Article and Download: 150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects

[iceman]

Glen Cozens has written an article and an accompanying excel file containing 150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects.

You can read the article and download the file on the IceInSpace Projects and Articles (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/projects.html) page, or directly by clicking on the link below:

150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-649-0-0-1-0.html)

Thanks to Glen for the contribution. If you'd like to write a review or article for IceInSpace and share your knowledge with others, get in touch via our Write for IceInSpace (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/write-for-iceinspace.html) page.

[iceman]

Article uploaded.

[Robh]

Hi Glen,

I know the name Dunlop mainly from a double star perspective as they are tagged DUN (number). I wasn't aware of just how broad Dunlop's contributions were until you started posting about it a while back. Thanks for the database and the interesting research and historical attachments.

I also agree that Herschel's criticisms were too broad and overly harsh. Dunlop should get the recognition he deserves.

The observations he made from Parramatta are not known well enough and you are to be congratulated on educating us on the beginnings of Australian astronomy and its important contributions globally.

Regards, Rob

[glenc]

Thanks Mike and Rob.

The Excel file in Projects and Articles contains 6 pages including a rough map showing Dunlop's 150 objects.
There are several reasons to look at Dunlop's clusters, nebulae and galaxies.
1. He was the first to make a catalogue of southern galaxies.
2. He was the first to catalogue the objects in the Magellanic Clouds.
3. His catalogue was remarkably complete, most of the best southern objects are in it.
4. This catalogue is an Australian catalogue.
5. All of the objects can be seen with a 6" telescope if you have good eyes and wait till they are high in the sky.

Images of the 150 Dunlop objects and his descriptions are at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28

John Herschel and his friends were highly critical of Dunlop.
Dunlop was lower class, not well educated and poor. Herschel was upper class, well educated and rich.
I am amazed by Dunlop's ability to find faint galaxies.

[Paddy]

Thanks for a great resource, Glen. This will be a very pleasurable guide for browsing the sky.

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

Much appreciated

Cheers

[mikerr]

Glen, thanks for this great resource and historical background. Much appreciated. :thumbsup:

Michael

[glenc]

Thanks Patrick, Geoff and Mike.
A couple of years back I made an All Sky Messier Catalogue using the same magnitude limits as the Messier catalogue.
There were 365 objects in the ASMC. Most of them were found by 6 people.
William Herschel found 126, James Dunlop 50, Charles Messier 40, Pierre Mechain 26, John Herschel 20 and Nicolas Lacaille 19 of the 365 DSO.
I would like to see Dunlop get the recognition he deserves.
John Herschel was disappointed because he thought “the cream of the southern hemisphere had already been skimmed” by Dunlop.

[glenc]

There are 6 SMC objects in the Dunlop 150. They are NGCs 261, 330, 346, 371, 456 and 602.
Images of these 6 clusters and nebulae start here: https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5640112814633798834
The attached SkyMapPro map shows them. Some clusters are too big on the map.
The map also shows the globulars 104 (47 Tuc) and 362.
Bert has a great image of the SMC at http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=80154

[glenc]

In the last 3 weeks I have seen 147 of the 150 Dunlop objects with a 12" Dobsonian scope. The remaining three are NGC 2997, NGC 3621 and IC 2714.

[Gem]

Well done!
Although I think you stole our clear skies.... :lol:

[mental4astro]

Hey Glen,

Your involvement with researching Dunlop, which I've read over a couple of times too, and now this article has given me a thought on a project for me to undertake:

To sketch the 150 Dunlop objects.

If Dunlop spoted these with a modern equivalent of a 6" reflector, these targets should be a neat undertaking. Your photo catalogue shows them nicely, but a sketched catalogue would give another dimension to this austral astronomy pioneer.

Most of these would be quite easily gettable from urban areas too, though detail would be reduced in the big smoke. Some others are very much for dark skies only.

The NGC number listing makes it an easier planning mechanism too.

I wonder how long this will take me? :rolleyes: :question: Just out of sheer chance, I've got at least seven at the moment. I'll let you know how I'm going.

Also, some of these targets overlap with the LMC & SMC project that Paddy's got going too. Kill two birds with one stone, :lol: .

Mental.

