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Here are my notes on the objects in the challenge. Haven't got to the double in Leo or the comet yet.
It was very enjoyable to tour through the list - thanks for putting it together Orestis.
Telescope 400mm f4.9 tri-dob reflector
Eyepieces 28mm UWAN, 17,13,9 mm Naglers, Paracorr
Guiding: Night Sky Observer’s Guide (NSOG)
Seeing and transparency excellent
Messier 1 SNR Crab Nebula 175x Bright nebula, seems about 7’x5’, appears roughly oval shaped on first glance. Closer inspection shows the eastern and southern edges look more ragged with brighter areas to the south and east encompassing a darker patch of nebula. The nebula looks slightly pointed toward the north and there is a notch of darkness at the northwestern edge. The nebula seems to bulge a bit to the west. There is a N-S bar of brightness UHC filter in the middle of the nebula. The whole thing brightens under UHC filter at 175x and the central bar shaped area does so in particular. The dark patch to the southeast becomes more distinct. The nebula looks more mottled with UHC. Much fainter with OIII, rounder in shape and more mottled still throughout.
NGC 1532/1531 interacting galaxies in Eridanus 175x 1531 to the West of 1532 which is an edge on spiral oriented N-S. 1532 seems about 8’-10’ long and about 2’ wide with bright nucleus apparent. 1531 seems to be heading into the larger galaxy a little to north of the nucleus. 1532 has some bright patches along the disc especially towards the south. I have an impression of dust lanes again more to the south of the nucleus. 1531 is much smaller and rounder and looks about 1’ away from 1532. I have the impression of some haze between the two galaxies. 250x shows much more structure in 1532, with quite a bright patch halfway between the nucleus and the southern edge of the disc and other scattered bright patches along the northern part of the disc. Dark dust lanes are visible on the disc.1531 is quite bright and somewhat grainy looking. 350x shows even more detail and texture
NGC 1888/1889 Arp 123interacting galaxies in Lepus 250x A pair of small faint galaxies 1888 an edge on spiral oriented roughly NW-SE and very close to the SE is 1889. Some central brightness in 1888 but not what I’d call a distinct nucleus. 1888 looks a little fatter and distorted at the SE end.
NGC 2808 GC in Vela 175x Quite bright central core and a very concentrated cluster with a number of strands distracted from the main body. Some resolvable stars but mostly a grainy haze. Strand to the west associated with a bright star, another strand to the southwest, and a third wide strand to the north which spreads out more as it gets 5-6’ from the cluster itself. Another strand to the northeast. The cluster itself looks a little squashed, longer in SE-NW axis. I can’t tell whether it is actually squashed, or just looks that way because of the strands of stars and haze. The brightness fades evenly from the core to the edge of the cluster.
NGC 3201 GC in Vela 135x A very spread out cluster with no obvious core. Many resolvable stars scattered right across the GC with some strands of haze and scattered stars. A wonderful contrast to 2808.
NGC3242 PN in Hydra the “Ghost of Jupiter” 175x Very bright PN I have a very distinct impression of 2 shells. Central shell is bright and firm-edged and central star is apparent. The inner shell covers about 2/3 of the dia. of the nebula. The SE side of inner shell seems a little brighter than the rest of this shell. UHC filter diminishes outer shell – it is still apparent but less distinct, the firm edges of the inner core soften and it appears to meld into the outer shell. The brightness of the SE edge is enhanced and there appears to be a dark curve on the NW edge. 250x some detail lost as wind is increasing and seeing deteriorates.
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