Eye Piece to improve faint nebula viewing

[CChelle]

Hi. I've been reading the posts here but can't find what I need to know so I have to ask....
I'm a newbie with her first scope a 10" dob. I have two EPs, a 28mm and a 12.5mm plossi. Last night was very dark and clear. It was so dark and clear that I could make out the Tucan Globular with my naked eye. Using the 28mm I got great views of the Tarantula Neb and the Orion Neb. I also got a very faint view of the Flame Neb. I had to use averted vision and could only see very faint nebulosity. The dark band in the middle was only just visible and the "branches" :confused2: were not visible at all. It was also quite "large" in the eyepeice, and not as tiny as I expected it to be. As it was very, very faint in the deep view EP I didn't put the 12.5mm EP in.
My question is, can I imporve my view of the Flame Neb on similar viewing condition (dark and clear) nights? If I can, what do I need to improve the view?
Thanks.
Michelle

[astroron]

Hi Michelle, welcome to IIS,liked your report on the other thread:)
See this post Here (http://www.lumicon.com/astronomy-accessories.php?cid=1&cn=Filters) re filters,it is very comprehensive ,lots of info there :D
Cheers:thumbsup:

[CChelle]

Thanks Ron. I had seen that page before and lost it so I have it safely added it to my favourites now.

What I reallty want to know now, is... does the Flame Neb being so faint (when others, like like the Orion and the Tarantula, were so amazingly clear) mean that perhaps my scope is not big enough to caputer it no matter what filter or EP I use? Or is my postion (sky darkness etc) not enough with my scope to make it possible to capture the Flame, let alone the horsehead. Last night I think was about as good as I'll get. OR... is that fact that it was visible at all a good sign that with the right eyepeices and filters I might see them?

I have another problem translating the info as well,... I don't know what the focal lenghth of my scope is. I can't find it anywhere in the book I got with it. Is there a way of calculating it?

Thanks
Michelle:hi:

[astroron]

Hi Michelle, the Flame Nebula being anywhere else in the sky on it's own would be a show piece, but unfortunatly it sits right next to Alnitak which is many more magnitudes brighter,so the glare just kills it :sadeyes:
What make of telescope do you have?
I think the common 10" scopes are F4.8 or there abouts.
See Here (http://www.geologynet.com/astronomy/telescopes2.htm) for the way a way to calculate your focal length
I can assure you your scope is plenty Big enough to see the Horse Head and other Dark Nebulae, it will just require you to gain some experience with observing before you can get down to seeing these faint objects
Cheers:thumbsup:

[CChelle]

Hi again. Well I did some homework (actually hubby, Bob found the info in the book, yes the one I swore it wasn't in) and the focal length is 1200mm and the focal ratio is f/4.7. With this knowledge and the article you directed me to I should be able to work out what filters I need to get with what eyepieces.
I better start on my letter to Santa.
Thanks for your help.:thanx:
Michelle
PS. Oh, the make of my scope is Orion.

[ausastronomer]

Hi Michelle (and bob)

That 10" scope should give you many years of happy viewing. There are an enormous amount of targets within reach of a 10" scope under good skies, which you obviously have. A couple of lifetimes of objects to be exact. For starters you should be able to get just about every target bar a handfull that are listed in my 600 target observing list in a 10" scope.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-638-0-0-1-0.html

A couple of things to take on board.

To see really faint targets and extract intricate detail from them is a practised skill. You will find you get better and better at it as time goes on. Targets which now appear to you as featureless grey balls will in time reveal a lot more detail and structure. In addition it is importnat to have good dark adaption. It takes at least 30 minutes to become fully dark adapted. Leave the dimmest targets until you are properly dark adapted. By the same taken don't go from a retina burner like Jupiter straight to a 15th magnitude galaxy and expect to see much detail in it. It will take time to regain your dark adaption after looking at really bright targets.

Don't be scared to use your higher power eyepieces. While the object itself gets dimmer as your increase the power, it also improves contrast. This is the critical thing when observing dim objects "contrast".

Stick with the eyepieces you have for a couple of months. Then consider upgrading to a couple of better ones. Premium eyepieces have much better light throughput and "contrast" than the generic eyepieces supplied with the scope.

Further down the track consider a filter like the DGM Optics NPB filter.

Cheers,
John B

[CChelle]

Thanks for the list and the advice, John. I'm checking out your list now. :thanx:

I've just printed out the pages for Nov, Dec and Jan and I can't wait to get started on spotting.