[glenc]

Thanks Grant. That is a great idea Alexander.
I would like to see someone image them all too, or maybe a group of people could do the imaging.

[FJA]

Good stuff, Glen. I've downloaded it and will print it off for my planned trip Down Under in 2013.

[glenc]

Four Dunlop 150 galaxies transit in September at about 10pm.
They are NGCs 7049, 7083 and 7410 and IC 5250.
I think mag 10.6 NGC 7410 in Grus is the best of these. https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5356130423818721842

[Gem]

Bad weather lately has reduced the observing time considerably (and the moon last night and tonight too I think).
I did manage to view NGC 7049 back on August 3rd when it was low to the horizon. Considering I am in town and the sky position was not ideal, it should be much easier now it is higher up. It wasn't the easiest when it was low and soaked in light pollution!

[glenc]

James Dunlop always looked at objects when they transited at their highest point in the sky and he had good eyes, he was only 32 years old. He used to sweep back and forth along the meridian and recorded the time, a description and the south polar distance when he found something. He also had to climb up and down a ladder because his 9 inch speculum mirrored scope was 9 foot long. He used candles for lighting, there were no red LEDS in 1826!

[Gem]

Careful! Are you implying I am getting old??!?! ;)

I started astronomy early with a Star Atlas, a 50mm refractor and a logbook back in 1985. I carefully recorded everything I saw and had a field day when I went to various astro society viewing nights... and 26 years later I am still in my 30s!! (just...) :)

Glen, I laugh every time I see the time at which you post! You must be semi-retired or are very tired at work!! :lol:

[glenc]

It is good being retired but not good having to use a magnifying glass to read star maps.

[Gem]

I aspire to be like you! :)

[glenc]

On the weekend of 15/6/2012 it should be possible to see all of the 150 Dunlop objects in one night.
Maybe we could have a Dunlop Marathon. (new moon is 19/6/12)
The objects nearest the Sun on that date are NGC 2090 and NGC 2298.

In the USA they have Messier Marathons.
http://www.robhawley.net/mm/

[glenc]

There are some great Dunlop objects visible in October, 14 of them transit at about 10pm (11pm DST). The best one is the globular 47 Tuc (NGC 104).
Three SMC objects NGCs 261, 330 and 346 (a magnificent nebula) and 10 galaxies also transit at about 10 pm.
The best of these galaxies are NGC 55 and the Grus quartet NGCs 7552,82,90,99. NGCs 300 and 7793 are also impressive.
https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28

[glenc]

Dunlop's 1827 printed catalogue is here http://www.jstor.org/stable/107841
http://www.jstor.org/stable/select/107841?seq=1&Search=yes&searchText=%22James+Dunlop%22&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch %3FSearch%3DSearch%26Query%3Dau%3A% 2522James%2520Dunlop%2522%26wc%3Don&prevSearch=&resultsServiceName=null&thumbView=thumbs&thumbPage=all
This is the first drawing of the SMC http://www.jstor.org/stable/107841?seq=36&Search=yes&searchText=%22James+Dunlop%22&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch %3FSearch%3DSearch%26Query%3Dau%3A% 2522James%2520Dunlop%2522%26wc%3Don&prevSearch=&resultsServiceName=null

[glenc]

I saw NGC 2997 and IC 2714 this morning. One more to go.

[astrospotter]

What a great list. All over IceInSpace and in my earlier studies of great objects to seek out down in the south skies James Dunlop comes up time and again.

This list is a real keeper and organized so well with NGC and Dunlop designations along with the other colums that are very helpful for planning any observations.

THANKS!
Mark Johnston

[glenc]

Thanks Grant, Faith and Mark. It is a great list for southern observers.
Many of the galaxies look great. I like images of NGC 986.
https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5356128552265478066
Auke Slotegraaf includes 986 on his excellent website http://www.docdb.net/show_object.php?id=ngc_986
Faith you might want to attend one of the astrocamps. (eg Qld Astrofest)

[glenc]

This morning I saw the galaxy NGC 3621. I have now seen all of the 150 Dunlop deep sky objects on this list with my 12" Dobsonian reflector.

[mikerr]

Good one Glen!:thumbsup: What time did you get to see it?
Looking at Stellarium I'm guessing about 4.30am at my location.

