Quote:
Originally Posted by ausastronomer
Hi Quark,
You seem to have got yourself a bit confused with some of these targets.
NGC 2736 while "sometimes" referred to in texts as Herschel's Ray, is more commonly known amongst amateur astronomers as "The Pencil". It is a detached segment of the Vela Supernova Remnant lying about 4 degrees to the East of the main part of the remnant.
IC 3199 is a 15th magnitude galaxy in Virgo and an OIII filter wont help squat with it.
The Running Chicken Nebula is IC 2948 which is attached to the Lamba Centauri Cluster which is designated IC 2944. The OIII helps on the nebulosity (IC 2948) but noticeably dims the cluster (IC 2944)
It is also worth noting that the Astronomiks UHC filter also works very well on the same targets. It doesn't do quite as well on the Pencil as the OIII but still does very well and shows a noticeable improvement over the unfiltered view. You cannot compare the performance of a top quality UHC filter which is a "narrowband" nebula filter to your Meade "broadband" nebula filter. Also keep in mind that even the Meade "narrowband" nebula filter is not near the class of the Astronomik narrowband filter (UHC).
Cheers,
John B
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Hi John,
No I am not confused one bit.
I prefer to refer to NGC 2736 as Herschel's Ray as it was John Herschel, in 1834 that first discovered and sketched this object. I am not at all interested in what anyone else calls this object.
The cat number I gave when refering to The Southern Crescent was also correct however it is NGC 3199 not IC 3199, I appologise for this error, this object was also discovered by John Herschel in 1834 and looks great through the Astronomic OIII.
I, at no stage intimated that I was comparing a Astronomic UHC filter with a Meade broadband filter but I do disagree with your description of the Astronomic UHC as a "narrowband filter". A look at the transmission curves, supplied by Astronomic on Bintel's website, of their UHC and OIII filters clearly demonstrates the difference between a broadband and narrow band filter.
My experience, as a very active observer over the last 25yrs, is that the number of objects that the OIII is usfull on justifies its inclusion in my observing kit. I am fourtunate to have Astronomic OIII filters for both my 1 1/4" and 2" eyepieces and use them both regularly.
I have only just joined Iceinspace. I was a bit hesitant to do so, as living in the remote outback means a lot of brilliant observing weather and I would much rather be out observing, using my equipment than just taking about it.
I am pleased that you seem to be very satisfied with you UHC, as I am with my OIII.
PS: I really dont use the Meade Broadband filter now at all.
Clear Sky's
Quark