Suggestions for sketching please

[mental4astro]

Greetings fellow Astronomers,
~X~
With Summer just around the corner & the Spring Galaxy feast in full swing, I thought I would ask you for suggestions on DSO's to sketch.

The only limitation is, with my largest Telescope being 17.5" in diameter, for the DSO suggested to fall within the visual limiting magnitude of it, approximately mag17.

Otherwise anything in the Heavens is possible.

I do have mine own Lists and prejudices, but I do welcome other ideas.
~X~
Kindest regards,

Mental

[AG Hybrid]

Yes. Yes you are :rofl:.

NGC 1097 - Front facing spiral galaxy with an interacting dwarf galaxy. Located in Fornax. Mag 9.6.

NGC 1365 - Front facing bar spiral galaxy. Located in Fornax. Mag 9.6.

These two should be easy enough to find. Both interesting targets and both well within reach of your 17.5" :thumbsup:

[pgc hunter]

Do a mosaic of the LMC :D

[mental4astro]

Adrian, I did have 1365 on my list, but not 1097. Thanx!

Sab, I'm crazy enough to just do it too, :lol: . I've got a few objects within the LMC, and the SMC, logged in to sketch, but a mosaic, mmm... might take a few years :rolleyes: :screwy: :D

[Paddy]

I'll second that one!

Hmmm, personal wish list for sketches from Alex? NGC 1365 is a definite. Also NGC 1532/1532A

Now for the Magellanic Clouds.. NGC 346 area. NGC 456-465 in SMC, NGC 2074-2084, NGC 2014-2040, NGC 1761-1773 in the LMC.

And of course NGC 253, Grus trio.

Hope you get lots of clear skies Alex - it will be a real treat to see your sketches!

[mental4astro]

Thanks for the suggestions, Paddy. The LMC & SMC are just so rich in objects.

I've already posted a sketch of NGC 253 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=771091&postcount=105). I'll shortly post the one of the Grus Trio done back in April. I might redo it as I've included the forth member of the grouping. I'd up the magnification though for just the three.

[Suzy]

I'm with Sab- go the LMC :D
Just think... it'll be a mighty fine piece of work to be proud of once eventually finished.
Panadol or a hundred? :D

[mental4astro]

Looks like a mosaic of the LMC is on the cards. Will make for an interesting project. Not too sure how to start it, but I'll figure something out. Might start with a smaller aperture first and see how things develop wide field wise. Maybe my 8" f/4 dobbie, as it can give me upto 2.5deg FOV. Enough pain to start with I think.

Susy, Panadol AND Scotch, purely medicinal purposes, of course, ;)

Paddy, I've uploaded my sketch of the Grus Trio, Quartet really, in the DSO sketching sticky.

[Paddy]

Oooh you beauty - I'm looking forward to this!

[pgc hunter]

I'd say sweep from east to west from the NE quadrant of the cloud, move south one FOV when you reach the westernmost extremity, sweep west to east, move south one FOV and repeat. Use a bit of magnification, say about 100-150x, just to bring out every little fuzzy and some detail. You might need a few A4 sheets to fit it all in :D




I'll supply the Scotch after I drink most of it

[mental4astro]

"You're gonna need a bigger boat." :scared2:

Good suggestion Sab. It's got me thinking a bit on planning this. I might get a few sheets of A4 to form the blank mosaic & first draw the perimeter of the thing & quickly lay down some landmarks for references. I'll then take each sheet in turn for the detailed sketch. I can't think of another way to mark the overlapping sections accurately otherwise. Might also mean making a dedicated drawing board for the exercise so I can place two sheets side by side to develop the overlaps at the same time.

This project will happen along side my plan to also sketch the Dunlop Objects, many of which are in the LMC. Should work out nicely as this will see the entire year's sketching sorted.