Michael

[glenc]

Thanks Michael. About 4:10am. Set the alarm.

[glenc]

Nine Dunlop objects transit at about 10pm in November (11pm DST).
The globular NGC 362 on the north side of the SMC and three SMC nebulae NGCs 371, 456 and 602 are visible.
Five galaxies are also well placed IC 1633 and NGCs 613, 625, 986 and 1097.
Wikisky images of these 9 objects and Dunlop's descriptions start here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5356128511350388834
IC 1633 is here https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5356358806496955442
William Herschel found NGCs 613 and 1097, Dunlop found the other 7 DSO in 1826.

[michaellxv]

To help with my observing I have entered Glen's Dunlop 150 list into SkySafari as an observing list, I only had problems finding 4 objects in Sky Safari.

Markarian 18:
A quick Google indicates this is also known as Collinder 205. A check back to Glen's paper confirms this.

Harvard 6:
Again a Google indicates this is Collinder 261, I was unable to verify this further but I left it in the list as Cr261

Norma star cloud:
There was nothing in the SkySafari catalogs I could use for this.

Bernes 157:
I could find no other designation for this one to use.

Thank's Glen for the list, now I just need the clouds to go away.

[glenc]

Thanks Michael.
The middle of the Norma star cloud (16h20m -53d15m) is about 1.5 degrees NE of NGC 6067 and the cloud is 4 degrees long.
The middle of Bernes 157 (19h4m -37d5m) is nearly 1 degree SE of the globular NGC 6723 and the dark nebula is 1 degree long.

[Poita]

Thanks so much for this, it is giving me great personal enjoyment and is a great teaching resource also!

[glenc]

Peter you are welcome.

[glenc]

Dunlop's 1826 telescope was 9" (23 cm) in aperture and 9' (2.7 m) in focal length.
His two speculum mirrors reflected about 65% of the light each or 42% if you count the reflections at the primary and the secondary. Today's aluminium mirrors reflect about 93% of the light or 86% if you count the reflections at the primary and the secondary. This means his 9" was about equal to a 6.3" Newtonian with two aluminium mirrors. He had to climb a ladder to discover objects high in the sky, and use a candle to write notes and to read the clock and the south polar distance (declination) 185 years ago at his house in Hunter St. Parramatta NSW. The attached Google Earth image shows the location of his house and the backyard observatory where he made catalogues of clusters, nebulae and double stars.
The church 50m east of Dunlop's house is St Johns. http://english.stjohnscathedral.org.au/index.php/about-us-/our-heritage

[glenc]

Twenty-six of the "150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects" transit at about 10pm in December (11pm DST) - one globular cluster, four nebulae and 21 galaxies.
The Globular is NGC 1261 in Hor. The nebulae are NGCs 1722, 1743, 1763 and 1770 in the LMC.
The 5 brightest galaxies are NGCs 1269, 1313, 1316, 1365, 1553 and 1566.
Wikisky images and Dunlop's descriptions of the 26 Dunlop DSO start here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5356128570659595186

[glenc]

Eighteen of the "150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects" transit at about 10pm in January (11pm DST) - 3 open cluster, 3 globular cluster, 8 nebulae and 4 galaxies.
Twelve of the 18 objects are in the LMC, the best one being NGC 2070. It is interesting to sweep the LMC with and without a UHC filter.

The remaining objects are the globulars NGCs 1851 and 2298 and the galaxies NGCs 1792, 1808, 1947 and 2090.
I often look at NGC 1851 and the nearby galaxy pair NGCs 1792 and 1808.
https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5356358844115852706

You can see images of NGC 1792 to NGC 2298 here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#

[glenc]

This image of the LMC by Marco Lorenzi shows its nebulae well.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110426.html
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/1104/LMC_HaOIIILRGB_lorenzi2000c.jpg

[glenc]

Only 3 of the "150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects" transit at about 10pm in February (11pm DST), all of them are open clusters.
They are NGCs 2477, 2516 and 2547.
2477 is rich https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5640113744641565442
2516 is bright https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5640113769817843986
2547 contains nebulosity https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5640113807100806850

[glenc]

