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Old 27-07-2010, 07:23 PM
astrospotter (Mark)
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astrospotter is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Jose, CA, USA
Posts: 146
My lame method for finding M104

If you can find Corvus this method will be maybe helpfull. You may want to have some chart before you as I describe this as I amy be poor at directions.

I look for the dim star that is still naked eye visible in reasonably dark skies where this star is about half way between the two stars that form the E-W line on the southern side of Corvus. (about half way between Beta and E).

Now from that dimmer star between Beta and E imagine a line that cuts right through the NE corner of the corvus (which is a wide double where delta is just south of eta. This brighter star, gamma, of the two on the NE rectangle of Corvus is half way on this imaginary line to M104. Extend that imaginary line the other half way moving NNE and the end of this imaginary line is real near M104. If you still don't see it due to sky brightness or scope size, continue for more fun below.

Here is the 'fun part' if you are using 6" or better scope. Right in this area at the end of the imaginary line there is a small 'arrow' made of 4 semi-bright stars that points RIGHT at M104 and this arrow is easier to see than M104. This arrow is 1/3 degree west of M104. The tiny arrow is about 4 arc-minutes long and therefore is 'about' the same length as M104 and in the same orientation (close to E-W). So follow that arrow about 5 times the arrows length to be just a touch below (south) of M104.

I hope you understand ANY of this because I sure don't ...
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