Quote:
Originally Posted by expon
Tongiht I saw some amazing stuff as the skies were very clear although bloody cold. I did the usual Orion, Jupiter, Mars a couple things that look cool but I don't know the name however, I was able to find m104. I had been looking for it for weeks and tonight I found it. I live next to Essendon airport so it wasn't super clear but I saw it. I have an argo navis that came with my scope and sure, I could have used it to find m104 weeks ago. Being lazy I thought it would be quicker to canvas the sky slowly looking for it rather than learn how to use the navis. But here I am m104 viewed and a $600 piece of equipment collecting dust whilst I make good time. I'm a real man....
I also saw ngc5139. I had no idea it existed (new and ignorant). I was looking at the southern cross, being from qld I saw it only as a giant tattoo. I was just browsing around slowly, canvassing the sky because I cant use the navis, and through the finder scope I saw a smudge. A smudge can only mean one thing, I'm about to get even colder as I try to figure out what this thing is. I put in the wide field because I figure I'm too slow to use high power straight up and wham! there is it. That's alot of stars. I add power, wow its amazing, more and more power it's still clear, just wow. I started thinking, do they teach this stuff in school? how on earth have I never heard or even seen this thing before? Clear as day and all my life living in the bush up north I hadn't a clue it was sitting there begging to be paid attention too.
Well anyway that was the end of tonight session. 3 hrs well spent as the baby fell asleep early and the skies had cleared on a day off. Now the next question, what size high power EP to get next? Im thinking 10mm but I do most of my observing from my house next to the airport. I am afraid a sub 10mm EP might not be so useful.
Thanks for reading
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Well done especially on getting M104!
What scope and eyepieces are you using? The answer is important if you are considering a higher power eyepiece. I have a 10mm Ethos which I now use regularly in my 20" f5 dob, but when I had a 12" f5 it was only usable occasionally.
I would encourage you to have a go with the Argo Navis. I love using mine and once you have set it up a couple of times it is very easy.
Cheers
Malcolm