11 of the "150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects" transit at about 10pm in March (11pm DST),
4 open clusters; Markarian 18, NGC 3114, NGC 3293, Melotte 101
3 nebulae; NGCs 3199, 3324, 3372 (eta Car)
2 globular clusters; NGCs 2808, 3201
1 open cluster/planetary nebula NGC 2818 and
1 galaxy NGC 2997.
Wikisky.org images are at https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28

[glenc]

11 of the "150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects" transit at about 10pm in April.
6 open clusters; NGC 3532, IC 2714, NGC 3766, NGC 4103, Harvard 6, NGC 4755 (the Jewel Box) and
2 globular clusters; NGCs 4372, 4833 and
3 galaxy NGCs 3621, 4696, 4709.
Dunlop's descriptions and wikisky.org images are at https://picasaweb.google.com/1100488...52146/Dunlop28 (https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28)

[Ed D]

Glen, thanks for the list. I'm pretty far South and I'm sure I'll be able to observe many, if not most of the objects.

Ed D

[mental4astro]

As promised, I've been working a bit at a time through the Dunlop objects.

I thought the first one to upload to here is four of them that make up the Grus Quartet, Dunlop 475, 476 & 477 (NGC 7552, 7582, 7590 & 7599).

While there are only three designated Dunlop numblers, NGC 7590 & 7599 are for some reason given the same Dunlop number, 477.

These four galaxies are so close to each other that there is some thinking that they are interacting. Infact, some CSIRO research has some very strong evidence for this (http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/bkoribal/ngc7582/grus_hi.html).

This quartet I call the "dinosaur killers". This is because the average distance to them is approximately the same as that considered how long ago the dinosaurs became extinct, 65 million years ago. In other words, when your eye/s gaze upon the photons of this quartet, the age of these photons is from when the dinosaurs were in their death throes.

This quartet lies within one degree of each other. In my 17.5", with a 30mm 68deg. EP they just all fit in the FOV.

In this sketch, Dunlop 475 is the one on the far right, and 477 are the two top left galaxies.

[glenc]

Great work Alex. :thumbsup:
Dunlops' description of NGCs 7590 and 7599 is here https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#5356130478670677810

[glenc]

Nine of the "150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects" transit at about 10pm in May.
5 galaxies NGCs 4945, 5128 (Cen A), 5236 (M83), 5253 and 5643
2 globular clusters omega Centauri and NGC 5286
1 open cluster NGC 5281
1 planetary nebula NGC 5189
Dunlop's descriptions and wikisky.org images are at https://picasaweb.google.com/1100488...52146/Dunlop28 (https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28)
Most images are 28' by 28'.

[glenc]

16 of the "150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects" transit at about 10pm in June.
9 open cluster NGCs 6025, 6067, 6124, 6134, 6193, 6231, 6242, Collinder 307, Trumpler 23
6 globular clusters NGCs 5824, 5927, 5946, 5986, 6101, 6139
and the Norma star cloud
NGC 6193 is in the nebula NGC 6188
Dunlop's descriptions and wikisky.org images are at https://picasaweb.google.com/1100488...52146/Dunlop28 (https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28)
Most images are 28' by 28'.

[glenc]

Thirteen men found more than 250 NGC and IC objects.

Number of objects and Name (Arranged by year of birth)

2415 Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel
1646 * John Frederick William Herschel
280 * James Dunlop
916 Lewis Swift
319 Heinrich Louis d'Arrest
583 Albert Marth
420 Jean Marie Edouard Stephan
334 Guillaume Bigourdan
254 Francis Preserved Leavenworth
1113 Max Wolf only found IC objects.
1364 Stephane Javelle only found IC objects.
655 * DeLisle Stewart only found IC objects.
446 * Royal Harwood Frost only found IC objects.

* Four men observed from the southern hemisphere
Reference http://www.klima-luft.de/steinicke/ngcic/obs_e.htm

[mental4astro]

No new sketches this month. I'll give you one guess, it starts with 'c'...

Instead I thought I'd add the sketches I've done of one object. Three views of Dunlop 309, aka Eta Carina nebula, all done from Sydney and using an OIII filter. What I find interesting is seeing how my sketching technique has developed with each sketch at these are also posted in chronological order.

1, with an 8" dob at 29X

119524

2, with 17.5" at 57X

119525

3, with 17.5" at 125X

119526

Alex.

