Thread: 1987A remnant?
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Old 21-04-2010, 12:44 AM
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ngcles
The Observologist

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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Billimari, NSW Central West
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Hi All,

I can confirm that it is indeed visible in large amateur telescopes.

My observing buddy Gary Mitchell spent the best part of an hour to track this little bugger down and confirm it using his 50cm f/5 dobsonian at x525 magnification during the Mudgee Star Party last weekend.

I confirmed the observation based on what I could see from the photo. It is extremely tiny, hardly more than stellar in size and about 14th-15th magnitude (odd). A few other observers were able to see it too in the same 'scope. It is about one medium-powered field from the Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070).

I too was at least somewhat surprised that is is visible in amateur sized 'scopes.

Based on what I saw a sharp 18" or even a 16" might just do the trick in near perfect conditions. You will need very high to extreme magnification to see its non-stellar nature and weed it out from the packed field -- and a high-res image that identifies it.


Best,

Les D
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