoe shaped cluster with the opening to the SW with numerous resolved stars against faint horseshoe shaped haze. Many surrounding stars.

VdB-Ha 72 OC in Vela Trumpler type III 1p
Dia 2’ 9h 31.4’ –44 02

175x Apparent as a small faint but distinct glow just to the south of NGC 2910. A few stars are just resolvable. Looks 2’ across.

NGC 3105 OC in Vela Trumpler type II 2p
Dia 2’ mag 9.7 10h 00.7’ –54 47

175X This is a small faint glow with some resolvable stars surrounded by many field stars. It is shaped somewhat like an oriental fan with the pivot point to the SW.

NGC 2899 PN in Vela
Dia 2’ mag 11.8 9h 27.1’ –56 06

250X Quite large for a PN, looks 2’ across. Appears as a crescent with the concave to the Northeast. There is a firmer bright edge to the south. Overall it looks like a brighter C-shape against a mottled irregularly shaped halo. UHC filter brightens southern edge, OIII lights up the whole nebula which has many bright patches and the crescent shape changes to a hollow SE-NW ellipse.440X it becomes a little soft, but the impression of a dark patchiness within the C shape is enhanced.

NGC 2866/Pismis 13 OC in Vela
Dia 2’ mag 10.2 9h 22.1’ –51 06

80X A small object in a stunning star field at this power. 175X A delicate 2’ acorn shaped clump of haze and about 15 small stars with the acorn’s point to the west.

[orestis]

Nice set of observations Paddy,
Vela has some wonderfull deep sky objects.

Thanks for posting
Cheers Orestis:thumbsup:

[pgc hunter]

Thanks for posting Paddy. NGC 3201 always tickled my fancy , never got around to it though so good to see a report on it. Sat night was lovely for once.....too bad about my 6am start on Sunday doh

cheers

[Paddy]

Thanks Orestis and Sab. Definitely all morning activities should be automatically rescheduled after clear moonless nights. Except for solar observing of course.

[astroron]

Nice set of obs there paddy;) not much of a cluster man myself but must check out PN NGC 2899 seems interesting:thumbsup:
Cheers

[pgc hunter]

The answer is to rename Monday to Sunday, then she'll be right!

[Suzy]

Wonderful report Paddy.
I didn’t know there was another pn in Vela apart from the Eight Burst., hmmm. I”ll have to take a look. Loved your description of the very strange globular NGC 3210.
I think its fabulous that a few of us here are giving Vela a visit at the same time. I think it makes for interesting reading with the focus on the one constellation - makes it feel like a tour.

[Paddy]

Thanks Suzy. It is a very interesting constellation with lots of OCs, a fantastic SNR and quite a few PNs according to the Night Sky Observer's Guide. I've not really seen one quite like 2899 before and would highly recommend a visit especially if you can get to some dark skies. I agree about the benefit of having differing reports on the same constellation - whets the appetite for more.