[RB]

Incredible work Alex, I love your work mate !

[glenc]

I like the last one best. Thanks Alex.

[glenc]

I have decided to try and see all of the 150 Dunlop objects in the attached list while I am at the Queensland Astrofest this year.
Two objects will be difficult to see, the PN NGC 2818 and the galaxy NGC 2997.
The attached list shows the D150 from the end of twilight at 6:50 pm to the start of twilight at 5:00am.
If I get a clear night I should be able to see 148 Dunlop DSO in one night.

[glenc]

These two SkyMapPro maps show the SW sky at the start (6:50pm) and the SE sky at the end (5:00am) of twilight at the Qld Astrofest.
NGC 2997 will be difficult to see because the Sun is at RA 9h40m on 15/8.
http://www.skymap.com/products.htm
http://www.skymap.com/smp_eval.htm

[glenc]

The book Southern Gems by Stephen James O’Meara describes 120 Dunlop objects. It should be available in December.
http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/item6684161/?site_locale=en_GB
It is the fifth book in his Deep-Sky Companions series.
1 The Messier Objects
2 The Caldwell Objects
3 Hidden Treasures
4 The Secret Deep
5 Southern Gems

[mental4astro]

Fine offer, Glen. Shame I can't be there this year. I'm hoping to get to IIS Astro Camp next year in March.

While no new sketch for July, I did get spy several Dunlop objects in the SMC. Just stunning objects around the bright emission nebula Dunlop 25 (NGC 346).

Here's my sketches of another Dunlop object, Dunlop 440, aka Omega Centauri. Both done from my home in Sydney.

1, 8" f/4 dob, 89X

120019

2, 17.5" f/4.5 dob, 125X

120020

Again in chronological order.

Omega's Eye is so clearly visible even in modest scopes, yet is lost in photographs as the star field gets burnt out. One of my most memorable views of Omega was my last through my 11X70 binos from near Hill End. While the object was small, it was still resolved into stars all squished tightly together. What impressed me too was the surrounding Milky Way field that was mottled, textured and laced with dark nebulae surrounding Omega. Truely stunning, and unexpected and something that is never seen in a big scope! This is one view of Omega I'm hoping to lay down in a sketch. I'll need to wait until next season as it's gone for this year to sketch.

The lesson for me was that a big scope isn't always the be all and end all way to view objects. The session I had with my binos never once had me yearn for any of my scopes, small, medium or large. The binos were perfect!

Mental.

[glenc]

Great sketches Mental. I admire your patience and your skill.

[glenc]

The attached list of 150 Dunlop objects (3 pages) is for use at the Qld Astrofest.
It lists the objects from the end of twilight (6:50pm) to the start of twilight (5am).
The SMC and LMC objects are coloured yellow and Tirion map numbers are also given.

My plan
7pm RA 10-15, Tirion 25, 20, 21
8pm RA 16-18, Tirion 26, 22
9pm RA 18-23, Tirion 22, 26, 23
rest
3am RA 0-4, Tirion 18, 24, 19 includes SMC
4am RA 4-9, Tirion 24, 19, 20 includes LMC

[glenc]

32 of the "150 Dunlop Deep Sky Objects" transit at about 10pm in July or August.
9 Open Clusters
18 Globular Clusters
1 Dark Nebula
2 Planetary Nebulae
2 Galaxies
Please see the attached file.

[Gem]

Thanks for the posts Glen - I will use the list. :)

[glenc]

I saw 148 of the 150 Dunlop DSO from the Qld Astrofest with a 16" Dob.
Two to go - NGCs 2818 and 2997 (PN and Gxy).

[glenc]

James Dunlop is Australia's First Deep Sky Observer.
If you make a list of all the NGC and IC objects and remove the faint galaxies (with magnitudes greater than 13),
William Herschel found the most objects (1798 DSO) followed by John Herschel with 1125.
James Dunlop comes third with 278 objects and Messier is 12th, he only found 40 objects.

The attached file lists all the people who found 10 or more objects.
ext are objects in other galaxies.
Southern observers are marked with yellow.
The white numbers are 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each column.
Reference http://www.klima-luft.de/steinicke/ngcic/obs_e.htm

[glenc]

Here are the Dunlop objects for September and October at 10pm (11pm DST)
There is one globular cluster (NGC 104 = 47 Tuc) and 14 galaxies.
The faintest galaxy is NGC 7689 magnitude 11.7. Size is in arcmins.

