Hi all,
October's Challenge follows on from the big response to September's, and a sketch posted by Orestis through his binoculars.
The range of targets has been selected to allow folks with only binoculars to also have a go at sketching a deep sky object. Sometimes a telescope can actually be too much. Some objects are just too big and faint. A telescope will show too narrow a field of view to see the entire object (and the bigger the scope, the narrower the field of view), and the higher magnification a scope provides, even at its lowest power, can render some objects invisible.
Binoculars are King in some cases!
There are a couple of tips that can help with using and sketching with binoculars:
1/ you can rest them on a post, or the edge of a car roof, anything that will help you hold them steady.
2/ some binos have a thread insert that will allow for the use of a photo-tripod adaptor that will permit the binos to be fixed onto a photo-tripod- "Look, mum, no hands..."
The targets on offer this month are not overly difficult to acquire. In fact, most if not all will be visible in binoculars too, though some will appear small. The galaxy NGC 253 might also be visible to you in a light polluted area if you have 50mm binoculars, and are away from strong flood lights. At a dark sky site, it will be visible in 25mm binos!
These targets also offer a range of detail that increases with the larger the scope you are using. All are pretty much obtainable in all scopes:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ewpost&t=66406
Have a go. It's not a contest. Just a way to engage the visual boys and girls.
Mental.