[jakob]

Glen, You inspire me!

I enjoyed your talk very much and with your assistance I learned a lot at the AF.
I will try to chase some of the objects in the list for Sept/Oct.

I was privileged to have you as neighbor on the observing field.

Thanks again, Jakob.

[glenc]

It was great to get to know you Jakob.

[glenc]

This is an article about James Dunlop and 30 of his deep sky objects.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/t01f8j2r72affae/Australia%27s%20First%20Deep%20Sky% 20Astronomer.doc

[Colin_Fraser]

Thanks Glen for this excellent thread. Learned a lot from it.

[glenc]

Dunlop's House was on the north side of Hunter St half way from Marsden St to the church gates.
He catalogued 629 clusters and nebulae and 253 double stars from his backyard in 1826.
http://binged.it/Rlffxw

Here is a picture of his house https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/DunlopRumker#5007929705361888370
latitude -33.816 longitude 151.002

It seems to be lot 27 in this dig http://www.higginbotham.com.au/pdf/Marsden01.pdf

[glenc]

Victor van Wulfen has published a guide to the Dunlop objects.
It is available at http://www.clearskies.eu/purchase/purchase.htm

Victor is selling the following 12 guides.


Messier, sequentially, by constellation or sorted for a Messier marathon
Lacaille, sequentially or by constellation
Dunlop, by constellation
Herschel 400, by constellation
Herschel II, by constellation
Caldwell, sequentially or by constellation
Bennett, sequentially or by constellation
Palomar Globular Clusters, sequentially or by constellation
Terzan Globular Clusters, sequentially or by constellation
Carbon Stars, by constellation, "all sky" or by hemisphere and by telescope aperture: 5-6", 8-10" or 12"
Globular Clusters, by constellation, "all sky" or northern hemisphere and by telescope aperture: 5-6", 8-10" or 12"
Planetary Nebulae, by constellation, "all sky" or by hemisphere and by telescope aperture: 5-6", 8-10" or 12"

[glenc]

There is a discount code for Ice in Space forum members.
Five members can use the code to get a 25% discount on any CSOG purchase.
It's "first come, first serve". Once it is used five times, it stops.

The code is: CSOGiceinspace#

[glenc]

Hubble snaps photo of 'Christmas ornament' nebula

the venerable Hubble Space Telescope delivered holiday cheer in the form of this image of NGC 5189, a nebula that — if you're brimming over with holiday cheer or just squinting a little — resembles a very merry Christmas ornament wrapped in a festive ribbon.

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/hubble-snaps-photo-of-christmas-ornament-nebula-20121221-2bqd8.html

James Dunlop discovered this planetary nebula in 1826.

[mental4astro]

Here's the latest batch of Dunlop Objects that I've managed to sketch. These are all located in a small area within the LMC.

The Dunlop objects here are:

NGC 1850 - Dunlop 172
NGC 1854 - Dunlop 119
NGC 1858 - Dunlop 120
NGC 1856 - Dunlop 118
NGC 1860 - Dunlop 172
NGC 1863 - Dunlop 173
NGC 1866 - Dunlop 247
NGC 1870 - Dunlop 123

This sketch was done during the Jan. '13 new moon period from Katoomba Airfield using a 17.5" dob at 100X. I've also included an image by Andrew Lockwood of the LMC showing the area the sketch is focused on.

[glenc]

Great art Alex :thumbsup:

[glenc]

Deep-Sky Companions: Southern Gems is due out this month.

"In Southern Gems, Stephen James O'Meara makes a detour beneath the southern skies, presenting a fresh list of 120 deep-sky objects for southern hemisphere stargazers to observe.
Showcasing many exceptional objects catalogued by the pioneering observer James Dunlop, known as the 'Messier of the southern skies', all are visible through small- to moderate-sized telescopes or binoculars under dark skies."
http://www.cambridge.org/us/knowledge/isbn/item6684161/Deep-Sky%20Companions:%20Southern%20Gems/?site_locale=en_US

[glenc]

"Here's a treat for southern hemisphere observers - the 'Dunlop 150' observing plan has been uploaded to the Plan Library.
These are objects observed in 1826 with a 9" speculum metal reflector by James Dunlop of Australia"
https://www.facebook.com/deepskyplanner

[glenc]

Southern Gems is available for A$46 from the Book Depository.
http://booko.com.au/9781107015012/Deep-sky-Companions-Southern-Gems

[glenc]

220 years ago James Dunlop was born at Dalry, Scotland on 31 Oct 1793.
In just 7 months in 1826 he catalogued 629 star clusters and nebulae. Half of these turned out to be faint (m11) double stars.
He also made a separate catalogue of 253 double stars the same year with his homemade 9" speculum reflector from his Parramatta back yard.
Dunlop died aged 54 on 22 Sep 1848 and was buried at Kincumber, NSW.

Here are maps of:
Dalry, Scotland http://goo.gl/maps/GGr9h
Dunlop's Parramatta house was here http://goo.gl/maps/7IY9U
The Kincumber cemetery http://goo.gl/maps/2VlY4

And 164 wikisky images of Dunlop's deep-sky objects:
https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/Dunlop28#
Most of these images are 28' by 28'.

[mental4astro]

Three more Dunlop objects to add to Glen's lot.

First, Dunlop 25 & 31 - NGC 346 and 371. These two nebula and open cluster objects are within the SMC. Both are surprisingly bright, particularly Dunlop 25. The stars powering this cluster and nebula must be very big suckers to appear so bright being so far away. This sketch was done using my 17.5" dob at 154X.

The third object is Dunlop 562 - the brilliant barred spiral galaxy NGC 1365 in Fornax. In my 17.5" dob the bar and arms are striking. Increasing the magnification to 154X increases contrast and improves the visibility of the arms and the details. This is a trick that works with most DSO's.

[glenc]

Thanks Alex, those three objects are very well drawn.

[Domol]

Hi Glen,
thanks for bring the Dunlop list to my attention. I'm a Hartung southern objects man myself! I'll load the Dunlop list into the G11 hand controller and go explore. How did your manage to graph the Dunlop objects in excel? What type of chart is that? thanks
Regards
Domenic

[glenc]

Domenic I used the coords page and insert charts xy.
Thanks Glen

[Allan]

Alex, how long have you been sketching for? Your drawings are incredible and some look like they must take hours to complete, such is the detail.

How did you learn your technique - books, or trial and error? I have done a little, but want to get into it more seriously than what I have done to date.

[mental4astro]

Thanks Allan!

I've been sketching since I was knee high to a grass hopper. But sketching white onto black paper at the eyepiece only a couple of years. I wrote an article on how I sketch DSO's that you can find here in this link (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-614-0-0-1-0.html). How long depends on the object. Take the galaxy below of 1365 - it took only 30min. Other sketches can take upto three hours, all done at the eyepiece.

If you would like a more detailed explanation of the sketches, you'll find them all in the Solar System and DSO sketching sticky (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=73111). My lunar sketches you'll find in the Sketch the Moon night sticky (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=67296). My lunar sketches started as black onto white paper. But I found I got better results when I used the exact same materials I use with my DSO work. One kit, two very different uses.

The technique I use for DSO's I learnt from my late friend Scott Mellish, after whom I named the technique I wrote the article of. My lunar work is my own.

If you have any questions, please just ask. You can post them in the Sketching Tips sticky (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=66309) or you can PM me.

I've actually just come in from doing a sketch of the Moon tonight which I'll post in the next day or so. I'm too tired now to clean it up and photograph it. Need some sleep now... :zzz2:

Mental.

[Allan]

Alex, thanks for the reply, especially at that time of night. I will take the time and look through the links you posted. I should try and get to Katoomba sometime so we can catch up. But coming from Newcastle, the Pony Club is usually my venue of choice around new moon.

[glenc]

These 8 men discovered more than 200 NGC objects.
Two observed from the southern hemisphere, James Dunlop and John Herschel.
Dunlop and d'Arrest had the smallest telescopes, a 9" reflector and an 11" refractor respectively.
Three were born in the 1700s, W and J Herschel and Dunlop.
Reference: http://www.klima-luft.de/steinicke/ngcic/obs_e.htm